Freeport City Council Approves Road Surveys, Land Use Changes, and Tackles Political Sign Rules at August 27 Meeting
The Freeport City Council approved a series of infrastructure and land use decisions at its August 27 regular meeting, including a $3,250 survey for Jackson Street intersection improvements, a rezoning request on US 331 South, and a $75,000 state grant for comprehensive plan updates — while also confronting the growing problem of political signs littering public rights-of-way.
The meeting opened with the consent agenda, which passed unanimously: city bills, August 11 regular meeting minutes, August 18 budget workshop minutes, a budget amendment for sewer sludge disposal, and revenue and expenditure reports through July 2026. Commissioner Dan Curry was recognized at the start of the meeting, setting the stage for his later presentation on county-city infrastructure cooperation.
City Manager Tim Hiebert delivered several key staff reports. The city’s State Revolving Fund loan application yielded $20 million for sewer infrastructure — short of the $50 million requested, but with the possibility of up to $30 million next year. The loan carries an interest rate just above 2%, with a second financing piece planned through USDA. Hiebert noted that once the loan finalizes after a 30-day waiting period and the design from Newberry is in hand, the project will move forward.
The council approved a $3,250 survey request for the North Jackson and South Jackson intersection improvements, which tie into the broader Highway 331 turn lane project. Hiebert reported that a 2018 FDOT turn warrant study can be reused rather than redone, saving significant cost. The only remaining requirement is updated traffic counts on US 331, with a proposal of $3,800 to gather the queue length data needed for turn lane design. A pre-application meeting with FDOT is scheduled, and the city is coordinating with the state on its concurrent traffic study in the area.
The council also approved a $67,000 scope of services with Now or Never Engineering for the State Road 20 utility relocation project, part of the road widening plan. Hiebert briefly noted that CHELCO has completed its move out of City Hall to its new operations building on Bayou Drive, with the old kiosk scheduled for removal by September 2.
The meeting’s first public hearing involved a small-scale future land use amendment and rezoning for a 1.43-acre parcel on US 331 South, just north of Jones Drive. The property, currently zoned rural village with three single-family homes, was requested for a change to mixed-use and general commercial to accommodate an interior design office. The applicant’s engineer, Scott Jacobs with J Engineering, noted the property is adjacent to existing commercial zoning on both sides, filling in the corridor near the boat sales business and the planned commercial development that will include Arby’s and a chicken restaurant. The council approved both ordinances on first reading and directed staff to advertise for the second reading.
Walton County Commissioner Dan Curry addressed the council during new business, apologizing for any overstep when he previously raised Freeport-area road priorities at the county level. Curry proposed a joint infrastructure summit bringing together the county, the cities of Freeport and DeFuniak Springs, the sheriff’s office, the school board, FDOT, and state representatives to build a single prioritized infrastructure list for Walton County. He argued that infrastructure doesn’t recognize political boundaries and that a united approach would strengthen the region’s voice when seeking state and federal funding. The council responded favorably, with the mayor directing staff to coordinate with Curry on scheduling a meeting at the new community center.
The most contentious discussion of the evening centered on political signage. Councilwoman Brandon raised concerns about an explosion of campaign signs on city rights-of-way and public property in recent election cycles, recalling that in past years signs were restricted to private property with the owner’s permission. Planning consultant Latilda provided a detailed overview of the city’s current sign regulations, which classify political signs as temporary signs subject to size, placement, and visibility triangle restrictions. The city attorney cautioned that singling out political signs for different treatment than other temporary signs could raise First Amendment concerns, recommending either an outright prohibition on political signs on city property and rights-of-way or a clearly defined subcategory with specific timeframes tied to the election cycle. The council directed staff to draft updated language for the land development code, with a one-page fact sheet to be provided to candidates when they qualify for office.
The city also received a $75,000 technical assistance grant from the state, presented at the governor’s conference in Bonifay, to update Freeport’s comprehensive plan. The update will include new population projections, infrastructure analysis for sewer, water, roads, stormwater, and solid waste, and adjustments to goals and policies to reflect recent legislative changes. The project will be handled by Anchor CE, which is performing similar work for other local communities.
Other actions included approval of a Freeport Little League fundraiser at the sports complex for February 27-28, 2026, to cover the cost of new state-mandated biometric background checks for coaches — estimated at $15,000 to $20,000 for 150 to 200 volunteer coaches. The council also approved a $1,000 donation from Walton State Society volunteers toward the future skate park at Brandon Memorial Park, and authorized planning staff to work with a property donor on surveying a second parcel on Madison Street for a potential neighborhood park.
The council approved adding several Highway 20 intersection projects to the capital improvements plan, making them eligible for state and federal safety improvement funding, though a proposed road through the Cor property was removed from the list at the mayor’s objection. A phase three lighting project for the community center and pool area was approved at $58,700, continuing the city’s ongoing decorative lighting installations that recently included a pink tribute at City Hall for the late Dolly Parton.
The city attorney provided a lengthy update on the Marking Light bypass road eminent domain process, explaining that right-of-way maps were only received the previous week and that the discovery of a state lands parcel in the alignment could complicate the proceedings. He emphasized that Florida courts have been strict about map accuracy requirements and that any post-adoption changes to the taking lines could force the city to restart the legal process. The council also discussed exploring additional bypass road options to relieve Highway 20 congestion, particularly on the east side of the city, in light of FDOT’s decision not to four-lane Highway 20.
Originally reported by City of Freeport. Image: City of Freeport YouTube.
