County will help fund beach restoration on Holiday Isle (PHOTO GALLERY)

CRESTVIEW — Okaloosa County will help pay to place emergency sand on eroded beaches on Destin’s Holiday Isle.

County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to contribute up to $415,000 from Tourist Development Council reserve funds for the project.

To see the latest erosion photos from Holiday Isle, click here.

“I dread the day we wake up and the East Jetty is in the Gulf of Mexico and there’s nothing we can do about it,” said Commissioner Bill Roberts.

Destin City Manager Greg Kisela told commissioners that their approval of the city’s request would save about $1 million in mobilization and another $1 million in destabilization.

“Generally, about 100,000-cubic feet of white sand would give them a year of protection from any storms,” he said. “It would give us some beaches to work with.”

The sand will be placed on about 2,600 feet of eroded beach.

Destin will contribute $200,000 for the work. The state has agreed to pay $200,000 and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will put up $100,000.

Condominium residents on Holiday Isle also have agreed to help out, said Bill Leaman who spoke Tuesday on behalf of the TDC.

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Okaloosa Island resident Rebecca Sherry objected to the emergency project. She said it could affect future beach restoration projects and force Okaloosa Island to receive lower-priority, inferior sand.

Eglin Air Force Base will begin renourishing its beaches on the island this spring. Destin has contracted with the Air Force to use the dredge while it is in the area.

Commissioner James Campbell said the project is a good start to finding a solution to the erosion problem.

“It’s the right thing to do,” he said.

Commissioner John Jannazo also supported the effort.

“I love the project,” Jannazo said. “I love everyone working together. … I clearly support it.”