Destin grants approval for fire district to use property to store materials

After a few expressed concerns, the Destin City Council gave the nod to the Destin Fire Control District to use two small portions of city property to store materials for the new dock being built at the fire station off Calhoun Avenue. 

The two areas requested were the southwest corner at the old concrete plant at 820 Beach Drive next to Joe’s Bayou Boat Ramp and a small area at the front corner of Clement Taylor Park, which is right beside the fire district property. 

Those areas would be used for delivering and storing materials for the new dock. 

“We are here to ask that the city work with us a little bit on something we think is pretty special,” said Fire Commissioner Mike Buckingham. 

The fire district is building the Destin Marine First Response Center dockage. The new dock will be 388 feet long and consist of six boat lifts and 18 mooring pilings, an emergency loading and unloading zone, and an emergency staging area. 

More:Council approves variance for longer dock at Calhoun fire station

Buckingham told the council that they will be the only “full medical marina/dock in the Panhandle.” 

The dock will not only be for the fire boats, but also the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Okaloosa Sheriff’s Office. There will be a spot available for Destin code enforcement as well. 

“We are blessed that we have survived all the state agencies,” Buckingham said in getting permits and approvals. 

Council member John Stephens made the motion to grant approval to use the requested space, with the stipulation that the materials and equipment be moved by Memorial Day. Dewey Destin seconded. 

“I promise you we are going to do everything possible to be done by the end of May ... whatever we’ve got to do,” Buckingham said. 

More:Destin's Clement Taylor Park is up for a $1.5 million restoration

Council member Kevin Schmidt asked why the use of city property was even needed. 

“Our facility is completely built out,” Buckingham said of the property at 125 Calhoun, where the firehouse is located. 

Schmidt asked why those locations. Buckingham explained that they would like to store and launch the pilings at Joe’s Bayou. As for the property at Clement Taylor, it is because of the proximity to the firehouse property. 

“I want to support Destin Fire, but I have concerns,” Schmidt said.  

His concerns were, he did not want materials in the way at Joe’s Bayou and he had safety concerns at the beach at Clement Taylor Park. 

Buckingham assured the council that they were going to put a fence around the materials at Clement Taylor. 

Council member Jim Bagby said he had some of the same reservations; however, he believes they will be done by Memorial Day. 

“It will be done by Memorial Day or it will be on your property somewhere ... as long as we all agree on that. I think everybody will be happy,” Bagby said. 

Council member Johnny King took it from a different standpoint of being “a good neighbor.” 

“We stand to benefit from this ... whatever we can do to make it more efficient,” King said. 

Council member Dewey Destin said the fire department is not just another citizen asking, but a “fellow government agency” asking. 

“Helping them is helping ourselves,” Destin said. 

And taking the piling from the launch is the route to go, Destin said. 

“I have confidence they’ll have it out of there by Memorial Day,” Destin said.