Santa Rosa Administrator Discusses FPL Spraying, Whiting Field Expansion, Data Centers and More

Pensacola, FL (NewsRadio 92.3) -- Santa Rosa County Administrator Brad Baker joined Pensacola Morning News Thursday with a wide-ranging update covering everything from a controversial FPL aerial herbicide operation to major development news at NAS Whiting Field.

FPL Aerial Herbicide Spraying

FPL conducted an aerial herbicide spraying operation in Santa Rosa County — and Baker says the county was not notified beforehand and had no authority to stop it. Residents began reporting dead bees, sick chickens, and other environmental concerns shortly after. Baker says FPL's spraying authority runs through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services — not the county — meaning the county has no permitting power over the operation. The county contacted state agriculture inspectors after receiving complaints to make sure they were aware of reported impacts. FPL maintains the herbicide used is industry standard and should not cause those effects. Baker noted the relationship with FPL has been more challenging than the county's previous relationship with Gulf Power — saying FPL's South Florida home base creates a different dynamic. He says any meaningful regulatory solution would need to come from Tallahassee.

Whiting Field Taxiway Extension

The county is investing $900,000 to extend the taxiway at its NAS Whiting Field development site — opening additional developable acres to aviation businesses that require direct access to the Navy's runway. Baker says there is no other county in the country with a similar federal aviation runway agreement and credited former Commissioner Don Salter with building the relationship that made it possible. The county is also pursuing a grant of up to $15 million to build a child development center at Whiting Field on the Navy's behalf — a project Baker says local government can deliver at roughly half the cost the federal government would pay to build it themselves.

Data Centers

No one has filed an application to build a data center in Santa Rosa County — but the commission is beginning a conversation about potential zoning restrictions following Commissioner Rowell raising the issue and referencing SB 484. Baker says the county's phone has been ringing with questions since the discussion became public. He says data centers would likely fall under industrial zoning and notes their practical infrastructure requirements — significant transmission line access and large water supplies for cooling — would naturally limit viable locations. The county attorney will weigh in before any policy moves forward.

Dilapidated Properties

Nine dilapidated properties were recently abated across the county. Baker says the addition of environmental code enforcement officers last year has allowed the county to be more proactive — pursuing property owners before conditions worsen rather than waiting for complaints. He says the abatement process gives the county leverage to negotiate cleanup and place liens on non-compliant properties.

Navarre Causeway Speed Reduction

The speed limit on the Navarre Causeway is dropping to 20 miles per hour for black skimmer nesting season — an annual requirement tied to state wildlife funding agreements. Baker says the birds are back and message boards will go up along the causeway.