Ron Vath had applied for the job in April. The job may be permanent, but the postings may not be. He is due back sometime in early fall.
Flagler
24 Roses in Red, White and Black for Ray Boylan, Mentor Beyond Call and Color
Ray Boylan, who died on Aug. 26 at age 76, was a hero of the Flagler school district’s African American Mentor Program, and its only white mentor. His widow Gail was honored Saturday.
Campana’s First:
FPC Bulldogs 30, Matanzas Pirates 13
First game of the season, full house, the Bulldogs and the Pirates were in something of a dogfight at first before the Bulldogs asserted themselves in spite of the Pirates’ grit.
Softball League: Flagler Beach Interviews 3 Hometown Candidates for Manager, Gently
Easy questions, general answers: that sums up the day’s interviews of three familiar faces in Flagler Beach. Commissioner Ron Vath was absent. The show drew a maximum of 20 people.
It’s Raining Taxes, Cont’d: Behind Scenes, County Manager Floats Sales Tax Increase
One proposal would increase the half-cent sales tax by a super-majority vote of the county commission, bypassing voters.
Where’s Ron Vath? Without Explanation, Flagler Beach Commissioner Is Out Indefinitely
The 69-year-old commissioner has missed several meetings and is about to miss many more, including budget hearings and interviews with 12 candidates for city manager.
For First Time in Memory, Flagler School Enrollment Stalls; No Budget Cuts Foreseen Yet
The 240 additional students the Flagler school district expected this fall haven’t materialized, resulting in a projected loss of $1.62 million in state funding.
Should You Be Worried About Hurricane Earl? No (For Now)
Hurricane Earl is on track to pass some 350 to 400 miles away from Flagler County Thursday and Friday, though the storm will produce high waves and rip currents.
Enterprise Flagler’s Tax and Build Plan Revealed: How They’ll Seek Your Vote
The 4,200-word plan is presented here uncut, providing readers with a first, comprehensive look at how Enterprise Flagler will sell its tax plan to subsidize private industrial incentives at public expense.
Burned Just 4 Months Ago, County Cooks Yet Another Risky Deal With Ginn on Public Dime
The $4.75 million acquisition of 980 acres around Pellicer Creek is almost 10 times the land’s appraised value. Part of the buy rests on a creative but risky, long-term scheme.
Pregnant Mothers, Start Your Readers: Dolly’s Imagination Library Crosses Flagler Threshold
Dolly’s Imagination Library will ensure that every child born after Aug. 31 and living in Flagler will get a free book every month until kindergarten. The kick-off event is Sept. 1 at the Flagler County Library.
Sneak Preview of Enterprise Flagler’s Economic Tax “Game Plan”: More Details, More Questions
Enterprise Flagler’s “new game plan” seeks to win over voters for a new property tax in exchange for the promise of new industry and more jobs. The plan is more projections than details.
Work Crews–and Businesses–Idle Around Flagler Beach Farmers’ Market Land Dispute
Flagler Beach’s reconstruction of streets and sidewalks may have encroached on segments of the property belonging to the owners of the city’s weekly farmer’s market.
Elections Supervisor Kimberle Weeks Wrecks County-Owned Car Just Before Polls Close
The wreck took place just after 5 p.m.–less than two hours from polls’ closing time–on Whiteview Parkway, near U.S. 1. The car was towed. There were no injuries.
County Caves to Court Clerk Gail Wadsworth’s Demand for Bigger Staff and Budget
The $120,000 increase, which the county will have to draw from reserves or from budget cuts, is identical to the amount it would take to keep Carver Gym funded at the current level.
Primary Turnout Is Worst in at Least 16 Years; Black Voters Shrug Off 3 Black Candidates
Three black candidates running in local elections didn’t get a higher turn-out from heavily black precincts. Whiter, richer precincts turned out at double those rates.
Tucker Wins, Fischer and Sword in Runoff; McLaughlin Beats Abbott; Dwyer and Nowell Out
FlaglerLive will provide updated election results in the 2010 primary in all races relevant to Flagler County voters, including olegislative and statewide races.
Mosquito-Borne Encephalitis May Be On the Rise in Flagler, Health Department Cautions
The disease is rare but has severe consequences, and the department’s “sentinel” chickens have shown an increase in symptoms of the Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus.
Quit Surfing. Quit Working. Go Vote.
Unless you have a well articulated political science doctor’s note, you have no excuse but to go vote today. Precinct locations and guides included.
Bunnell Will Ask Sheriff to Bid for Law Enforcement Services in the City
A severe budget crunch, but also a severe State Attorney’s report on the city’s police department, bring back an old idea.
Commission Money Race: Mori Hosseini and Other Developers Bankrolling Abbott’s Bid
Volusia, St. Johns and Jacksonville development firms account for all but about $1,000 of Bob Abbott’s campaign funds. Nate McLaughlin’s are more grass roots based.
School’s Back. So Are Walking Children in a Town Short of Sidewalks. Watch Where You Drive.
Two years ago, 270 children younger than 14 were killed while walking by a road. School’s resumption calls for care, especially in Palm Coast, where sidewalks are lacking.
The Money Race: Five Flagler School Board Candidates Raise a Combined $32,900
District 5 candidate Raven Sword is the fund-raising leader when candidates’ own money is excluded. She also drew the largest number of contributors by far, with 130.
The Live Q&A: School Board Candidates In Their Own Words (and Occasional Evasions)
The FlaglerLive Q&A was designed to draw candidates away from campaign generalities and cliches and to compel clearly stated positions on a dozen relevant issues.
Unemployment Resumes Climb in Flagler and Florida as Economy Fails to Strengthen
Flagler County’s unemployment rate went up to 15.6 percent (from 15.4 percent), and Florida’s went up to 11.5 percent, raising fears of a double-dip recession.
More Trouble for Flynt: Sheriff Ends Tow Ties Permanently; Bank Sues for $50,000
Legal troubles aside, the sheriff’s decision worsens the Bunnell city commissioner’s financial straits–as does a law suit over a $50,00 debt.
In Split Vote, Tourism Council Approves Raising Bed Tax to 4% For More Marketing
The additional 1 percent would raise an extra $275,000 to $300,000, which the council wants to spend on more advertising for Flagler. Several council members objected, setting up a possible battle at the County Commission.
Sheriff Knocks Commissioner Flynt’s Towing Company Out of Wrecking Rotation Indefinitely
Saxon’s Wrecker, owned by Bunnell City Commissioner Jimmy Flynt, is at the center of a withering investigative report showing Flynt benefited from chronic favoritism at other towers’ expense.
Innovative Garden Hose Start-Up Swells Flagler Hopes for Economic Revival at the Airport
MH Operations proposes to manufacture an expanding and retracting hose few will resist, and do so from a county airport, where it would create 125 jobs.
State Report Details Disturbing Patterns at Bunnell PD and Favors For Comm. Jimmy Flynt
A 35-page State Attorney’s report puts Bunnell City Commissioner Jimmy Flynt at the center of a pattern of favoritism involving the long-troubled Bunnell Police Department.
State Attorney’s Investigative Report on Bunnell Police Department and City Commissioner Jimmy Flynt:
Part 6 of 6
State Attorney’s 2010 Investigative Report on Bunnell Police Department and City Commissioner James “Jimmy” Flynt and Saxon’s Wreckers: Part 6 of 6
State Attorney’s Investigative Report on Bunnell Police Department and City Commissioner Jimmy Flynt:
Part 5 of 6
State Attorney’s 2010 Investigative Report on Bunnell Police Department and City Commissioner James “Jimmy” Flynt and Saxon’s Wreckers: Part 5 of 6
State Attorney’s Investigative Report on Bunnell Police Department and City Commissioner Jimmy Flynt:
Part 4 of 6
State Attorney’s 2010 Investigative Report on Bunnell Police Department and City Commissioner James “Jimmy” Flynt and Saxon’s Wreckers: Part 4 of 6
State Attorney’s Investigative Report on Bunnell Police Department and City Commissioner Jimmy Flynt:
Part 3 of 6
State Attorney’s 2010 Investigative Report on Bunnell Police Department and City Commissioner James “Jimmy” Flynt and Saxon’s Wreckers: Part 3 of 6
State Attorney’s Investigative Report on Bunnell Police Department and City Commissioner Jimmy Flynt:
Part 2 of 6
State Attorney’s 2010 Investigative Report on Bunnell Police Department and City Commissioner James “Jimmy” Flynt and Saxon’s Wreckers: Part 2 of 6
State Attorney’s Investigative Report on Bunnell Police Department and City Commissioner Jimmy Flynt:
Part 1 of 6
State Attorney’s 2010 Investigative Report on Bunnell Police Department and City Commissioner James “Jimmy” Flynt and Saxon’s Wreckers: Part 1 of 6
Cakes Across America Dumps Airport Building County Built For It; Taxpayer Bill: $300,000+
In another example of economic development subsidized at taxpayers’ expense, the cake company leaves taxpayers holding the bag for a promise of jobs never fulfilled.
Water Wars Redux: Homeowners Sue
Palm Coast Over Annexation Bullying
Palm Coast is forcing Palm Coast Plantation property owners to sign annexation agreements in exchange for water and sewer services. The owners say Palm Coast is breaking the law.
Palm Coast City Manager Jim Landon’s Compensation Package: $218,296 a Year
Jim Landon’s base salary of $168,878 is higher than the total compensation package of the school superintendent, who manages five times as many employees and is responsible for 13,000 students.
Flagler Beach Commissioners Pick 12 to Interview for Manager (Updated)
Two charts show how each commissioner and the mayor drew up a short list of candidates for Flagler Beach city manager.
Pierre on WNZF’s Open Lines with David Ayers This Morning
Chatting it up about local politics, local media, the primary election, the good referendum on the ballot and the very bad one, and more.
Cool Project, Cooler Reception: Palm Coast’s Desalination Aims Leaves Others Unmoved
Slower than before, but still expensively, Palm Coast continues to push desalination as its only alternative water source in the future.
From 140, Flagler Beach Short-Lists 35 Applicants for Manager Ahead of Thursday Cut
Two local favorites appear at the top of the list, which Flagler Beach city commissioners on Aug. 10 will pare down to about 10 applicants who’ll be invited for interviews. See the chart.
County Cuts Carver Gym Budget 25%, Eyeing Future Reductions–and More Talk
The 3-2 vote formalizes the county’s first significant move away from the gym, though at least three commissioners are leery of turning operations over to Bunnell.
Commission Increases County Employees’ Health Costs Against Steep Opposition
County employees’ health insurance premiums are rising steeply, but they remain less expensive than for employees in other government agencies in the area.
Crunch Time for Carver Gym: County Will Keep It Open, But Debates How
The County Commission has backed off a proposal to close the gym, but is still wrangling over how to keep it open, paid for, and properly run with children’s programming.
Justice for Sale: Half a Million Dollars
Slosh Races for 3 Local Circuit Court Seats
Eleven candidates in three races in the 7th Judicial Circuit have raised an average of $44,000 each, more than 60 percent of it their own money.
John Selden, Candidate for Circuit Court Judge, Group 5 (Flagler County)
Voters’ Guide for John Selden, Candidate for Florida 7th Circuit Court Judge, Group 5, Flagler County, vying to replace Judge Kim C. Hammond.
Sid Nowell, Candidate for Circuit Court Judge, Group 5 (Flagler County)
Voters’ Guide for Sid Nowell, Candidate for Florida 7th Circuit Court Judge, Group 5, Flagler County, vying to replace Judge Kim C. Hammond.
Joe Horrox, Candidate for Circuit Court Judge, Group 5 (Flagler County)
Voters’ Guide for Joe Horrox, Candidate for Florida 7th Circuit Court Judge, Group 5, Flagler County, vying to replace Judge Kim C. Hammond.
