Items on the beach overnight

[Smiling JOe]

I think the TDC is removing the items once the Sherrif's Department or Code Enforcement tags it. It's my understanding that the TDC does not have the legal authority to enforce the laws so that is why beach patrol and code enforcement has to tag them.

I thought that might be an issue. So there is no way that someone on parole could be deputized to clean the beach. Do you think Code Enforcement could hire some seasonal help specifically for this purpose? Or, what if they contract out with a few people to collect everything, and in return, the people doing the work could keep and sell all that they collect every morning. I see problems in that scenerio, too. Such as the collectors collecting only the good and sellable stuff.

The whole tagging thing might stand a chance of working IF 1) the manpower to enforce was great enough and 2) if the tags were unremovable.

[scooterbug44]

Easy way to see if they collecting everything, or just the good stuff - look down the beach! If there is anything but sand..............

Separating the sellers from the collectors would also be a good idea to avoid a conflict of interest.

[Smiling JOe]

Easy way to see if they collecting everything, or just the good stuff - look down the beach! If there is anything but sand..............

Separating the sellers from the collectors would also be a good idea to avoid a conflict of interest.

So you mean the County would have to hire a supervisor, too? I want that job. TDC, are you listening?

Good idea on separating the sellers from the collectors. I'm thinking that the County would have to write new laws in order to sell the items, so I doubt that would be likely to happen anyway. I can see people writing their names on their stuff, then seeing them in a store and walking out the door with "their" items, not paying -- talk about upsetting tourists.

[BeachSiO2]

So you mean the County would have to hire a supervisor, too? I want that job. TDC, are you listening?

Good idea on separating the sellers from the collectors. I'm thinking that the County would have to write new laws in order to sell the items, so I doubt that would be likely to happen anyway. I can see people writing their names on their stuff, then seeing them in a store and walking out the door with "their" items, not paying -- talk about upsetting tourists.

Now that's what I was waiting for... SJ as a County employee.

Would you really want the abuse from the public when they come outside and dog cuss you about taking their stuff? Even worse would be when it was a house that may not be a rental and then you would be taking something from someone who lives there. Tagging stuff is easy, getting it off the beach without getting shot is the trick.

I believe this might be the WORST job in County Government

[Smiling JOe]

Now that's what I was waiting for... SJ as a County employee.

Would you really want the abuse from the public when they come outside and dog cuss you about taking their stuff? Even worse would be when it was a house that may not be a rental and then you would be taking something from someone who lives there. Tagging stuff is easy, getting it off the beach without getting shot is the trick.

I believe this might be the WORST job in County Government

"Talk to the hand, because I'm not listening."


I would take that job right after running for the office of Walton County Commissioner.

[BeachSiO2]

"Talk to the hand, because I'm not listening."


I would take that job right after running for the office of Walton County Commissioner.

That's what I thought . Let me know when you're running and I will run as your vice-commissioner.

[Smiling JOe]

That's what I thought . Let me know when you're running and I will run as your vice-commissioner.

I wonder if Kurt would want to be our Admin-Assistant.

[BeachSiO2]

I wonder if Kurt would want to be our Admin-Assistant.

I don't know..... We may have to make him an Executive Assistant instead.

[seaside2]

Lazy? Maybe.
Arrogant and self centered? Absolutely!!!!

[TNJed]

So that's where you been! Your a chair dude. Thanks for doin' the right thang for the turtles, TNJed! Maybe others will follow your cue.

10-12 hour days of sweat, sand and sun do keep the keyboard at bay. Just wait til the off season. I'll be back with a vengeance! This summer has been great though, can't complain. I've been trying to figure out a way to strap my chairs onto the turtles so they can help me move them, but those suckers are slippery! Just kidding. They really just have a poor work ethic.

Jed, I feel for you and I see it as an ongoing battle for you guys. It would be nice if you were authorized to hire an extra guy just to help enforce the area you service. But that would open a whole other can of worms for you. My guess is it will come down to personal relationships between you and someone in the county who you can give a call to on a periodic basis to come and clear your area. In between times you and your coworkers and everyone else you can enlist will need to get the word out. Once again the rental agencies will be a big ally for you and can help educate and market for you.

Some sage advice there. Too right about opening a can of worms with trying to be a traffic cop on the beach. The rental agencies will be very key in advising their renters to the beach policies. Though, they have been known to be simple "yes men" or deliver out of date or incorrect info such as, "oh yes, chair and umbrella rentals are included with your condo/house." Being the fall-guy and bearer of bad news on the beach isn't fun for me. Though I do get a thrill from telling the renters to call their agency back and set them straight.

Mermaid, TNJed, I hear what you are saying. I think that part of my simple minded confusion comes from what Jed said about private homes versus condo sites. Many times we have been at a private home and the chairs and umbrellas were left out over night. At the condos, they were (Or are ) not being left out.

Contracted condos and HOA usually ask us to clear their beaches each night and if we want to stay in their good graces then we abide with a smile. Hey, "The Dude abides." Right? For the most part, these beaches are usually great to service anyway because the same powers that be keep their owners and guests in line as well in terms of keeping "their" beaches clear at night.

You're right about private homes being confusing. This falls under the whole private vs public beach debacle. Home owners and renters feel they should be able to leave what they want out at night but the county makes the rules. This is part of the problem. If people see stuff left out, unaware it's private property, then they understandably feel they can leave theirs out as well. Be it at a public access or another's property. Guests don't understand the invisible property lines. They see the water, tents left out overnight and figure, "me too!"

Like I said, it's gotta be all or none.

4:30-5pm is the generally accepted closing time. 9am seems a little late to me though for set-up. My feet hit the sand around 7am every morning and sometimes earlier depending on my work load. By the time I finish my morning set-up, it can be close to 8:30am. Perhaps you were just on the end of someone's morning duties, but you shouldn't have been first on the afternoon close. I can't speak for them though.

The reverse is true as well. If we start clearing at 5pm, sometimes we don't finish until 7pm. Then it's home to shower, eat, relax for an hour or two then bedtime because 6 am comes around quicker than you'd like. I'm lucky because I live in Seagrove. Many of the beach employees must drive an hour or more just to get here and another hour to get back home in the evening. Those boys works their tails off. That is, if you can find some that will actually show up each day. Lord, please build some affordable housing/apartments so the service industry can actually offer suitable accommodations for their workforce. Or, for that matter, actually have a workforce.

Again, not complaining, but behind the scenes there is A LOT of labor that goes into what we do and trying to negotiate half enforced rules only makes it harder.

Surfs up! See ya on the beach!

[seacrestkristi]

KINGDOM LAW RULES!!! wind or wave could just blow that sheeet right away...

[kurt]

I bet Goodwill Industries would be willing to send a large truck up and down the beach every day collecting.

[Poodleone]

I like the 'house divided' touch of Auburn and Alabama crap hanging from the frame...along with that fake frilly thatch stuff and oversized fishing lures

It ain't called the Redneck Riviera for nothin'!

[suebee]

Last year, while staying at Cottages of Camp Creek (fabulous, by the way), we rented an umbrella with two chairs, for set up each day, and brought our own umbrellas and chairs too daily. One afternoon, sudden thunderstorm came up...obviously no way we would stay at the beach. Closed the "rented" umbrella, loaded up the other umbrellas and chairs in the provided "beach cart", and left it under the beach access steps, so we could get out of dodge from the storm. Came back one hour later. The rental unit's umbrella and a chair were no longer there. Interestingly, our daughter's "beach hammock" was not taken. We replaced the "stolen" items for our owner. Go figure. We have stayed from Destin east for 13 years, and occasionally have beach set ups provided, or we rent same, or several times we have brought our beach "awning" when we have a larger group. We ALWAYS take it down at night, and replace in the ams (even when renting with a private home on the beach). We bring our coolers, and other paraphernalia, and ALWAYS pick up our trash (as well as that of others). When in the Panhandle in the summer, we pay attention to the sun, and thus, the umbrellas and awnings....We set up "camp" mid-morning, and the last of us leaves at sunset, always taking our "things". We recognize that the beach is not "ours", but like being able to come and go during the day as food and nature calls! We're coming back in two weeks, and I look forward to vegging on the beach, reading, enjoying family company, in the shade, with the visual and auditory beauty surrounding....PLEASE don't tell me I need to take my stuff with me when I go to pee or eat lunch! :)

[scooterbug44]

Last year, while staying at Cottages of Camp Creek (fabulous, by the way), we rented an umbrella with two chairs, for set up each day, and brought our own umbrellas and chairs too daily. One afternoon, sudden thunderstorm came up...obviously no way we would stay at the beach. Closed the "rented" umbrella, loaded up the other umbrellas and chairs in the provided "beach cart", and left it under the beach access steps, so we could get out of dodge from the storm. Came back one hour later. The rental unit's umbrella and a chair were no longer there. Interestingly, our daughter's "beach hammock" was not taken. We replaced the "stolen" items for our owner. Go figure. We have stayed from Destin east for 13 years, and occasionally have beach set ups provided, or we rent same, or several times we have brought our beach "awning" when we have a larger group. We ALWAYS take it down at night, and replace in the ams (even when renting with a private home on the beach). We bring our coolers, and other paraphernalia, and ALWAYS pick up our trash (as well as that of others). When in the Panhandle in the summer, we pay attention to the sun, and thus, the umbrellas and awnings....We set up "camp" mid-morning, and the last of us leaves at sunset, always taking our "things". We recognize that the beach is not "ours", but like being able to come and go during the day as food and nature calls! We're coming back in two weeks, and I look forward to vegging on the beach, reading, enjoying family company, in the shade, with the visual and auditory beauty surrounding....PLEASE don't tell me I need to take my stuff with me when I go to pee or eat lunch! :)

We love visitors like you and wish more were like you!

Our beef is with those who leave their tents unoccupied for hours, days, indefinitely.........causing unsightly trash and trouble for others and nature's critters.

It is not allowed to leave items on any beach overnite, but many do. That is the rule we are pushing to enforce.

[seaside2]

TNJed is right, chair dudes work theirs off 7 days. Tough way to make a living. It looks good at a casual glance, but it is hard work.

We have used several different chair dudes depending on the location and all are grayt!!

Couple this problem with the traffic issue and maybe it makes sense to add a negative incentive for folks to come down. I know this is bordering on anarchy, but maybe a beach occupancy tax, beach access fee or something like that to limit the number of people there. At the rate things are going, this place will be over run in 5 to 10 years.

[30A Skunkape]

Tonights final score-
Idiots who leave tents pitched after sunset-0
Skunkape-2

Booyah!

[iwishiwasthere]

Tonights final score-
Idiots who leave tents pitched after sunset-0
Skunkape-2

Booyah!

Go Skunky!!!!!

[Miss Kitty]

Tonights final score-
Idiots who leave tents pitched after sunset-0
Skunkape-2

Booyah!

YAY!!! I would so be there with you. I can't imagine anything more funn than this.

[Mermaid]

Tonights final score-
Idiots who leave tents pitched after sunset-0
Skunkape-2

Booyah!

Skunky, I need a few beach chairs for my renters. Can you get some for me?

[30A Skunkape]

Skunky, I need a few beach chairs for my renters. Can you get some for me?

Like shooting fish in a barrel. Might they also need kites, skim boards, hats, tents, snorkels, masks, shovels, capri-sun, buckets, bottled water or balls as well? I can't bring them deep holes, but I can steer them toward a few if they can't enjoy the beach without having a crater in close proximity

[Beachbummett]

Tonights final score-
Idiots who leave tents pitched after sunset-0
Skunkape-2

Booyah!

I love it! Hmmmmmmm.....I could use another big cooler with wheels on it! Why won't they leave one of those motorized rolling coolers?

Seriously, why cant the TDC get the word out better? Can we not post signs at the beach access'? I have thought about printing out flyers about the turtles and the reasons NOT to leave your crap on the beach and each evening strolling my part of the beach and attaching them to peoples junk. Could this help?

[GoodWitch58]

TNJed is right, chair dudes work theirs off 7 days. Tough way to make a living. It looks good at a casual glance, but it is hard work.

We have used several different chair dudes depending on the location and all are grayt!!

Couple this problem with the traffic issue and maybe it makes sense to add a negative incentive for folks to come down. I know this is bordering on anarchy, but maybe a beach occupancy tax, beach access fee or something like that to limit the number of people there. At the rate things are going, this place will be over run in 5 to 10 years.

Might be something to think about...I heard the official TDC "heads in beds" count for the 4th of July holiday was 200,000 people

[Beach Runner]

Tonights final score-
Idiots who leave tents pitched after sunset-0
Skunkape-2

Booyah!

You go, boy!

I'm driving down on 8/26. There won't be any renters in our neighborhood the weekend before Labor Day weekend (never are). So anything left at our private beach walkover (paid for by the 7 owners in our neighborhood)is definitely abandoned by renters. I'm gonna clean up the beach, toss the broken stuff, and confiscate the rest for next summer's renters.

[scooterbug44]

A tax or fee is not the way to limit the ever increasing numbers of people. Lobbying your county commissioners to stop approving dense projects - some more than the highest allowed density anywhere in the county - is!

A fee or tag on Joe Renter is spitting on a forest fire compared to things like the recently approved beach club megacomplex replacing the seagrove villas.

[Smiling JOe]

A tax or fee is not the way to limit the ever increasing numbers of people. Lobbying your county commissioners to stop approving dense projects - some more than the highest allowed density anywhere in the county - is!

A fee or tag on Joe Renter is spitting on a forest fire compared to things like the recently approved beach club megacomplex replacing the seagrove villas.

Very well said.

On the subject of items left on the beach overnight, here is a photo of the tracks of a LoggerHead Turtle which came onto the beach to lay her eggs, and apparently ran into the chair and umbrella:


(photo from SW Turtle Watch)
From Turtle Watch's website: "This loggerhead female had to go between chairs and hit an umbrella just to nest way to low and also in the Lake outfall, so this nest was moved. It
had 85 eggs and the poor sea turtle was confused by the chairs and then the glow from the west. She traveled over 300 feet westward going almost to the water twice and then going back up and finally to the water. Poor turtle. To many things on our beaches as you know and also to much bad lights."

[scooterbug44]

Items are not allowed on the beach at night - no exceptions.

Every home visible from the water is supposed to go through the DEP to get its light fixtures and lamp wattage approved.

WHY CAN'T WE ENFORCE ANY OF THIS?

I would think the $$ from fines would offset any additional staffing costs.

[TNJed]

May i add, those chairs and umbrella are NOT rentals. I can tell from the PVC pole and table attached to the umbrella. No company I know uses these and no self-respecting chair dude would use a PVC pipe to dig a hole in the sand.

[ozbeachmom]

Hey, if you find a couch or lamp, I need that! My daughter just moved into her own apartment. Anything will be greatly appreciated!

[Smiling JOe]

TNJed, a good friend of mine owns a chair rental business in SoWal, so I now how frustrating it is for you guys in the biz. These turtle tracks could have just as likely led to a mini-walmart-camp or a set of rentals. My good friend in the biz says that he sets up no more than three sets of chairs at any one location, but looking at this photo, it appears that there need not be a wall of chairs to interfere with the turtles. One set of chairs is all it takes. These massive creatures don't have good mobility on dry land. They cannot easily back up when they run into a chair, or get hung up on a casting net, left on the beach by some kids and, or parents. I would also guess the sea turtles' vision would be slightly off when on dry land since they spend their life in the water, except when they come ashore to lay eggs. Think about your own vision when opening your eyes in salt water at night.

[John R]

A tax or fee is not the way to limit the ever increasing numbers of people. Lobbying your county commissioners to stop approving dense projects - some more than the highest allowed density anywhere in the county - is!

Ha Ha Ha scooterbug, you're so right, but look who we're dealing with here. they may talk a good game, but their track record speaks volumes, sadly.

[MommieBunnie]

So what's up? Is it going to be a junk heap up at the beach at Summer's Edge and we will we be sorry that this is where we have chosen to stay this coming week? I was pretty disheartened to read all this! i know SOWal covers a lot of sand so maybe this isn't where the problem is but you can see how a first time renter might be a little concerned. We usually rent in Seaside - last year we were at Watersound but had heard so many things about the houses at SUmmer's edge and wanted to be right on the beach so we chose a place there. We had hoped to come find a beach chair rental co and have them put up 6 chairs and 3 umbrellas daily...then we had hoped to use them, go up to the house and cool off or have lunch, nap, snack etc and discover that the umbrellas are still there at least a decent portion of the day. Will one of us need to stand guard all day over the cooler or any other possession we might leave there or drag them back to the house everytime we go in??? Please tell me I am worrying needlessly....Thanks..

[John R]

you're worrying needlessly. your rental stuff will not be interfered with.

[Smiling JOe]

Mommiebunnie, I doubt you will have any problem leaving your chairs and umbrellas on the beach during the daytime. Please be aware that storms blow in quickly around here, so if you leave the beach for lunch, or a long stroll, secure your items so the floats, umbrellas, toys, etc aren't blowing into around, and make sure that your chairs won't be swept out to sea.

[30A Skunkape]

So what's up? Is it going to be a junk heap up at the beach at Summer's Edge and we will we be sorry that this is where we have chosen to stay this coming week? I was pretty disheartened to read all this! i know SOWal covers a lot of sand so maybe this isn't where the problem is but you can see how a first time renter might be a little concerned. We usually rent in Seaside - last year we were at Watersound but had heard so many things about the houses at SUmmer's edge and wanted to be right on the beach so we chose a place there. We had hoped to come find a beach chair rental co and have them put up 6 chairs and 3 umbrellas daily...then we had hoped to use them, go up to the house and cool off or have lunch, nap, snack etc and discover that the umbrellas are still there at least a decent portion of the day. Will one of us need to stand guard all day over the cooler or any other possession we might leave there or drag them back to the house everytime we go in??? Please tell me I am worrying needlessly....Thanks..

You are worrying needlessly. Nobody cares about your stuff being on the beach during the day, as long as it is occupied more than vacant, and it does not resemble the camp of the Israelites during the Exodus. I think people care about daytime sprawl and abandoned junk at night, and that is it. Have fun in SOWAL!

[seaside2]

You are right scooterbug. Politicians are ultimately the place where bad decisions are made. It is all about votes and $ to them. While our system is not perfect, it appears to be the best thing going on this globe.

What frustrates all of us is the very difficult time we have with doing the "right thing" for all concerned. What is the "right thing" and who are the "all concerned"?

If I had a good answer, I would probably state it.

[NotDeadYet]

Every home visible from the water is supposed to go through the DEP to get its light fixtures and lamp wattage approved.

This only applies to new construction and substantial rebuilds. As to the rest, there is no lighting ordinance in Walton County. An ordinance has come before the commissioners several times but failed to pass.

[seacrestkristi]

MommieBunnie You'll have a grayt time! No worries.
Keep up the good work, Skunky ....big winds and waves do happen at night

[TNJed]

So what's up? Is it going to be a junk heap up at the beach at Summer's Edge and we will we be sorry that this is where we have chosen to stay this coming week? I was pretty disheartened to read all this! i know SOWal covers a lot of sand so maybe this isn't where the problem is but you can see how a first time renter might be a little concerned. We usually rent in Seaside - last year we were at Watersound but had heard so many things about the houses at SUmmer's edge and wanted to be right on the beach so we chose a place there. We had hoped to come find a beach chair rental co and have them put up 6 chairs and 3 umbrellas daily...then we had hoped to use them, go up to the house and cool off or have lunch, nap, snack etc and discover that the umbrellas are still there at least a decent portion of the day. Will one of us need to stand guard all day over the cooler or any other possession we might leave there or drag them back to the house everytime we go in??? Please tell me I am worrying needlessly....Thanks..

No worries about Summer's Edge. I live and work on that beach and I can say it's a good trouble free area. As it stands right now, items are still left overnight here. And ordinance enforcement or not, leaving your items unoccupied during the day is not a problem.

I'll be more than happy to help you with your 3x6 set up when you arrive!

850-200-3595
The Beach Chair Company

[TNJed]

TNJed, a good friend of mine owns a chair rental business in SoWal, so I now how frustrating it is for you guys in the biz. These turtle tracks could have just as likely led to a mini-walmart-camp or a set of rentals. My good friend in the biz says that he sets up no more than three sets of chairs at any one location, but looking at this photo, it appears that there need not be a wall of chairs to interfere with the turtles. One set of chairs is all it takes. These massive creatures don't have good mobility on dry land. They cannot easily back up when they run into a chair, or get hung up on a casting net, left on the beach by some kids and, or parents. I would also guess the sea turtles' vision would be slightly off when on dry land since they spend their life in the water, except when they come ashore to lay eggs. Think about your own vision when opening your eyes in salt water at night.

Oh I hear ya, just making an observation because that set up does look like professional rental gear and TW gives us a hard time when we're actually outnumbered in terms of general stuff left out.

I think clearing items will be a good thing for everyone IF done right.

[seacrestkristi]

Does Summer's Edge not care about the turtles

Are they just too lazy to carry it in? Or are they just more 'special' than everyone else?

[scooterbug44]

Can't just single out Summer's Edge, there are FAR too many violators who know the rules!

Simple rule - get your stuff off the beach at sunset!

I am constantly amazed at how people can't comprehend or follow basic rules!

All of my guests (friends & family, not renters) know there's no glass on the beach and managed to understand the flag system. Not littering or leaving stuff on the beach was an unnecessary thing to tell them as they actually care about the environment. There are friends of mine who know the flag system because I showed them a jpeg of the sign to demonstrate its simplicity and they have never even been to Florida!

[seacrestkristi]

Well, what are the names of the other 'special' communities that openly admit leaving their stuff out at night?
Maybe if they got called out by name they would suddenly remember about the endangered sea turtles. Funny in a kinda way what motivates folks.

[scooterbug44]

I don't know, but could try a little shaming to get folks to comply!

[TNJed]

This has absolutely nothing to do with Summer's Edge or any other single beach community in itself. It has to do with not properly educating the visitors, who change every Saturday as a whole, and not enforcing the current ordinances.

We're talking about mass awareness or lack thereof. Too simplistic to just write it off as feeling special or lazy. As with other infrastructure issues suffering due to quick growth, beach education and enforcement is at the top of the list. As I said before, until the county properly enforces the rules of the beach by keeping them cleared, we, the county licensed vendors, cannot properly service the tourists who choose to use our service and remain in compliance everywhere.

On a side note, there really aren't dunes at the Summer's Edge beach. Boardwalks, fences and buildings themselves front 99% of the "vegetation line", so I can't see where a turtle would lay eggs here even if the beach was cleared. And for that matter, I can't recall, if ever, turtle tracks or nest have been spotted in this area west of Eastern Lake.

You have to remember, educating our visitors should be a weekly if not daily exercise. The changeover is constant and there is no quick fix. The TDC needs to step up, get in the trenches so to speak and do a lot of hard work now which will pay dividends in the future.

[NotDeadYet]

WALTON COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (TDC) ANNOUNCES "REMOVE IT OR
LOSE IT" CAMPAIGN

WALTON COUNTY, Fla.-July 17, 2007 - The Beaches of South Walton Tourist
Development Council (TDC) is announcing the "Remove it or Lose it"
campaign to help the Sheriffs Department and Code Enforcement enforce
the Walton County Ordinance 2003-07g. The "Remove it or Lose it"
campaign will assist in educating the public on the ordinance to ensure
a smooth transition for beachgoers. Enforcement of the ordinance will
go into effect on July 23, 2007.
Walton County ordinance 2003-07G states: it shall be unlawful for beach
chairs, umbrellas, tents and other such personal articles to be on the
beach in such a manner that they interfere with beach maintenance,
nesting turtles, or emergency vehicles.

"Due to the sheer volume of beachgoers leaving personal items on
the beach, the county was forced to address this public safety and
environmental concern," explained Kriss Titus, executive director of the
TDC. "As the organization charged with marketing the destination and
maintaining the county's 26-miles of beaches, it was natural for the TDC
to spearhead the 'Remove It or Lose It' campaign and for our beach crews
to remove abandoned items."

The enforcement of the new ordinance will protect the public and
nesting sea turtles. Personal articles left on the beach overnight
during sea turtle nesting season have resulted in significant numbers of
abandoned nesting attempts. In addition, personal belongings left on the
beach are hindering beach maintenance crews from adequately cleaning the
beach and interfering with emergency vehicle access. There have also
been reports of injuries to beachgoers who encounter these items while
walking the beach after dark.

The intent of the ordinance is not to remove personal belongings
under private boardwalks, but rather to ensure all items are removed
from the middle of the beach. The ordinance applies to all areas
falling within the definition of "beach," regardless of whether such
areas are located on public or private property. Articles that are
stored adjacent to or underneath personal walkovers will not be removed
unless there is TDC maintained trash receptacle at that location. Any
personal items left near county walkovers or adjacent to any of the 400
trash receptacles maintained by the Beaches of South Walton Tourist
Development Council (TDC) will be removed without being tagged.

The Walton County Sheriffs Department, TDC beach maintenance
staff, Code Enforcement, and the Walton County beach activities
coordinator will all aid in the implementation of "Remove it or Lose
it." The Walton County Sheriffs Department will tag items on the beach
giving owners and beach vendors 24 hours to remove the items from the
beach. The tag will have a date, time, and description of the item
observed on the beach. Items left near county walkovers and TDC
maintained beach receptacles will be removed without being tagged. The
TDC beach maintenance staff will remove all items that have remained
past the 24-hour notice. The ordinance as written applies to all areas
falling within the definition of "beach," regardless of whether such
areas are located on public or private property. However, articles that
are stored adjacent to or underneath personal walkovers will not be
removed. For more information, contact Code Enforcement at (850)
622-0000.

###

Tracy Louthain, APR
Director of Public Relations & Visitor Services
Beaches of South Walton Tourist Development Council
P.O. Box 1248
Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 USA
Phone: 850-267-1216 ext. 122

[seacrestkristi]

Junk left on the beach overnight is junk left on the beach overnight, isn't it? Whatever happened to TEACHING BY EXAMPLE?
Shouldn't these locals be setting a good example to visitors? Goodness sakes, they most likely would be inclined to say,"Why not just leave our stuff overnight the locals do it? See over there in front of Summer's Edge? Must not hurt anything? Let's go. It'll be fine." What about the turtles??? Did you see the stats listed in the Leatherhead Turtle thread yet? Check it out. They are endangered.
Thanks NotDeadYet! Funny private property owners can still endanger nesting under their walkovers IF they so choose but this is exciting news none the less. Early morning walks on the beach should be much less unobstructed too!

[WlzMom]

We had this problem staying in Blue Mountain this year also. People staked out their "campsites" and left them out. Some got VERY mad when their stuff got moved the night of the 4th. I was appalled to see the situation in front of the Adagio just down the beach. It looked like a tent city - like "Hooverville" in NYC's Central Park during the depression.

I would NEVER rent there for that very reason. So, is the bottom line that we can move people's stuff every evening or what? I hate being rude, but rules are rules.

[NotDeadYet]

On a side note, there really aren't dunes at the Summer's Edge beach. Boardwalks, fences and buildings themselves front 99% of the "vegetation line", so I can't see where a turtle would lay eggs here even if the beach was cleared. And for that matter, I can't recall, if ever, turtle tracks or nest have been spotted in this area west of Eastern Lake.

If you check with the turtle watch people, you will be told there have been quite a few nests in that very area you are speaking of. Dunes or dunes has nothing to do with it - the turtle does not know what is there when she comes up on the beach, they have poor eyesight on land. Unless disturbed, she will generally come as far up the beach as she can, whether she finds a dune or not, and lay eggs there.

[scooterbug44]

WALTON COUNTY TOURIST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (TDC) ANNOUNCES "REMOVE IT OR
LOSE IT" CAMPAIGN

Great! Hope it puts a big dent in the problem or solves it!