Bunnell City Commissioner John Rogers surprised his colleagues when he made a motion at Monday evening’s meeting to return a $10 million subsidy to the Florida Department of Commerce, ending any prospect that would have resulted in a fuel farm in the city–the same proposed fuel farm Palm Coast and Ormond Beach had rejected.
Economy
Bunnell Commission Sets High Stakes Landfill Appeals as Post-Jackson Era Cleanups Begin
Bunnell commissioners set Oct. 28 for a daylong hearing on 18 appeals of the city’s planning board approval of a controversial 610-acre garbage dump off State Road 100. Commissioners voted to restore public meeting livestreams following the abrupt departure of former City Manager Alvin Jackson. Some residents and appelants questioned the fairness of introducing entirely new evidence in the upcoming proceedings.
Flagler County Spends $3.25 Million for Conservation Easement on 39 Acres Near Marineland
Flagler County secured a conservation easement on 39 acres of undeveloped land near Marineland for $3.25 million, restricting development and protecting rare coastal habitats. The property owner retains title and may build up to three single family homes. The money is from the Environmentally Sensitive Land fund.
Conservatism’s Shift from Preservation to Destruction
GOP leaders in Florida and Washington have abandoned environmental conservation and historical preservation in favor of reckless destruction as policies favoring developers, relaxed environmental standards, and aggressive deregulation threaten natural ecosystems, historic architecture, and the rule of law. The relentless pursuit of economic growth over heritage is transforming our environment into sprawls of concrete.
Point Grande Marks Opening of 264-Unit Apartment Complex in Palm Coast’s Town Center
Pointe Grand, a 264-unit apartment complex, marked its grand opening last week in Palm Coast’s Town Center as the local market grapples with growth and housing pressures. Two-bedroom apartments are renting for $1,375 to $1,568.
Ex-Senate President Who Put Amendment 3 on Ballot Is Voting Against It
Kathleen Passidomo voted with the Senate majority in June to send the property tax measure to the Nov. 3 ballot. The vote was 30-9. She said she voted “yes” because voters should get to decide. She’s voting No.
Flagler Beach Impatiently Approves Development Plan and 15,000-Sq-ft Clubhouse at Derelict Golf Course
The Flagler Beach City Commission granted a special exception for the long-delayed Ocean Palm Golf Course redevelopment after years of community frustration with the property’s neglect. Owner Jeff Ryan promised construction beginning in November, targeting a spring completion date despite widespread skepticism from commissioners questioning architectural aesthetics, drainage impacts, and repeated timeline delays.
Palm Coast Council Approves Transforming Planned Elderly Care Village Into Standard 544-Home Subdivision
The Palm Coast City Council approved a major master plan amendment transforming the long-standing continuous care village project known as Magnolia Trace into a standard subdivision. Developers are eliminating the original aging-in-place concept, reduced total housing units, and carving out the assisted living facility from the project, the only part of the original development that’s been built.
Flagler Beach Pier Nears Completion as DEP Inspects Site and Breakaway Decking Is Soon Installed
Flagler Beach’s new 800-foot concrete pier is nearing substantial completion in January, with utilities, handrails and breakaway timber decking all in the works. The elevated structure is designed to better withstand storms and rising seas. State Department of Environmental Protection inspectors today reviewed construction and funding compliance with the city manager and took FlaglerLive along.
Town Center Settlement with Developer Will Cost Palm Coast Taxpayers More Than Land Is Worth, Appraisals Show
The Palm Coast City Council will pay $17 million, not including substantial financing cost, assume an additional $1.9 million in long-term debt, pay an indeterminate sum in maintenance, and subtract an annual $775,000 from property tax revenue to buy 23 parcels in Town Center collectively valued at $20 million. Council member Theresa Pontieri is calling it “the worst decision in city council history.”
Palm Coast Again Rejects Seminole Woods Development’s Increase to 743 Homes, Reviving Lawsuit Possibility
The Palm Coast City Council in a unanimous vote Tuesday evening rejected a developer’s request to increase the number of housing units at a Seminole Woods development from 416 to 743. The possibility of a lawsuit by the developer is again heightened, just as the city is getting out from under one that it settled for well over $17 million.
Manufacturing and Technology Job Fair Oct. 15
The Daytona Regional Chamber, in partnership with VMA and the Southeast Volusia Manufacturing & Technology Coalition, will be holding its inaugural Manufacturing & Technology Day presented by Germfree on Thursday, October 15, to highlight the high-demand, high-wage careers available in the sector. The event will be held at Daytona State College’s Advanced Technology College on Williamson Blvd.
Florida Association of Realtors Vastly Outspending Opponents of Amendment 3
A report shows that the campaign working to see Amendment 3 on the statewide ballot win approval in November raised $18 million through Sept. 25. All of that financial support came from the Florida Association of Realtors. The two political committees opposing Amendment 3, Floridians for Shared Prosperity and Vote No on 3 Florida, have raised a combined $537,357. That’s a ratio of more than 33:1.
Flagler County Adult Day Care Transition Stumbles After Winning Bidder Alters Pricing Structure
Flagler County commissioners rejected the top-ranked adult day care provider after a surprise last-minute pricing change derailed contract negotiations, forcing officials to advance a backup applicant with no direct facility management experience. Commissioners were not happy, and voiced their displeasure.
Alvin Jackson’s Insulting Golden Parachute Demands: Don’t Let It Be Another Trash Day in Bunnell
Alvin Jackson resigned this week as Bunnell city manager after a tenure of controversy, secrecy and charlatanry. Jackson now demands tens of thousands of dollars in unearned severance, paid holidays, and health benefits despite submitting a voluntary resignation. City commissioners must reject the demands at their special meeting Monday rather than once again rubber-stamping an outrage.
Palm Coast Warns Residents About Significant Financial Impacts Tied To Proposed Property Tax Amendment
Palm Coast residents face a statewide property tax amendment on the November ballot that could slash municipal revenue by millions over two years. The city in a release emphasizes that substantial revenue losses would threaten public safety and infrastructure funding, forcing local leaders to weigh difficult budget adjustments, spending cuts, and alternative fees because no single replacement source currently exists.
The Palm Coast Council’s DSA Folly in Town Center
Palm Coast City Council is risking millions of dollars by purchasing vast acreage from developer Allete to settle an ill-tempered lawsuit. The poending decision is reckless. It increases public debt, removes vital property tax revenue, and turns the local government into a speculative landlord over risky land during an economically volatile period.
Media as Punching Bag from Nixon to Trump
Presidents regularly attack journalists to undermine credibility and avoid accountability. Richard Nixon used Spiro Agnew to relentlessly blast television networks for alleged bias. Donald Trump applies identical tactics to delegitimize reporters, intentionally damaging public trust in news organizations. But reporters must aggressively defend their absolute duty to expose deceptive government misconduct.
Andy Dance Assumes Presidency of Northeast Florida Regional Council as Data Centers Hum Anew
Flagler County Commissioner Andy Dance assumed the presidency of the Northeast Florida Regional Council today as the council, which normally meets in Jacksonville, held its meeting at Bunnell’s Nexus Center. Regional leaders addressed pressing infrastructure challenges, economic development, and upcoming regulatory frameworks for data centers.
Flagler Forum Exposes Deep Uncertainty and Evasions on Proposed Amendment 3 Homestead Exemptions
At a Flagler Tiger Bay Forum Wednesday evening, former Sen. Jeff Brandes warned of catastrophic local revenue losses and severe service cuts if Amendment 3, the proposal to raise the homestead exemption and sharply cut local tax revenue is approved in November. Constitutional officers voiced alarm as well, contrasting sharply with Palm Coast City Council member Theresa Pontieri, who defended the tax shift through user fees and dismissed opposition as “propaganda.”
City Manager Alvin Jackson Called a ‘Fraud’ Turning Bunnell to ‘S***’ as Landfill Fouls Commission Meeting
Some two dozen Bunnell residents and others confronted City Manager Alvin Jackson and the City Commission Monday evening with sharp, at times bitter and at times emotional, public opposition to the 610-acre landfill Jackson shepherded through regulatory approval four weeks ago. Jackson himself was criticized for his secrecy and methods.
Cold-Weather Shelter May Move to New Hall at County Fairgrounds as Local Governments Increase Support
Flagler County’s only cold weather homeless shelter lost its previous location at Church on the Rock in Bunnell and is now evaluating two options–the county fairgrounds’ Expo Hall, rent-free, or First United Methodist Church in Flagler Beach. The Sheltering Tree is leaning toward the fairgrounds. County officials say they will “bend over backward” to help the shelter there, and are increasing local county and city contributions to defray shelter costs.
How AI Is Reshaping Newsrooms
Major news organizations deploy artificial intelligence through distinct strategies driven by financial models, institutional missions, and core operational values. Reuters prioritizes speed for financial markets. The BBC implements strict human oversight to protect public trust. The Guardian restricts automated tools to safeguard editorial independence.
The Ideological Sack of Florida’s New College
DeSantis is aggressively dismantling traditional university governance across Florida by installing political loyalists, suppressing speech, and imposing rigid ideological curricula. Students and filmmakers are fighting back through protests, legal challenges and documentaries, exposing institutional decline, rising costs, and plummeting academic rankings.
Average Tax Bill On a Single Rental Apartment Unit Could Rise by $406 if Amendment 3 Passes
When Floridians vote in November on whether to raise homestead exemptions through Amendment 3, they may also be voting to shift more of the property tax burden onto renters, a new analysis by the center-right Tax Foundation finds.
‘It Stinks’: Unhappy Flagler Beach Commission Approves 13% Water-Sewer Rate Increase and New Budget
Flagler Beach commissioners unanimously approved a 13 percent water and sewer rate increase to fund a new sewer plant and prevent severe utility reserve depletion. The decision mirrors past Palm Coast financial struggles. Officials acknowledged voter dissatisfaction regarding higher bills, noting that deferred maintenance and mounting infrastructure commitments forced commission’s hand.
An Asphalt Plant Is Proposed for Hargrove Grade in Palm Coast, Generating 280 Truck Trips A Day
ACCI proposes building Palm Coast’s first asphalt plant on Hargrove Grade, generating 280 daily truck trips, many of them at night. The heavy-industrial project will face strict scrutiny from city officials and local business owners. Previous batch plant applications met fierce rejection. The proposal needs a supermajority of four City Council members for approval.
Palm Coast Water, Sewer, Garbage and Stormwater Rates Increase Oct. 1
Palm Coast customers will see their rates for water, wastewater, stormwater, and garbage pick-up services increase on Oct. 1. The increases are “part of the City’s established rate structure and are not new or unplanned,” a city release states.
Reconfigured 544-Unit House and Apartment Development Off Belle Terre Boulevard Clears 1st Hurdle
The Palm Coast Planning Board Tuesday evening recommended on a 6-1 vote approval of a reconfigured plan for a 544-unit housing development called Magnolia Terrace on over 1,000 acres at the south end of Belle Terre Boulevard, near U.S. 1. The proposal, technically a rezoning, reduces by 200 housing units the number of entitlements previously approved for the land.
Florida Minimum Wage Rises to $15 an Hour on Oct. 1 as New Laws Also Take Effect
The final $1 increase in the state’s voter-approved minimum wage will also take effect Sept. 30, pushing it up to $15 per hour. It’s part of the 2020 constitutional amendment spearheaded by prominent Orlando lawyer John Morgan. Among the new laws taking effect Oct. 1 are changes in how police identify criminal gang members and a new penalty for those who involve minors in animal fighting.
Flagler Beach Must Raise Water and Sewer Rates 13% to Avoid Deficits as Debt’s Bill Come Due
A consultant Flagler Beach government hired to study its water and sewer rates is proposing a rate increase of 13 percent next year if the city is to stop losing $66,500 “for every month that implementation is delayed.” The typical Flagler Beach household consuming 3,000 gallons of water per month would see its water and sewer rates increase from $114.37 per month to $129.40 a month, a $15 increase starting in October, or $180 for the year.
Delayed Promenade in Palm Coast’s Town Center Adds Few Businesses and Starts Leasing Apartments
Palm Coast’s Promenade, the mixed-use retail and apartment complex in Town Center, missed its projected opening target, with just six commercial leases secured out of a potential 12 to 16 available spaces, even as businesses are relying on a generous city incentive program. Apartment leasing is underway for completed buildings.
Gas Prices Spike as Iran War Strains Supplies
AAA reported an average gallon of gas in Florida at $4.28 on Monday, up 14 cents from a week ago and $1.38 more per gallon than at the end of February when the U.S. and Israel jointly attacked Iran. In Palm Coast and Flagler County, prices ranged from $4.29 at most stations to $4.39 at some, and a few reports of $4.79, especially at Mobil stations, according to Gas Buddy.
Palm Coast Council Appoints Five New Members to Development Board After Unusual Surge of Vacancies
The Palm Coast City Council last week appointed four new members to the city’s seven-member planning board, and one alternate member, as five seats opened in an unusual confluence of resignations and completed terms.
Flagler Beach Historical Museum Marks 25 Years with Sept. 29 Celebration
The Flagler Beach Historical Museum will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a special reception recognizing the people, stories and community support that have helped preserve Flagler Beach’s history for a quarter-century. The anniversary celebration will take place on Tuesday, September 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Flagler Beach Historical Museum, 207 S Central Ave., Flagler Beach.
Furious Residents Defeat Lee County’s Attempt to Eliminate Public Input on Local Development
Lee County planners attempted to eliminate mandatory public hearings regarding local development guidelines. Residents discovered the secretive changes and responded with derisive laughter during public meetings as organized citizens mobilized to form a coalition demanding accountability. Commissioners voted to postpone the revisions indefinitely to ensure transparent public outreach.
How Flagler County’s $10 Million Dedicated Emergency Shelter and Expo Hall Became a Cat-5-Resistant Reality
For the first time in its history, Flagler County has a dedicated emergency shelter: the $10 million Expo Hall is opening at the County Fairgrounds, with a ribbon-cutting next Wednesday. The 16,000-square-foot facility is the brainchild of County Commission Chair Leann Pennington and Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord.
New Poll Shows Homestead Exemption Amendment 15 Points Short of Approval
A constitutional amendment that would increase the homestead exemption to $250,000 in 2028 has 45% support among likely voters, 15 points short of the 60% it needs to pass, according to a new St. Pete Polls survey conducted for Florida Politics. Another 30% oppose Amendment 3 and 25% are undecided with less than seven weeks until Election Day.
Flagler County Unemployment Stable But House-Sale Values Continue Sharp, Inflation-Caused Decline
Flagler County’s unemployment rate was stable in August, with modest labor force growth and steady single-family home sales, but the value of those sales has fallen sharply since 2019, in inflation-adjusted dollars. State economists project a minor economic uptick and rising wages in Flrida, contrasting with plummeting consumer confidence.
County Rejects 150-Foot Cell Tower in Mondex Similar to One It Approved in Hunters Ridge
Flagler County commissioners unanimously voted to deny a proposed 150-ft cell tower in Daytona North after resident opposition and commissioners’ own determination that the tower would be incompatible with residential surroundings. Gulfstream Towers argued the monopole met all code requirements and provided vital subdivision coverage, setting the stage for a potential legal challenge.
Bunnell City Manager Alvin Jackson Moves Up His Exit Amid Growing Transparency Scrutiny
Bunnell City Manager Alvin Jackson accelerated his planned retirement date to June 2027 following intense public scrutiny regarding administrative secrecy, controversial development projects, and fractured communication with city commissioners, one of whom discovered the news through outside reports rather than direct internal notification from the embattled top executive.
Gas Prices Exceed $4 Again in Palm Coast and Florida, Diesel Above $6
In Palm Coast and Flagler County, gas stations were uniformly above $4, and in many cases at $4.39, though generally the prices were between $4.11 and $4.29 as of Wednesday evening.
Palm Coast City Manager Appoints Cop Jim Macfarlane, From Their Days in Oregon, As His Deputy
Palm Coast City Manager Mike McGlothlin today announced the appointment of James C. Macfarlane, a captain in the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon, as his deputy city manager. Macfarlane has spent his entire career in policing, including three in the same county where McGlothlin was a city manager.
County Gives Final Approval to 502-Home Development in Seminole Woods, Against Neighbors’ Opposition
Flagler County commissioners approved a 502-unit development of houses, townhouses and apartments off of Seminole Woods Boulevard by a 4-1 vote following intense public pushback since February, with concerns about density, traffic and infrastructure, and more than 400,000 square feet of commercial space.
County Joins Mounting Challenges Against Bunnell Board’s Approval of 610-Acre Garbage Dump
Flagler County commissioners unanimously agreed to appeal the Bunnell planning board’s approval, barely past months of secrecy, of a 610-acre landfill, initiating administrative pushback, and exploring dispute resolutions ahead of a potential lawsuit. The county’s actions may not be the only litigation Bunnell will face over the landfill.
Bunnell City Manager Alvin Jackson Cancels Radio Appearance, Avoiding Landfill and Fuel Depot Questions
Bunnell City Manager Alvin Jackson abruptly canceled his scheduled radio appearance moments before airtime, dodging critical questions regarding a controversial 610-acre garbage dump, ongoing secrecy surrounding fuel depot negotiations, and structural issues at City Hall, leaving host David Ayres and invited guests to discuss the hidden municipal initiatives without him.
Florida’s Public School Enrollment Falls as Taxpayer-Funded Vouchers for Private Schooling Soar
The significant drop in enrollment is caused, in part, by the 2023 expansion of Florida’s Family Empowerment Scholarships, or voucher program, for home and private school students and students with disabilities, now available regardless of income. In major metropolitan school districts across the state, keeping students in public schools has become progressively challenging.
Flagler County Memories of 9/11, pt. 2:
‘A Day Remembered for Unimaginable Courage and Sacrifice’
In the second of two parts commemorating the 25th anniversary of 9/11, 19 prominent members of the Flagler County community remember that day and reflect on how it changed them, and how it changed the nation. Today’s contributors are Bobby Bossardet, Colleen Walsh Conklin, Ty Miller, Howard Holley, Jonathan Lord, Lance Blanchette, Jay Livingston, Kyle Berryhill, Michael Rodriguez, Brynn Newton, Kyle Totten, Jane Mealy, Michael McGlothlin, David Ayres, Jeff Douglas, Rick de Yampert, Linda Hansen, Alvin Jackson and Monica Campana.
Flagler Beach Picks Paid Parking Vendor in Preliminary Step, Raising Possibility of Referendum
Flagler Beach commissioners voted to begin preliminary discussions regarding downtown paid parking with Laz Florida Parking, a leading force in the business, though officials repeatedly emphasized that a program remains undecided. Two commissioners raised the possibility of a referendum. Last month Fernandina Beach held one such referendum and immediately voted to cancelled its paid parking contract based on the results.
Double-Digit Health Insurance Rate Increases Appear Ahead
It looks like another round of health insurance premium increases for millions of Floridians who get their insurance through the federal health care makretplaces. The rates, filed in the spring, haven’t yet been finalized. They are proposed changes. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation will review and approve final rates for the plans.