Commissioner Chris Wasdin announced her resignation to run for Valparaiso Mayor at the city’s regular business meeting Monday Night.
She announced that the commission met for the first time at its new city complex, the old bank building at 23 John Sims Parkway, which is still missing its elevator car and has a couple of other punch list items.
Commissioners also decided to hire the City of Niceville’s Fire Department administrative team to oversee Valparaiso’s department while they decide whether to look for a new fire chief.
Finally, longtime County Administrator Carl Scott’s job may be at risk after a homeowner alleged he went on a profanity-laced rant against her in public at City Hall, referring to a lien on her home.
City Commissioner Chris Wasdin announced her intention to resign on March 17, after the next meeting, to run for Mayor of the city.
A law, passed in 2018, requires anyone who holds a local or state office to resign their seat to campaign for another local or state office.
Wasdin is in a four-way contest against incumbent Mayor Brent Smith, Senior Center Board Chairman Patrick Palmer, and former City Commissioner Joe Morgan.
Smith has served as Mayor since 2018, when he won election on his third attempt after the death of longtime Valparaiso Mayor Bruce Arnold.
With Wasdin’s seat vacant, there will be an empty position – despite the fact that it is an election year. Only two candidates, current commissioners Bryan Griffin and Tom Browning, qualified to vote. According to city charter rules, the commission will have to appoint someone to serve in place of an election.
Valparaiso Back With Niceville Fire Department
Niceville’s fire administrative staff will be back on the clock, in an administrative capacity, for the city of Valparaiso.
The Commission unanimously approved a plan introduced by Niceville Fire Chief Alex Kukulus for the City of Niceville to provide Administrative, Fire Inspection, and a bevy of other services to the city’s less than a year-old department.
The plan, which will cost the city of Valparaiso $10,000 per month, would remain in place for at least six months, according to city leaders, while they decide whether to continue in-house fire service or outsource it to another agency.
Commissioner Chris Wasdin made it clear that she wanted to keep fire services in-house, but that “Niceville had been good to them” in the past.
For half a decade, after the City of Valparaiso fired another Fire Chief, Niceville’s then-chief Tommy Mayville provided a similar arrangement to the city. This arrangement, unlike the previous one, will be with the City of Niceville – not Chief Kukulus personally.
Commissioner Brent Smith made one thing clear at the regular business meeting on Monday – If it were up to him, longtime City Administrator Carl Scott would be out of a job today.
Smith made his comments after a property owner in the city, Breeana Uptigrove, accused Scott in the open meeting of swearing and yelling at her in the city buildings while discussing the lien.
As a result of the discussion, the city will host a hearing on the lien and, apparently, Scott’s conduct on Thursday at 3 PM.
Mayor Smith said Scott’s employment will come up at some point after the hearing.
After Smith brought the language to Scott’s attention directly, Scott agreed that he should not have used foul language or yelled.
“We let a fire chief go on account of such stuff as that,” Smith retorted.
Pro Communi Bono
St. Francis De Sales, Ora Pro Nobis!
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