Tuesday Briefing: Medders Trial, Felons' Rights, Spring Band Concert, School Safety

A bit of a mishap on the north A1A sea wall project last week: as the storm was gathering on Good Friday, wind blew over a dump truck, damaging its chassis. No one was hurt. Traffic was not impeded. The project carries on. (© FlaglerLive) — As a Flagler Beach city commissioners described it on a Facebook page, ‘oops.’ There was a bit of a mishap on the north A1A sea wall project last week: as the storm was gathering on Good Friday, wind blew over a dump truck, damaging its chassis. No one was hurt. Traffic was not impeded. The project carries on. (© FlaglerLive)

Today: Sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. East winds 5 to 10 mph. Tonight: Clear. Lows in the upper 50s. Southeast winds 5 mph shifting to the southwest after midnight.
Today’s document from the National Archives and the Astronomy Picture of the Day.
Today’s tides: at the beaches, at the Intracoastal Waterway.
Drought Index: 148
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: intoxicate.
The Live Community Calendar
Today’s jail bookings.

Today’s Briefing: Quick Links

First Light
In Flagler and Palm Coast
Flagler Jail Bookings and Last 24 Hours of Incident Reports
Flagler Beach A1A Construction Updates
US 1-Old Dixie Highway Roundabout Construction Updates
Announcements
In State Government
In Coming Days in Flagler, Palm Coast and Beyond
Fact-Checking the Knaves
Palm Coast Construction and Development
Cultural Coda

“Perhaps the weather is more variable than it used to be.”
“Yes, well: the bombs.”

–From John Updike’s “The Poorhouse Fair” (1959).

Previously:

In Flagler and Palm Coast:

Note: all government meetings noticed below are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated. Many can be heard or seen live through each agency’s website.

The Sheriff’s daily incident reports and jail bookings are posted here.

In Court: Gerald Medders is scheduled to go on trial, starting with jury selection, in four counts of illegal sex with or molestation of a minor, before Circuit Judge Terence Perkins, in Courtroom 401 at the Flagler County courthouse, 9 a.m. Medders, 53, of 6 Zelda Place in Palm Coast, was arrested in March 2016. The victim, according to Medders’s charging affidavit, reported to a counselorthat Medders had allegedly been having sex with her for three months at his home on Zelda Place. Medders allegedly blamed the victim. See details here.

Flagler Beach’s Beach Management Plan Ad-Hoc Committee meets at 5 p.m. at City Hall.

Matanzas High School Spring band concert, 2:15 p.m. at Matanzas, Buddy Taylor Middle School Spring Band Concert at the Flagler Auditorium, 7 p.m.

Stetson Choral Union, Sandra Peter, conductor. The Choral Union’s program is entitled “Embracing Beauty: Envisioning the Future.” Stetson’s largest choral group, comprised of both students and community members, perform an evening of works by living composers: Cecilia McDowall, Jocelyn Hagen, Joan Szymko Paul Basler, Daniel Kallman, Wayland Rogers, Mack Wilberg and Carly Simon. School of music professors Boyd Jones and Hannah Sun collaborate on organ and piano, respectively. The Young Singers of Stetson’s Community School of Music, conducted by Amanda Sali, are also featured. Lee Chapel in Elizabeth Hall Note: The venue has changed from the original 2018-2019 concert series calendar. 421 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, 386-822-8950. Admission: $10 adults, $5 youth and students and free for ages 12 and under. Tickets are available at the door or at www.stetson.edu/music-tickets.

Blood Donations: The Big Red Bus will be at the following locations this week (schedule your donation by going to the website and entering a Palm Coast zip code, then locating one of the venues below):

Tuesday: Daytona State College, Palm Coast Campus, 3000 Palm Coast Parkway, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Thursday: Metro Diner, 250 Palm Coast Parkway, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Thursday: Epic Theaters, 1185 Central Avenue, Palm Coast, 1 to 6 p.m.
Friday: Walmart, 174 Cypress Point Parkway, Palm Coast, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 4600 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Jail Bookings and Last 24 Hours' Incidents in Flagler, Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Bunnell


Jail Bookings, June 19-22 Sheriff's night shift incident reports, June 21 Sheriff's day shift incident reports, June 21 Flagler Beach's night shift incident reports, June 21 Flagler Beach's day shift incident reports, June 21 Bunnell police's night shift incident reports, June 21 Bunnell police's day shift incident reports, June 21
Previous and archived reports

Sources: Flagler County Sheriff's Office, Flagler Beach Police Department, Bunnell Police Department. This is Flagler County's only comprehensive, one-stop compilation of all local law enforcement's daily day and night shift commanders' reports.

Flagler Beach Is Open For Business: A1A Construction Update:

FlaglerLive is providing weekly updates to year-long construction on and near State Road A1A in Flagler Beach as the Florida Department of Transportation rebuilds a 1.5-mile segment from South 9th Street to South 22nd Street, and builds a sea wall at the north end of town. These updates are provided through DOT or local officials. If you have any relevant information or images, you’re welcome to email them to the editor here.

Last Updated: April 22

Segment 2 (South 22nd Street to South 9th Street):

Installation of a new water main, as well as a new sewer line, is in progress between South 19th Street and South 18th Street. This work is expected to continue over the next few weeks. South of South 19th Street, installation of the French drain system is continuing.

This type of drainage system will collect stormwater into large gravel-filled, underground vaults set into what will be a new raised median. The vaults will be able to store water during heavy rains, which will improve the flooding that occurs to prevent erosion and undermining of the roadway. The water collected will percolate through the vaults into the aquifer. The roadway will be reconstructed at the appropriate slope to collect water at the median.

Pedestrian walkways are open. Pedestrians and bicyclists are asked to be alert to construction equipment and use caution. On South Central Avenue, the project team has applied reflective tape to stop signs to help increase visibility of the signs, and additional enforcement will be conducted by the Florida Highway Patrol.

Segment 3 (North 18th Street to Osprey Drive) Project Update:

Residents can now see all phases of the secant wall process on this segment. At the very north end, the contractor is almost finished bringing in sand and preparing the dune for the drilling process. On the very south end, the concrete cap of the wall has been poured. In the middle of the project, workers are drilling the concrete piles and setting the fiberglass cages.

Once the wall is constructed and the cap has been poured throughout the length of the project, the contractor will shape the dune to the specified slope, place sand on top of the wall, and plant new vegetation.

A short presentation on how the wall is constructed has been added to our project webpage and can be seen below:

Recently, DOT received a few questions from residents that DOT wants to answer:

1. Why do some properties have the black silt fencing and others do not?

The silt fencing is an erosion control requirement to prevent dirt and debris from leaving our work area and being deposited into waterways or onto private property. In some areas, the property to the west of our work area slopes up away from the work area, so erosion control is not required.

2. Will the contractor repair areas on my side of the sidewalk that have been disturbed?

Residents and property owners can get a general idea of where the department’s right of way ends by looking at the placement of the power poles, as well as stakes that have been placed along the project. In some areas, the back edge of the new sidewalk will be slightly farther to the west. For the most part, the back of the new sidewalk will be very close to, or right at, the right of way line.

This project calls for all of the work to be performed within the Florida Department of Transportation right of way. If, however, the work disturbs or damages private property outside of the right of way, the contractor is responsible to make repairs once the work is finished.

Please note that all restoration of conditions within the department’s right of way, including landscaping, hardscaping and driveways, is dictated by the construction plans and existing permits.

3. When will the sidewalk be replaced?

The contractor has begun installing the new sidewalk to the south of 19th Street. As the new water main is installed, there are several types of testing that need to be performed on the new line, and the work needs to be accepted by the City of Flagler Beach before the new sidewalk can be placed. The water main installation is expected to continue for the next several months.

Pedestrians are asked to stay within the temporary pedestrian walkways for safety. Residents and visitors also are reminded that all of the dune walkovers are closed, and removing any signage or barricades to access a walkover is unsafe and unlawful.

Caution! Flagler Beach police and and Sherriff’s deputies are actively monitoring speed and writing tickets. “I got a warning on north section of A1A before construction actually began so I keep to the 25 limit, but still getting tailgated by cars wanting to go faster,” a reader tells us.

See Also:

The proposed roundabout at the intersection of Old Dixie Highway and U.S. 1 is intended to drastically reduce the number of severe crashes at one of the county's most dangerous intersections. Two other such roundabouts are proposed for other dangerous intersections in Flagler. Click on the image for larger view. (DOT) — The proposed roundabout at the intersection of Old Dixie Highway and U.S. 1 is intended to drastically reduce the number of severe crashes at one of the county’s most dangerous intersections. Two other such roundabouts are proposed for other dangerous intersections in Flagler. Click on the image for larger view.
(DOT)

U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway Roundabout Construction Updates:

FlaglerLive is providing weekly updates to the planned 15-month, $4.1 million construction of a roundabout at U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway. The project started in late January and is scheduled for completion by spring 2020.

The Florida Department of Transportation will be closing Old Dixie Highway and C.R. 325 at U.S. 1 on Monday night, March 4, from about 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The closure is needed to allow the contractor to make improvements to the crossover at the temporary intersection. U.S. 1 will remain open in both directions.

More details here.

See Also:

I-95 Construction, Repaving: Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m., single lane closures on NB I-95 from north of Palm Coast Parkway to the St. Johns County line. Monday – Friday, 9 p.m. – 7 a.m., double lane closures on NB I-95 from north of Palm Coast Parkway to the St. Johns County line.

See this week’s full Interstate Construction Report for Flagler, Volusia and St. Johns here.

Announcements/Press Releases:

AdventHealth Selects New Executive Director of Regional Marketing: Russell Mariott has been selected to serve as the executive director of regional marketing for the five AdventHealth hospitals in Flagler and Volusia counties. In his new role, Mariott is responsible for developing and implementing strategic marketing plans for AdventHealth Daytona Beach, AdventHealth DeLand, AdventHealth Fish Memorial, AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach, and AdventHealth Palm Coast. He will also have oversight of the marketing plans for AdventHealth Medical Group locally, the hospital’s employed group of physicians. Mariott has nearly 15 years of experience in strategic marketing, communications and business development within the healthcare industry. He previously served as the vice president of marketing and communications at Tennova Healthcare, a seven-hospital system located in eastern Tennessee. In this position, he was responsible for driving brand strategy across the region, as well as developing integrated marketing and communication plans for key service lines. An Ormond Beach resident, Mariott earned his Master of Business Administration from Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, Texas.

In Florida and in State Government:

Note: Some proceedings below can be followed live on the Florida Channel. Most legislative proceedings can be followed through the Senate or House websites.

SCHOOL SAFETY ON AGENDA: The Senate will hold a floor session and could approve a wide-ranging bill (SB 7030) aimed at bolstering safety in Florida schools. While lawmakers have agreed on most parts of the bill, it includes a controversial proposal to expand the school “guardian” program to allow armed classroom teachers. The guardian program was created after last year’s mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Other issues expected to be considered during the floor session are a proposal (SB 76) that would toughen the state’s texting-while-driving ban; a proposal (SB 7068) that would build or expand three toll roads; and a proposal (SB 122) dealing with the controversial insurance practice known as assignment of benefits.(Tuesday, 10 a.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

‘SANCTUARY CITIES’ TARGETED: The House will take up a series of bills during a floor session, including a measure (HB 527), sponsored by Rep. Cord Byrd, R-Neptune Beach, and other lawmakers, that seeks to prevent so-called sanctuary cities in Florida. The bill, in part, would require the state, local governments and law-enforcement agencies to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Also expected to be considered is a controversial bill (HB 7089), filed by Rep. James Grant, R-Tampa, that would carry out a November constitutional amendment designed to restore voting rights of many convicted felons who have fulfilled their sentences. Critics say the bill would place too many restrictions on restoring rights. (Tuesday, 12:30 p.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

SUPERINTENDENT SUSPENSION AT ISSUE: Senate Special Master Dudley Goodlette will take up a case stemming from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ suspension of Okaloosa County Superintendent of Schools Mary Beth Jackson. DeSantis suspended Jackson because of her handling of allegations that a teacher abused developmentally challenged pre-kindergarten students at an elementary school during the 2015-2016 school year. Grand-jury reports alleged that Jackson, among other things, failed to implement proper procedures for reporting abuse to the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Education and failed to implement a proper procedure for removing teachers facing allegations involving the health or safety of students. Jackson appealed her suspension to the Senate, and Goodlette, a former state House member, was appointed to hear the case as a special master. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

FELONS’ RIGHTS CONSIDERED: The Senate Rules Committee will consider dozens of bills, including a proposal (SB 7086), sponsored by Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, that would carry out Amendment 4, a November ballot measure designed to restore the voting rights of felons who have fulfilled their sentences. Other issues include a bill passed by the House (HB 879) that would seek to prevent life insurers from using customers’ genetic information in decisions about selling policies. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

ELECTION RESULTS CERTIFIED: The Florida Elections Canvassing Commission will certify the results of special Republican primary elections in House District 7 and House District 38 and an uncontested special election in House District 97. Port St. Joe Republican Jason Shoaf won the April 9 primary in District 7, which opened when former Rep. Halsey Beshears, R-Monticello, was named secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Dade City Republican Randy Maggard won the primary in District 38, which opened when former Rep. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, was named executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Shoaf and Maggard will face Democrats Ryan Terrell and Kelly Smith, respectively, in June 18 special general elections. In District 97, Coral Springs Democrat Dan Daley was unopposed in his special election to replace former Rep. Jared Moskowitz, who was named director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

—-Compiled by the News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive

In Coming Days in Palm Coast, Flagler and the Occasional Beyond:

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A Twitter List by PierreTristam

Keep Up with Donald Trump’s attacks on the press through the ACLU’s running tab here.

Keep Up with mass shootings in a running database here.

Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports

Here’s a summary of the latest city developments as of April 12, 2019, with a link to the full week in review here.

Click to access week-in-review-april-12-2019-developments.pdf

Cultural Coda

Buxtehude By The Netherlands Bach Society