Niceville Now Included in Expanded Tourist District
Voters in Okaloosa County have overwhelmingly voted in favor of expanding the tourist development district to include Niceville, Valparaiso and other surrounding communities with the bed tax charge beginning March 1, 2022. Per unofficial results on the VoteOkaloosa website, the measure passed 65.42% to 34.58% with 18,817 ballots cast and a voter turnout of 17.55%. The expansion area includes roughly 3,000 lodging units and is expected to generate $2 to $3 million annually in additional bed tax revenue.
Freeport Republicans
The Freeport Republicans will meet Nov. 9 in Freeport at the Hammock Bay Clubhouse, 1830 Great Hammock Bend. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m.; meeting 6-7 p.m. This month’s speaker is Vance Coley who is running for Florida State House, District 5. The club meets monthly on the second Tuesday of each month at the same location and time. Save the Date for the annual Christmas Party for members/guests on Dec. 14.
Mel Ponder Elected to Florida Association of Counties Board of Directors
Okaloosa County Vice Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Mel Ponder (District 5) was elected to the Board of Directors of the Florida Association of Counties.
His new role with the FAC will be instrumental in guiding Okaloosa County with fellow commissioners within the state to address the diverse interests of the County as well as the state. He will spend the next two years supporting and supervising the Association’s efforts.
In addition to representing District 5 in Okaloosa County, including Destin and portions of Niceville, he is the owner of Business Empowered, a workplace ministry, and is Government Affairs Director with the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors.
Bluewater Bay Elementary Receives $3,000 from local McDonald’s
Enterprises McDonald’s recently donated $3,000 to Bluewater Bay Elementary School, recognizing three local educators: Carla Edwards, Shawn Grigsby and 2021 “Teacher of the Year” recipient Dianne Goldstein. They were honored for their outstanding work and dedication to their students. Two of Costa Enterprises owner-operators, David Costa Jr., and Amy Costa Killebrew, attended the school the year it opened in 1990. Killebrew and her mother, Helen Costa, were elementary school teachers before joining the family business.
Rhonda Skipper Installed as President of the Florida Tax Collectors Association
Walton County Tax Collector, Rhonda Skipper, was recently sworn in as the 76th President of the Florida Tax Collectors, Inc., the state-wide Association of Florida’s Tax Collectors.
She embarks on her one-year term with a message of renewed commitment to collaboration and unity echoing the Association’s mission of advancing the office through professional leadership, shared resources and collaboration, but also of embracing change and being adaptable.
DCWAF Surpasses $25 Million Donated to Help NW Florida Children in Need
Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF), recognized as the fifth largest charity wine auction in the U.S. by Wine Spectator, has donated more than $25 million since its inception to children in need in Northwest Florida. The positive impact of these funds has helped an estimated 100,000 at-risk youth with services ranging from medical care to food insecurity over a 16-year period. This year, DCWAF donated $2 million to 16 children’s charities in Northwest Florida following its second virtual auction in April.
Okaloosa County Hires New Deputy County Administrator
Sheila Fitzgerald has been hired as the new Okaloosa County Deputy County Administrator of Support Services. She brings 17 years of experience in the areas of budget management, grant administration and project management and holds a Master of Science Administration, Public Administration, from the University of West Florida in May 2008. Fitzgerald’s recent work history includes a tenured career as Grants and Special Programs Director with Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners and Assistant City Manager at the City of Gulf Breeze.
