Santa Rosa County District Four - Commissioner Ray Eddington

28/10/2025

Navarre Beach Pier will have winter operating hours of 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. starting Sunday, Nov. 2. The winter hours will be in place to better accommodate requests from patrons to fish and walk as the sun rises.

Navarre Beach Pier will have holiday hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving (Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025) and Christmas (Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025).

16/10/2025

UPDATE: 9:25 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 16 - The 6100 block of East Bay Boulevard is open for emergency vehicles and residents ONLY. The area is still blocked to through-traffic to allow for water supply to a brush fire in the area.
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The 6100 block of East Bay Boulevard is closed to allow water supply for a brush fire in the area.

Drivers are asked to avoid the area and can detour through Bergren Road, east of the blockage, or Edgewood Drive, west of the blockage. There is currently no estimated time for reopening. Find a larger view of the map online at https://www.santarosa.fl.gov/ImageRepository/Document?documentID=9775.

14/10/2025

Information provided by the Florida Department of Transportation

The traffic light at the Joybrook Road and Highway 98 intersection will be off for about 30 minutes starting around 4 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16. The light will be off for Florida Power and Light to do maintenance in the area.

Drivers in the area should expect delays and may need to seek alternative routes. View a larger map online at https://www.santarosa.fl.gov/ImageRepository/Document?documentID=9754.

10/10/2025

📋 BOCC Meeting Highlights Now Available!

The Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners recognized several important community initiatives and approved key projects during this week’s meeting.

Medal of Honor Proclamation 🏅 – The board honored Command Sergeant Major Robert Patterson for his extraordinary bravery and heroism during the Vietnam War.

4-H Week Proclamation 🍀 – Commissioners proclaimed Oct. 5–11 as National 4-H Week, recognizing the 4-H motto, “To Make the Best Better,” and the spirit of volunteer service.

Day of Caring 💪 – United Way West Florida presented on the 2025 Day of Caring, set for Oct. 24, encouraging residents to volunteer and give back to their community.

Interlocal Agreement with Okaloosa County 🚗 – Approved to help alleviate traffic concerns on Highway 98 through a new connector road project.

Movies in the Park 🎬 – Food trucks approved for upcoming family movie nights featuring Monsters, Inc. (Nov. 4) and The Incredibles (Nov. 18).

Benny Russell Park 🏰 – The board approved replacing the beloved castle playground with a new play structure.

Optimist Park Fitness Court 🏋️‍♂️ – Approved funding for a new outdoor fitness court to promote active living.

Peter Prince Field 🌦 – Approved design and construction services for a new Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS).

Waste Tire Amnesty Days 🛞 – Scheduled events through early 2026 to help residents properly dispose of tires.

Navarre Pier Restrooms 🚻 – Approved architectural services for the replacement of the restroom facility at Navarre Pier.

📲 View the full list of highlights and learn more: https://www.santarosa.fl.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1905.

09/10/2025

UPDATE - TUESDAY, OCT. 14 - The traffic light at the Joybrook Road and Highway 98 intersection will be off for about 30 minutes starting around 4 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16. The light will be off for Florida Power and Light to do maintenance in the area.
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ORIGINAL POST:
Information provided by the Florida Department of Transportation

The traffic light at the Joybrook Road and Highway 98 intersection will be off for about 30 minutes during the morning hours on Sunday, Oct. 12. The light will be off for Florida Power and Light to do maintenance in the area.

Drivers in the area should expect delays and may need to seek alternative routes. View a larger map online at https://www.santarosa.fl.gov/ImageRepository/Document?documentID=9754.

29/09/2025

UPDATE: Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, 3:15 p.m. - Frontera Street, between Mercado Street and Verdura Street, has reopened after a cross-drain replacement.

🚧 Frontera Street, between Mercado Street and Verdura Street, will be closed for a cross-drain replacement beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 30. Weather permitting, work is expected to be completed by Wednesday, Oct. 1.

Driveway access will be allowed to nearby properties. Miranda Street to Salamanca Street or Beleza to Salamanca Street can be used as a detour while work is being completed. Drivers are asked to use caution and expect delays in the area. View a larger version of the map online at https://www.santarosa.fl.gov/ImageRepository/Document?documentID=9738.

29/09/2025

Information provided by Navarre Beach Marine Science Station

15 divers remove 285 pounds of marine debris during Navarre Beach Pier cleanup

On Sunday, Sept. 20, the first of four annual Navarre Beach Pier Cleanup Dives brought together students from the Navarre Beach Marine Science Station (NBMSS), local divers, and community partners to remove harmful marine debris from beneath the pier. It is the only student-led underwater cleanup of its kind in the United States.

The day began at the Navarre Beach Marine Science Station with a safety briefing led by dive professionals from Blowing Bubbles with Tazz and Courtney. Underwater operations were overseen by Under Pressure Divers instructors Carl Antonik and Tazz Felde, longtime NBMSS partners. Additional support came from Gulfarium’s Cory Mitrenga, the Destin–Fort Walton Beach Natural Resources team, DiversAtlas.org, and Navarre Beach Lifeguards.

From the seafloor up to the surface, volunteers removed monofilament fishing line, lost tackle, and general debris. By the end of the two-hour dive (8:00–10:00 a.m.), the team had collected 285 pounds of marine debris. Among the items recovered were fishing line, hooks, lures, bottles, cans, plastics, multiple snorkel masks, and even a GoPro Hero 11—the “best find” of the day.

In addition, students working alongside Destin–Fort Walton Beach Natural Resources divers Alex Fogg and Jessica Valek successfully located and removed more than 550 thrush cowries from pier pilings as part of an ongoing project assessing the distribution and range expansion of this non-indigenous species in Florida and across the United States.

The authorized dive team will conduct the next cleanup in December, with quarterly dives planned in winter, spring, and summer to ensure consistent care for the Navarre Beach Pier environment. Contact Charlene Mauro, Director of the Navarre Beach Marine Science Station, at [email protected] for more information on how to get involved.

📸: Navarre Beach Pier, Tazz Felde, Hank Reynolds and Lori Palmer

26/09/2025

Exciting things are happening in Santa Rosa County!

At their most recent meeting, the Board of County Commissioners approved several projects that will support economic development and community resilience:

✅ I-10 Industrial Park Phase 3 – roadway extension & utility improvements to support new business opportunities.
✅ MOU with Pensacola State College – disaster recovery staging area at the Milton campus.
✅ CDBG Grant for Whiting Aviation Park – $1M+ investment for a stormwater pond supporting Leonardo Helicopters’ $65M expansion and job creation.

🎥 Hear more from the board in this week’s Boardroom Breakdown video ⬇️

Commissioners Smith and Eddington give an overview of the September 25 regular BOCC meeting.

11/09/2025

👏👏At today’s BOCC meeting, the board recognized the District One Medical Examiner’s Office employees for their dedication to investigating challenging deaths with accuracy and compassion.

Learn about other business conducted at this week’s BOCC meeting by visiting our website a thttps://www.santarosa.fl.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1878 or hear directly from commissioners in the latest episode of the Boardroom Breakdown, available at https://youtu.be/ZP7y-TSu3e0?si=dMJlUM7iBxRVzjgY.

11/09/2025

UPDATE: Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 10:30 p.m. - All lanes of Gulf Breeze Parkway, at Bergren Road, are reopened after being blocked due to a motor vehicle accident.

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Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, 7:10 p.m. - Both eastbound lanes and one westbound lane on Gulf Breeze Parkway, at Bergren Road, are blocked due to a motor vehicle accident. The road will be blocked for an undetermined amount of time.

Use caution in the area and expect delays. Seek an alternate route until the roadway reopens.

Traffic updates can be found at https://trafficincidents.flhsmv.gov/SmartWebClient/CadView.aspx #.

10/09/2025

1:50 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10 - A precautionary boil water notice is in place until further notice on Navarre Beach.

Navarre Beach Utilities advises that all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. As an alternative, bottled water may be used.

Affected Addresses:

- Bahia Drive – All residents
- Paradise Point Townhomes (all units)
- Sonata Court – All residents
- Tina Drive – All residents
- 8375 Gulf Blvd – Springhill Suites
- 8425 Gulf Blvd – Beachview Condos
- 8436 Gulf Blvd – Gulf Island Condos
- 8438 Gulf Blvd – Commercial 4-plex (all units)
- 8443 Gulf Blvd – Sugar Beach Condos
- 8460 Gulf Blvd – Summer Sands Condos (all units)
- 8468 Gulf Blvd – Cajun Bell Townhomes
- 8477 Gulf Blvd – Caribbean Resort
- 8478 Gulf Blvd – VACASA Office
- 8499 Gulf Blvd – The Pearl
- 8501 & 8515 Gulf Blvd – Beach Colony East & West
- 8520 Gulf Blvd – Buena Vida Townhomes
- 8525 Gulf Blvd – Navarre Beach Regency

For questions or concerns, contact Navarre Beach Utilities at 850-981-8888.

08/09/2025

10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 8 - Beginning at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 10, Navarre Beach Utilities will turn off water to certain areas of the east side of Navarre Beach to replace valves in the distribution system located along Gulf Boulevard. The outage is expected to last approximately six hours.

Expected Affected Addresses:
-Bahia Drive – All residents
-Paradise Point Townhomes (all units)
-Sonata Court – All residents
-Tina Drive – All residents
-8375 Gulf Blvd – Springhill Suites
-8425 Gulf Blvd – Beachview Condos
-8436 Gulf Blvd – Gulf Island Condos
-8438 Gulf Blvd – Commercial 4-plex (all units)
-8443 Gulf Blvd – Sugar Beach Condos
-8460 Gulf Blvd – Summer Sands Condos (all units)
-8468 Gulf Blvd – Cajun Bell Townhomes
-8477 Gulf Blvd – Caribbean Resort
-8478 Gulf Blvd – VACASA Office
-8499 Gulf Blvd – The Pearl
-8501 & 8515 Gulf Blvd – Beach Colony East & West
-8520 Gulf Blvd – Buena Vida Townhomes
-8525 Gulf Blvd – Navarre Beach Regency

For questions or concerns, contact Navarre Beach Utilities at 850-981-8888. Following the water outage, a precautionary boil water notice will be in place until further notice.