FWB Eyes Preservation Funds

By Jeff Ayres, Northwest Florida Daily News, Fort Walton Beach

Oct. 29–FORT WALTON BEACH — City officials hope their efforts to preserve historic buildings and sites will continue with financial support from state and national preservation groups.

The city has applied for “certified local government” status from those organizations.

The designation means Fort Walton Beach could get access to funds, otherwise unavailable, to use on historic preservation projects and goals.

“The (Fort Walton Beach) Historic Sites Board has wanted to update a structural survey that we did in the ’90s,” said Missy McKim, the city’s community development services director.

“We don’t have the money to (hire) someone to do that, but grant money is available,” McKim said.

The city would also use money obtained through its certified local government status to survey its archaeological resources, which McKim said hasn’t been attempted previously.

The process of seeking certified local government status is detailed.

The Florida Historic Preservation Office and the National Historic Preservation Office review the applications. The requests typically include what a city has done to preserve historic sites, the makeup of its historic sites board and what the city has done to meet state archaeology mandates.

Cities must provide historic sites board meeting minutes and a notice of upcoming meetings in case a state or national representative wants to attend, McKim said.

The state has approved Fort Walton Beach’s application, but the federal green light is pending.

Applying for certified local government status is the latest step the city has taken to boost historic preservation efforts.

Early last year, the city approved its first firm set of guidelines for designating a building or site as a historic place.

It also grouped three of its most historic buildings — the Indian Temple Mound Museum, Camp Walton Schoolhouse and Garnier Post Office — together downtown.

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