Welcome to OILA

Okaloosa Island Leaseholders Association

An organization for all property owners and leaseholders of Okaloosa Island

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Our Mission

We coordinate affairs between our property holders and the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners in order to preserve the public lands on Okaloosa Island. We advise the county in the application of island's protective covenants and assist leaseholders and the public in their rights and obligations.

775
Dollars Donated
3,121
Associate Members
270
Voting Members

Team

Our directors are elected from our membership body and serve voluntarily.

Brian Harrington

President

Brian is a retired Army Green Beret and local business owner. He and his wife, Silvia, built their home on Okaloosa Island in 2017.

Lori Waschak

Vice President

Lori resides on Okaloosa Island with her husband and four children. She is a certified teacher and enjoys learning at the Island Garden Club, Force of One Martial Arts, and Grace Lutheran Church.

Jesse Hunt

Director

Jesse is a Senior Advisor with Air Force Special Operations Command and a retired Air Force officer. He and his wife Deanna bought their Okaloosa Island home in 2019.

Jim Simpson

Treasurer

Jim is a retired Air Force colonel and a retired city of Austin Texas manager. He has been a member of OILA for 25 years.

Steve Scott

Director

Steve is a retired Air Force Special Tactics Operator. He and his family have had a home on Okaloosa Island and been members of OILA since 1979.

Stan King

Director

Stan is a retired Air Force colonel and pilot for Delta. He and his wife, Victoria, have owned property on Okaloosa Island since 1976.

Eddie Wall

Director

Edward Wall hails from Birmingham, AL. He spent 25 years building a successful manufacturing business. After retiring, Edward moved to Okaloosa Island with his wife, Susan. He is also the proud father of two children who are both graduates of the University of Alabama.

Jerry Bogess

Director

Jerry retired from the Navy. He is president of the Water's Edge HOA. He and his wife Dawn have 4 kids and 7 grandkids.

Jay Waschak

Secretary

Jay resides on Okaloosa Island with his family. He works with data engineering and architecture.

You shouldn't complain if you're
not prepared to do something. Mike Mitchell, Okaloosa County Commissioner, 1976

Projects, Maintenance, and Events

Stay informed

Projects and Maintenance

Upcoming Events

Hurricane Alerts
Next OILA Meeting

Get involved in OILA. Our next meeting is 2/10/2025 at the island firestation at 7:00 PM.

Save the Monarchs

Beautify Women Veterans Memorial Park by creating a monarch butterfly habitat! The goal is to plant 400 milkweed seeds in the natural landscape of the park. If you would like to help, please contact Jim Sat 850-585-2116 or by email at sanleanna@cox.net

Okaloosa County Events

Island History

In 1928 the Island was sold by the War Department (with the exception of the Fort Pickens Military Reservation) to Escambia County for $ 10,000. In 1938, Escambia County conveyed to the Department of the Interior, without cost, all of the Island (except Fort Pickens) with the intent that the Department would develop the Island as a park. In 1941, the Interior Department conveyed the eastern half (a total of 4,300 acres in Okaloosa County) of the Island to the War Department for use as part of Eglin Field.

In 1948, legislation was passed which deeded 875 acres of the Island to Okaloosa County. This land included the three miles of the Island located immediately south of Ft Walton Beach and the small island south of Destin. In making the transfer of title, the Federal Government retained the following restrictions and limitations on the property:

Use of the land by the County or its lessees only for public recreational purposes. Right of the U.S. to use the property in the event of a national emergency without rental or other payments to Okaloosa County but subject to existing private rights and payment of just compensation for taking control over improvements on the property. Excepted and reserved from the conveyance were perpetual easement interests for air space and access right of way. In 1953, by special act of the Florida Legislature, the Okaloosa Island Authority was created as an instrumentality of the County and vested with administrative authority over the portion of the Santa Rosa Island owned by the County.

Because of the limitations and restrictions held by the Federal Government in the original deed to the Island, financing was difficult for both commercial and residential construction. U.S. Public Law 87-860 which was approved in 1962 removed these restrictions. As a result of this law, it was necessary for the Federal Government, through the Corps of Engineers to survey the Island and determine price.

In 1963, the new Quitclaim Deed was delivered by the Corps of Engineers to the Okaloosa Island Authority. In turn, the Authority presented the Corps with a check for $55,000. This transaction removed the limitations and restrictions on the property except for a 75-foot aerial easement. In 1975, legislation was passed by the State of Florida which abolished the Okaloosa Island Authority and transferred the duties and responsibilities of the Authority to the County Commissioners of Okaloosa County. This legislation also authorized the levying of ad valorem taxes on real and personal property on the Island and confirmed that all valid, existing restrictive covenants, easements, and zoning, previously established by the Authority shall remain in full force unless and until they are amended by the County Commissioners in the manner provided by law.

In 1995, the County Commissioners approved allowing leaseholders to obtain fee simple title to their property. Island residents Sam and Joyce Hester were the first individuals to receive quit claim deeds to Okaloosa Island property.

-Jim Simpson