Retreat Blog

May your passage through Halloween be safe and sugary.

John Carroll, a 39 year old Colorado developer who helped build residential developments in Colorado and Kauai before landing in Florida says: "If you live... in Atlanta, (having)a relaxed place on the coast--with the Gulf right at your doorstep, and boating and fishing--doesn't become less valuable because of storms."

If you have a gulf front home being built in the Retreat you are no doubt familiar with this four letter word: S L O W SLOOOOOOOOW, SOoo SLOOOW.

Sung To the tune of your favorite 100 rap songs


Slow Like

Slow, like the green grass growin
slow, like the black molasses flowin
slow, like a pub-lic servant
slow, like you think I don't deserve it

Yo Yo my house is goin slow
Ho Ho where did everybody go
Oh Oh nobody workin here today
No No another storm is on the way

Slow, like the green grass growin
slow, like the black molasses flowin
slow, like a pub-lic servant
slow, like you think I don't deserve it

Yo Yo my life is passin by
Ho Ho nough to make a grown man cry
Oh Oh nobody workin here today
No No another storm is on the way

Slow, like the green grass growin
slow, like the black molasses flowin
slow, like a pub-lic servant
slow, like you think I don't deserve it

Shawn o'neal Copyright 2005 all rights reserved.

Howdy Neighbor,

If you have not walked the Retreat beach lately you need to experience how wonderful it is right now.

"Right here right now, there is no other place I want to be"
- Jesus Jones

Howdy Neighbor,

Another Gulf Front owner and Board Member has put his house up for Sale.
Lot 22, Just two doors down From Mr. Bohn's Manse.

Howdy Neighbor,

You have no doubt gotten your request for payment, assessment (Income re-Distribution TAX) BILL for services not rendered, etc., from the newly established R.I.R.S. Retreat Internal Revenue Service. Pronounced REARS.

What can you Do to help?

Join the Resistance today !

Suit will be filed. Help is on the way.

With a lawsuit.

This is the way Gentlemen and Ladies settle a dispute when talks break down.


And now we shall see what is and what is not real.

It is the American Way.


We will ask the law to clarify the issues of the opposing positions.

And then we carry on.

As neighbors.

From: "Peterson, John R." [This is spam]
To: gulfoasis@earthlink.net
Subject: RE: beach remeadiation in S. Walton
Date: Oct 24, 2005 10:42 AM
Governor Bush asked the Department of Environmental Protection to answer your
e-mail about beach renourishment in Walton County. We recognize the
devastating impact of the 2005 and 2006 hurricanes on beaches and residents
in the Panhandle and throughout Florida.

Because of the widespread damage, DEP prepared a Hurricane Recovery Plan to
establish where natural beach recovery would occur and where DEP, in
conjunction with the federal government and affected local governments, we
would undertake the highest priority restoration projects in the quickest,
most cost-effective way. (The plan is available at
www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches.)

DEP provided Walton County with $5.6 million in March 2004 for dune
restoration throughout the county, specifically to enhance the protective
berm built with FEMA money after the 2004 hurricanes. The county has
completed about 80% of the dune construction and vegetation; the remaining
money will be used to construct a dune system as part of the Destin/Walton
Beach Restoration Project, scheduled to be completed by Memorial Day. The
project includes all of Walton County west of the Topsail State Preserve.

DEP also is committed to restoring critically eroded beaches east of the
Preserve and provided Walton County $750,000 for a county-wide feasibility
study to make sure the work will be done right. We expect to fund completion
of the study and acceleration of project design and permitting in our
upcoming budget. We also are reviewing the county's request to increase the
amount of critically eroded shoreline east of Topsail State Preserve, which
may increase the amount of shoreline eligible for beach funding.

We appreciate the importance of your request. In turn, we hope you can
appreciate that there are urgent projects all across Florida representing a
massive workload for state and local governments. An unprecedented effort to
restore the beach and dune system of Walton County is already underway; we
appreciate your patience as we undertake these efforts in the most organized,
efficient and responsive way possible.


John R. Peterson
Director
Office of Citizen Services
DEP
3900 Commonwealth Blvd. MS49
Tallahassee, FL 32399
850-245-2118
SC 205-2118
850-245-2128 Fax
john.r.peterson@dep.state.fl.us

// posted by Shawn O'Neal @ 9:06 PM 0 comments

Notice of Special Meeting

The Walton County Board of Commissioners and the Tourist Development Council will hold a Special Meeting on Thursday, November 3, 2005 beginning at 10:00 AM at the South Walton Courthouse Annex located at 31 Coastal Centre Blvd, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. A representative from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service will be present.

The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss long term beach re-nourishment.

The public is invited to attend.


Beachfront Armoring and Beach Re-nourishment.
As of today, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has indicated that the county has issued "in excess of 200" permits for seawalls on the beaches.
DEP will soon be addressing an issue that has arisen with beach re-nourishment.

Walls vs. Beach Re-nourishment. The Florida law states:

(F.A.C. 62B-33.0051 (1) (a)(3)(b)) "... where a beach re-nourishment, beach restoration, sand transfer, or other project which would provide protection for the vulnerable structure is scheduled for construction within 9 months ...no permit for armoring shall be issued". The county is currently requiring all applicants for a seawall to sign a statement that reads: "Neither permanent retaining walls, nor beach armoring is allowed in the Walton county beach re-nourishment area (west side of Four Mile Village to the west county line-4.8 miles."

Currently, a number of large seawalls are being constructed in the Miramar Beach area scheduled for beach re-nourishment late this year or the first of next year.

If you live in the area scheduled for beach re-nourishment, you may want to be sure to attend the meeting on November 3rd. There may be some clarification on how DEP intends to address this issue.


Sincerely,

Anita Page
SWCC Executive Director

Howdy Neighbor,

Well the Taylor wedding party (Hosted by the Lovell's) filled the airwaves at the Retreat last night with some good 60's songs straight from memory lane .
The Tiki Torches looked cool on the Denuded but now mulched but not landscaped yet (sorry Ed) Center Blvd. Strip in front of the Beach Club.
Now if we Replaced The Turtles at the 30-A entrance,and at the beach club with big stone Tiki's and had some gas burning Tiki torches installed we could ..... Hey, I'm just kidding folks.
But a South Sea's Party once a year could be fun...
Hoola Hoola, Maka he Maka hi Maka Hini Ho, Mahala Y'all

Howdy Neighbor,

I have been down to WaterColor to check out their shiny Aluminium walkovers and they look like they are built to last beyond anything the old wood walkovers can handle.
They are Straight stairs attached to the existing wood at the top of the Dunes.
They may be more cost effective in the long run vs. Wood.
A big plus is that we can remove them for a big storm event and Get them back in action faster than you can ask for three quotes to rebuild a torn up wood walkover.
Modern Technology......You gotta use it....before you can Love it.

While we are trying to get Sand on our beach ......

To: ECAM

P L E A S E.....
1. Replace missing Stop sign at Bermuda and Retreat Drive.
2. Replace missing Street Lights and street signs.
3. Broken Gate... Out gate still open last night.
4. Denuded lots across from and next to Construction lots.
5. Walkover needed on East end. Remove hanging portion on beach side (hazard) and Board up ends. Also board up Gap at end of Beach club walkover or Chain swinging door shut.
6. Broken step tiles (stairs) at Beach Club.
7. Does everyone but me have a key to the storage room at the beach club?
8. Bushes at Retreat drive and 30A need cutting so we can see bike riders before someone gets Hurt or worse.
9.Get the Sand out of the hot tub. (Beach Club).
10.I could go on but can we get to these first please ECAM ?

Here is the letter which Bill Foss our neighbor sent to the Govenor Bush and which you can use as well and the response he got back and you will as well.
Thanks Bill.

Subject: RE: Beach renourishment at Blue Mountain Beach, FL


Governor Bush received your e-mail regarding beach renourishment and asked
the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to respond.

DEP recognizes the impact of the hurricanes on the Panhandle Beaches.
Staff
conducted an extensive evaluation of Florida's coastal hurricane damage,
using satellite imagery, aerial photography, and on-the-ground inspections,
and prepared the statewide "Hurricane Recovery Plan for Florida's Beach and
Dune System," which has been posted on our website at
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/beaches/. The purpose of the recovery plan is
to
assess the damage, determine where natural recovery can be expected to occur
and where recovery must be assisted through restoration; and, working with
the federal government and affected local governments, determine priority
restoration projects and the most cost-effective and expeditious way to
implement them.

Collectively, these actions represent a massive workload and an
unprecedented
recovery effort. We appreciate your comments and your patience as we
approach
hurricane recovery in the most organized, efficient and responsive way
possible.

John R. Peterson
Director
Office of Citizen Services



Original Message-----
From: Foss, Bill [mailto:BFoss@sjc.org]
Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2005 12:25 PM
To: Governor Jeb Bush
Cc: 'adlovell1@earthlink.net'; 'JRHHTK@aol.com'; 'JAro102304@aol.com'
Subject: Beach renourishment at Blue Mountain Beach, FL


Dear Gov. Bush:

The several storms that have impacted the Panhandle, such as Ivan and
Dennis,
have caused severe erosion of our beautiful beaches. Our particular
homeowners association, The Retreat Homewoners Association of South Walton
County, has recently passed a $1.7 million assessment to repair our dunes
damaged by these storms.

We understand the State has an on going program to pump sand from the Gulf
and deposit it on the beaches. Our situation is that we need our beach
renourished now, before we can proceed with dune remediation. Our dunes
presently have nearly two dozen very expensive homes that will become
endangered if we are hit with another storm. One of these homes is
currently
on the market for $9.9 million.

We are in a quandry in that we cannot move forward with a successful dune
remediation project until such time as our beach has been renourished and
that can only be done by the State. Our beach was approximately 300 feet
wide prior to these recent storms and today it is about 75 feet wide. We ask
your intervention in scheduling to have our beaches renourished now, which
we
understand may not otherwise take place until next year.

We appreciate your valuable time and respectfully ask your help in this
urgent matter.

This is a good deal of information available from the Surfrider Foundation
Check it out.
We all need to know more about the issues.

No person is an information island.
- Shawn O'Neal

The article in the Walton sun on the Geo-Tubes going in at Gulf Dunes states that 10,000 to 15,000 yards of sand are required to cover the tubes and backfill behind them to finish the project .
That is a big expense. This is to cover and backfill 750' of tubes.
300k to 450k for Sand.
Did anyone see a numbers breakout for our Beach that would go for Sand to be put on top and behind the Tubes ?
By the way I was told by the folks at The Sea Turtle Survival League that if the Geo-Tubes become uncovered during Marine Turtle nesting season it is a violation of Federal Law.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service looks out for the Turtles.

The tubes at Gulf Dunes don't seem to be up to the height we thought they were going to be .

Howdy Neighbor,

I've been checking on our Big Brother St. Joe down the beach at WaterColor this week.
Their "what to do about the Dunes Presentation" was more Professional and their Professionals were more Professional than the ones we had at the retreat according to two of the folks who attended both events. Their pony was prettier than ours, Their dog knew more tricks,their song had a better melody and their line dancing was smoother than ours.

The assessment that was thrown out for discussion was $2500 per owner...
There will be a comments and questions period before next steps are taken...
I heard that St. Joe will pay 100% of the assessment for the 60 Rooms at the Watercolor Inn since they own it. That's nice. What has not been discussed is the ENORMOUS INTANGIBLE value of the INN, the Beach CLUB with bar and grill, the Fish out of Water, the Shops,the Fitness center, Baithouse, Boat House and the Market have in helping WaterColor SELL all those other lots in Phase 3 and 4 and help to justify those ongoing regular assessments .

One more thing... About that 1/2% fee that everyone including all of us in the Retreat still pay to St. Joe every time a property transfers,
Where is all of that Money ? Is beach Remeadiation not a worthy enough cause for the St. Joe Community Fund to tackle ? $5000 on every Million, on every Lot and every home and condo and PRC (88) unit every time a property sells....

As they say down south, That's a lot of Spendola...
Imagine the Feel Good Capital St. Joe would put in the Bank if they said " St. Joe's got it covered folks, Hear is your new beach"
Y'all have been good to us. No need to get your check books out.

However, WaterColor is trying to INFORM and INVOLVE EVERYONE in the process and you have to give them Kudos for that.

At least Old St. Joe won't try to give you the bum's rush.

(sung to the tune of any of your favorite 100 Blues songs)

(verse)
Well my beach needs a fixin
And my walkovers gone
I can't get to my beach
And the gas lines gettin long

(verse)
The County said yes
Then the DEP said no
My sand don't match
And now it's got to go....

(Chorus)
Y'all know I'm Blue Blue Blue
When I ought to be Emerald Green
Well I may have to Sue
Yeah, I got them Beach Remeadiation Blues

Shawn O'neal 2005 copyright

Howdy Neighbor,
There's a New System on the Beach. HESCO Bastion. The companys concertainer system is coming off a Katrina beating win down in New Orleans.
I personally gave this information to The President of the board Dave Lovell and also to Jim Rester also on the board before the emergency Board meeting that was before the
Meeting in Sandestin.They were not familiar with HESCO's System During the Last meeting they told me they were not pursuing this.
You can see it yourself by walking west from the retreat. This is right before you get to the start of the Geo Tube installation in front of Gulf Dunes.
You can visit their web site at www.hescobastion.com/US_CIVIL/enter_uscivil.html
They sure look like they are a lot more established than the Vendor the board has been talking to.

Howdy Neighbor,

If you take a look at this list of options by clicking the Link Below showing the pros and cons of Beach renourishment , Sand fencing, and Planting of sea oats along with the option of Beach
Recontouring you will see that Dombrowski is not giving the right answer when he says
sand fencing will not work without alot of sand in the system.
If we put sand on the Beach That ADDS alot of Sand to the system.
Also "Sand fencing must be used with Planting of sea oats to work properly".
Also I did not hear anyone discuss Dune Recontouring in all of this either.
Now I know how a Mushroom feels. Kept in the Dark and covered with Bull Malarky.
http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/earthscience/CoastalErosionDefence3.pdf

Let's see if I got this straight:

#1. The permits the board are trying to obtain are "temporary permits", meaning, the tubes may have to be taken out in the future.

#2. The cost of removal is unknown, and is not included in the 1.7 million dollar price.

#3. The board has been unsuccessful in their attempt to obtain the required permits to do the work they are collecting money for and do not know if and when they will be successful. The county has stated to several residents that it will not issue the permits. The board stated they will not proceed without the permits.

#4. The work of installing the tubes is not currently under contract with anyone.

#5. The board still intends to collect money from the 40 owners who have not yet paid to do the job that is not contracted with permits they do not have and don't
know if and when they will have. HMMM.........


Am I missing something?

Have a Board meeting on a Friday at 5:Pm in a not so easy to find location in a room that's Colder than a Morgue and STILL WE WERE THERE.

When are we going to get our permit ? " It's anybody's guess" was the answer.

Are those folks who sent their money in going to get it back ? ..... NO.

The Board blamed rumours about possible lawsuits among concerned homeowners and not The 250 foot rule for their failure to get the remaining permits.

They ignored 50 requests for a special homeowners meeting because the Annual homeowners meeting is coming up soon.

As we like to say Down South " That Dog won't Hunt"

We need Change. How do we get it?

The Election of New Board Members.

Shawn:

As a Coastal Scientist, I would have to say that ALL situations are
different and the idea that one solution will solve every problem is a
concern of mine. Therefore I need to make it clear that you should
contact a coastal engineer to lay out what alternatives exist for your
location, but I would be glad to provide the following general
information.

In my professional opinion, coastal armoring should be considered as a
last resort. By definition it is designed to armor the shoreline and
thus protect upland properties. It is not designed to protect and/or
preserve the beach and dune system. In state law, coastal armoring is
allowed only under specific conditions related to conforming and
non-conforming structures. Sri Tamisetti from the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection would be your best contact to determine whether
or not any one property is conforming or non-conforming. Generally
speaking, conforming structures/properties are not eligible for
armoring.

If armoring is selected, one must realize the associated maintenance
issues and responsibility. In essence, all armoring structures should
remain buried under sand and function as a last resort in storms only.
An armoring structure that comes in contact with water will most likely
have negative impacts on the beach in front of the structure and
possibly impacts down drift of the structure. There could be exceptions
to this generality, but not many. Therefore, if armoring is installed
the property owner should have an understanding that as the structure is
uncovered, it must be reburied, which will require ongoing sand
placement. I have noticed structures along the beach that survived one
storm but were not reburied and were damaged in subsequent storms.
Also, there are limitations based upon the type of armoring that is
selected and the property owner must decide what level of protection
they are willing to pay for. Engineers can design structures to protect
against a large range of storms, but they would be astronomical in price
so the question becomes, is the design for a 6 foot storm surge,
10-foot, 15-foot? As the storm surge increases so does the cost, but
one of the largest failure mechanisms for armoring is overtopping so
that is a very important decision.

Finally as to sand, sea oats, and sand fencing. Placed sand should be
thought of as sacrificial. It is like our dune systems that is eroded
to supply sand to the beach and function as a buffer to storms. I know
that this may be a difficult idea to swallow when the cost is near or
over $30/cubic yard. By keeping sand along the frontage of properties,
there will not be any negative impacts to adjacent properties, but also
sand also has limitations depending on the size of storm that impacts
the beaches. The position of the WCTDC has been to utilize sand along
areas that need protection. We have not historically installed any wall
structures for our properties. We will continue to plant sea oats and
install sand fencing where we are able to maintain it. If we need an
armoring structure in the future we will be cognizant of the fact that
we are accepting a long-term maintenance program for its sustainability
and I hope others that move in this direction do also. I hope you have
a great meeting and let me know if there is anything else I can answer.

Brad

Howdy Neighbor,

I want you to know my position Straight up.
I suggested to the Current President of our Board (several storms) before the special vote of august 18 that we needed to get some sand and dune fences and sea oats on our beach for two reasons. #1. so we would have some protection. Protection that was already approved and within our means. #2. In case Plan A. (Gee whiz tubes) was not permitted.
And then the Board would have covered all of the bases and been able to tell us that they had done all that they possibly could .

AND they did not take the first approach that the boards own attorney indicated that they could have taken which was to ask each Gulf front owner to put their lot back to the condition that it was before the storm damage.
The board did not do that. They invented "the Formula" that has caused a lot of confusion and grief.
Did they have good intentions ? Sure they did.
The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
Good intentions are overated.
Common law is better. You take care of your property and I'll take care of mine.


This neighborhood deserves better than this.
That is why I am running for the Board.

My Platform
#1. Keep it Simple
#2. Keep it Real
#3. Keep it Clear

Thank You

Howdy Neighbor,

Straight out of modern science and into reality.
The Manager of the Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Club told me that they are waiting on the arrival of their new Retractable beach walkover. Although it requires hand removal of the rails first it is still mostly automated.
Now if they could just invent a retractable Beach Club.....

Howdy Neighbor,

There's a Geo Tube pronounced GEE-Oh-2ooob installation going on down the beach just west (toward Destin) of the Retreat. This is the same outfit pronounced Hi-drawl-it-all that hopes to get the business at the Retreat.
There is a walkover in front of the San Remo condo that you can stand on and Look down the entire process.

Word has it that the awesome new street lights are coming soon to the retreat .
The Reign by the Powers of Darkness is coming to an end.
Does anyone have a Picture of these lights?
Mabye they have a BIG spring at the base that let's them spring back up every time a truck backs over them.
Or a loudspeaker that issues a loud command like "Back off Man or pay the price"
Hey, I claim copyright if these are new ideas people.

Yeah.

Coastal systems experts to discuss hurricane impacts October 20
South Walton Community Council will present a forum on beaches, dunes and wetlands
as our coastlines’ natural defense systems in major storm events. The meeting
will be held in at 7 p.m. October 20 at the Coastal Branch Library in Santa Rosa
Beach. Speakers include: William (Bill) F. DeBusk, Ph.D. is a water quality scientist
with Escambia County and a certified Professional Wetland Scientist. Bill has been
involved in several environmental assessment and management projects in Walton County,
particularly Costal Dune Lakes.
Taylor (Chips) Kirschenfeld is a marine biologist and senior water quality scientist
in Escambia County with over 25 years of water quality, wetland and habitat restoration
experience in Northwest Florida. In 2001, Kirschenfeld wrote a new wetlands ordinance
for Escambia County that strengthened and clarified protection standards for wetlands,
wetland buffers, and other environmentally sensitive lands.
David McGehee, a coastal engineer, will also be on hand for the discussion.

As the Beaver would say "besides all the junk, it's fun".
You can Google or Dogpile the words "about blogs" and www.about.com has info about just about everything about....

Retreat update: Has it gotten Personal ? Most folks don't think so.
Many of you have told me that they have experienced FAR worse situations.
We shall see how it goes Friday at the Special Meeting. "Special".
Hey "Lifes a Beach and then you get to talk to DEP"

We have the Technology, why not use it. Welcome to Retreat Blog www.retreatblog.blogspot.com if you want to bookmark it.
This is your space. Not the Associations space or the BOARDS space or even my space.
I am bringing this to you to use as you wish.
I will encourage it's use as a very effective means for all of us to stay informed as to what's going on in the Retreat.
This Blog does not take the place of Association web site for announcements, etc.
If you want to comment just click on the word "Comment" at the bottom of each posting.
Try clicking on the envelope to email the post to a friend.