COLUMN: When it comes to sand saga, doing nothing is something

An open letter to the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners:

How did we ever come to be in this place and time talking about MSBUs and sand?

Beach sand is eroding on built-up, privately-owned Destin beaches. Did the owners fix it themselves? No. They looked to government to fix it and make everyone either in Destin or in the county pay a share of their burden.

Long ago the county commission agreed with them on this basic approach.

This board looked to the same old simple solutions, such as dumping sand that would scar Okaloosa’s unique sugar white beaches; in essence a self-inflicted wound.

This board looked to new government in the form of MSBUs and taxes to pay for them.

This board spent more than a million dollars in litigation forcing a solution very few want.

The courts, experts, and many witnesses have disagreed with this board. Brave citizens, like the Sherrys, resisted this board.

Now the majority of citizens realize they are getting a solution they don’t want or need.

The county should stop its meddling ways and do nothing. MSBUs for beach replenishment should cease.

I commend the three commissioners who, in one way or another, are now publicly against the establishment of beach replenishment MSBUs, but the people gathered at last week’s meeting were making it known that the county commission must stop forcing its presence where it is neither wanted, nor needed.

Pete Blome

Chair, Libertarian Party of Okaloosa County