An official for the Family Life Center asking for a budget increase was told “we’ll see” by the County Commission, but a Palm Coast Yacht Club fundraiser netted $2,200.
Flagler
For Overworked County Judge Melissa Moore-Stens, $150,000 Worth of Help May Be Coming
Flagler County is not getting an additional county judge, but the money appropriated will pay for the equivalent of 428 days of service by retired judges brought back on a per-day basis to handle cases.
Flagler Unemployment Falls to New Post-Recession Low, Matching Florida’s 4.5%
In April, the number of the unemployed in Flagler County fell by almost 200, though the labor force shrank almost equally, and the overall number of Flagler County residents with jobs fell by 100.
Four Arrests in 4 Separate Violent Assaults in a 24-Hour Period Underscore Domestic Issues
Andrew J. Krupp, 20, of Palm Coast, Qwajon R. Laster, 20, of Bunnell, Raymond Amara, 54, of Palm Coast, and Jacob Robertson of Flagler Beach were all arrested on felony charges stemming from violent confrontations.
Gov. Scott Continues to Attack Lawmakers Over Tourism Budget as Visitors’ Numbers Rise
A good showing in December aside, when year-over-year tourism tax receipts jumped 18 percent, Flagler County has done less well, and not necessarily because of Hurricane Matthew.
Elections Supervisor Proposes 2 New Voting Precincts, But GOP Concerns Prompt Delay
The Flagler County Commission was set to approve the $24,000 plan Monday evening but agreed, unusually, to a 30-day delay to accommodate Republican Party concerns about internal party elections and committee representation.
Wildfire Smoke Shrouds Flagler-Palm Coast From West as Officials Declare Fire Warning
A Red Flag Warning signaling a high-fire danger is in effect from noon to 8 p.m. today, and a 300-acre fire in Crescent City was sending thick smoke over Flagler-Palm Coast today, flooding the 911 center with worried callers.
1938-2017
James E. Gardner, ITT President
And Palm Coast Founder, Is Laid to Rest
James E. Gardner, who died May 5 at age 78, led ITT as it built Palm Coast between 1978 and 1990, and served on or led innumerable civic and business organizations.
Decriminalized Pot-Possession Program Will Advance in Flagler, But With Little Support From Sheriff
The proposal to decriminalize possession of small amounts of pot possession in Flagler County has been in limbo for almost a year after a key judicial and law enforcement panel approved it last year, before the election.
In Big Victory For Flagler (and St. Johns), Rep. Renner Delivers $13.3 Million For Dunes Restoration
The $13.3 million has yet to be split between the two counties, but will go a long distance to alleviate Flagler’s $22 million dune restoration needs, with local sources kicking in several million dollars.
Vacation-Rental Bills Die Only to Return in 2018, Forcing Flagler to Defend Regulations Again
The Legislature’s attempt to roll back local governments’ regulatory authority of vacation rentals barely fell short, so the fight is not over for counties at the forefront of the issue like Flagler.
Gov. Scott Declares Emergency In Response To Prescription Drugs and Heroin Deaths
In the four-county district that includes Flagler, only two heroin-deaths deaths were recorded in 2015, eight deaths were attributed to fentanyl, and 43 to prescription drugs overall.
London Drive Shootist Phillip Haire Turns Himself In, Faces Attempted Murder Charges
Phillip Haire, 19, is accused of twice driving by his own house on Palm Coast’s London Drive Monday afternoon and firing a gun at a sheriff’s deputy and his own parents.
For Flagler County, A Powerful Note of Atonement For Injustices Toward Many Amid Celebration of a Century
Flagler County marked its centennial on Saturday and Monday with celebrations that included words of a proclamation acknowledging half a century of injustices toward minorities in the county.
Progressive Voices Rise to Resist Locally as Flagler Beach “Rally By the Sea” Rebukes Trumpism
Saturday’s rally of progressive-liberal organizations in Flagler Beach, organized by a group barely a few months old, suggests the local Republican sweep is not as total as it appears, or Trumpism the only movement in town.
Flagler County Will Declare a Burn Ban Effective Monday and For Foreseeable Future
Flagler County is joining at least 21 other Florida counties with an open-ended burn-ban declaration, mostly as a precautionary measure as upwards of 100 fires burn statewide and the local drought index continues to rise.
Not Dead Yet: Vacation-Rental Bill Flagler Opposes Clears Last House Committee , 17-11
A bill that would end Flagler County’s authority to regulate short-term rentals cleared its last House committee and appears headed for a clash with its Senate version, which is very different. If differences aren’t resolved, the bills die.
Hitting New Post-Recession Low of 4.8%, Flagler’s Unemployment Now Matches Florida’s
The number of unemployed in Flagler county fell sharply in March, from 2,482 to 2,214, a drop of 268, an impressive 11 percent decline, with work activity especially pronounced in construction.
Weekend Briefing: Funny Thing at Flagler Playhouse, More Superintendent Interviews, Cheer at the Pier
The Flagler Playhouse opens “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” Cheer at the Pier celebrates the Centennial, the Chamber Players are in concert Sunday, and more.
A Suicide By Gunshot Jolts 911 Call as Sheriff Observes Flagler’s Dispatch Center in Action
A gunshot suicide took place live as a 911 dispatcher was on the phone Wednesday, while Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly sat in as a “trainee” to mark National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.
With 3 Large Flagler Fires in 2 Months and 107 Burning in the State, Scott Declares Emergency
Gov. Scott’s declaration of a wildfire emergency comes in the wake of several large fires in Flagler County and more than 100 ongoing fires elsewhere. It will allow for swifter sharing of firefighting resources, including the use of the National Guard.
Storm Damages Newly Repaired Dune Areas Along A1A, Stressing Urgency of Permanent Fix
Tuesday’s storm left various parts of A1A’s dunes–what’s left of them–damaged, but from an unexpected direction: officials have been fearing a breach from the ocean. The problem this time was rainwater pushing out.
Charges Against Ex-Elections Supervisor Weeks Reduced to Five, But Warrant Stands
In almost two years of wrangling ex-Elections Supervisor Kim Weeks’s lawyers have reduced the 12 felony counts against her to five, but there appears little room left before either a trial or an out-of-court settlement.
Vacation-Rental Bill Hearing Rescheduled Just as Key Senate Committee Begins Debate
Sen. Tom Lee, the seasoned chairman of the Community Affairs Committee, didn’t ant the bill rushed through debate, as had been the case on a previous occasion before Sen. Travis Hutson.
For Flagler Library Trustees, Hopes that County Government Gets Past “Spinning Our Wheels”
Library officials have been frustrated by plans stalled by county government, whether it’s an expansion of the main branch library on Palm Coast Parkway or the construction of a new branch in Bunnell.
Pranksters, Hackers, Swatting and Service Failures: 911 Systems Need an Upgrade
A rash of disruptions in antiquated 911 emergency-response systems points up the urgent need for new technology to save lives in the wireless age. But money is lacking.
House Panel Votes 9-6 to End Vacation Rental Regulations in 3rd Straight Defeat for Flagler
Flagler County government had staked its chances on killing the bill in this particular committee because Rep. Paul Renner, who represents Flagler, sits on the panel and had pledged to do what he could to halt the bill’s momentum.
At Vacation-Rental Town Hall, Renner Hears Unanimity Against Impairing Local Control
A standing-room-only crowd at Saturday’s Hammock Town Hall urged Rep. Paul Renner to battle a legislative attempt to scale back local regulatory control of vacation rentals won through a 2014 law.
At least 4 Homes Evacuated in Mondex; Half-Dozen Agencies Battling 40-Acre Blaze
A fire that started in an abandoned trailer in the Mondex spread quickly and forced evacuations, and was only 50 percent contained in mid to late afternoon.
Flagler Unemployment Down to 5.3% As 1,150 More Local Residents Gain Jobs in 2 Months
Flagler County’s unemployment in February fell sharply again, to 5.3 percent from 6 percent the previous month, even as the labor force in the county surged for the second month in a row, to just under 46,000–a record–as did the number of residents holding jobs.
Renner Seizes Reins for Flagler After Hutson’s Striking Disregard on Vacation Rentals
Rep. Paul Renner and County Commissioner Greg Hansen are organizing a town hall meeting in the Hammock Saturday, hoping to rally support against a proposed legislative retreat on vacation-rental regulations.
7-3 Vote Loses Flagler Another Round on Vacation Rentals In Hurried Senate Hearing
Flagler County government’s attempt to protect its vacation-rental regulations took another turn for the worse as a Senate committee today voted to advance a bill that would wipe out those regulations.
Flagler Increases Tourism Tax to 5%, Benefiting Beach Fix, Then More Promotions
The first two years of new revenue will swell the beach-repair fund by $2.5 million, settling back down to $500,000 thereafter, when the promotions revenue will rise to $1.5 million a year.
O’Brien Beach-Funding Proposal Prevails, And Flagler Beach Gets $2 Million Pledge
County Commissioner Donald O’Brien’s proposal to shift more money toward beach restoration prevailed today in a joint meeting of the County Commission and the county’s tourism board, and the county administrator pledged to allocate $2 million to Flagler Beach’s needs.
Thousand-Acre Wildfire Started As Controlled Burn in Putnam, Spread To Flagler, Now 75% Contained
Residents in Northwest Flagler County breathed the effects of the fire all weekend, and residents in Palm Coast and the rest of the county could see the large columns of smoke rising over the western horizon Saturday and Sunday.
Flagler Tourism “Promotions” Slush Fund Jumps 76% in 3 Years, And We’re Counting Pennies For Beach Repairs?
Paying for critical repairs to Flagler County’s beaches is hostages to a tourism budget’s scandalous and unaccountable promotions spending, which the county administration wants to increase despite the emergency.
Flagler’s Hutson Files Amendment to Vacation-Rental Bill That Would “Eviscerate” Regulations
Sen. Travis Hutson had supported the 2014 law enabling Flagler County to regulate vacation rentals. His amendment, which he calls a “compromise,” would scale that back even though he sees no problems with local regulations or short-term rentals.
Setback For Flagler as Bill Scrapping Vacation-Rental Regulations Advances on 9-6 Vote
A divided House Agriculture and Property Rights Subcommittee was not swayed by a presentation from Flagler County Attorney Al Hadeed as it voted to scrap county authority to regulate short-term, vacation rentals. The bill has several additional hurdles to clear.
Flagler May Lose Vacation Rental Regulations Just 2 Years After Regaining Authority
After a three-year battle, Flagler County government regained the right to regulate short-term rentals in the Hammock, which had become disruptive to local residents. Now the state is poised to take that authority away–again.
Unemployment Spikes to 6% in Flagler, Highest in 15 Months, But Labor Force Also Grows
While Flagler County’s number of unemployed grew by 11 percent month-over-month, the county also saw a very large increase of 600 people in its workforce, pointing to optimism about the county’s climate.
O’Brien Surprise: Commissioner Agrees To Higher Tourism Tax, But With Beach Twist
County Commissioner Donald O’Brien today was willing to raise the county’s tourism tax to 5 percent, but to further increase revenue for beach restoration, and, for a year, lower revenue for promotions.
Homeless Shelter Event Draws Twice As Many People as Expected, Raising $4,500
A over-capacity crowd jammed the Santa Maria Del Mar Catholic Church in Flagler Beach Sunday evening to raise money for The Sheltering Tree, Flagler’s only cold-weather homeless shelter, in Bunnell.
From Inside Charred Aftermath of Last Week’s 435-Acre Fire, A Cautionary Warning of Season Ahead
In a tour of the forest partly charred in last week’s fire south of Bunnell, Florida Forest Service officials cautioned of a fire season ahead they expect will be more active because of drought and higher temperatures.
Council Endorses Raising Flagler’s Tourism Tax to 5% to Pay For Beach Repairs
The tourist sales surtax tax is applied to hotels, motels and short-term rentals, and would increase beach-restoration revenue to $2.25 million over the next three years.
County Seeking Photo Contest Participants to Mark Flagler’s Centennial
Prizes include $200 for Best of Show, as well as first-, second- and third place prizes by division of $150 – $100 – and $50, respectively. The deadline for submission is Monday, April 10.
Palm Coast Community Center’s Walls Crash As Shovels Ordain Much Bigger Successor Building
Work crews put destruction on display at the old Palm Coast Community Center today, just after the city council marked the $7.8 million rebuilding and tripling of the site with a groundbreaking ceremony.
In Flagler Beach, Scott Attacks Renner Over Tourism and Economic Development Programs
Gov. Rick Scott was in campaign mode in a visit to Flagler Beach Monday as he criticized Flagler’s Rep. Paul Renner, a fellow-Republican, for introducing a bill that would eliminate Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida.
Renner Is Right: Kill Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida, Twin Kleptos of Public Troth
Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida are two tax-supported state agencies that act more like slush funds, wasting money behind secretive veils and returns on investment that have never lived up to the promise.
Transportation Secretary Pledges Possible Traffic Light or Other Fixes at Dangerous US 1 Intersection
The Florida Department of Transportation is considering a traffic light, speed limit reduction, rumble strips or even a roundabout at the intersection of US1 and Old Dixie Highway.
Flagler County May Be Out $2 Million as FEMA and State Deny Hurricane Reimbursements
FEMA denied $1.1 million in Flagler claims for debris pick-up, the state is not providing a match the county expected, and the county has yet to hear on millions more in claims to FEMA.
