PANAMA CITY — Bay County commissioners decided Tuesday to request a formal clarification from Tyndall Air Force Base of its plan to restrict public access to local waterways.
The commission directed Chairman Guy Tunnell to contact the base by letter requesting more details about the base’s waterway security plan in the wake of complaints from local residents who expressed concerns the base recently overstepped its authority.
The Friends of Shell Island, a group formed in 2013 in opposition to Tyndall Air Force Base’s waterway security plan, heard from members of the boating public of at least four incidents in which base security forces operated in off-base waters, patrolling waters near Shell Island and detaining a civilian even before the controversial plan is in place, according to the group.
--- DOCUMENT: TYNDALL WATERWAY SECURITY PROPOSAL»»
Stephanie Somerset, who leads Friends of Shell Island, filed a complaint alleging base security illegally detained a fisherman last fall. Tyndall officials verified there was an incident, but would release no details.
Commissioner Mike Thomas said at Tuesday’s County Commission meeting a new committee consisting of county and base officials might want to take up this issue as one of its first topics of discussion. The commission approved a charter outlining a new community partnership between Tyndall and Bay County on issues of mutual interest and concern. The steering committee will include the chairman of the Bay County Commission, chairman of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee, chairman of the Bay Defense Alliance and the commander of the 325th Fighter Wing at the base.
The waterway security plan is still in its draft phase and must be approved by the Army Corps of Engineers. Thomas said he doesn’t like what he’s seen.
“I’ve not seen anything that makes me feel warm and fuzzy about whatever their study is going to be,” he said.
Thomas said open access of the waters around the base are crucial to Bay residents for recreation and fishing uses.
“We do live in a bad time, but this is carrying it way too far,” Thomas said.
Commissioner George Gainer said base officials had assured county officials that closing the waters around the base would occur only during a heightened alert situation.
“I think that maybe they’ve gotten away from that,” he said.
Tunnell said everyone can understand restricting access to waters around the base during a heightened terrorist threat, but added that “this idea of just (doing it) on a whim is problematic for me.”
Base spokesperson Lt. Chris Bowyer-Meeder said base officials would be happy to speak to commissioners about their concerns and the waterway security plan, which he pointed out is only in its draft phase.
“We haven’t heard anything from them yet. I’m happy to give them a clarification,” he said.
He said he could not comment about the incident involving the fisherman who was detained by base police, pointing out the situation was “resolved.”
Bowyer-Meeder said the base’s website outlines the specifics of the waterway security plan, and it still hasn’t received final approval, nor will that happen without more public input.
“This is not intended to be a permanent restriction on anyone” using the water, he said.
But, Thomas said as he was leaving the commission meeting, his constituents are concerned their access will be restricted.
“To just all of the sudden shut it off when there is not a threat of any kind, to me, I think is crazy, and we need to do whatever we can do to stop that,” Thomas said.
In 2013 in the Federal Register, military leaders quietly released their plan, which would give the base authority to restrict civilian access to many of the area’s most popular boating destinations. When boaters learned of the plan, the backlash was swift, the plans were withdrawn and Tyndall officials promised to revisit the matter in a more transparent fashion.
--- DOCUMENT: TYNDALL WATERWAY SECURITY PROPOSAL»»
Later in the year, the plan re-emerged with slight modifications based on feedback from the public. In a nod toward transparency, base officials held two open houses to discuss the plan and face angry boaters who complained of being steamrolled by restrictions so vague they could be interpreted as giving base leaders authority to close the waterways permanently without explanation.
The proposal would give Tyndall authority to restrict access to several popular bayous, as well as anywhere within 500 feet of the shoreline along the base.
In other action Tuesday, the County Commission: Approved returning to constitutional officers $62,210 in excess funds employees paid out in fiscal year 2012 for Blue Cross Blue Shield health plans. The Sheriff’s Office is not included. In 2011, commissioners returned $50,379 to the officers but set aside $154,057 of excess funds its employees had paid in health premiums for a possible health clinic for employees, which is being evaluated. This year, the commission is returning $62,210 to the constitutional officers but returning $192,593 its employees paid into the health plan back into the general fund. Clerk of Court Bill Kinsaul said his office plans to return the money to employees of his office by not billing them for health insurance up to the amount they are owed.
- Approved a plan to levy assessments on 44 property owners who had their dirt roads paved. The proposal calls for billing the residents of Alamo Street, Kirkwell Avenue, Syracuse Avenue, Marlboro Avenue, Sequoia Avenue and North Kirkwell Avenue for the $229,041 project. The bills would range from $1,207 for a single lot up to $13,499 for the owner of multiple lots.
- Approved amending a beach trash pickup contract with Coastal Parasail Inc. On Jan. 12, 2012, the commission awarded a contract for the company to pick up trash on the Beach until 2016. In November, the Tourist Development Council encouraged more trash runs on the Beach. The amended contract would pay the company a lower price for those runs, reducing compensation from $1,075 to $875 per run.
- Approved an agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for construction of the Joan Avenue sidewalk project on the Beach from Front Beach Road to North Lagoon Drive. FDOT is fully funding the $310,000 project.