Beau Falgout, who resigned as deputy manager in Palm Coast in mid-October, six months after being passed over for the manager’s job in favor of Matt Morton, was named assistant town manager in Mooresville, N.C., on Tuesday.
Mooresville is a sprawling town just north of Charlotte. It has a population of 38,500, or less than half that of Palm Coast, but a general fund budget significantly larger than Palm Coast’s–$76 million, compared to Palm Coast’s $77 million. The two towns’ overall budgets are more closely aligned–$144 million for Palm Coast, $124 million for Mooresville.
Falgout will be familiar with many aspects of his new city budget: $2.6 million for the city’s golf course, a $33.6 million utility fund budget, $1.8 million for economic development, almost $24 million for fire and police, $4.9 million for streets, and $4.6 million for technology and innovation. Mooresville also has its own utility, with a $34 million budget. The city incorporated 126 years before Palm Coast, when it started out of land donated by the town’s namesake for a train depot and a cotton weighing platform. Its claim to fame, aside from being the home to Lowe’s, the home-improvement company, is as the birthplace of Selma Burke, the late Harlem Renaissance artist whose portrait of Franklin Roosevelt adorns the dime. (Roosevelt sat for the portrait twice, weeks before his death.)
Falgout had worked in Palm Coast government since 2007, starting as a planner and rising swiftly as a protégé of then-Manager Jim Landon, who’d lined up Falgout as a successor. When Landon was fired, Falgout was installed as interim and looked to be a strong candidate for the top job, but fell one vote short, the job going to Morton. Much as Falgout had tried to position himself as a change agent, the message was that the city was looking to shift direction without the ballast of legacy. He lasted longer than expected even as Palm Coast’s top ranks turned over rapidly on Morton’s watch.
In Mooresville, Falgout will answer to the city manager, Randy Hemann, himself appointed just last August. Hemann answers to six commissioners and a mayor. The city went through a bit of an upheaval last summer when its police department was investigated by an independent agency over matters of toxicity in the department’s working environment. The police chief then resigned abruptly. Falgout will operate in a less sunny environment: North Carolina’s open-meeting laws are not nearly as liberal as Florida’s. Personnel matters are for the most part kept confidential.
“Beau brings a wealth of valuable knowledge and experience from his time in Palm Coast,” Hemann was quoted as saying in a Mooresville Tribute article Tuesday. “He has a proven track record of being a dedicated leader who builds strong relationships in the community he serves, and he is a champion for strategic economic development. We are looking forward to working with him in Mooresville.”
The city’s population was a mere 38,500 at the last Census estimate, only 11 percent of it over 65 (compared to 27 percent in Palm Coast), with a racial make-up similar to Palm Coast’s. The median household value of owner-occupied homes is higher ($207,500, compared to Palm Coast’s $181,000), so is the median household income ($67,000 compared to Palm Coast’s $51,000). The population of Mooresville is significantly better educated, with 38 percent holding a four-year college degree or higher (compared to 21 percent in Palm Coast), and nearly three of four adults in the workforce (as opposed to less than half adults in Palm Coast).
The Falgouts’ house in Palm Coast’s P Section is up for sale. Falgout’s Mooresville email is expected to be [email protected].
palmcoaster says
Congratulations Mr. Falgout wish a great success and very happy trails and Holidays. In the 70’s we lived for two years in Raleigh NC. and we loved it to!
Sara Lockhart says
Congratulations, Beau! You will be a success wherever you go. And it sounds like the community is a better fit for your family.
Cookie Monster says
Clearly getting the hell out of Palm Coast/Flagler county is not seen as a negative on the resume.
Percy's mother says
A step up, I would say.
It’s close to Lake Norman and close to Davidson . . . and there’s a college there.
Shabby treatment by the City of Palm Coast.
So he moved on and moved up in life from Flagler County and Palm Coast, which have very little to offer.
Peaches McGee says
Very confusing…do you mean housing vs income?
“The median household income is higher ($207,500, compared to Palm Coast’s $181,000), so is the median household income ($67,000 compared to Palm Coast’s $51,000).”
FlaglerLive says
That should have been household value, in one case, as opposed to household income. Thanks for catching the error, which has been corrected.
Robert Cuff says
Congratulations, Beau. Best wishes for the future. Mooresville is fortunate to have someone with your talent and work ethic on their team.
Dennis McDonald says
Mooresville a very nice upscale community with many lakes and REAL JOBS, did I mention home to Loews Corporate Offices !
Eric says
Yes that’s true from what I have heard. They have many ‘REAL JOBS’. They also probably have citizen that have more exciting things to do besides filing lawsuits against the city every other day. Happy Holidays :)
Bill says
Probable the BEST thing anyone will ever read here.
deb says
Good for him. Get out of this wacky run town.
James says
Ditto! :)
palmcoaster says
Our local citizens have the right to request and or battle for the preservation of their quality of life and or to stop waste of our hard earned taxpayers funds the latest waste is a common practice here. Mooresville NC will provide Mr. Falgout with a more settle environment and less growth than in Palm Coast a new city still adjusting to its only 19 years old incorporation versus Mooresville in existence for over a 126 years. Mooresville residents probably do not have to deal as much like we do here (with county too ) city officials that still need to get a hold and enforce our city charter promise,” ** – Policy 3.3.5.2 – The City shall develop neighborhood compatibility criteria which shall be utilized by the City to review applications for Future Land Use Map amendments, rezonings, and special exceptions to ensure that proposed land uses and development do not adversely impact existing residential areas. http://docs.palmcoastgov.com/…/chapter%203%20housing%20elem…” Our County and City elected officials and administrators have to still show the residents that they care as much for them as the residents passionately love their cities in this county. I hope in days to come we can all say that we love our elected officials and administrators as much as we love our cities, the promised land we chose to spend the rest of our lives.
Nate says
He’s going to dread the colder winters