Despite a unanimous vote of the Walton Tourism Development Council (TDC) to advance a tractor museum project in the northern part of Walton County, County Commissioners decided not to move forward on Tuesday.
Rancor reigned on social media after the TDC voted to advance the project, with many residents expressing the belief that spending money on it would be wasteful.
The TDC voted unanimously (7-0) to allocate a proposed $600,000 (originally earmarked for marketing), along with its recommendation to acquire the Tractor Collection purchased and restored by Dr. James Shepherd. Dr. Shepherd, prior to his death, expressed his desire for the tractor collection to go to Walton County. The estate of Dr. Shepherd lists the collection’s value at $5.25 Million. The family, according to County staff, is willing to sell the collection to the County for $1.5 million.
An uncollaborative, confrontational tone continued at the Tuesday Walton County Commission meeting, which has become expected by regular attendees and viewers.
Commissioner Dan Curry made a motion to approve the project. Commissioner Donna Johns (District 4) quickly indicated her opposition, citing the need for the money to provide maintenance and repairs in her district to keep tourists visiting the area. “I’m going to get [official] numbers, but the money that comes in, between Seascapes events, which they had this past weekend, – and they sold out in three days…I want to say there were probably 5000 people there. [Only] two hundred were repeat people [attendees]. The rest were all new, coming in.” The Commissioner added that, from the events, there is a great deal of income being generated from outlet mall sales, Grand Boulevard, and other activities in her district.
Commissioner Danny Glidewell (District 2) agreed with the need expressed by Commissioner Johns, and referenced the yet-to-be-established South Walton Infrastructure Fund. But he ended up arguing the tractor museum needed the board’s approval. “We’ve been kicking this can a long time, and we need to either decide what we’re going to do and do it, or we need to abandon them.” Glidewell suggested that the BCC approve the $600,000 TDC recommendation, and use an additional $900,000 from TDC funds on the project.
Commissioner Curry, addressing Commissioner Johns, said, “[I] heard [you say] all these people go to Seascape for these concerts. I heard all of this. [But,] how do those folks get there [to the South end of the county?” ] They go through Paxton. They go through Mossy Head, and they go through DeFuniak Springs…They go through Freeport.” Curry emphasized that Walton is one county, not separated by north and south.
Curry then challenged Commissioner Johns asking if the north end commissioners should install a toll booth on the roads to get the north end’s cut of the taxes. “If we’re going to [say] “his money”, “our money”…If we’re going to have divisiveness every time we bring up something about the beach chair vending money, then you know, the North [part of the County] deserves to have something up there, don’t they? Let’s put a toll road on that.”
Curry went on to say that it is sad that the BCC does not know how to share.
As a retort, Commissioner Johns conveyed to the BCC that her district in southwest Walton County does not have one County facility, community center, or senior center. She added that there is no designated place for training or an event venue.
Following the lengthy discussion, Commissioner Glidewell again expressed his concern for the Shepherd family, who is seeking to sell the extensive and restored tractor collection. He said, “If we are going to do it, let’s do it. And I make a motion that we take the $900,000 out of the encumbered reserves to match the $600,000 that we will hopefully approve, and give Mr. Kellenberger [the County Administrator] the authority to buy those tractors.
Commissioner Curry responded to the motion, saying that “I’ve always said I don’t want to use taxpayer money to do this.” Curry suggested that the BCC wait until the TDC recommendation for $600,000 comes before the BCC. He confirmed that the TDC had voted unanimously for the financial support. He concluded, “So there’s $600,000 probably going to happen. So why are we going to put another $900,000 in there right now? It was hard to discern everything that was being said at the dias, but one thing was for certain – the needed plan for the $1.5 million to purchase the Shepherd Tractor Collection was not in the cards…for now.
Commissioner Drake added that he believed “it seemed to be of general interest of the Tourist Development Council to seek partnership opportunities.” He continued, “So I think I can speak for everyone there because it was voted on unanimously to ‘swap’ the marketing money for the capital investment [purchase toward the tractor collection.]…But…the concept that most of the council members bought into [the meeting] was that this is going to be a joint venture, that it was not going to be just a charitable contribution by the Board of County Commissioners. We [TDC] were willing to do a part. We might be willing to play a part. But we want more community investment in this. We want private investors.”
Commissioner Glidewell said, “It is obvious. I don’t have three votes. I withdraw my motion.” No progress was made on the purchase of the Shephard Tractor Collection.
Pro Communi Bono
St. Francis De Sales, Ora Pro Nobis!
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