The Santa Rosa County Commission is transitioning away from conducting regular business only on Monday and Thursday mornings twice monthly. The new 2021 schedule offers a new afternoon meeting option.
“I think it is important for our residents to be involved in and know what their local government is doing and how the processes work,” said Santa Rosa County Administrator Dan Schebler on Monday.”
Schebler said the board approved change to the meeting schedule in order to provide citizens an additional opportunity to connect with their local government.
“With regular meetings previously always being scheduled in the morning some residents could not attend or participate due to work schedules,” Schebler said.
The change is appreciated by many long-time local government watchdogs.
“After 20 years of asking for meeting times so that working folks can attend, it appears that ‘We the People’ are finally getting our wish,” said Jerry Couey, a resident of Milton.
The board in 2021 will meet three times monthly, including the afternoon meeting option.
Previously the board only met after hours for its monthly rezoning board meeting, which will continue to take place in the evenings.
The board’s first afternoon meeting will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 7. A non-voting “working session” is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 12, and a regular meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m., Thursday, January 21.
The commission’s monthly zoning board meeting schedule will not change, and the next one is scheduled for 6 p.m., Thursday, January 14.
Additionally, the board has not yet resumed its quarterly meetings in the south end of the county. As of now, all Santa Rosa County Board of County Commission meetings and other county department meetings take place in the County Administrative Complex, located at 6495 Caroline Street in Milton.
County Administrator Dan Schebler has said he would like to consider resuming meetings in the south end of the county after the first quarter of the year, depending on the situation at that time with the COVID-19 pandemic since more seating and spacing is available at the Milton location.
Following is the announced schedule for January meetings:
- Marine Advisory – Jan. 5, 5:00 p.m.
- Blackwater Soil and Water Conservation – January 7, 7:30 a.m.
- Jay Service Center, 3927 Hwy. 4, Suite 102, Jay
- Tourist Development Council – Jan. 7, 8:30 a.m.
- Commission Regular – Jan. 7, 4:30 p.m.
- Commission Work Session – Jan., 12, 8:30 a.m.
- Building Code Board of Adjustments – Jan., 13, 2:30 p.m.
- Zoning Board – Jan. 14, 6:00 p.m.
- Aviation Advisory Committee – Jan. 20, 5:00 p.m.
- Commission Regular – Jan. 21, 8:30 a.m.
- Local Mitigation Strategy Task Force – Jan. 21, 1:30 p.m.
- Public Services Conference Room, 6051 Old Bagdad Hwy., Milton
- Bagdad Architectural Advisory Board – Jan. 27, 8:30 a.m.
- Public Services Conference Room, 6051 Old Bagdad Hwy., Milton
- Public Safety Coordinating Council – Jan. 27, 11:30 a.m.
- Sheriff’s Office Training Room, 5755 East Milton Road, Milton
- Parks and Recreation – Jan. 27, 5:30 p.m.
- Commission Special Rezoning – Jan. 28, 6:00 p.m.
Persons needing special accommodations to participate in a public hearing should call (850) 983-1855 at least one week prior. Agendas and minutes are available at www.santarosa.fl.gov.
