Comments Following Swearing In Ceremony for BOCC Chairman Ed Brimner

It was my great honor to be sworn is as the Wakulla County Board of County Commission Chairman last evening.  I commit to redoubling my efforts on behalf of every citizen in Wakulla County.

Following Judge Walker swearing in Commissioner Green as Vice-Chair and me as chair, I spent a couple of minutes and talked about where we are and where we should be going.  I’ve been asked to provide my notes, so here they are.

Thank you for allowing me to serve.

I wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Ed Brimner
Chariman, Wakulla County Commission (District III)
(850) 251-8709  (Cell)
(850) 926-0919  (Office)
(850) 926-0940  (FAX)

COMMENTS FOLLOWING SWEARING IN

To my fellow Commissioners, I thank you for the great honor and responsibility with which you have entrusted me.

To Judge Jill Walker, Thank you for taking your time to swear Vice-Chair Green and myself in.  Your presence enhances the solemn commitment both of us have accepted.

And to our guests and family including, my wife, Tina, my three kids, Alexandra, Victoria, and Stuart; Vice-Chairman Greens’ wife, Jacqueline; and Commissioner Kessler’s wife, Ann; welcome and thank you very much for coming.

On behalf of the Board of County Commissioners, I extend my thanks to the people of Wakulla County for your confidence in this entire elected commission—we will not let you down.

I appreciate the indulgence of the Board and audience to share with you just a few brief but important thoughts at the start of the year ahead.

Wakulla County is poised at a critical stage in our history.  We could easily be swept away by the tide of chaotic, turbulent growth—something no one wants.  However, I don’t believe this county will be washed out to the sea of uncontrolled growth.  I believe we have begun the process of building a county that highlights our environmental treasures while simultaneously recognizing the need for economic success.

From roads and sewer to solid waste, parks, and law enforcement, our infrastructure and services must be provided at an affordable price.  This is not an easy task but one that must be achieved in a time when our citizens are demanding, and deserve, lower taxes.

We are fortunate that we have a very progressive Board.

This board demanded the City of Tallahassee improve their wastewater treatment and then committed to improving our own sewer treatment to advanced treatment standards.  With State financial help, this board committed to the reuse of waste water to further protect the Florida Aquifer.  This board passed a performance based septic tank ordinance.  This board approved a wetlands protection ordinance.  This board approved a commercial landscape ordinance.  This board implemented a billboard ordinance.

Our new neighborhoods are better and greener than ever.  They have central sewer, fishing ponds, hiking trails, and open space.  Others have committed to use low impact development techniques and are building certified “Energy Star” homes—true affordable living.  More and more, our commercial developments have agreed to LEED Green Building standards.

The quality of our homes and businesses are improving and these improvements have cost this county nothing but the effort it takes to ask our development partners to join us so we can improve our county together.  I’m excited about our future!

All this and more happened in the last 3 years—a very short time by government standards.  For this and so much more, I’m proud to have served on this county commission!

We now face even greater challenges.

First, our road system has not kept pace with our growth and must be improved.  For Wakulla County to succeed in meeting this transportation challenge we must maximize the efficient use of all roadway corridors.  This board must also find a way to pave neighborhood roads such as Grieners Addition, Wakulla Gardens, and Magnolia Gardens.  We must do this in such a way that it does not prevent us from building collector and arterial roads to serve all our public.  It can be done!

Next, this board must protect the best of Wakulla County: our coasts, our wildlife refuge, our national forest, our rural heritage, our springs, our rivers, streams, and Gulf waters.  Protecting our environment as we build a sound economy must remain a priority for this board.

Finally, this board must lead our county into the future so we have a modern and attractive place to live with a high quality of life.  We can do it!

This board must work with our fellow elected officials and constitutional officers.  I commit to working closely with all constituents and leaders of Wakulla County Government to improve efficiencies throughout.  I commit to working with State and Federal elected officials for the betterment of our County and to seek funding partnerships for local projects.  I commit to continue to build regional co-operation with our fellow counties, especially our neighbors in Leon, Gadsden, Jefferson, and Franklin Counties.

However, my greatest priority during the year ahead, and I’m sure I speak for the whole board on this point, is to protect the interest of the people of  Wakulla County.

This board is well aware of public dissatisfaction with certain aspects of local government here in Wakulla. Those concerns tend to focus on growth and taxes.

This board hired staff who understands all of these issues and work daily to respond to those concerns.  For instance, our tax millage rate dropped from 9.5 mils to 7.625 mils—almost a 20 percent reduction in the last three years—and we will continue to improve.  I’m very pleased with the staff additions we’ve made in the past year to meet our future challenges.  I believe it is fair to say this board and our staff is united in our commitment to ethical public service.

Wakulla County is at the threshold of great historic achievements which will leave a lasting legacy for our children and grandchildren.  In order for this county to march into the future, this board needs to work together cohesively and collectively as much as possible.  We cannot have personal agendas.  We should refrain from making negative comments that produce friction and disharmony among board members.

This does not mean we will join hands and never disagree.  However, we can become team players who do not allow personal emotions or disagreements with other board members to interfere with our own objectivity in making decisions.  Each of us brings valuable viewpoints to this board.  We must make decisions that are best for Wakulla County.

I would like to end by acknowledging the dedication, competence, and hard work of our County staff—including our contract staff.  Mr. Pingree and our staff work with all of us on a daily basis.  I want to say thank you to them for doing an often unseen... and thankless job.  Thank You!

Ladies and gentlemen with all seriousness and determination - let us begin.

These comments originally published on December 5, 2007.

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