Board of County Commissioners - Sep 22 2026

The Walton County Board of County Commissioners held a meeting on September 22, 2026, addressing several procurement and budget-related matters. Key procurement discussions included approval to advertise a solicitation for appraisals of beach properties related to a hurricane and storm damage reduction project, with appraisals to be guided by the Army Corps of Engineers. The board approved a contract award recommendation for Pro EMS to provide expanded medical services countywide. They also approved the use of county beach trams for the Walton County Fair, with commissioners agreeing to cover associated driver salaries and fuel costs up to $10,000 from discretionary funds. The board authorized seeking a qualified consultant to develop a comprehensive parks and recreation master plan and impact fee methodology. Additionally, discretionary funding allocations for various nonprofit agencies were debated, resulting in a decision to fund 50% of requested amounts. The board approved a $15,000 expenditure from district 4 recreation plat fees for botchi ball and volleyball courts at Driftwood Park and allocated up to $200,000 for shade structures at Paradise Park. Discussions also covered the management and oversight of numerous interlocal agreements and contracts, with efforts underway to review and update over 6,000 agreements. Policy discussions included potential revisions to the county's drug-free workplace policy to clarify zero-tolerance enforcement and reporting procedures. The board also addressed land development code amendments related to bayou protection zones and code compliance, scheduling second readings and public hearings for October. Finally, the board discussed the status and future hiring process for the tourism executive director position, with a motion to advertise the position reporting directly to the board, though the motion failed for lack of a second.