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Bay County adopts multiple assessment rates and code revisions in single roll-call vote
Summary
At its Sept. 3 meeting the board adopted annual assessment rates for several neighborhoods, reimposed property-abatement assessments, and approved several code revisions and fee-authority changes; the board also revised beach bonfire permit procedures.
Bay County commissioners on Sept. 3 adopted multiple annual assessment resolutions and several code amendments and fee provisions in a set of public-hearing actions.
Resolutions adopted (roll calls held; each motion carried with recorded affirmative votes from Commissioners Carroll, Peace, Crosby, Raffield and Chairman Moore): - Annual streetlight assessments: Ashland $60 per lot; Magnolia Hills $92 per lot; Pretty Way $141 per lot; Grand Lagoon Shores $27 per lot. - Oakenshaw Road improvements assessment: $165.68 per lot for fiscal year 2025–26. - Twin Lakes vegetation removal service assessment: $99.45 per lot for fiscal year 2025–26. - Stormwater management program assessment: as discussed under Chapter 25, Article 3 of the Bay County Code (transcript referenced a $200 figure for a category described as nonresidential residentially developed property; the transcript did not provide clear language for residential charges).
The board also adopted an annual final assessment resolution reimposing property-abatement special assessments from the 2021–2024 programs and adopted a new final assessment resolution for the 2025 property-abatement program.
On code revisions, the board adopted changes to Chapter 15 (miscellaneous provisions and offenses) that remove duplicative provisions, expand the disorderly conduct ordinance to all unincorporated areas, modify public-gathering definitions and add an exemption for breastfeeding consistent with state law, and revise certificate-of-public-convenience procedures. The board also adopted an ordinance revising fee and fine provisions across Chapters 3.5, 5, 6, 19 and 24 to allow amounts to be adjusted by board resolution rather than requiring ordinance changes, and deleted an obsolete $500 peddling fee provision in Chapter 19. Finally, the board approved a revision to Chapter 5, section 5-88, to change the beach bonfire permit process by providing a mechanism for property owners to notify emergency services if they do not want bonfire permits issued for their property.
No members of the public offered comment during the hearings. The county attorney and county staff presented the items and the board voted to adopt the resolutions and ordinances.
