News Archive

Milton Mayor Heather Lindsay vetoed a proposal to lower residency requirements for her office after the city council’s July 12 regular meeting.

The Milton City Charter currently requires candidates for mayor to have lived in the city for at least three years. But, despite the mayor’s veto threat, the city council voted 6-2 for a ballot referendum asking voters to change the requirement to just one year, the same residency requirement for city council candidates.

The Milton City Council will begin building the 2023 budget at a workshop at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at City Hall.

The key question: should the council leave the property tax rate – the millage rate – unchanged and reap an additional $170,000, or should it “roll back” the rate to keep tax bills the same as last year’s?

Heavy rainfall and localized flash flooding, particularly of low lying and urban areas, is possible beginning late today, Tues., July 12, with the threat increasing through Sunday morning, according to the US National Weather Service in Mobile.

Two to four inches of rainfall are possible north of I-10 with those closer to the coast receiving four to six inches of rainfall. Storms could train over the area increasing the threat of flash flooding.

James Calkins plans to present his proposed “All Lives Matter” anti-abortion ordinance when the Santa Rosa County Commission meets at 9 a.m. Thursday in Milton.

“All I can do is the best I can do,” Calkins, who represents District 3 on the commission, said Monday. “The purpose of (the proposed ordinance) is to ban abortion in Santa Rosa County.”

Should Milton spend $100,000 from reserve funds to find alternatives to widening Caroline Street through the city’s historic district?

The city council expected to debate that question at its July 12 regular meeting, too late for the Press Gazette’s deadline.

At its executive committee meeting July 5, the council voted 4-2 to approve a plan to convince the Florida-Alabama Transportation Planning Organization to change its project priorities. Councilmembers Robert Leek and Shannon Rice voted against Councilman Vernon Compton’s motion. Councilmen Matt Jarrett and Casey Powell were absent.

Growth is coming to rural northern Santa Rosa County and coming quickly.

The Town of Jay wants to make sure those new families have a place to play.

West Spencer Field Road between Fowler Drive and White Road will be closed beginning Mon., July 11 as part of the last remaining work to be done for the Tiburon drainage improvement project. This closure is anticipated to last for one month, pending any weather delays. Detours will be in place.

The temporary closure of West Spencer Field Road is necessary to install a large storm pipe and to relocate an existing water main. The installation will require an open cut to the southbound lane.

The City of Milton’s Office of Economic Development hasn’t left the business improvement grant cupboard bare in 2022 – not quite.

If the city council approves the final round of grants for the year, the program will have $5.61 left.