[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6641445,"mediaKeyId","5484010-0aea8ccba6f404e63e6e158e08e28500","parentId",5484010,"title","Milton police secure FLIR camera and $18,800 training grant; council to move grants to consent","audioSeconds",236,"startMs",2797000,"endMs",3033000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5484010-0aea8ccba6f404e63e6e158e08e28500&start=2797&end=3033","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5484010-0aea8ccba6f404e63e6e158e08e28500/thumbnail_2797000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6641445/Milton/Santa-Rosa-County/Florida/Milton-police-secure-FLIR-camera-and-18800-training-grant-council-to-move-grants-to-consent","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641445-5d5aea9e8ab21c7bc15e9cb7ed10da00/orig.mp4?Expires=1770980479&Signature=ZDz9NcDLpV5La4g6dl0J1vSNaWBvbuWaNgaH-6j~uWsQewZC2Wxp2gWwE3j3bsWea3IvFZTb4-Y2YE73OQg1YMblNqhx9z6Q4PqT2QT8gPF56aTzc7KXtPpRZeqSgnfey8a3k5u0wXXqpDfVWl6-shf5TbJDmPIsYOxPkzNY4Q~2IKIEU5ZE-bni4tbHQ4XpBwa6M29EuUKN00RmaRrJGk0qaphRjHL~UiD0Sb3pUyEutfODo9TF6-qanJ0m7XvQBnQxJHnNGC2gOf~toNBQpvH9ovkgBN2M3Hta5Gg6UN6LMmi3A3~yjaoQcxqbNf7fzG8Go9WnQM~TZd2hU1mWLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Milton City","date","2025-06-10T00:00:00Z","article","The City of Milton’s police chief announced two grants totaling roughly $19,499 in equipment and training for the department and asked the council to add them to the regular meeting agenda and move them to consent.

The first grant is for a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) thermal-imaging camera valued at $699 with no local match required. The chief described the FLIR as a tool to “locate individuals, for example, in the woods, a missing child, an elderly senior, who's lost their way” and said it can reduce the need for canine units and de-escalate searches by quickly identifying heat sources.

The second grant covers a bomb-response training program for four officers, with a total grant value of $18,800 (about $4,700 per officer). The grant pays tuition, airfare, mileage, meals and parking; the department said there is no match required and the city’s only cost is the officers’ regularly scheduled wages while attending.

Why it matters: the equipment and training are intended to improve officer safety and response capabilities during missing-person searches and potential bomb-related incidents. Both grants were secured with no local match required, and the chief requested they be placed on the consent agenda for approval at the council meeting.

Key details
- FLIR thermal-imaging camera: $699, no match required; described as helpful for locating people in wooded or low-visibility conditions and for officer safety.
- Bomb-response training grant: $18,800 total for 4 officers (~$4,700 per officer); covers travel, tuition, and incidentals; no match required; city pays only officers’ scheduled pay.
- The chief asked the council to add the training grant to the agenda and recommended moving both items to consent.

Selected quote
“The FLIR is a forward emerging camera. The benefit of it is it allows us to be able to locate individuals, for example, in the woods, a missing child, an elderly senior, who's lost their way.” — Police Chief

Background and next steps
The council concurred with the chief’s recommendation and signaled agreement to move the items to the consent agenda at the regular meeting for formal acceptance. The items will appear on the regular council meeting agenda later the same evening for a consent vote.

Ending
Both grants were presented as no-cost additions to the department’s capabilities; the council signaled its intention to accept them via the consent agenda at the upcoming regular meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Work Session (Agenda Review) - June 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Milton’s police chief obtained a FLIR thermal imaging camera grant valued at $699 and a separate $18,800 training grant to send four officers to a bomb school; the chief asked that the items be added to the council agenda and moved to the consent calendar.","taxTitle","Milton, Santa Rosa County, Florida","taxId",56207,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6641450,"Milton council continues investment-policy review, discusses oversight and communication",631,1797000,2428000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5484010-0aea8ccba6f404e63e6e158e08e28500&start=1797&end=2428","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5484010-0aea8ccba6f404e63e6e158e08e28500/thumbnail_1797000.jpg","/articles/6641450/Milton/Santa-Rosa-County/Florida/Milton-council-continues-investment-policy-review-discusses-oversight-and-communication","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641450-7d2c2cef7d4375e348a1a361410d166b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770980479&Signature=T7dyYUDMHLcRWnxksWZbzIVyO-HIgPvd0tTh2gHzbLQSK9H45XjOApIJPhWEbGgJIVtx6IjeS~azeT1sjyOSB7hVWGlIOHPr4XPcvI8k0MQJC9iBEmwjglzuuS96bjwGb56q1Yj-bWrM0Eryi-y0qtnT-k665rk5gMvLyjJUs9o9pGruc8Je3xKvUALas1ELltFxVVy~MYFtO52BeSHsSLsH-kZUz7BChGDixX6s87jTr~ylsk1qQu8IQkyPxmujutKu7P23xW~TKosA9VOD7STzpdaVRWbe8Um9jMHtRj~eBRzZwLiqetGN-teeyeoDM75SUBe4ZOg9o2Fa3~9daQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Milton council agreed to continue review of its investment policy at the June 26 work session after extended discussion about reporting, oversight and the use of local bank accounts.

Councilwoman Farrell said she would require quarterly reports that list the amount invested, the investment vehicle, interest earned, service costs and term for each investment. She also asked that the council be immediately notified any time funds are moved between investment vehicles.

Former councilman Jimmy Messick, present in the audience, suggested forming a committee to meet with Truist Bank. Council members discussed options for an oversight group that might include the CFO, city manager, budget director, one or more council members and a qualified member of the public; they also raised concerns about restricting the CFO’s authority to move funds rapidly when needed.

Why it matters: Milton’s general reserves fund must be managed to preserve liquidity for operations while complying with state statute that limits risky investments. Council members said improved communication would increase public confidence without constraining the CFO’s ability to respond quickly to market or operational needs.

Key details
- Council directed staff to continue the investment-policy discussion at the June 26 work session.
- Councilwoman Farrell requested quarterly reporting on investments (amount, vehicle, location, interest, service cost and term) and immediate notification for changes in investment vehicles.
- Council discussed the possible formation of an oversight committee; members emphasized the need to balance oversight with the CFO’s operational authority.
- The transcript records a general reference that “State statute dictates that we cannot put these in risky investments.”

Selected quotes
“I'm going to be, requiring a quarterly report of our investment the investment, the amount of it, the vehicle that it's in, where it's located, the amount of interest, the service cost, and the term for that particular investment on a quarterly basis.” — Councilwoman Farrell

Background and next steps
Staff will set the item for continued discussion on June 26. Councilmembers asked staff to prepare options for committee structure and to clarify the legal constraints imposed by state statute and current city ordinance. No formal policy changes were adopted at the workshop.

Ending
Council members concluded that better communication and a clear process for oversight could improve public trust; they scheduled further discussion for June 26 to resolve details.","Councilmembers agreed to continue review of the city’s investment policy at the June 26 work session and discussed quarterly reporting, safeguards for reserves and the potential role of a citizen committee to meet with Truist Bank.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6641455,"Milton delays city attorney engagement letter; council asks for budget, reporting and billing clarifications",835,796000,1631000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5484010-0aea8ccba6f404e63e6e158e08e28500&start=796&end=1631","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5484010-0aea8ccba6f404e63e6e158e08e28500/thumbnail_796000.jpg","/articles/6641455/Milton/Santa-Rosa-County/Florida/Milton-delays-city-attorney-engagement-letter-council-asks-for-budget-reporting-and-billing-clarifications","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641455-f784122f2520b37eff82197944e657f9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770980479&Signature=EgzL3aiufWMHRb1Xm3~g2lOoBfVlXXBXgYG6wO6xxNXCpvSj3MD5tb7aM8n1RmNvBMQBdbnYmg3rjrYRpFU~25rizz~gc7ftEP~w9hw3G-J34vl~-r6D0ORZ73T9TqpYTOXSs8EFUGEHZMM~l-GnSFm2jRJ5~OkR-NReZjp7pHQcqQZOlQuidZVouH3Zctk7VTzxojEIXBrtY67amhuZ5BT4tfqjiioKLrNNHi4AVu8WWcR38NTkOYde74WJZdB4662rUylyVgVcDYjXKjNpiOSV19enbxKYXYfMSSC7d2H~sgwYQqTdHaCiH~yMKnEYlVxMkoCfFt5Ng7xE57rjqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilwoman Farrell urged revisions to the proposed engagement letter with the city attorney and the City Council agreed to postpone final approval until the June 20 workshop to allow staff and the firm to rewrite the document.

Farrell said the council should require the firm to “submit a budget to the city manager” and provide a monthly report describing the status of outstanding matters. She also asked that the contract specify billing practices — including telephone billing in tenth-of-an-hour increments — and clarify rules for virtual attendance and reimbursement thresholds for out-of-town travel.

City Manager Mister Spears and the city attorney present said they had no objection to including those items as edits and recommended designating a council spokesperson to work with the firm to produce concise language. The mayor and others agreed that the proposed changes should be drafted and returned at the June 20 workshop rather than voted on tonight.

Why it matters: the engagement letter defines billing expectations and reporting lines between City Hall and outside counsel. Council members said adding a budget and routine reports will improve transparency on legal spending and ensure the council is informed about ongoing legal matters.

Key details
- Items requested by Councilwoman Farrell: a budget submitted to the city manager, monthly status reports on outstanding legal matters, timely updates on changes in law affecting city operations, billing in tenth-of-an-hour increments for telephone calls, a policy on virtual attendance for attorneys, and a threshold that requires council approval for higher travel expenses.
- City Manager Mister Spears said staff will create a standalone legal cost center in the budget so legal expenses are visible during the annual budget process.
- Council consensus: move the engagement-letter item off tonight’s agenda and return it to the June 20 workshop for revised language.

What was said (selected quotes)
“a budget be submitted to the city manager” — Councilwoman Farrell
“We'll move this to the 20 sixth workshop and take it off tonight's agenda.” — Council consensus as recorded in the meeting

Background and next steps
The council received an RFQ response from the firm referenced in the meeting and said staff and the firm could draft the engagement letter. Councilwoman Farrell suggested guidance from the International Municipal Lawyers Association and asked the council to consider that guidance when drafting contract language. The council directed that a member work with staff and the firm to produce a condensed draft for the June 20 workshop where the council will consider the revisions.

Ending
Councilmembers indicated they want a concise engagement letter that includes clearer budget and reporting expectations before giving final approval. The item will return to the June 20 workshop for formal consideration.","Councilmembers asked the incoming engagement letter for the city attorney be revised to include a budget, monthly status reports, billing increments, virtual-attendance rules and a travel-expense threshold, and moved final approval to the June 20 workshop.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Milton police secure FLIR camera and $18,800 training grant; council to move grants to consent

Milton council continues investment-policy review, discusses oversight and communication

Milton delays city attorney engagement letter; council asks for budget, reporting and billing clarifications