It is indicative of the persistent pettiness of the rivalry between Flagler County and Palm Coast that when the county sent out the announcement of its own deputy administrator receiving a state award earlier this week, it left silent the—somewhat more significant—award that went to Jim Landon, the Palm Coast City Manager.
And it did so even as one of its own county commissioners–Frank Meeker–celebrated the announcement of Landon’s win at the banquet, jokingly taking credit for some of it for having been instrumental in Landon’s career, back when Meeker was a Palm Coast City Council member. (A slight irony there, too: Meeker was not among Landon’s biggest fans on the council.)
But so it is: Landon, 56, the Palm Coast manager since 2007, received the Florida City and County Management Association’s Award for Career Excellence on Friday (May 24), the last full day of the association’s annual conference. The conference this year was held in Orlando.
Mayor Jon Netts nominated Landon for the award in a March 1 letter. (See the complete text below.)
“As Mayor of the City of Palm Coast,” Netts wrote, “this endorsement confirms the creative vision of a progressive City Manager and his perceptive insight into building Palm Coast’s team concept into employee success. Henry Ford once said, ‘Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.’ City Manager Jim Landon represents the essence of ‘coming together, progress and success.’”
Landon arrived in Palm Coast from Lancaster, Texas, a city of some 33,500 outside of Dallas, where he had been manager. He’d also managed the city of Toledo in Oregon, and been a planner in Ardmore, Okla., and Clark County, Nev., as that region was booming.
In Palm Coast, Landon has been a paradox—never particularly endearing himself to the public or the business community (not seeking out the approval of either), but maintaining the near-total confidence of city council members, to whom he answers exclusively.
“If people knew him better and understood what he does and what he doesn’t do, and how he takes direction,” Netts said in a brief interview today, “he might be more palatable, but that’s the nature of the beast.”
Sally Sherman, Flagler County’s deputy administrator, got the Assistant for Excellence in Leadership award at the same association banquet. The association’s President’s Award, the highest honor of the year, went to Fred Costello, the former mayor of Ormond Beach and Florida House member, and to Howard Tipton, who served as Daytona Beach city manager for 16 years before working as chief administrative officer for Orlando until his retirement in 1999.
Mayor Jon Netts’s March 1 nomination letter to the Florida City and County Management Association’s awards committee
It is with genuine pride that I endorse the City of Palm Coast’s nomination of Jim Landon, our distinguished City Manager, for the Florida City and County Management Association’s prestigious Career Excellence Award.
The key words that appropriately describe Jim Landon in your Association’s award criteria are ‘foster representative democracy’ and ‘initiate creative and successful programs’. With great foresight and initiative, Mr. Landon inaugurated a Leadership Intern Training Experience (LITE) Team Concept that brings management and employees together to work creatively to address projects not normally undertaken as routine employee functions. Representatives from all departments partner to tackle unique challenges in an equitable, open forum.
The results have been astounding. Not only have employees grasped a better understanding of government and community issues, but they’ve also developed thoughtful, productive options and solutions. The partnerships have encouraged employee buy-in of Palm Coast’s goals and objectives and enhanced morale and confidence. Please refer to more detailed information recently submitted to you in our formal application.
As Mayor of the City of Palm Coast, this endorsement confirms the creative vision of a progressive City Manager and his perceptive insight into building Palm Coast’s team concept into employee success. Henry Ford once said, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” City Manager Jim Landon represents the essence of ‘coming together, progress and success’. Awarding Mr. Landon your Career Excellence Award would be most suitable recognition of this accomplishment.
Best regards,
Jon Netts, Mayor
Magnolia says
Creative vision? Is that a term for “I’ve never met a high dollar developer I didn’t love?” Your vision for Town Center is now including Section 8 Housing? How many new stores do you think will move there now? Yeah, they’re lined up waiting to get in…
Mayor Netts, are you now taking responsibility for Mr. Landon’s $8.5 million dollar loan for the Super WalMart property we will never see at Old King’s and 100 out of our public funds?
Looks like a recall might be a good idea. You first, then our award winning administrator who makes more than Governor Scott and whose contract has no end.
More savings coming for Palm Coast!
Question Authority says
Any other nominations? Jim and Jon are an expensive combo for u and me.
E. C. H. says
How many times has Jim Landon lied under oath in council meetings?
How many times have his staff lied under oath in Code Enforcement Board meetings?
How many times have his staff abused residents constitutional right to due process and high-jacked them in Code Enforcement Board meetings? When was the last time they actually sent notices 30 days in advance as required by the law (F.S. 162.12)? How many people have they caught off guard and how many hundreds of thousands of dollars has it cost the public to have this system of thuggery in place.
Why does he look the other way as the City Attorney breaks the law and represents both the City and the Code Enforcement Board (F.S. 162.5)?
How many times have he, his staff, and the Code Enforcement Board forged ex parte agreements prior to Code Enforcement Board meetings?
The man needs to be run out of town instead of receiving awards.
there are three sides to every story says
If he is the top winner I would hate to live in the towns with the losers!
Jack Howell says
Next step, a significant a pay raise for Mr. Landon’s outstanding performance. All the wheels are in motion to make this happen. Mayor Netts will leads the charge to see that Landon is rewarded accordingly. After all, Jim Landon has brought great credit to himself and our City! (Tongue in cheek)
Anon1 says
As a person compensated somewhere in the neighborhood of 220k per year and in a city that is in financial distress he should be walking on water.
Better still he should be turning sea water into potable water.
Pete says
I guess when you pay a fee to belong to an association just like the Flagler School System, you too can get your very own fancy certificate with a ribbon and someone’s imprimatur and stamp on it. Florida Counties are great for snookering the general public. For $220K he should be able to walk on water.
fla native says
Recall both Landon and Netts. Two peas in a pod.
Gus Ajram says
Please Lord or whom ever reading this story; is this the joke of the 21th century.wow, any body knows the back round of this white supremacist Jim Landon (I take full responsibility)(yes Flagler live and please post it) he spent over one Million Dollar just to put me out off business all out the tax payers money just for the simple reasons because I am A Midleastern or in his language a Camel jockey forgotten I been the most up standing American citizen he will ever dream of and what he hates is I know my rights as an American citizen and I am more useful then he will ever be for this GREAT NATION and asses like him who bringing this great Nation down making every one overseas hating us. Hey Palm Coast, I operate on 108 Bulldog drive without occupation license where is the code enforcement please come on fine me, I beg you. Mr Mayor please pull your head out of you know what. And I promise this Nation me or this Landon in this town.I promise to put stop to this EGO no Brain person not for Me it is for the sake of the coming generation it is for my grand-baybies. London I have an Invitation for you, debate in Central Park, bring your documents i will bring mine. and again Flagler live i will take full responsibility of this post
PJ says
Ok now I’ve heard everything……………….you can’t make this stuff up!
Dennis McDonald says
This award means NOTHING as it is from Landon’s Comrades at the Florida City and County Management Association. Consider who gave him the award, the “Bureaucrat Club” and who nominated him and spoke on his behalf Netts/Meeker more professional bureaucrats ! This is Washington DC/Hollywood hype on the local level.
If the Citizens of Palm Coast gave this award it would be note worthy, I believe if a vote was taken of Citizens Landon would be terminated for failing his fiduciary responsibility by a huge majority. Landon/Netts/Meeker gambled with OUR Utility Fund $$ and WE lost by being forced to pay 20% higher utility bills. Award Winning Landon has been in negotiations to get our $$ back but the City Clerk has NO record of who negotiations are being held with. Like I said “award winning” !
Landon would receive an award of a free bus ticket back to Lancaster Tx from the PC Citizens and he would get special thanks if he took six percent Netts [voted in by 2650 of 54,000] along with him and promise not to return. Individuals are working on that bus ticket for soon to be EX City Manager Landon.
The Citizens of PC will drain the swamp !
Josie says
Landon etc, nothing like patting yourselves on the back! Oblivious to what is going on around them! 220K+ is not keeping the costs down, could have used that for the schools…..if they “actually” needed it! hhhmm something to ponder……
Ernie says
Netts and Landon were both schooled by Mr OBUMMER, so what do you expect… You all have yourselves to blame for voting Netts in again.