Update on term Registered Voter (Beach Permits)

I finally received an answer from questions I asked the County Attorney concerning some "added" wording to the proposed Driving on the Beach ordinance on December 15th.

Here were my questions:

When I asked you on Tues. Night, if the addition of the wording Registered Voter to the proposed Ordinance meant that a register voter who did not own any Walton County property could apply for a permit, you replied yes. I questioned the fairness of this because other groups are being required to be property owners. At the time, I didn't have a copy of the latest updated document, I only had the copy that I had printed off the web and it was missing the addition of the words Registered Voter. Today I got a full copy of the updated document so I could see the actual wording and the placement of the words Registered Voter. The section that the wording was added to, they would have to abide by the following:

The Actual Wording of the Updated Ordinance
Walton County registered voters, or real property owners, who are residents of Walton County, and immediate family members residing with the property owners in Walton County may obtain a permit for the use of a properly registered and authorized vehicle along the designated limited access areas on the beaches of Walton County, if the following criteria are met, in addition to any other requirements contained in this Code:



a. The person applying for the permit must have had a permit as of the effective date of this ordinance and for the year preceding the date of application. Each parcel of property shall only be entitled to one vehicle permit and one boat trailer permit each year.


b. The real property shall have constructed on it a habitable residence.


bc. The ad-valorem taxes for the real property shall not be delinquent.


cd. The vehicle being registered must be titled in the name of the permit holder.


de. Proof of real property ownership (such as a deed or tax receipt) and proof of residency (such as voter’s registration card, homestead exemption card, or driver’s license) must be presented to the Tax Collector at the time of application to document the requirements of this section. For property titled in the name of a business or owned by multiple owners, the person applying for the permit shall show proof that they own a controlling interest in the property or that they are otherwise entitled to obtain a permit for the property. “Controlling interest in the property or that they are otherwise entitled” means that the person applying for the permits owns more than 50% ownership interest in the property or has a resolution signed by the other owners of the property grants the person applying for the permit the authority to apply for the permit.


Could you please clarify this for me....I really was concerned to think that any person who was a just a registered voter, who own no Walton County property and paid no Real Estate taxes would be allowed a beach permit while the rest of us have to own a property, have our taxes up to date, etc. If you remembered many of our property owners lost their beach permits because they had no structure on their property and now the county is considering allowing all those with just a voter card to apply also. There are only 150 permits up for grabs...you know, with this addition you all have added a whole new group to complete for one of those limited permits. In my humble opinion I feel that the county is creating a special group which really doesn't seem fair for those of us playing by the rules that were previously adopted by the county.

Her reply (which I received today, 12-30) in so many words:

Sections 22-57(c)(i)(b) and (d) would only apply to property owners, the county's intent in adding the words registered voters under Section 22-57(c)(i) was to expand those eligible to apply for a permit under the existing ordinance. So if the proposed ordinance is approved, then a registered voter, (who did not own property {my insert}) would also be eligible to apply for one of the 150 permits.

I share this with you for you to make your own decision on this proposed change. I felt that the placement of "Registered Voters" in the section of the Ordinance, was misleading and the real meaning of the addition, the ability for a person, who owned no property, paid no taxes and would be in equal standing with those of us who had to show property ownership for our Beach Permits would be missed. Plus there are only a limited number of permits up for grabs...150! I plan to contact all of the Commissioners before the Feb. 11th meeting and share my views. I leave it up to you as to what you do with this added bit of information.

Ann
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Commissioners want to add more cars on Grayton Beach

In August the number of Driving on the Beach Permits that were issued in 2010 was 726. There were 71 boat Launching Permits issued and 11 Charter Boat Permits.  In 2009 there were 1063 Driving on the Beach Permirs issued, 71 Boat Launching Permits and 11 Charter Boar Permits. With the new Ordinance, there was a drop of 337 permits. Great results for Grayton!!!!

The whole reason for the original Ordinance was to reduce the number of cars driving on the beach. Since the county's main beach for cars is our Grayton Beach, this reduced number was a good thing. Less cars more space to enjoy the beach! Our Beach can only accomodate so many cars, boats, and beach goers. We have limited sand and Gulf views.

Now the County Commissioners are looking to raise the number of permits, allowing a total of 900 permits to be issued. They are also adding the option that now lot owners, with no physical structure can now apply for a permit.

The lack of a permanent structure is one that bothers me, I feel that only those owners that have a structure on their property should be issued the permits over those without structures. Since home owners pay more taxes than just lot owners, I feel that they deserve the new permits more so than lot owners.

I also feel that if the County feels that adding 174 more permits is a good idea , then I think that they need to open more beach areas that can allow cars instead of just our small Grayton Beach area. I find it interesting that they have changed their views in less than a year. Originally they explained to those of us that followed the Driving on the Beach issue....That The COUNTY had to limit the number of cars on the beach.  That their goal was to slowly reduce the number of cars on the beach. The ordinance they passed ...did that, but now they want to add more cars.
My other concern is they are not addressing this part of the ordinance: The person applying for the permit must have had a permit as of the effective date of this ordinance (2010) and for the year preceding the date of application.(2009)  If the person didn't have a permit in 2010 or 2009, how will they apply for one in 2011? Am sure this is just and oversight on their part, but it does need to be addressed.
Let the Commissioners know your feelings on this....I plan to attend the meeting and will provide an update after the meeting.
Ann

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