On Wednesday, April 16th, the offices of the Franklin County Property Appraiser and Tax Collector, along with the Eastpoint and Carrabelle Libraries, will be upgrading their phone systems. This may cause unanswered calls, busy signals, or other phone issues during the day. Please plan to visit these locations in person or calling prior to Wednesday. We apologize for any inconvenience this phone upgrade will cause.
County News
FWC Public Workshop – Oyster Management and Regulations
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Division of Marine Fisheries Management invites you to participate in a workshop to gather input on oyster management and regulations in Florida, and specifically Apalachicola Bay.
FWC will host a public workshop near you to gather feedback on licensing requirements for fishery participants, bag limits, seasons, tolerances for undersized attached and unattached oysters, enforcement of undersized oysters in a certified oyster house, modifying how harvest units are measured.
DATE: Tuesday, April 15, 2025
TIME: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. (ET)
LOCATION: Fort Coombs Armory – 66 4th Street, Apalachicola, FL 32320
More than one Franklin County Commissioner may attend this workshop.
If you are unable to attend, you can provide input by submitting comments through our FWC Saltwater Public Comments page or by emailing Marine@MyFWC.com.
Your feedback will inform staff’s recommendations for proposed rules for oyster management statewide and specific to Apalachicola Bay that the Commission will consider at their August 2025 meeting. For information about Commission meetings, visit our FWC Commission Meetings page.
In addition to the workshop listed above, staff will be hosting other in-person and virtual public workshops between April and June. For more information on these workshops, visit our FWC Marine Fisheries Workshops page.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact me at 850-404-5089 or Devin.Resko@MyFWC.com.
Team Franklin Meeting
MEETING DATE: 4/25/2025
TIME: 9:00A.M
LOCATION: Franklin County School District Office, 85 School Rd., Eastpoint Fl. 32320
MEMBERSHIP:
The duly appointed Board of Directors are as follows:
- Franklin County Board of County Commissioners: Commissioner Jessica Varnes Ward
- Franklin County Sheriff’s Office: Colonel Dwayne Coulter
- Franklin County School District: Board Member Melonie Inzetta
- City of Apalachicola: Commissioner Adriane Elliott
- City of Carrabelle: Mayor Sebrina Brown
- Eastpoint Water & Sewer: Commissioner Colton Sapp
AGENDA:
9:00 A.M. Call to Order, Pledge of Allegiance & Opening Prayer-Chairwoman Elliot
9:10 A.M. Introduction & Welcome- Public/Board Member Comment- Bill Williams
9:15 A.M. Florida Department of Commerce-Jason Mahon- Deputy Secretary of Economic Development & Chief Manufacturing Officer
- Agency Mission & Collaborative Partnerships
- Economic & Workforce Development Resources
- Rural Business & Community-Strategy Recommendations
- Specific Stakeholder Funding Tools- Business Incentive & Entrepreneurs
- Board Member Q&A
10:00 A.M. Apalachee Regional Planning Council-Chris Rietow
Executive Director
- Agency Mission & Collaborative Partnerships
- Community Planning- Transportation, Growth Management, Economic & Environmental, Housing & Community Development
- Specific Stakeholder Funding Tools
- Board Member Q & A
10:45 Legislative Update: Bill Williams
- Economic Development Council-Designation
- Federal Opportunity Zone 2.0 (QOF)-Update
- SB 110-Simon- Rural Renaissance Bill
- SB 184-Gaetz-Affordable Housing
11:00 A.M. Sub-Committee (Work Groups) Update
- Billy Fuentes-Infrastructure
- David Huges-Academic Excellence
- William Zester-Hospital & Allied Health
- Lynn Martina-Economic Development
- Gloria Salinard-Land Use & Development
- Donnie Maddox-Airport Operations & Economic/Land Development
11:30 A.M. Meeting Adjourned
(April 9th Update) DOH-Franklin Issues Water Quality Health Advisory
(Update)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 9, 2025
Franklin County, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health in Franklin County (DOH-Franklin) is lifting the advisory for high bacterial levels the following location:
Alligator Point Beach
Tests completed on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, indicate that the water quality at Alligator Point Beach shows an acceptable level of Enterococcus bacteria established by state guidelines. Test results are available at FloridaHealth.gov/HealthyBeaches.
Please note that water quality advisories for Carrabelle Beach are still active and have not been lifted at this time.
For more information, call 850-653-2111 or visit Franklin.FloridaHealth.gov.
===================================================================================================
(Update)
Franklin County, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health in Franklin County (DOH-Franklin) has issued a water quality advisory for the following locations:
Carrabelle Beach and Alligator Point Beach
Tests completed on Thursday, April 3, 2025, indicate that the water quality at Carrabelle Beach and Alligator Point Beach does not meet the recreational water quality criteria for Enterococcus bacteria recommended by the Florida Department of Health.
DOH-Franklin advises against any water-related activities at these locations due to an increased risk of illness in swimmers. Sampling conducted during regular water quality monitoring showed that the level of bacteria exceeds the level established by state guidelines.
This advisory will continue until bacteria levels are below the accepted health level. Test results are available at FloridaHealth.gov/HealthyBeaches.
For more information, call 850-653-2111 or visit Franklin.FloridaHealth.gov.
=====================================================================================================
(Update)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 25, 2025
DOH- Franklin Lifts Water Quality Health Advisory
Carrabelle Beach tests below unsafe level
Contact:
DT Simmons Deanna.Simmons@flhealth.gov 850-653-2111
Carrabelle, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health in Franklin County (DOH-Franklin) is lifting the advisory for high bacterial levels the following location:
Carrabelle Beach
Tests completed on Monday, March 24, 2025, indicate that the water quality at Carrabelle Beach shows an acceptable level of Enterococcus bacteria established by state guidelines. Test results are available at FloridaHealth.gov/HealthyBeaches.
For more information, call 850-653-2111 or visit Franklin.FloridaHealth.gov.
###
About the Florida Department of Health
The Department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.
Follow us on X at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, visit FloridaHealth.gov.
=====================================================================================================
(Update)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 21, 2025
DOH-Franklin Issues Water Quality Health Advisory
Advisory Issued for Carrabelle Beach
Contact:
DT Simmons
Deanna.Simmons@flhealth.gov
850-653-2111
Franklin County, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health in Franklin County (DOH-Franklin)
has issued a water quality advisory for the following location:
Carrabelle Beach
Tests completed on Thursday, March 20, 2025, indicate that the water quality at Carrabelle
Beach does not meet the recreational water quality criteria for Enterococcus bacteria
recommended by the Florida Department of Health.
DOH-Franklin advises against any water-related activities at these locations due to an increased
risk of illness in swimmers. Sampling conducted during regular water quality monitoring showed
that the level of bacteria exceeds the level established by state guidelines.
This advisory will continue until bacteria levels are below the accepted health level. Test results
are available at FloridaHealth.gov/HealthyBeaches.
For more information, call 850-653-2111 or visit Franklin.FloridaHealth.gov.
=================================================================
(Update)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2025
DOH-Franklin Lifts Water Quality Health
Advisory – Alligator Point and Carrabelle Beach tests below unsafe level
Contact:
DT Simmons
Deanna.Simmons@flhealth.gov
850-653-2111 ext. 6019
Franklin County, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health Franklin County (DOH-Franklin) is
lifting the advisory for high bacterial levels the following location:
Alligator Point and Carrabelle Beach
Tests completed on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, indicate that the water quality Alligator Point
and Carrabelle Beach shows an acceptable level of Enterococcus bacteria established by state
guidelines.
Test results are available at FloridaHealth.gov/HealthyBeaches.
For more information, call 850-653-2111 or Franklin.FloridaHealth.gov.
===================================================================================
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2025
DOH-Franklin Issues Water Quality Health Advisory
Advisory Issued for Alligator Point and Carrabelle
Contact:
DT Simmons
Deanna.Simmons@flhealth.gov
850-653-2111
Franklin County, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health in Franklin County (DOH-Franklin) has issued a water quality advisory for the following location:
Alligator Point and Carrabelle Beach
Tests completed on Thursday, March 6, 2025, indicate that the water quality at Alligator Point and Carrabelle Beach does not meet the recreational water quality criteria for Enterococcus bacteria recommended by the Florida Department of Health.
DOH-Franklin advises against any water-related activities at this location due to an increased risk of illness in swimmers. Sampling conducted during regular water quality monitoring showed that the level of bacteria exceeds the level established by state guidelines.
This advisory will continue until bacteria levels are below the accepted health level. Test results are available at FloridaHealth.gov/HealthyBeaches.
For more information, call 850-653-2111 or Franklin.FloridaHealth.gov.
###
About the Florida Department of Health
The Department, nationally accredited by the 
Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.
Follow us on X at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, visit FloridaHealth.gov.
Public Notice – Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc.
The Board of Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., will meet at 10:30 a.m., CT on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. The meeting will be held in the Walton County Commission Chambers, South Walton County Annex, 31 Coastal Centre Blvd., Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 32459.
The agenda will be posted at www.myfloridatriumph.com prior to the meeting.
Any person who wishes to appeal a decision by Triumph Gulf Coast or the board with respect to any matter considered at the meeting must have a record of the proceedings. He or she may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made.
For more information, contact Triumph Gulf Coast at 850-387-9405. Any person who requires special accommodations because of physical impairment or disability should contact Triumph Gulf Coast at 850-387-9405 at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.