PANAMA CITY BEACH Panama City Beach leaders chose their former utilities director on Tuesday to temporarily replace the city manager they abruptly fired last week.
The decision to hire Al Shortt came during a special meeting Tuesday that was called by the Panama City Beach City Council after members fired City Manager Tony O Rourke on Feb. 11. O Rourke s termination was unanimously approved after Mayor Mark Sheldon sparked a discussion about his performance, which he said was riddled with inconsistencies and embellishments.
That didn t sit well with some residents. There s absolutely no trust and this is obviously a revenge firing, said Jason Heise of Panama City Beach. Like most of the town, I trust a coiled rattlesnake more than I do any of (the councilmen) at this point right now.
Among those walking the trails Thursday were William and Elaine Marrison, snowbirds from Michigan.
As they stood along a trail near a small body of water, the pair said they try to walk at least 6 miles a day. They logged about 485 miles last year during a three-and-a-half-month period. It s just a safe place to walk, especially now, William said. There s no crowds . and we just like it out here. Nature s beautiful, Elaine added. This is why we come here.
While they might not be from the Beach, the Marrisons said it s nice to hear local officials care enough about preserving nature to spend almost $100,000.