Walton County Chaos Continues – Tribunal Moves Proposed Asphalt Plant Moving to Magistrate Hearing
What Happened at the August 14th Planning Commission Meeting Was a Disgrace.
Thought you 'saw it all' at Walton County BCC Meetings--if you attended/watched last night's Planning Commission, they took the chaos to a whole 'nother level!
Freeport, FL – The fastest-growing community in Florida. The loudest voices? Silenced.
Bottom Line Up Front - You, the residents of Walton County, will no longer be heard (if you ever were) at any more BCC sponsored hearings!
Unless you can afford a legal team/lawyer to represent you/your group, and spend $1000s on paid experts in multiple fields.
Who will then be disrespected by both the applicants and whoever is sitting on the dais. That was the lesson learned last night. Don't believe us? Watch it on replay.
Oh, you will get your pithy little 3 minutes to tell it like it is under 'public comment', but only if you behave like good little children, but no one on the other side of the dais will be listening by the time you get to speak! YOUR VOICE OFFICIALLY NOW DOES NOT COUNT!!
Since January, Protect The Emerald Coast Alliance (PECA), a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, has been fighting alongside Freeport citizens to stop the construction of a dangerous asphalt plant just steps from your homes, your schools, and your playgrounds. Last night, August 14th, we attended what should have been a meaningful Planning Commission meeting.
Instead, it was a joke—and a disgrace.
The details:
The County changed the process for Planning Commission and BCC project approval to add a magistrate/judge (yep, one person, not elected by us, not accountable to us in ANYWAY, to make it 'better').
Newsflash -- chaos ensued.
And we mean Chaos. To the extent we, the people, were tossed out of the room, escorted by a Deputy, during the second part of the quasi-judicial hearing, unable to listen to our well-researched, well-documented, and supported by expert witness rebuttal to the applicant's information.
The meeting began at 4:00 p.m. and dragged on until after 9:00 p.m., stalled by the Applicant, Jeff Howell's, lawyer, with repetitive questions and confusing rule changes that even left Planning Commission members visibly confused. The tactic was clear: wear the public down and force a rushed decision.
The Planning Commission, (like the rest of the BCC!) or as they were referred to by Applicant Lawyer, "The Tribunal', was completely unprepared, unaware of their role in the 'new' process to decide next steps for developer projects under quasi-judicial status, with the pending magistrate/administrative judge inserted into the process.
The all-volunteer/appointed "Tribunal' members allowed the applicant's lawyer to run the show, dictate terms of engagement and no surprise, offered little to no resistance, objections, guidance, or meaningful input at any point in the hearing.
But there was one bright spot. One really bright spot. And it was the Children.
Among those in attendance were two young girls with their parents. They had also attended a community meeting back in July, where one of them had asked a question that stopped everyone cold:
“Will we smell the asphalt when we play outside?”
The applicant, Jeff Howell's, lawyer didn’t respond then—and the system failed them again last night.
At around 8:15 p.m., after five long hours, Chair Kyla Jacobson screamed at the public and ordered everyone out of the room because she was “tired.” One of the girls' parents respectfully asked if her daughters could stay, reminding the Commission how quietly they’d sat, waiting to speak. She asked:
“Is this what you want our children to learn about civic duty?”
Chairwoman Jacobsen’s answer?
“Yes.”
Eventually, the public was let back in—with less than 20 minutes to speak before the arbitrary 9:00 p.m. cutoff. Despite the chaos and exhaustion, the two girls stood up and spoke. They asked how something so harmful could be approved near where kids live and play. They challenged the Commission: if they approved the plant, they should go to every school in the county and explain to each child why their health didn’t matter.
Their words were clear. Respectful. Brave. They are two little American Heroes.
What else do you need to know: The proposed asphalt plant, despite erroneous information provided concerning Hwy 20 traffic/safety/environmental concerns/, has now moved to the magistrate after a 5-1 vote to move the project along.
Unfortunately, the Tribunal was completely uninterested in evaluating major goals and objectives of the county plans as they applied to the compatibility of the project. Or your safety on Hwy 20. Or the environmental impacts/risks to our waterways. Or the loss of value of your property. Or the health of your kids/elderly/at risk family members. UNINTERESTED! Seems if you are a Tribunal, you don't have to be interested!!
BUT It Is Not A Done Deal!
Even one Planning Commission member questioned it aloud: “Why make me read all this if it doesn’t matter?”
The Alliance took away valuable lessons and is even more determined to stop this insanity. To bring order to Walton County Chaos. We have already begun preparing for the next/magistrate hearing. But we need your help. There is a process—and we are still in it. The fight is ongoing, and we are not backing down.
The need is serious.
What is it worth to protect your home’s value, your family’s future, your peace of mind?
Think about it:
If your property value drops just 1%, that’s a $5,000 loss.
2%? You’re looking at $10,000 gone when it’s time to sell.
This is real — and it’s happening fast.
Experts cost money. Lawyers cost money. Ads to educate the public, not censored by the Walton County Tribunals, cost money. We have all of this lined up.
#1: Go to our website and donate today.
#2: STAY INVOLVED.
Protect the Emerald Coast Alliance Inc
Join in supporting Protect the Emerald Coast Alliance Inc
Send this to your friends and neighbors. DEMAND YOUR VOICE BE HEARD and support the Alliance today!
https://protecttheemeraldcoastalliance.org/
Watch the powerful testimony at the 4:51:22 mark in the video here
Want to see the complete civic circus for yourself? The entire August 14 Planning Commission meeting is available on YouTube (Planning Commission - Aug 14 2025)
— and we urge every Walton County resident to watch what happened.
The fight is far from over. Let’s keep going—together.
#StopTheAsphaltPlant #FreeportFL #ProtectTheEmeraldCoast #PECA #CivicEngagement #FloridaDeservesBetter #LetThePeopleSpeak #NotADoneDeal #DonateNow