Walton County

This Comprehensive Plan serves as Walton County's guide for future growth and improvement across public services, community resources, local policies, and the built environment. It outlines a vision to balance rural qualities with urban amenities, focusing development in community nodes and existing cities to ensure a high quality of life and a strong local economy. Key strategic areas include preserving natural and cultural resources, meeting resident needs, fostering community engagement, spurring appropriate private development, and managing growth impacts. The plan addresses specific elements such as transportation, broadband services, and land use through defined character areas, and includes a community work program to achieve its goals.

The meeting addressed several planning commission recommendations, including a rezoning request, a conditional use request for a guest house, and the denial of a land use change and rezoning request. Discussions also included the abandonment of a portion of River Way in the Rivermist Subdivision and the acceptance of a right of way on Etchison Spur. The board reviewed and approved the FY 2020 audit, budget amendments, and a resolution setting meeting times for 2021. Appointments were discussed, with some tabled for a later meeting. An executive session was held to discuss personnel matters, litigation, economic development, and real estate acquisition. Finally, the board approved the appointment of an interim County Clerk.

The meeting included public comment, planning commission recommendations (including rezoning requests, conditional use approvals, and a withdrawn land use change), planning and development decisions (such as road abandonments and right-of-way acceptances), public works updates, and administrative consent agenda items (covering financial matters, contracts, meeting minutes, safety policy changes, and surplus property). Financial matters included a FY 2020 audit presentation and FY 2021 budget amendments. Resolutions were passed, appointments were made (including County Attorney, Vice Chairman, and Board of Elections), and a proclamation was issued. An executive session was held, and the meeting concluded with an adjournment.

The meeting addressed several key areas. Financial matters included approval of contracts and budgeted purchases over \$5,000. Several key appointments were made, including the County Clerk, Assistant County Clerk, County Attorney, Vice Chairman, and members of the Planning Commission, Board of Appeals, Water & Sewerage Authority, and Board of Elections. The meeting also included discussion and approval of COVID-19 pay continuation and authorization to advertise for an Executive Administrative Assistant position.

The meeting addressed several key items, including the approval of a contract allocating $50,000 for the Chamber of Commerce Capital Campaign FY22 and the appointment of Wesley Brown Sisk to the Walton County Planning Commission. Public hearings were held on several planning commission recommendations, resulting in the denial of a rezoning request and a conditional use for an event facility, while other conditional use requests for a gated community, guest house, and parking for event facilities were approved. A conditional use request for a telecommunications tower was tabled. The administrative consent agenda included various approvals, and resolutions were adopted for FY2021 budget amendments and workers' compensation insurance for the CERT team. Contracts were approved for an operational assessment of county departments (excluding EMS, Fire, and Sheriff's Office initially) and for general legal services.