Franklin County commission meets tonight

County commissioners will hold a public hearing tonight to consider a rule that will ban peddlers from operating on St. George Island. The ban is being considered at the request of St. George Island business owners who have complained that peddlers take their business without facing the expenses that permanent businesses do. County officials have also pointed out that most peddlers don’t bother to pay for a county peddler’s license and the county doesn’t have the manpower to catch and prosecute the offenders. The county will also open bids today from companies interested in building sidewalks in Apalachicola and St. George Island as part of a federal stimulus program – those bids will be awarded later this month. The county will also consider the qualifications of companies interested in overseeing the construction of a new urgent care clinic in Carrabelle. The United Firefighters Association is also on today’s agenda as is the Franklin County Tourist Development Council. The county commission will meet at 5 o’clock this afternoon – the commission meets at the Courthouse Annex in Apalachicola.