Commission adopts 2026 legislative priorities including fire training facility, marine academy and road projects

The Board of County Commissioners voted 5-0 at a special meeting to adopt initial 2026 legislative priorities that include establishing a White City fire training facility, pursuing a marine services training facility, addressing congestion on Back Beach Road (State Road 98), airport access improvements, water and reuse projects, and scheduled fire apparatus replacements. Why it matters: The priorities guide the county's requests to the legislative delegation and identify near-term funding needs for public safety training, transportation safety, airport infrastructure and water projects. The board discussed a plan to renovate a mothballed building in White City as a local fire-training facility. Commissioners and staff said the site already has plumbing, sewer, three-phase power and space to add multi-level training structures; the state fire marshal has expressed support and a state grant for equipment is anticipated. County staff said the facility could support volunteer training and, in coordination with the school district, could host classes that might enroll students as soon as the following year if funding and partnerships fall into place. Commissioners also discussed a proposed marine services training facility on property near the port. Staff said a draft agreement with a port authority partner and an equipment/structure provider (Tom P. Haney, referenced in the meeting) is near completion and could be presented to the board. The board discussed visiting existing marine training sites in Mobile and other Gulf Coast locations to inform planning. On transportation, commissioners highlighted safety and congestion along Back Beach Road/State Road 98 and said ambulance transports currently send an estimated 75% of county transports to Panama City; they asked the legislative delegation to consider the route in five-year planning and funding discussions. Road projects in general and specific airport work also made the list: staff said the county has a $1 million grant toward the airport entrance road but may need additional funds, including turn-lane work, to complete improvements. Water projects and reuse were discussed as multi-year priorities. Commissioners referenced a roughly $10 million funding item that was previously redirected to a Cape project and said resilient-infrastructure grants had been delayed; they said completing the county's water loop depends on securing remaining funding. Fire apparatus replacement appeared in the five-year fire department plan. The board discussed a tanker truck slated for Overstreet Volunteer Fire Department in the coming cycle and described a plan in which departments receiving new apparatus pass older vehicles to neighboring stations. A motion to adopt the legislative priorities as the board's initial request was made and passed unanimously (5-0). The board asked that the list be presented to the legislative delegation at upcoming meetings. Ending: Commissioners ratified the priorities as the county's initial delegation requests and directed staff to include the items in the packet for the delegation meeting and future agendas.