SoWal Incorporation

Andy, did you attend one of the informational meetings?

Andy, did you attend one of the informational meetings?

Whether I attended any of the meetings or not is immaterial, IMO. I am well enough versed in city government administration function to understand what is required and necessary to develop a city government. One thing more. This is not the first time an attempt to incorporate has been tried in South Walton. It is still my opinion that the area is too diversified, rural in nature except for all ready developed areas and not conducive to incorporation at this time in general. If Seaside, Watercolor, Rosemary Beach, Inlet Beach and other already developed areas wish to incorporate, fine. In my area, as far as I'm concerned, it is unnecessary. As I have stated previously, whether incorporation occurs or not, those proposing it should be working diligently to strengthen our zoning requirements and development planning. It would be just as productive, and possibly moreso, than attempting to incorporate.

Whether I attended any of the meetings or not is immaterial, IMO. I am well enough versed in city government administration function to understand what is required and necessary to develop a city government. One thing more. This is not the first time an attempt to incorporate has been tried in South Walton. It is still my opinion that the area is too diversified, rural in nature except for all ready developed areas and not conducive to incorporation at this time in general. If Seaside, Watercolor, Rosemary Beach, Inlet Beach and other already developed areas wish to incorporate, fine. In my area, as far as I'm concerned, it is unnecessary. As I have stated previously, whether incorporation occurs or not, those proposing it should be working diligently to strengthen our zoning requirements and development planning. It would be just as productive, and possibly moreso, than attempting to incorporate.

I think the meetings would provide useful information for those who are interested in learning what incorporation means for South Walton. It truly means something different for each city, depending on needs and characteristics of the town.

Much of Walton County is still rural, but I do believe South Walton has far exceeded growth in any other area. It's one of the fastest growing areas in the state of Florida and has been for quite some time. Which is why we're reaching that point of needing a government body that will focus on our unique needs for infrastructure, growth and development for years to come. We can take charge of our future or let DeFuniak Springs continue to be our "leadership".

Teresa, lets simplify this. You, Jdarg and others are for incorportation of South Walton. I am not and will continue to promote the reasons why which I have expressed up to this time. We will have to agree to disagree on the value of the incorporation of South Walton other than the areas with which I have no problem.

We can take charge of our future or let DeFuniak Springs continue to be our "leadership".

Umm, excuse me but Defuniak Springs can't pay attention let alone be your leadership. Aspirations for growth in Defuniak have never been what I consider admirable because of those who control the growth aspect of this City. Until we get rid of those who control our growth (or the lack thereof) we will continue to be what we have always been...a little spot on the map to get gas and head to the beach. You give us far to much credit if you think we are "your leadership".

The County is your issue not Defuniak!

Misty is absolutely right. What's more, you can easily attain the same dramatic leadership here in South Walton if the wrong people are elected. What those pushing for incorporation seem to conveniently forget is that there are five county commissioners elected at large. By assuring the right people are selected in all five districts, turning out the vote in South Walton and educating the populace regarding your desired outcomes, you can easily make the BCC responsive to your needs. I don't need another layer of government and the taxation that goes along with it. It would behoove those pushing for incorporation to work to make our present system better instead.

Defuniak Springs is the Walton County BCC seat and the north part of the County holds the power over our community. I don't know why people would think this is a good idea now or ever. If you've ever been to a BCC meeting, you might understand what I'm saying.

Defuniak Springs is the Walton County BCC seat and the north part of the County holds the power over our community. I don't know why people would think this is a good idea now or ever. If you've ever been to a BCC meeting, you might understand what I'm saying.

I'm glad you think we have so much power up here in the north.

And for whatever it's worth to you Teresa, I've been to more BCC meetings than I can count and I can assure you the citizens of this County have never, ever held the power (even with their vote) to actually get things done without fighting very long, hard, tough battles with the BCC. You do this boards audience a real disservice by suggesting the North end is somehow holding the South end hostage. That simply is not true.

I'll name just a few for you Teresa:

The leaking landfill...not an issue of me anymore. I'm on City water but for those of you South of us...water runs downhill. Where's your outrage?

The old Humane Society was ousted by the BCC but it took approximately 2 years for that to happen and an audit that proved unequivocally we had thieves on the County payroll who were only looking out for themselves and not the animals or the Citizens best interests. From the date they lost their contract with the County it took another 2 years for the County to reluctantly agree to build their own facility (even though 2 different BCC boards voted unanimously to do so) and another 4 years for the building to finally come to fruition. From start to finish it was an 8 year nightmare. And by the way....the South end didn't give a tinkers damn even though Animal Control picks up animals from down there also. South end residents were visibly absent from those fiasco BCC meetings but every redneck with a pit bull in their pickup truck (at BCC meetings no less) up here in the northern part of the county made it known they weren't happy with the BCC's decision to yank the contract or move services until such time as a facility was built.

I think the biggest problem here is that many of you fighting for incorporation think that SoWal is exclusively "your" community. It is not now nor has it ever been.

Teresa, there are many citizens in the North who will tell you the South holds power over the North and gets everything they ask for. It is a matter of self-interest and perception on everyone's part.
The entire county would be better off if people saw the entire county as one community and worked to make everyone's life better. It really bothers me to continually hear South residents bash North residents and accuse us of trying to "ruin" the South. I cannot understand why anyone thinks it would be of benefit to North citizens to damage the South. The fact is that the individuals who want to build, build, build live either out of county or in the South. And they can certainly spend money to control a city government just as they have spent money for years to control the county government. You can make the North the bogeyman if you want, but truthfully you might want to look at your neighbor as well.

Good post Danny. I don't have a Sowal sticker on my vehicle for the very reason you state, I live in Walton County south of the bay. It is one county.

Theorizing for a moment. North and South Walton will never be united, nor do they need to be. It's like asking Democrats and Republicans to unite or Atheists and Christians. Different interests, agendas and predispositions. I'm generalizing to the extreme but, you have rich new comers vs poor long timers. People that want to protect financial investment and standard of living vs those protecting heritage and way of life. Frankly, I (like many) am in the middle. South draws the labor pool from the North, North draws tax revenues (I'm assuming) from the South.

I have no interest in incorporating. I have too much money leaving my wallet as it is. For me, that has to be my priority. For others that want some amenities, take it to your HOA.

What Andy has said makes sense. Fix what we have first. You wouldn't have your car detailed if the transmission was smoked.

If I offended anyone, it wasn't my intent. Just trying to be blunt, so I generalized.

North and South Walton will never be united, nor do they need to be.

I don't agree with that comment at all. I do think we need to be united as an entire community (North and South) particularly when its time to vote for elected officials. Frankly, I don't much care about heritage (particularly Defuniak's heritage) and preserving the historic district at the cost of real growth and meaningful jobs to me is absurd but I absolutely get the "it's just the way we do things round here" mentality because I've lived with it for so long....doesn't make it right but it is what it is.

I agree with Andy and have said all along until you fix or change the "power" in this county you are not going to accomplish anything by incorporation. Hell, I'd be willing to bet half you folks in the South end have no clue who the real power players are in this County. If you think it's the BCC, I'm selling swamp land.

I don't want to see the South end over developed or the beaches destroyed but obviously not for the same reasons as folks who actually own land in the South...I want to see and enjoy them as nature (or God if that's your choice) intended. I also think that most (admittedly not all) people North of the bay are intelligent enough to go to a BCC meeting and fight for what's right for all of us but not just because of where our property lines are drawn. I was opposed to the Hampton Inn because it went against the land development codes and until "we" as a united community fix that problem....incorporation is (in my opinion) just a huge waste of time and resources and is going to pi$$ off more folks than it appeases.

I don't know anyone in their right mind who wants another layer of government and more taxes and yeah it does make me question the sanity of the folks pushing for it.

North and South Walton will never be united, nor do they need to be.
We gotta fight den northerners!!!! Rebel Yell!!! HEY!!

I don't know anyone in their right mind who wants another layer of government and more taxes and yeah it does make me question the sanity of the folks pushing for it.

Just out of curiosity, do you question the sanity of the people living in DFS, Freeport, and Paxton?

Just out of curiosity, do you question the sanity of the people living in DFS, Freeport, and Paxton?

Umm, most yes. Sometimes I even question my own for still living here.

Good post Danny. I don't have a Sowal sticker on my vehicle for the very reason you state, I live in Walton County south of the bay. It is one county.

come by the office for a special SoWal sticker for your car from us. YES you do live in South Walton County - a slice of Walton County with its own unique location, population, beaches, restaurants, people and character.

We'll give you a tshirt too.

poppy makes a good point as does Danny. Some of us have been here long enough to understand that while there are distinct differences in the two parts of the county, it is still only one county. The overbearing attitude of some now calling South Walton County their home, is amazing. The beach usage issue is a good example. There are definitely changes that need to be made in the governance of the county but those changes can be made by all working together.

Not to mention the dastardly deed of naming an Internet website after this imaginary part of the county...

North and South Walton will never be united, nor do they need to be.
We gotta fight den northerners!!!! Rebel Yell!!! HEY!!

Lived here 56 years, never had a problem with north & south Walton, until Yankees moved in and wanted to take over.

I have lived in Walton County all of my life. I am even one of the dreaded and derided people whose family has lived here 7 generations, having moved here in the 1820's. So I understand there are differences in the viewpoint of people based on what area of the county they live in. There are vast differences between people who live in DFS and people who live in Freeport or Paxton, or the Valley or Darlington or Choctaw Beach or Red Bay etc. etc. Just as there are differences between those who live in SanDestin and those who live in Santa Rosa Beach and those who live along 30-A. But I also understand that improving other areas of the county helps my area as well. Higher property values means more funds to pay for more amenities and better infrastructure brings better jobs and higher property values. The issue in the South is to manage growth, the issue in the North is to encourage and start growth.
One sentiment you often hear in the North is that people wish things could go back to the way they were 30-40 years ago in the South. Then, there was little development, you could basically go anywhere on the beach you wanted, camp there, build bonfires, drive, fish all night and never feel crowded. 98 was 2-laned and there were only a handful of stores. The county was also poor and had substandard schools, infrastructure and opportunities. Developing the South brought prosperity to all of the county to some extent. Things change and no one can stop progress. At best you manage it. While many of the benefits of no development have been lost forever, Walton County has done a great job at creating an upscale, family targeted destination, unlike our neighbors to the east and west. While there have been mistakes, the results are fairly good, whether by plan or by accident. So it is rather irritating to hear someone who has lived here only a short time pontificate on how bad things are and how we need to change our ways of doing things to how they did it "back home." If things were so great there, why did they leave and if things are so bad here, why did they move here?
Most folks in the North would encourage the South to incorporate. You can figure the reasons if you think about it.

Danny, spell out the reasons folks in the North wish the South to incorportate. I am not following why nor, are probably many others.

I don't think it is or should be a North v. South situation. That doesn't make sense, nor is it helpful in any way. It's a matter of having one community growing so fast and having such unique infrastructure needs, that something big needs to happen to lead the way for that community. I do not believe County Government is intended to provide the kind of leadership that is needed in South Walton. This is one reason we have incorporated cities already within our county, and all along the coast in other counties . It's not unusual for a growing town to reach the point of incorporation to form a charter. It's done all over the US because people care enough to take steps to shape their own future.

We have such active and talented citizens in the community. Just because they would like to be proactive and help south Walton form a charter government does not mean they are in a battle with the north. They understand that good leadership of their town helps everyone in our Walton County.

Teresa, if those in Seaside, Rosemary Beach, Miramar Beach and other populated areas wish to incorporate, let them. To say a city can be formed beach to bay, county line to county line with a good part of it state forest and not prone to urban development is ludicrous. Leave our area out of your "incorporation". We have wonderful waste pick-up, fire and EMS service, regional utilities and electrical service. If we want for anything we don't have, I don't know what it is. I am only one person expressing a point of view but I am willing to bet there are others who feel exactly as I do.

Leave Miramar Beach out also, we are quite content here.

I've been reading all of this thread, and it really comes down to the geographical and philosophical disparities that exist in this imaginary place we call South Walton. Too many differences... that's what makes it "fun".

I was talking with a guy who moved here from Park City, Utah. What he said they did and what we should do is, to paraphrase, implement "planning overlays". I don't pretend to understand the concept completely, or how to implement them, either. They are basically a set of zoning ordinances specifically tailored to different needs in different areas.

Also, both Grayton Beach and Point Washington, (I think) have implemented "neighborhood plans". Again, I don't even play a planning department engineer on TV, but these seem like better remedies than trying to incorporate a quarter of a county.