25 Years ago today in The Log: The fight over incorporation

Here’s what was reported in The Log Oct. 20 and 24.

•The Destin Log reviewed Destin Water Users’ problems — a lack of sewer tap-ons, state environmental criticism, not getting a renewed permit for its water-treatment plant — and wondered if DWU had failed to keep up with Destin’s rapid growth.
•The Committee for Incorporation argue that a proposed special taxing district Okaloosa County planned to create in the unincorporated areas of the county would have a far heavier hand than taxes imposed by the city. CFI’s Bob McIlroy said Destin could also expect $508,000 in state revenue sharing the first year of incorporation.
•The trial of Destin’s Mary Anne Adler, who had been charged with murdering her husband, was postponed until February 1985. Adler had admitted to shooting her spouse, but said she’d thought he was a prowler.
•The Florida Department of Environmental Revenue agreed to a $375,000 study of the Old Pass Lagoon and possible alternatives for cleaning it up. Another study found that the use of aerators to boost water circulation had improved the quality of the water.
•Preservation of Destin asked what it meant that the designation of Destin and South Walton as a coastal-barrier area came with an order directing government to maintain “appropriate growth management” so that populations didn’t grow too big to evacuate.
•A year ago, Destin had no office complexes: Now it sported Gulf Place Professional Colony and Palmetto Place.
•County officials said they were looking into the 14 Destin builder FEMA said were built too close to the water to meet federal flood-zone guidelines,
“We review so much in the planning process and now we've found there's still one more,” County Commissioner Larry Anchors said.
•The Log’s editorial wondered if bag limits considered for king mackerel would be too great a hardship on the charter fleet, though the paper also said that mackerel were overfished: “We are aware of instances in recent weeks where local boats have virtually gorged themselves, taking 60, 70 and even as many as 80 kings on a single trip.”
•In the Destin Fishing Rodeo, John King from Kansas landed a 51 pound 4 ounce white marlin, only to be topped minutes later by Trow Sebree Sr. of Destin, with a 51 pound 6 oz white marlin
•The engine operating the Choctawhatchee Bay Bridge’s drawbridge on 331 broke, so the bridge could only be raised and lowered manually. The reporter pointed out this would be a major problem for evacuation if it occurred during a hurricane: Civil defense directors in Bay and Okaloosa County said they wouldn’t allow South Walton traffic in.
A new no-drawbridge replacement was on the drawing boards, but not scheduled until 1988.
•Hidden Dunes offered 1,300 square foot Gulf-front condominiums for $165,000, with the developer paying for $10,000 worth of retail furnishing and $6,000 in closing costs.
•A state panel considered requiring a 25 or 50 foot buffer zone between buildings and the Choctaw Bay shoreline.
•The developer of the new Shoreline Village announced construction would begin with 30 days at the corner of Gulf Shore Drive and U.S. 98.
•A car crash on Holiday Isle left 2,000 residents without power for 45 minutes.
•The Log asked several Destin kids if they’d like to be president and got the following responses:
“Yes, so we can close school down for a whole week.”
“Yes, I'd lower the economy, lower taxes and keep bombs off the moon.”
“I could lower the taxes and ride in the bulletproof limousine.”
“You could have a lot of money and live in a big fancy house and be able to order people around.”
•Consultants said enough customers had signed up for a proposed South Walton water system to justify going ahead with it.