Walton County COVID19 Updates

Does it apply to beach front property owners as well? If the beaches are closed, then it should apply to all. I have no problem with closing the beaches, but giving special privilege to those who are fortunate to own beachfront properties really irks me.

Wow, so you want to tell someone what they can and can't do on their property? Especially something as trivial as going out into their backyard?

Even though the county says they can't close private beaches, they certainly can close the water (think double red flags). This would be a further deterrent to short term renters.

This morning the Walton County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to pass an ordinance that will temporarily close all 26 miles of beach in Walton County to the public in order to slow or stop the spread of COVID-19. Board members struggled with this decision and acknowledged the devastating effects this will have for our local economy and jobs, but voted to pass the measure in hopes of saving lives of locals and visitors.

The action goes into effect immediately, and although owners of private beach still have legal access to their own property, board members are urging them to abide by the spirit of safety and caution they are putting forth county-wide.

The Walton County TDC will begin spreading this message immediately, and physically closing all beach accesses early tomorrow morning. The Walton County Sheriff’s Office has stated that they will be pushing for voluntary compliance, and pursuing an education-first response strategy.

These are unprecedented actions, and unprecedented times. We must stand together, and prepare to once again welcome visitors and the lifeblood that tourism brings to our economy as soon as conditions allow us to do so.

We are all in this together, and we are committed to help partner in any way that we can.


Best Regards,

Jay Tusa, CDME, CTIS, TMP
Executive Director
Walton County TDC
(850) 267-1216
Jay@VisitSouthWalton.com

Like my mom used to say when i was growing up:
What's good for the goose is good for the gander!

Wow, so you want to tell someone what they can and can't do on their property? Especially something as trivial as going out into their backyard?

Yes, and hope they have the conscience to help our community, which in a health crisis like this, extends to the entire globe.

Walton County BCC Directs Attorney to Draft Emergency Ordinance to Close Walton County Beaches

During today's emergency meeting of the Walton County Board of County Commissioners (WCBCC), the WCBCC approved a motion to direct the County Attorney to draw up an emergency ordinance to close the beaches in Walton County.

At their direction, the County Attorney's office will work on the ordinance and bring it to the board The board at 9 a.m. on Thursday March 19th as part of the recessed Emergency Meeting.

The WCBCC will reconvene at 9:00 am on Thursday, March 19th in the DeFuniak Springs Boardroom located at 571 US Hwy 90 in DeFuniak Springs.

In an abundance of caution, space will be limited. We will be practicing social distancing as per the CDC guidelines and will maintain the 6-foot rule.

This meeting is open to the public. Please be governed accordingly.

I love how they said they were going to practice "social distancing"; yet, they all passed around a single hand held microphone. Boneheads!

BREAKING: Okaloosa County Commissioners vote to close county beaches to the public. This comes after Walton County Commissioners voted to close their public beaches earlier this morning.

BREAKING: Okaloosa County Commissioners vote to close county beaches to the public. This comes after Walton County Commissioners voted to close their public beaches earlier this morning.

Are they allowing beachfront owners access to their beaches like we are?

SEASIDE
Social media post March 19

This curfew is prelude to our commercial closure. We love our visitors but please go home and come back when it’s safe. #socialdistance

WALTON COUNTY BCC CLOSES BEACHES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC; SHERIFF’S OFFICE CHARGED WITH ENFORCEMENT

March 19, 2020
WALTON COUNTY, Fla— A vote early Thursday morning has closed beaches to the general public in Walton County.

At their scheduled emergency meeting Walton County Board of County Commissioners passed an emergency ordinance to close all Walton County beaches to the public.

The ordinance is effective immediately as of 9:45 a.m. on Thursday, March 19th, 2020 and will remain in place for 30 days unless subsequent action is taken by the Commission.

Walton County Sheriff’s Office will be charged with enforcement of the ordinance which came following a local state of emergency triggered by COVID-19.

Walton County Sheriff’s Office is seeking voluntary compliance in this unprecedented time in our community. It is imperative for our constituents to understand the magnitude behind this decision and the resources it will take to enforce.

While deputies will be doing their best to educate and mediate first, personal responsibility is essential during this time for the safety and health of our county.

Normal operations will continue at the Sheriff’s Office as far as answering calls for service and continuing our commitment to serving our residents.

We are asking for our community to come together to help spread this message.

“The important thing to understand is that we are going to carry out our duties in a professional manner with an emphasis on customer service with a common-sense approach,” said Sheriff Adkinson. “It is our intent to continue to be good stewards of the public’s trust.”

“The Walton County Board of County Commissioners continues to convey the importance of following CDC guidelines and practicing social distancing,” said Walton County Administrator Larry Jones. “We are asking residents and visitors to continue to take personal responsibility towards working to halt the spread of the COVID-19 virus.”

VIEW THE ORDINANCE – Ordinance 2020-08
https://www.co.walton.fl.us/Documen...ance-Closing-Public-Beaches-Ordinance-2020-08

Are they allowing beachfront owners access to their beaches like we are?

Even the most fence happy BFO will admit that they don't own the wet sand.

SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Florida Small Businesses Economically Impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for
working capital to Florida small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the
Coronavirus (COVID-19), SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza announced today. SBA acted under its
own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental
Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, to declare a disaster following a request
receivedfrom Gov.RonDeSantis onMarch17,2020.

The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in the entire state of Florida; and the
contiguous counties of Baldwin, Covington, Escambia, Geneva and Houston in Alabama; and Brooks,
Camden, Charlton, Clinch, Decatur, Echols, Grady, Lowndes, Seminole, Thomas and Ware in Georgia.
“SBA is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible
to assist Florida small businesses with federal disaster loans. We will be swift in our efforts to help
these small businesses recover from the financial impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19),” said
Administrator Carranza.

SBA Customer Service Representatives will be available to answer questions about SBA’s Economic
Injury Disaster Loan program and explain the application process.

“Small businesses, private non-profit organizations of any size, small agricultural cooperatives and
small aquaculture enterprises that have been financially impacted as a direct result of the Coronavirus
(COVID-19) since Jan. 31, 2020, may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to
help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster
not occurred,” said Carranza.

“These loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be
paid because of the disaster’s impact. Disaster loans can provide vital economic assistance to small
businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they areexperiencing,” Carranzaadded.
Eligibility for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is based on the financial impact of the Coronavirus
(COVID-19). The interest rate is 3.75 percent for small businesses. The interest rate for private nonprofit
organizations is 2.75 percent. SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep
payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years and are available to entities without the financial
ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship.



Applicants may apply online,receiveadditional disasterassistance information and download
applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer
Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more
information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call
(800)877-8339. Completed applications shouldbemailed toU.S.SmallBusinessAdministration,
Processingand DisbursementCenter,14925KingsportRoad,FortWorth,TX 76155.
The deadline to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan is Dec. 18, 2020.
Formore information about Coronavirus,please visit: Coronavirus.gov.

For more information about available SBA resources and services, please visit: SBA.gov/coronavirus.

As hard as the decision is, it is the right one to make. Anyone going through Seaside, Rosemary etc in the last few days can see the total chaos and disregard. Are the State Park beaches closing as well? There doesn't seem to be much point in closing other beaches along 30A if the State Parks beaches remain open.

As of 230pm today, I saw that the sneetches are still on the beaches at Blue Mtn, Ed Waline, Dune Allen and possibly other locations. There was no one there saying otherwise and people were still parking and heading on out. Is there an update that this will be enforced at a later date? Thank you.

As of 230pm today, I saw that the sneetches are still on the beaches at Blue Mtn, Ed Waline, Dune Allen and possibly other locations. There was no one there saying otherwise and people were still parking and heading on out. Is there an update that this will be enforced at a later date? Thank you.

Walton Co Sheriff press conference this afternoon said they will be enforcing as of 5am tomorrow at all public beach access points. Also, he stated that it is his understanding that State Park beaches will follow the direction of the county within which they are located.

"What we're going to be doing is, simply, for the statewide floor for beaches, is applying the CDC guidance of no group on a beach more than 10 and you have to have distance apart if you're going to be out there," DeSantis said.

It's good they are taking the Governor serious at Miramar Beach.

Miramar BeachCam At Majestic Sun

2:30 today.. at noon they were 20 deep at every airstream. The road was a constant stream west and east looking for beach access.

Spring Break travel and activities are the worst case scenario for infection spreading.

I fear that Atlanta, Birmingham and nearly every other size city in the USA will have MASSIVE outbreaks over the next few weeks as people not only return from vacation but also from colleges and universities that send them home. Then many kids will get tired of being at home and will go back to their school or to visit friends in other places.

Give me freedom or give me death may come true for thousands if not millions.

We have reservations for a weeks' stay exactly 31 days from now in a single-family home in a quiet Dune Allen neighborhood. We will be driving if we can still come, three women and a dog. We do not want to put any locals at risk. We would like to sit on our porch, walk the beach (not with the dog) and eat some good seafood, even if it only involves takeout. We would probably need a run through Publix, but otherwise no need to shop. Does this sound reasonable and doable? Renting through Dune Allen. They haven't posted or sent any updates on rescheduling folks and the reservation is supposed to be non-refundable. (I did see that another company is allowing date changes through the end of the year)

Even though Walton Beaches are now closed ... bid question will WCSO and TDB enforce or look away like they have for years when tourist bring glass bottles on the beach..... dig DEEP holes with wooden and steel head shovels, leave junk on beaches at night during turtle season, allowing Mafia Beach Vendors rule the roost...... WSCO officers look the other way