Tensions flare in Walton County as county administrator faces possible firing

SANTA ROSA BEACH — Tensions boiled over on Tuesday as the Walton County Board of County Commissioners held a discussion over the possible termination of County Administrator Quinn Robertson, brought on by a vote of no confidence by Commissioner Tony Anderson.

Here is what we know:

A dissenting opinion

The original motion for Robertson's dismissal was brought up during a special meeting on Nov. 13. The board took no action to fire Robertson, but Anderson asked Robertson to deliver a full report on his (Robertson's) actions since he took the role in June.

"The document does not come close to satisfying our direction as far as I'm concerned," Anderson said on Tuesday. "It's insubordination that (Robertson) didn't do what we asked."

Anderson also noted that the 17-page document that Roberston provided included disparaging words about other county employees, which Anderson called "unfair and wrong."

"I think it's a sad day when a county commissioner cannot walk into the administration office and share information they got from an employee," said Commissioner Danny Glidewell.

After the two statements, Anderson motioned to fire Robertson. Glidewell seconded the motion.

The vote of no confidence from Glidewell was due to a concern that arose around the time the county commissioners were debating the upcoming fiscal year budget. According to Glidewell, multiple department heads were told by Robertson not to meet with county commissioners.

Glidewell feels it's above Robertson's station for the county administrator to direct county staff that they can't communicate with commissioners on county business. Then he accused Robertson of putting a "freeze" on hiring new employees and purchasing new equipment without commissioner approval.

Then Glidewell moved on to the 17-page report, where he found two items that troubled him. The first was the questioning the ethics of Public Works Director Buddy Wright when he tried to get a pay raise for an employee. The second issue involved a disciplinary action with Planning Director Mac Carpenter.

Another issue Glidewell brought up was that "numerous" public employees have allegedly seen Robertson vaping inside the board room, his office, and other county-owned places in Walton County, which is against the law.

"What would we do if a regular employee did the same thing?" Glidewell asked. "I think the answer would be that they would be disciplined."

Robertson's rebuttal

In response to Glidewell's accusation of Robinson telling county employees not to communicate with commissioners, Robertson said that there are "multiple witnesses" who could verify that Robinson would have no issue discussing county business.

Robertson then addressed the second accusation on implementing freezes. Robertson says he was following the actions set out by the county commission.

“I understand that my job is highly visible, and I’m under a lot more managerial scrutiny than my employees," said Robertson. "But you’ve requested a report, sir; the board did. And I had the right and truthful information, and there was no way that I was going to compromise that.”

Robertson admits that he has vaped in the past, but he challenged other members of the board that they haven't used tobacco products in county-owned buildings.

"Lead by example," said Robertson. "We should be very careful at the glass house we are throwing rocks at."

The conversation then took a turn, with verbal jabs between Anderson and Robertson, which began with remarks about vaping and ended with an issue about county employees having no confidence in Robertson, even though the latter notes he still has support.

Robertson then expressed that certain elected body members politicize their relationships with employees to gain votes.

Anderson denounced that statement by Robertson and said that he never politicked with county employees. That statement led to laughter from members of the public in attendance.

After another back-and-forth between Glidewell and Robertson, filled with finger-pointing and hearsay, Anderson motioned for another break.

What's next?

After another recess, Commissioner Brad Drake motioned to table the termination proceedings until a Walton County Commission meeting on Jan. 23.

"I want to make sure that we do our best to try to get it right," said Drake. "I've heard things on both sides that I still have questions about."

This was seconded by Commissioner Donna Johns and passed in a 3-2 vote, with Anderson and Glidewell dissenting.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Walton County Commission debates firing county administrator