EDITORIAL: Tourism changes have been successful
EDITORIAL: Tourism changes have been successful
Under the leadership of Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Director Julie Morgan, tourism has flourished. The latest numbers from June 2016 show bed tax revenues are on par to again surpass the $2 million mark this fiscal year. That’s up from $1.3 million for FY 2013, before an additional one percent bed tax collected … read more
County halts beach RV park
County halts beach RV park
Santa Rosa County Commissioners this week did not approve a lease amendment request to build an RV park on Navarre Beach. The board is also taking steps to improve the notification process when beach lease amendments are sought. According to an August 4 memo from county staff to commissioners, developer Ron Ward made the lease … read more
Islanders face $3.2M for renourishment
Islanders face $3.2M for renourishment
Despite at least two Santa Rosa County Commissioners voicing opposition to Navarre Beach leaseholders having to pay a portion of the recently completed roughly $15.5 million beach renourishment project, an August 23 public hearing has been scheduled for that purpose. Earlier this year Florida legislators allocated an extra $5.6 million for the project for which … read more
Sand available ahead of potential flooding
Sand available ahead of potential flooding
Ahead of projected rainfall of up to 15 inches today through Saturday, Santa Rosa County Public Works staff delivered loads of sand to four locations: Pine Forest Rd. at Carroll Rd. in Milton Tiger Point Park in Midway Pace Fire Station on Pace Patriot Boulevard in Pace Leisure St. and Citrus Dr. in Holley By The Sea in … read more
RV park proposed for Navarre Beach
RV park proposed for Navarre Beach
Next week Santa Rosa County Commissioners will discuss a request to amend a lease on Navarre Beach Property to allow for an RV park. According to county staff, the property is located on the north side of Gulf Boulevard near the hotel construction. Developer Ron Ward made the request on behalf Chris Ferrar, leaseholder of … read more
Gulf Breeze asks county to eliminate most of the conditions it agreed to for Tiger Point sewer permit
Gulf Breeze asks county to eliminate most of the conditions it agreed to for Tiger Point sewer permit
On Monday, the Santa Rosa County Commission will discuss a request from the City of Gulf Breeze to modify the permit the county issued in 2012 for the city’s use of the Tiger Point Golf Course as a sewage treatment facility. Commissioners are scheduled to discuss the issue at Monday’s committee meeting, set for 9 … read more
New chamber of commerce forming
New chamber of commerce forming
In the wake of a lawsuit, declining membership, budgetary woes and internal strife at the existing Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, a brand new chamber is in the works. The Greater Navarre Area Chamber of Commerce was registered August 1 with the Florida Division of Corporations. Organizers also created a related non-profit foundation. Although … read more
Body washes ashore on Navarre Beach
Body washes ashore on Navarre Beach
Chief Mike Howard of Navarre Beach Fire Rescue has confirmed that a body washed up on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico this evening. Howard was unable to say whether or not it was that of a local swimmer who was reported missing Tuesday evening. But Howard did say the identification process was underway. … read more
Should Santa Rosa require bear-resistant trash cans?
Should Santa Rosa require bear-resistant trash cans?
Whether Santa Rosa County should require residents to use bear-resistant garbage cans – and potential state money associated with that requirement – was once again on the County Commission’s agenda on Monday. State Rep. Doug Broxson, R-Gulf Breeze, urged the commission to consider a bear ordinance. “The governor and Legislature allocated $500,000 (this year) … … read more
Santa Rosa considers bed tax deal with Airbnb
Santa Rosa considers bed tax deal with Airbnb
Santa Rosa County leaders have inked a deal that will dictate how the online rental booking company Airbnb will pay bed taxes for units rented through its services. “The online vacation rental industry has continued to evolve during recent years and Airbnb is a major vendor in this market,” County Administrator Tony Gomillion wrote in … read more
