July 2022

30a.news

Walton County Clerk Internal Audit

WALTON COUNTY, FL – JULY 5, 2022 – Last week, the Board of County Commissioners became aware of an audit completed by the Clerk of Court and released to the general public on July 1, 2022. That audit covers purchasing cards (“P-Cards”), travel vouchers, and use of county vehicles, and focused solely on each of the five County Commissioners. The Board has previously directed staff to investigate similar issues, notably P-Cards and travel policies. Staff has been conducting review of existing policies and practices for those issues related to all County employees and County Commissioners and has been developing policy revisions to address identified issues, many of which overlap with those identified by the Clerk. During that process, staff became aware of the Clerk’s audit, as well as the Clerk’s intent to adopt a new P-Card policy. During a meeting with the Clerk of Court, staff concurred with many of the Clerk’s recommended changes and advised of numerous revisions to be recommended to the Board for adoption that go beyond what the Clerk has proposed. Now that county staff has received and reviewed a copy of the audit and the new policy, the Board will be presented and shall consider revisions to the relevant policies at upcoming Board meetings. The findings of the Clerk’s audit reveal what the Board has previously identified as a systemic breakdown of policies within the prior administration of the County and an improper reliance on practice over written policy by those responsible for administering these... Read More

30a.news

Grayton’s Underwater Museum of Art Expands with Nine New Sculptures

Did you know that South Walton is home to the nation’s first permanent underwater museum? In 2018, the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) partnered with the South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA) to create North America’s first permanent underwater sculpture exhibit, the Underwater Museum of Art (UMA). In June of 2022, nine new sculptures were added to the […] Read More

30a.news

Grayton’s Underwater Museum of Art Expands with Nine New Sculptures

Divers explore new UMA sculpture Bloom Baby Bloom | Spring Run Media Did you know that South Walton is home to the nation’s first permanent underwater museum? In 2018, the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) partnered with the South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA) to create North America’s first permanent underwater sculpture exhibit, the Underwater Museum of Art (UMA). In June of 2022, nine new sculptures were added to the exhibit which is located off the coast of the Grayton Beach State Park in the Gulf of Mexico. The 2022 installation includes the following pieces of sculpture: Currents and Tafoni by Joe Adams (Ventura, CA), Pirate Shipwreck by Sean Coffey (Pittsburgh, PA), Bloom Baby Bloom by Brit Deslonde (Santa Rosa Beach, FL), The Seed and The Sea by Davide Galbiati (Valreas, France), Fibonacci Conchousness by Anthony Heinz May (Eugene, OR), New Homes by Janetta Napp (Honolulu, HI), Arc of Nexus by Tina Piracci (Richmond, CA), We All Live Here by Marisol Rendón (San Diego, CA), and Common Chord by Vince Tatum (Santa Rosa Beach, FL). Fibonacci Conchousness | Spring Run Media Pirate Shipwreck | Spring Run Media We All Live Here | Spring Run Media The sculptures were deployed with support from Visit South Walton, Walter Marine/The Reefmaker, and the Florida Department of State Division of Arts and Culture using SWARA’s existing USACOA and FDEP permitted artificial reef project that includes nine nearshore reefs located within one nautical mile of the shore in 58 feet of water. The installation joins the 17 sculptures... Read More







30a.news

July Live Music at The Bay on North Beach

Come out to The Bay every Wednesday night at 5PM for dinner, cold drinks and a bonfire with various local musicians on North Beach on the Choctawhatchee Bay at the 331 bridge. It's a midweek tradition in South Walton, Florida! Also j... Read More