🚧 $400K allocated to complete design of Santa Rosa Boulevard improvements, including a 14-foot multiuse path.
🚶 $330K approved for South Avenue and Stillwell Boulevard sidewalks, supplementing $1.5M in federal grants.
📈 Officials cite rising construction costs and the surtax’s role in speeding up long-requested projects.
SHALIMAR — The Okaloosa County Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved nearly three-quarters of a million dollars in local surtax reserves to advance two major Public Works initiatives: improvements to Santa Rosa Boulevard and the construction of new sidewalks in multiple districts.
Public Works Director Scott Bitterman presented both items, noting that the surtax allocations will help keep projects on track despite rising construction costs and lengthy delays between grant awards and project starts.
The first request, $400,000 from FY25 surtax reserves, will complete the design work for the long-anticipated Santa Rosa Boulevard Improvements Project. The county has already secured $1 million in state appropriations to fund the initial reconstruction phase from the First Beach Park east to the Brooks Bridge project limits.
Bitterman told commissioners the project will “enhance pedestrian safety and improve drainage,” and includes a 14-foot-wide multiuse path. Current plans are 60% complete, and consultants are funded to reach the 90% design mark.
The additional surtax allocation will fund the remaining design tasks, contingency, and phasing to 100%.
“Still unknown is if the electric and cable utilities will be buried,” Bitterman said. “Florida Power and Light is almost done with the cost estimate … when we have that, I’ll come back before the board and see if we want to move forward with that as well.”
Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel praised the project, noting the lack of public opposition.
“I’m surprised at the lack of people who are here that normally come out for this. So that means we’ve done a good job talking with them over the years,” Ketchel said
The second surtax request, $330,000 from FY25 reserves, will cover contingency, inspection costs, and repairs for two federally funded sidewalk projects under the Florida Department of Transportation’s Agency Program (LAP).
The South Avenue Sidewalk will build a 5-foot pedestrian path from James Lee Road to State Road 85.
At the same time, the Stillwell Boulevard Sidewalk will extend a similar path between Highway 85 and Monterey Road. Combined, the projects already carry more than $1.5 million in federal grants.
However, Bitterman explained that costs have escalated since the grant applications were filed about six years ago.
“Construction costs across the country have escalated beyond what the grant ever envisioned,” he said. He also noted that a wooden pedestrian bridge on Stillwell Boulevard, near Walker Elementary, has deteriorated and requires repairs to create a safe, continuous path.
Commissioner Trey Goodwin, whose district is affected, welcomed the allocation.
“I’ve had a lot of citizen requests over the years, particularly about the South Avenue/Pocahontas Drive area … it’s a bit dangerous. So thanks for working this,” Goodwin said. “To be able to do these two pretty significant sidewalk projects and the local match be $330,000 … is phenomenal”.
Ketchel added that the surtax has changed how quickly the county can respond to citizen needs.
“When I became a commissioner the first term … we’d put it on the list and probably get it done in seven years. That’s how bad it was. And now here we are doing projects like this. It’s crazy,” Ketchel proclaimed.
Pro Communi Bono
St. Francis De Sales, Ora Pro Nobis!
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