Walton County to vote on emergency measure ordinance to close it’s beaches

DeFuniak Springs, Florida – Walton County Commissioners have voted to Draft Emergency Ordinance to Close Walton County Beaches after a case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the county. Walton County has about 3 miles of public beaches, as most of the other beaches are State Park lands in Walton County.

Because the County is in an local state of emergency, the county can pass and rescind the ordinance during the activation of State of Emergency without having to wait for a specific time period.

During today’s emergency meeting of the Walton County Board of County Commissioners (WCBCC), the WCBCC approved a motion to direct the County Attorney to draw up an emergency ordinance to close the beaches in Walton County. The county attorney will work overnight with the Walton County Sheriff, other officials, and then that ordinance would then be voted on at 9am cdt on Thursday, March 19th, 2020, after the continuation of the Walton County Emergency Meeting from today.

Commissioners spoke with officials about the large amount of Spring Breakers that are showing up on the beaches of Walton County, and are worried those crowds could cause issues with the spread of COVID-19. It appears to the board because of other areas are shutting down in south Florida, those people are flocking to the shorelines of Walton County.

The Walton County Commissioners are in recess for 14 hours and will reconvene at 9:00 am on Thursday, March 19th in the DeFuniak Springs Boardroom located at 571 US Hwy 90 in DeFuniak Springs to vote on the ordinance.