Council President reflects on 2018

CRESTVIEW — For the city of Crestview, the year 2018 was filled with many changes including a revamp of the 50-year-old city charter approved by voters.

Council President J.B. Whitten reflected on the council's past year and ways he hopes to see the city improve in 2019.

What was the city's greatest accomplishment in 2018?

"That's easy," Whitten said.

His answer was simply getting the new charter approved.

"We'd been working on that thing in order to get it worded correctly and get the advertising out, the education," Whitten said. "…That's definitely our greatest achievement. I'm sure everybody on the council would agree with that."

Next to the charter, what would be another great accomplishment from 2018?

"The fact that we were able to bring together all the parties on the transportation needs for Crestview," Whitten said.

He referred to a long list of players in a meeting that all agreed Crestview transportation should be a priority. This list included the city, Okaloosa county, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida Department of Transportation, state legislatures, and other committees.

What was the city council's greatest challenge in 2018?

"I see the greatest challenge is doing a successful transition from the government we had and having the city manager," Whitten said.

When voters approved the new charter in August, they also voted to change Crestview's form of government from a mayor-council government to a council-manager government.

With the addition of a city manger in Crestview, the council now has a responsibility to choose the best candidate for the position, Whitten said.

Where did the city see the most improvement?

Whitten raved about the Public Services Department led by Director Wayne Steele.

"In my opinion, Public Services doesn't get recognition that the other departments do," Whitten said.

He said the other departments like police and fire departments are so visible in the community, but the Public Services Department does things for the community people don't realize like maintain the parks department and organize some sporting events.

"I think they do a great job taking care of the city," Whitten said.

What do you hope to see improve in 2019?

Whitten said he thinks the Growth Management Department employees work hard, but he hopes to see the department become more business friendly.

"We have businesses all the time get discouraged when coming to Crestview," Whitten said.  "I mean, I hear it."

Whitten said the council should look at ordinances in 2019 and figure out how to condense steps for people wanting to do business in the city.

He said the council is looking into an online process that would eliminate people having to return to City Hall as frequently when bringing businesses to Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Council President reflects on 2018