A Circle of Friendship Reading Will Take Effect on April 1, 2016

David M. Mills, MD FACS Ophthalmologist Facial Plastic Surgeon Suzanne Day, OD Optometrist ฀฀฀฀฀ ฀฀฀฀ ฀฀฀฀ 850.266.7500 | MillsEye.com ฀฀฀฀฀ October 22, 2015 YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER 75¢ City to raise taxes Power, water, sewer and gas bills may rise 5 to 7.5% BY MELANIE KORMONDY Gulf Breeze News [email protected] See related A tax increase is on its way for City of Gulf Breeze photo, page 3A residents, as the council passed the first hearing to raise the Municipal Public Services Tax (MPST) on electric, Neighbors in the Willowood subdivision catch up with each other every Friday evening at the D.D.S. water, sewer and natural gas bills from 5 to 7.5 percent. The city can lawfully establish a rate of up to 10 percent. A memo to the city outlined that comparable cit- ies in the area already charge the full amount allowed. This increase only applies to households within the Gulf Breeze city limits, and if passed on the second A circle of friendship reading will take effect on April 1, 2016. The addition- al revenue is expected to produce $211,500 annually to the city. Willowood neighbors gather weekly During the budget process this summer, the city council discussed financial sustainability in the general fund, which contains about $6.7 million. For the for ‘Driveway Drinking Society’ first time in several years, the council is funding street repairs and resurfacing from the general fund and not from reserves. BY LISA NEWELL It’s a tradition that began over 10 and have a fun time. group. Conversations center around In order to sustain the upcoming projects over the Gulf Breeze News years ago, Gail Mellow says. “When we have house guests happenings from the previous week, See Taxes Page 3A » [email protected] It all began when the late Ross and family members visiting, sports or just having fun. Atkins would sit out in his drive we welcome them in the group,” Since Atkins’ passing, the group The air horn blows and neighbors way with his chair and a beverage. Mellow, Willowood resident, said. now is summoned each week by know it’s time to perform their At one point, he set a portable sign During cold or inclement official horn blower Fred Seager. weekly ritual of pouring a glass of in his yard lettered with “D.D.S.” weather, the group gathers in one of The DDS is open to teetotalers wine, gathering up the lawn chair for Driveway Drinking Society. their homes. and it technically isn’t even in a and joining the circle forming in the The neighbors started joining him Sometimes, the group grows to driveway but in the actual right- divided roadway in the Willowood every Friday to become acquainted about 30 people, depending on who of-way, but it remains a fixture of subdivision. with one another, tell stories, laugh is in town or has guests to join the Willowood subdivision society. Where should the Santa Courthouse site is on the move Rosa County courthouse BY PAM BRANNON Milton, that make a site of about 10 – 11 acres. But be situated? Gulf Breeze News some of the commissioners made it clear they be- [email protected] lieve that is not the place for a new judicial center. In Milton, the County Seat There was also talk about a south end judicial center In the Population Center Santa Rosa County Commissioners engaged in a for at least some courtroom action. (South End) rousing debate Monday whether to even consider County Commissioner Bob Cole was in Alaska, sites in Milton for a new county courthouse. The but ‘attended’ the meeting by telephone and watched Hold Criminal trials in the Weekend food City of Milton was at the commissioners’ commit- the live broadcast. His comments were heard by North End and Civil in the tee meeting to show the progress the City has made everyone at the meeting through an audio system. South End program resumes on obtaining eight parcels along the river in Milton, Email your comments to near the current county courthouse in downtown See Courthouse Page 2A » [email protected]. See Weekend Page 3A » FRI SAT SUN Calendar .................... 2A Talk of the Town ....... 4A Mailing Statement 10/23 10/24 10/25 Classifieds ................. 7B Movies....................... 7A on Opinion Page END PARTLY CLOUDY MOSTLY CLOUDY SHOWERS WEEK Crossword Puzzle ...... 6B Lifestyles ................... 8A TWO SECTIONS, hi 80/lo 67 hi 79/lo 68 hi 77/lo 64 Arrests and DUIs ....... 2A Sports .....................1-6B 16 PAGES Weather-plus rain: 10% rain: 20% rain: 60% VOL. 15, NO. 43 Opinion ..................... 6A OCTOBER 22, 2015 It’s that time of year again! We need your help with our GUN GIVE-A-WAY DRAWING Canned Food & Coat Drive! DEC. 20! For every (3) canned food items This year’s Drawing winner may choose from: donated receive 1 ticket for the UÊ,Õ}iÀÊnxääÊ,£x]ÊÊ°ÓÓÎÉx°xÈÊÀÊ-} ÌÃÊVÕì`Ê Gun Give-A-Way Drawing. For each UÊ-}Ê->ÕiÀÊÓÎnÊÜÉÊ7 ÌiÊ*i>ÀÊÀ«ÃÊ°Înä *Ê gently used jacket receive 3 tickets. UÊ >`L>VÊ£ÈÊÕÊ-Ì>`}Ê->vi° Proceeds Benefi t Caring and Sharing of Santa Rosa & The Washburn Center of Pensacola 1889 Cowen Rd. | Gulf Breeze, FL 32563 | ACROSS FROM THE GULF BREEZE ZOO (850) 932-5500 | MON - SAT: 9 am to 8 pm | SUN: noon to 6 pm 2A October 22 , 2015 GULF BREEZE NEWS gulfbreezenews.com Courthouse could be anywhere, even Oct. Calendar of Meetings in the south end, commissioners say Thursday SRC School Board Meeting 22 9 a.m., Superintendent’s Offi ce » Continued from Page 1A Commissioner Regular “I could see a smaller courthouse 9 a.m., SRC Administrative Center, Board Cole was the first to raise his objections as Room soon as the City of Milton completed its pre- in downtown Milton, and then a true GBA Chamber Governmental Affairs sentation on progress in trying to obtain the Meeting eight parcels along the river to build a new south end annex – one with at least noon, GBA Chamber courthouse. one courtroom in it – so people in the “We know the current courthouse is re- GBA Chamber Business After Hours taining water. We know the problems there south end don’t have to drive all the 5:30 - 7 p.m., Animal Hospital of Tiger Point already. A few years ago, Milton was the Commission Special - Rezoning hub of the county. But with the growth in the way to Milton for simple cases that 6 p.m., SRC Administrative Center, Board south end, that is not true any more,” Cole could be handled down there.” Room said. “I am not in favor of hunting and peck- ing for property in Milton to put a court- — Jayer Williamson Friday Optimist Club Breakfast 23 house on. We are a large county, and we Santa Rosa County Commissioner 6:30 a.m., GB Hospital Cafeteria have plenty of room to place it somewhere other than Milton.” Tuesday Stormwater Task Force Committee Commissioner Jayer Williamson said he area that is too tight to provide what we need He also said it should not have anything 27 Meeting could see actually splitting duties of a court- – and with the water issues, it is probably to do with the one cent sales tax. 6 p.m., Gulf Breeze Community Center house between the north and south ends of the most costly of any site in the county. “I don’t think we should tie our new one Comprehensive Plan Meeting the county. “I could see a smaller courthouse Our architect just wrote me that there will cent sales tax ti the courthouse” Rob Wil- 6 p.m., SRC Administrative Center, Board in downtown Milton, and then a true south not be any room downtown Milton for a liamson said. “Let’s do an MTSU, get the end annex – one with at least one courtroom judicial center, as we originally asked him money to build it and purchase a site and Room in it – so people in the south end don’t have to plan for, which would include a lot more do it. Let’s do what we were elected to do to drive all the way to Milton for simple cas- than a courthouse. He also said the water is- – make a decision and get it done and move Wednesday Gulf Breeze Toastmasters es that could be handled down there.” Jayer sues will make it more costly than originally on. If you tie the courthouse to the sales tax 28 Noon, Dining Hall First Baptist Church of Gulf wants to put the issue on a ballot and ask the thought to build in Milton.” you give ammunition to all those who don’t Breeze, 555 Fairpoint Drive voters if they want a courthouse in down- Cole said it is not right to compromise want a sales tax. They could say they won’t SRIA Committee Meeting town Milton or someplace else. because of space when the county has two vote for a sales tax because the courthouse 5 p.m, Santa Rosa Island Authority Meeting But Commissioner Rob Williamson didn’t ends and lots of property. is in Milton – or because it is not in Milton. Room think that was a good idea at this point. “We can make something fit anyplace we They could say they are not happy because Executive Committee Meeting “What are we asking people to vote on? want it to fit, but at some point it comes down it has no judicial center, or because it does 6:30 p.m., Gulf Breeze City Hall, Council Just do they want the courthouse in down- to common sense.

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