County commissioners maintain the position that the county will follow the city’s decision about ordinances designed to tame Spring Break.
“I think the ideas Sheriff McKeithen has come up with will slow down problems we’ve had with people that are coming here,” Commissioner Mike Nelson said.
Panama City Beach Councilman John Reichard said he expects a vote on Spring Break at the City Council meeting on Thursday.
McKeithen’s recommendations, which he already sent to Panama City Beach City Manager Mario Gisbert, are prohibiting alcoholic beverages on beaches or parking lots during college Spring Break, requiring a valid ID for any person with alcoholic beverages, requiring businesses west of the Hathaway Bridge to stop serving alcoholic beverages at least at 2 a.m., aggressively enforcing capacity limits and fire safety ordinances during Spring Break at condos, hotels and clubs and using Panama City Beach Tourist Development Council advertising money currently spent on college Spring Break to advertise what is not allowed here, including the new ordinances.
A primary concern of business leaders and many members of the public who spoke at the meeting was economics.
Tax accountant Richard Whitsitt said his clients depend on Spring Break to make it through the winter.
“Spring Break is also a feeder system for the summer,” Whitsitt said. “These people are upwardly mobile. It’s important to get these people to come back.”
Neel Bennett, who owns several hotels on the beach, brought up a couple who met during Spring Break and now own property in
“We’re seeing a lot of competition for Spring Break destinations,” he said. “Business was down 20 to 30 percent.”
Julie Hilton, also a hotel owner, said, “Spring breakers are the only group that will have a good time regardless of the weather report.”
However, there was also considerable concern that Spring Break was hurting the local economy.
Realtor Buddy King said property values on the eastern end of the beach, starting at State 79 and going east are $182 less per square foot than properties to the west. Darrell Sellers, who represents the PCB Owners Alliance, also was concerned about property values.
Attorney Wes Pittman was concerned about liability for the county.
“Most people here are speaking in their own economic interest,” he said. “I’m a personal injury lawyer. I made a wad of money during Spring Break with people getting run over. I’m speaking as a citizen and it’s time to take a stand.”
But what that stand should be differed among the residents and business leaders in attendance. Mack Carter, owner of Shuckums, said there should be a restriction against businesses offering free beer.
Larry Armstrong, owner of the Chateau Motel, said there should be an incentive to spread spring breakers out away from the triangle at
“Character issues aren’t as bad when you don’t highlight them in a big mob,” he said.
Bennett and property owner Pam Anderson support the sheriff’s recommendations of taking alcohol off the beach and setting an alcohol curfew of 2 a.m.
Panama City Beach Councilwoman Josie Strange said it’s time to make changes.
“We need to be strict this next Spring Break,” Strange said. “If it’s too strict we can always pull back.”