Airmen are living in the northern parts of Santa Rosa and Okaloosa County, where housing is more affordable, worsening traffic on local roadways, per a presentation today to the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners by 1st Special Operations Wing Commander Col. Patrick Dierig.
Dierig outlined four priorities impacting mission readiness: the top concern is U.S. 98 traffic; however, he noted that efforts are underway to widen the highway and build an alternative route on the north side of the roadway, enabling base traffic to utilize the Hurlburt’s west gate.
He said it’s essential for SOW1 airmen to be able to respond quickly to missions and that a six-hour delay on U.S. 98 last year could have caused them to fail a mission.
District 5 County Commissioner Colten Wright said that First Congressional District Rep. Jimmy Patronis is “on it” when it comes to addressing U.S. 98 traffic and that the area is better poised than ever to get federal help.
Other top priorities to address include: affordable housing, child care wait lists of six months and mental health resources.
“People are flocking here,” Dierig said, noting Santa Rosa County’s high-performing schools attract residents.
But he noted it’s difficult for young families, not just military but also first responders and teachers, to afford to live where they work, compounding traffic issues on local roadways.
The need is for three bedroom, two bath homes and the base is “maxed” out with what can be done with only 18 acres left. He said the military is considering modificcations to develop vertically.
