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His proposal also tightens controls on local tourist development councils, which are created by county commissions that levy the tourist tax to coordinate local marketing efforts Under those changes, contracts would have to be signed with people or organizations that receive tourism tax dollars for projects, and tourism industry groups like the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association could sue local councils if money is misused. Current law does not have provisions allowing industry groups to legally go after local councils. Okaloosa Tourism Development Council officials were caught misusing funds in 2012, including the former director who died of an apparent drug overdose after being accused of misusing $747,000 from the BP oil spill. The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, a tourism industry trade group, would also be given authority to appoint six of the nine board members that oversee local tourism councils. The remaining members will be elected officials selected by the county commission, which picks all board members under current law Panama City hiring 'future of the Fire Department' Patti Blake, News Herald, 11/27 PANAMA CITY — In a significant changing of the guard, the Panama City Fire Department will be replacing about 150 years of experience in its ranks following a year of retirements and resignations In total, 13 firefighters of various statures within the Fire Department will be replaced by June of next year with seven promotions and new hires to be announced during a "pinning ceremony" Tuesday. Most of the firefighters have retired after long careers, two resigned under unfavorable circumstances However, the changes in Fire Department are major in scope, said Chief Alex Baird, and the department is prepared to move into a new era. "This represents the future of the Panama City Fire Department, and they'll be following ideas and philosophies to make this a great fire department," Baird said. The seven hires and promotions to be announced during the ceremony Tuesday already have been put in place, and that day will not only be commemorating the event but also will be their first day on the job By June of next year, the Fire Department is expecting to lose six more veteran firefighters, and their replacements are to be likewise commemorated in July. Baird said the change in personnel is probably the most significant in the department's recent history. The hirings will shift the average age of Panama City firefighters by two years, from 38 to 36, and reduce the amount of experience in the department by about 150 years total 13 251