SoWal Advisory Group

[GoodWitch58]

I am trying to be positive here. We obviously have a lot of experience and talent on the Board. We are able to articulate opinions, quickly "see" things, and are not shy about jumping into an issue.
I am wondering if we can design a way to serve the community BEFORE things happen...serve as a citizens advisory panel; a focus group; a sounding board...for some of the officials.
Most of us have commitments of home and family and jobs...many of us are only here part of the year...but we all have a vested interest in our community.
I have lived here for almost eight years and at first I attended meetings, signed up for committees, and offered my services...I stopped because I could not seem to get anywhere...and sitting through 3, 4, or 5 hour County Commission meetings is just not possible for me to do on a regular basis.
But, I would gladly serve on a focus group or sounding board, if "the powers that be" would seek input in a more focused way BEFORE decisions are made.
Thoughts anyone????

[Hop]

good idea...SoWal was become a voice already...

[Jdarg]

Excellent idea Goodwitch- many of us are already involved in "pieces and parts" around here. It would be nice to have a central, focused, and organized group, that was keeping track of meetings and such that affect the community.

[scooterbug44]

I already think of Sowal as an advisory group, and the best way to get the word out to the community about a potential issue.

Love how today's Sowal thread is next week's newspaper story!

IMO a dedicated advisory group/committee may just add to the trouble by adding another level of bureaucracy/red tape.

Definitely think that all "ideas" should be vetted through Sowal to avoid more gov't snafus.

[Beach Runner]

Yes, it's called the South Walton Community Council. Their website is http://www.southwaltoncc.org . We got a lot of support from Executive Director Anita Page when our neighborhood had an issue that we felt strongly about.

You can also go to http://www.co.walton.fl.us to get dates and agendas for Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners meetings. If you want to be involved in the process before decisions are made regarding issues that are important to you, you can either attend the meetings or email the commissioners (their email addresses are on that website).

[wrobert]

Yes, it's called the South Walton Community Council. Their website is http://www.southwaltoncc.org . We got a lot of support from Executive Director Anita Page when our neighborhood had an issue that we felt strongly about.

Anita is really good. She attends a lot of meetings and puts out some very good summaries that give both sides of many issues.

But even with their participation, it seems to me that things just do not get done. And it is frustrating for me and I just drive down to the area once a week or so. I would be a flipped out lunatic if I lived down there.

For example, when entering the temporary building that code enforcement and some of planning use in south Walton, they use to have a sign that said:

No Dogs' Allowed

except Service Dogs'

It took almost a year to get them to drop the ' from the word "Dogs". After explaining it to the person at the desk a dozen times I had to write three levels of government officials to get a sign changed so it did not portray Walton County as a bunch of uneducated people. And this is a small trivial example. But I believe an example of the overall attitude of government. Look how long this sign issue is dragging out. And several of the commissioners have told me that they want to see something changed, yet I see no one standing up and getting it done.

Oh well, enough ranting for the night.

[Smiling JOe]

Yes, Anita attends most BCC meetings held in SoWal, and she does represent SWCC. However, she is often only one of two people with the SWCC whom regularly attend the meetings. If you join a group like SWCC or any other group, it doesn't end there. You owe it to yourself and the group to actively participate. Don't expect someone else to do the work for you. I think that groups can be powerful, but even more powerful is a court room filled with individual free-thinkers.

[Beach Runner]

For example, when entering the temporary building that code enforcement and some of planning use in south Walton, they use to have a sign that said:

No Dogs' Allowed

except Service Dogs'

It took almost a year to get them to drop the ' from the word "Dogs".

Misuse of the apostrophe is one of my pet peeves. Its misuse so rampant that some linguists recommend getting rid of it.

But that's not the SWCC's mistake.

[wrobert]

Misuse of the apostrophe is one of my pet peeves. Its misuse so rampant that some linguists recommend getting rid of it.

But that's not the SWCC's mistake.

Sorry that error lies squarely on the staff of the Walton County Planning Department.

[SWGB]

Sorry that error lies squarely on the staff of the Walton County Planning Department.

Walton County Planning Department
"The only thing we get right is mistakes"

[wrobert]

Walton County Planning Department
"The only thing we get right is mistakes"

Oh that is good. Very, very good.

[Smiling JOe]

Walton County Planning Department
"The only thing we get right is mistakes"

That's not true. Sometimes, they even get their mistakes wrong.

[Teresa]

I really appreciate SWCC and its mission:
To preserve, protect and enhance the quality of life and the natural environment of South Walton County, Florida. From its forested wildernesses, swamps, lakes, bay, beach and rivers to its historic towns and pioneer heritage, South Walton County is unique. Founded in 1995, SWCC is a nonpartisan coalition of residents, property owners, workers, neighborhoods and business owners.


SWCC can not possibly do what sowal.com can do, thanks to our talented and articulate members who are all such great lovers of sowal. you don't have to go to a meeting, pay dues and wait to get on an agenda around here. you don't have to have a major development issue to get some action around here. many of the community issues discussed here range from big to small, and everything in between. in other words, sowal.com covers it all. other community "groups" cover a limited agenda and operate in a completely different kind of way. sowal.com has a kind of limitless range of topics and community impact. and has become a real voice, as Hop said above.


I think Goodwitch has an idea here that may work well. maybe our voice is already heard well enough. or maybe we do need a focus group to help formulate concensus on issues, and organize sowal's responses to certain issues, etc. as long as it does not get to be all politically driven like every other group in town!!! including SWCC.

[GoodWitch58]

I think Goodwitch has an idea here that may work well. maybe our voice is already heard well enough. or maybe we do need a focus group to help formulate concensus on issues, and organize sowal's responses to certain issues, etc. as long as it does not get to be all politically driven like every other group in town!!! including SWCC.[/QUOTE]

Thanks Everyone. Perhaps I should clarify what I was thinking.

Anita and SWCC do a wonderful job...but, they have a full plate and they do have a mission, albeit a wide-ranging one.

What I am thinking about ideally would come from the government entities--seeking citizen input. In many communities there is an office of Community Relations...we don't have anything like that here as far as I can tell. And, by the time items show up on the Commission agenda, much work has already been done and money has been spent.

Commissioner Meadows recently requested citizens fill out a survey on recycling and she has been wonderful about the Play Park, but from what I know, these are isolated incidents, and both came about after a great discussion on Sowal.

So, in the absence of a request for citizens input, I was thinking out loud about how could we channel our energy in a positive way to get our voice heard before the action are taken. We seem to spend so much time now trying to get things removed or changed. If we could have a focused voiced BEFORE we could save money, time, and our sanity.

I agree with SJ that freethinking peeps crowding a Commission meeting make a huge difference. And, certainly Walton GOP is right about how long it to get anything done--apparently even when the Commissioners themselves want it done--so, how can we get our voice heard before we have more Big Blue Signs or The (orange) Beach....splattered across airline magazines and the WSJ???

Who knows what's lurking in the halls of the Commission or the TDC, or the Planning Office?

Let's keep discussisng it to find a way to have citizens involved before more time and $$$ are spent on things that the community finds unacceptable.

We have great ideas--and, as my granddaughter says, we have "Special Powers"-- I know we can do it!

[TooFarTampa]

Random thoughts:

I've often wished that Anita Page would come here and keep us updated on the SWCC and, when necessary, get us whipped into a frenzy about something or at least give us a nugget of information about stuff that may end up being something we need to know about.

Also, I view SoWal as being the daily newspaper that the county lacks. Not only are there very informed people reading and posting daily, but there is a great "collective wisdom" here when it comes to the hashing out of issues. It really is very impressive, and I agree that harnessing the "power" of SoWal in some consistent way can only add value to the community.

No offense meant to the Walton Sun, but when you have a daily newspaper taking a look at everything that happens in your backyard, there is so much more oversight of public officials. It appears that for years, the officials (most of them working in the north county anyway) have been used to facing little resistance to anything due to the lack of oversight. SoWal.com has almost become this de facto source of oversight, and I think county officials might be realizing this finally.

My thought is that if anyone tried to make anything "official" out of the evolving SoWal influence, it would be met with heavy resistance. However, if SoWal became more of an oversight agency (thanks to more posting from informed peeps like Anita Page), it could motivate more property owners to get their voices heard. A perfect example of this is Dave's postings re the sign issue. It will be interesting to see how this works out!

A formal committee might end up leaving out property owners who love SoWal and want to be a part of what happens there but don't live nearby. This is what makes SoWal.com so special. I guess what I'm saying is maybe with greater participation from influential locals, it can be made into more of what it already is.

[Smiling JOe]

The "formal committee" thing scares me a bit. I truly feel that if such a committee were formed, people would become more complacent because they would know that the Committee represents them, and their own voice would get muted. As the Yogi says, "we already have all we need." When there is no committee, everyone has a voice, and are typically more passionate about using it.

[Teresa]

I don't think a formal committee is necessary. and not even what goodwitch is suggesting. just to keep talking about the issues on sowal.com and making a real effort to make a difference is all it takes. and we do have this already in place, pretty much.

also, for those who enjoy being directly involved in the community, you can be sure to keep sowal members posted on issues and events, etc.

kind of an informal group of community members. TFT is right - this is our daily source of info, in leiu of any real newspaper, etc. I've NEVER seen the local news on TV. so this is really my only source. If jdarg does not tell us about the Play Park progress, I will not know a thing about it until I happen to drive by and notice there is a new park.

it's worthy of discussion anyway, just for awareness of members of how sowal members do make such a difference! many of you are already excellent sowal representatives.

[GoodWitch58]

I don't think a formal committee is necessary. and not even what goodwitch is suggesting. just to keep talking about the issues on sowal.com and making a real effort to make a difference is all it takes. and we do have this already in place, pretty much.

also, for those who enjoy being directly involved in the community, you can be sure to keep sowal members posted on issues and events, etc.

kind of an informal group of community members. TFT is right - this is our daily source of info, in leiu of any real newspaper, etc. I've NEVER seen the local news on TV. so this is really my only source. If jdarg does not tell us about the Play Park progress, I will not know a thing about it until I happen to drive by and notice there is a new park.

it's worthy of discussion anyway, just for awareness of members of how sowal members do make such a difference! many of you are already excellent sowal representatives.

Thanks, Tootsie. You are right--that's what I was trying to get across. I don't want a formal group/committee/meeting...just didn't know what else to call it for the sake of this thread.

I was simply trying to find a way to be proactive, so that we could save time, money, and not expend so much energy trying to "fix things" that many of us believe never should have happened in the first place.

Just think how different it might have been, if the TDC had posted the Sign Plan with Designs on Sowal and asked for the community's response....or if someone had asked our opinion of The Beach....

[Allifunn]

I am sure those of us that are part time residents, land owners, and soon to be residents will appreciate SoWal.com being a big voice in the community. When it comes to most issues, we are all of the same opinion...the betterment of SoWal, the conservation of the environment and the quality of life.

[florida girl]

I have to agree that SoWal.com is probably the best forum to discuss issues here, however, I don't think it necessarily covers the entire population, only the computer/internet savvy. We need more respect for all citizen's, not just the favored ones. The notion, if you don't like it move, is really not acceptable. We should be able to converse and discuss all aspects of an issue, as civilized adults.

[Smiling JOe]

Ms Kitty, did you read that? florida girl called you "internet savvy." lol.

[Miss Kitty]

Ms Kitty, did you read that? florida girl called you "internet savvy." lol.

....just catching up! Thanks for the shout out!

[Darth Vader]

I say the key word here is Incorporate! Thats right all these people that are busy pointing fingers and want to tell the county how to spend the money they collect as a whole for one little strip on the south side of the county needs to "Incorporate!" That would allow people like Dave to run for Mayor and others to have the power to control what goes on in their "Incorporated" area. I say Walton county Tax payers need to stand up and say if you do not like it, INCORPORATE!. Have your own Police and Fire and heck even your own TDC. The 30A neighborhood is just that a neighborhood with subdivisions. Why would any of us that pay taxes allow a handful of "Oh My's" dictate what the county should do as a whole. This guy Dave owns a business in the Seaside subdivision of Walton County? He surely does not represent the entire business community.
If Seaside subdivision wants to have "Pretty" signs, than Incorporate and spend your own tax Money.

[scooterbug44]

I have to agree that SoWal.com is probably the best forum to discuss issues here, however, I don't think it necessarily covers the entire population, only the computer/internet savvy. We need more respect for all citizen's, not just the favored ones. The notion, if you don't like it move, is really not acceptable. We should be able to converse and discuss all aspects of an issue, as civilized adults.

No offense, but if someone isn't internet/computer savvy in 2008 they are missing out on a whole lot more than a discussion of topics. There is not a more cost effective, rapid, or democratic way of having a discussion than via a free community message board.

And the "unfavored" ones have free access to a computer and help on using it at the public library.

[ShallowsNole]

I say the key word here is Incorporate! Thats right all these people that are busy pointing fingers and want to tell the county how to spend the money they collect as a whole for one little strip on the south side of the county needs to "Incorporate!" That would allow people like Dave to run for Mayor and others to have the power to control what goes on in their "Incorporated" area. I say Walton county Tax payers need to stand up and say if you do not like it, INCORPORATE!. Have your own Police and Fire and heck even your own TDC. The 30A neighborhood is just that a neighborhood with subdivisions. Why would any of us that pay taxes allow a handful of "Oh My's" dictate what the county should do as a whole. This guy Dave owns a business in the Seaside subdivision of Walton County? He surely does not represent the entire business community.
If Seaside subdivision wants to have "Pretty" signs, than Incorporate and spend your own tax Money.

No incorporation, please. Look at Destin. And who patrols the streets of Destin? Who builds their beach walkovers? Hint: neither agency has the word "Destin" in their name.

[wrobert]

No incorporation, please. Look at Destin. And who patrols the streets of Destin? Who builds their beach walkovers? Hint: neither agency has the word "Destin" in their name.

Incorporate? If the problem is tax dollars how is that suppose to help? You get to keep paying county tax, plus a new city tax, and the county would be providing fewer services. I guess those of us in the boonies would appreciate it. We would have even more dollars to spend on things in our area.

[Smiling JOe]

I agree with WaltonGOP. If you think property taxes are high now, wait until you they double from having City tax on top of County Tax. Currently, property tax is less than .9 % (that is, point nine percent). The city from which I moved, had a combined tax amount of 2.8 % (city and county). I'm not sure how you think incorporating would benefit SoWallers. If you think it will make SoWallers take more of a stand, or show up at City meetings, than those who currently attend County meetings, I think you haven't been to a County meeting yet. It won't happen. In my opinion, it would just lead to more wasteful spending, and make things even more confusing.

[chrisv]

No offense, but if someone isn't internet/computer savvy in 2008 they are missing out on a whole lot more than a discussion of topics. There is not a more cost effective, rapid, or democratic way of having a discussion than via a free community message board.

And the "unfavored" ones have free access to a computer and help on using it at the public library.

It's interesting, I have to work hard to remember the days before the internet (how did I get through school without myspace or facebook?) I suppose I have been a user of it since around 1992, when I remember thinking about how cool it was to be able to print out ski resort snow reports from text-only sites on prodigy! I actually started a business that provided commercial RE sales data online back then; everybody said "that's cool, but can I get it in a book?!" So it's hard for me to understand that there are a lot of folks that still see/use the internets as a gimmick or toy. Even if they have free, tutored access to it, we shouldn't give them less of a voice or weight of opinion if they choose not to use it.