The Palm Coast City Council unanimously endorsed the $6,700 pay raise but limited annual automatic increases to 1 percent through 2021, and set aside concerns over Landon’s very generous severance package.
All Else
FPL Will Bill You an Extra $40 This Year For Restoring Power During Hurricane Matthew
The state Public Service Commission approved a $318.5 million request by FPL to cover the costs of restoring power after the storm pummeled Flagler and other Florida counties.
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.
Kayaking Trips Planned For Flagler’s Centennial Celebration, on Haw Creek and Longs Landing
Registrations, for $15, are needed in advance. Each person registering will get a competition style tee shirt commemorating the County’s Centennial.
Five People Killed, 3 Hurt in 3-Vehicle Crash at White Eagle’s US1 Intersection With Old Dixie; Deadliest Crash in 6 Years
Five people were killed in a three-vehicle crash late this morning (Feb. 5) at the notoriously dangerous intersection of Old Dixie Highway and U.S. 1, by the White Eagle lounge, in Korona.
Tuesday Briefing: Landon’s Raise, School Board’s Toil, Texting and Driving, Eubie Blake, Philip Roth on Death
Palm Coast City Manager will seek a 4 percent raise even though a majority of the city council has never evaluated him, the school board holds its first all-workshop evening, the great Eubie Blake.
Commissioners Uneasy With Flagler’s Bail-Out of Agriculture Museum and New 400-Acre Park
Flagler County government would pay off an $185,000 museum mortgage and grant it $25,000 a year while acquiring more than 400 acres of the museum’s land, calling it an “extension” of Princess Place Preserve.
Health Savings Accounts Gain GOP Favor as Obamacare Sub; Gimmickry May Hurt Most
Expanding the use of such accounts, greatly favored by Wall Street, is part of almost every GOP replacement plan under consideration on Capitol Hill. But less well off people and the sick would not likely benefit.
Monday Briefing: Revels v. DeLorenzo, New Runway at Airport, Death Sentences, Obamacare Repairs
Barbara Revels and Jason DeLorenzo reemerge in a bid for a seat on the economic development council, the county breaks ground at its airport’s runway extension.
Don’t Play Into Trump’s Hands on the Muslim Ban
Dina El-Rifai, a Muslim woman, writes of being terrified, heartbroken, and outraged by Donald Trump’s “Muslim ban.” But, she notes, The Obama administration’s wars were often justified through the demonization and dehumanization of Muslims.
Florida Senate Moves to Replace Tuition Billing By Credit Hour With Controversial Flat-Fee Plan
The dilemma: how to move to a block-tuition system without financially penalizing students while at the same time providing incentives for them to take enough courses per semester to graduate in four years.
After NY Cop Salutes Violence Against Anti-Trump Protester, His Online Post Comes Under Review
An anti-Trump marcher got punched in the face. A Port Authority cop posted “Grow up bitches and get a job.” The department’s inspector general gets a referral.
Prosecution Puts Kim Weeks’s Lawyers on Defensive After Arguing She Must Testify
The prosecution today questioned whether Kimberle Weeks had standing to challenge the validity of the search warrant that uncovered all the evidence against her. Her defense was shaken up by the ploy.
Weekend Briefing: Kimberle Weeks Wants Out, Men’s Futures Tennis, Medical Pot Summit, Sugar’s Evils
The Men’s Futures tennis tournament heads into its finals weekend at the Palm Coast Tennis Center, Kim Weeks moves to have all charges against her dismissed, a children’s fair at Carver Gym.
Behind Woman’s Suicide in Flagler Beach, Despair and a Last Evening With Caring Strangers
Janis Washburn, the 68-year-old Palm Coast resident found dead in the Intracoastal last week, had spent the last three hours of her life with a group of strangers who took her in to cheer her up. She had long spoken of suicide.
Thursday Briefing: Animal Control, Flagler Audubon, All Flagler Democratic Club, Re-Joyce
The emerging All Flagler Democratic Club meets, the Flagler Audubon Society gets ready for the annual Shorebird Survey, James Joyce and Ayn Rand improbably share a birthday.
Divided School Board Blocks Internal Hire of Next Superintendent, Opting for Fast Search
In a 3-2 split, Flagler School Board members opted against cutting short the search for Superintendent Jacob Oliva with an immediate, internal hire despite the risks of an expedited, broader search to fill the position by June 1.
Cops’ Dash-Cam Video Evidence Gets Big Boost in 5-2 Ruling By Florida Supreme Court
“We cannot expect officers to retain information as if he or she were a computer,” the court ruled, granting power to judges to review video evidence when available.
Wednesday Briefing: Superintendent Search, Tax Collector’s New Branch, Buddy Taylor Agronomy Lab, Gorusch
Tax Collector Suzanne Johnston opens a new branch office in the old Food Lion shopping center in Flagler Beach, the Flagler County School Board this evening begins the process of replacing Superintendent Jacob Oliva.
At Staly’s Sheriff’s Office, Deputies Speak of “Concerted Effort” to Raise Morale and Profile
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies contacted independently of the sheriff’s own public relations efforts say the improved morale and more commanding leadership is sincere, though the changes are less fundamental than about attitudes.
Palm Coast Council Favors $6,800 Raise for Manager Landon, and Automatic Increases
Vying for a raise for the third time in 10 months, Palm Coast Manager Jim Landon appears to have convinced a new council to award him a 4 percent raise and build in automatic annual raises absent intervention by the council.
Tuesday Briefing: Jim Landon’s Raise, Meeker’s Late Goal, Vienna Boys’ Choir at Peabody, Hugo Chavez Redux
Palm Coast Manager Jim Landon makes yet another pitch for a raise, the soccer fields at Wadsworth Park were dedicated to the late Frank Meeker, David Altmaier in Daytona.
Monday Briefing: Suicide Prevention Training, Juvenile Arraignments, Romeo and Juliet, FDR
A regional suicide prevention specialist hosts a three-hour seminar on the subject at EOC in Bunnell, a non-eventful day in local government, Romeo and Juliet’s and FDR’s anniversaries.
Trump’s Middle Finger to Muslims, and Law
The executive order Trump signed on Friday does the opposite of what it aims for: it belittles American law, projects a nation in cowardly fear, alienates its own Muslim communities and endangers our security.
Trump Order Blocks 500,000 Legal U.S. Residents from Returning to America
In banning newcomers from seven countries from entering the United States for the next 90 days, the president has used language that will affect those who are in the U.S. already on visas and green cards.
Full Text of Trump Executive Order Banning Certain Refugees, Muslims and Green Card Holders
President Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 27 titled “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States,” banning certrain Muslims, refugees and immigrants from entry in the United States and cutting refugee admissions in half this year. Here’s the full text.
President Fake
We’ve been worried about fake news from all the wrong places. The most promiscuous peddler of fake news is the president himself, Donald J. Trump. That’s dangerous for media, for America and for democracy.
Ethics Panel Ratifies $4,500 Fine Against Barbara Revels in Closing Blur on Distinguished Service
The fine and public censure bookend Barbara Revels’s eight years of public service as a member of the Flagler County Commission, where she had been its most effective member and most skillful parliamentarian.
In Flagler Again, Gov. Scott Issues $15.8 Million For Beach Fix in 4 Counties, $5.4M for Flagler
The $15.8 million is not necessarily new money but includes at least $5.3 million Flagler County has been lobbying for to rebuild dunes. Gov. Scott made the announcement at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park’s beach.
Weekend Briefing: Next to Normal, Revels Ethics Resolution, Meeker Dedication, Youth Orchestra Concert, Art Blakey
City Rep Theater’s “Next to Normal” has three last performances, the Youth Orchestra romps through the history of music, Gov. Scott is at Washington Oaks Gardens, soccer fields are dedicated to Frank Meeker.
Flagler Beach Approves $40 Million State Plan to Rebuild Dunes, With Sea Wall at City’s North End
In a surprising shift, Flagler Beach City Commissioners agreed to a state plan to build a sea wall at the city’s north end in exchange for a beach management plan the state would pay for.
Florida House Democrats Walk Out on Immigration Leader Who Associates With White Nationalists
Krikorian’s Center for Immigration Studies has been linked to the white nationalist movement and has been the target of criticism from the Southern Poverty Law Center, an organization that monitors hate groups.
Gov. Scott Visiting With Flagler Commissioners Friday But County Keeps Meeting Veiled
As has been the case with previous such visits, the Flagler County administration did not send out notices about the governor’s visit to the county Friday, morning, his fourth since Hurricane Matthew struck.
Flagler Youth Orchestra Performs History of Music in 16 Chapters Saturday in Palm Coast
The Flagler Youth Orchestra’s most advanced ensemble will perform the tour de force at Palm Coast United Methodist Church’s Concert Series at 4 p.m. Saturday. It’s free.
Thursday Briefing: Flagler Beach Talks Dunes, Pot and Tourism Dollars, Homeless Census, Roth on Trump
The Flagler Beach City Commission has a full agenda regarding the future of its beaches and its relations with county government, Flagler’s homeless population is counted one by one, Philip Roth on Trump.
Why Is the County Chairman Meddling in Flagler Beach’s Business, and Why Was Flagler Beach’s Manager Job-Hunting in Bunnell?
Flagler Beach officials were perplexed and angered by County Commission Chairman Nate McLaughlin’s apparent interference in their city manager’s–and their city’s–business at a time when county and city are trying to work out difficult issues.
House Panel Votes 13-1 to Ban Red-Light Cameras by 2020, But We’ve Been Here Before
State data showing increased crashes at red-light camera intersections adds momentum to the Florida’s latest effort to ban the cameras, but similar attempts have failed in the Senate before.
Oil and Gas Lobby Fumes as Lawmakers Push for Total Fracking Ban in Florida
The proposal to ban fracking follows a heavy debate during the 2016 session about a measure that would have created a regulatory framework for fracking in the state. Flagler County passed a resolution asking for a ban.
Janis Washburn, 68, Found Dead in Intracoastal Near Hidden Treasures By Flagler Beach Bridge
Janis Washburn, 68, of Palm Coast’s E-Section, was detected by a jogger on the Flagler Beach bridge just before 11 a.m. She had lived in Palm Coast since 2008.
Wednesday Briefing: Economic Opportunity Council Demi-Shade, Local Tax Referendums, Red-Light Cameras
The Flagler County Economic Advisory Council holds a workshop without video or audio feeds, Palm West Home Realty marks five years, the latest Trump lies analyzed.
Trump On Your Side? Repealing Obamacare Is a Tax Break For Rich at Poors’ Expense
If Obama’s health law is reversed, taxes will go down for the rich and up for the poor, while millions lose coverage. It is redistribution for the wealthy.
To the Tune of Harpsichord, Indian Trails’ Sarah Flannery Is Flagler’s Spelling Bee Champion
Sarah Flannery will represent Flagler County in the 73rd Annual Regional Spelling Bee hosted by the Florida Times-Union. It will be held in Jacksonville next month.
Tuesday Briefing: Ethics Training for the Elected, Wildcard Tennis Tournament, Zora Neale Hurston, Firefighters’ Cancer
Palm Coast’s new city council sits for some ethics training, the Men’s Futures tennis tournament fields its wildcard contestants, Zora Neal Hurston is celebrated all week.
Rift Opens Between County and Flagler Beach Over Dunes Fix; County Depletes TDC Fund
Flagler County commissioners agreed today to deplete a $1.5 million fund for beach management as part of a match to draw down state dollars, but none of the money would benefit Flagler Beach, angering officials there.
Fourth Fatality in 8 Days On Palm Coast Parkway as 60-Year-Old Beverly Campbell Dies
Beverly Ann Campbell, 60, had stopped near Florida Park Drive after her van struck a deer, and was rear-ended by 79-year-old Frank Mannarino, who told authorities Campbell’s van did not have its lights on.
Monday Briefing: Greg Hansen Swears-In, Project Bags Incentives, Dunes Tensions, Doughnuts With Doughney
Gov. Rick Scott Appointee Greg Hansen fills the County Commission seat left vacant by the late Frank Meeker, Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt Doughney holds another Doughnut With Doughney session, the county talks dunes restoration, Edith Wharton talks marriage.
All Storm Warnings and Watches Cancelled: “We’ve Dodged A Couple of Real Big Bullet”
Much of Palm Coast and Flagler County have a 30 percent chance of experiencing a tornado, as half the county is in a high-risk zone for very severe weather Sunday evening. The weather system spawned tornadoes across the Deep South, killing at least 15 people so far.
Trump Promised to Resign From His Companies. There’s No Record He’s Done So.
To transfer control of his companies, the president has to submit filings in Florida, Delaware and New York. That has not happened.
Jane Anne Staly, Civil Rights Champion in Central and Northeast Florida, Dies at 95
Jane Anne McNerney Staly, 95, of Maitland, the mother of Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly and an influential civil rights and social services activist for over half a century in Central and Northeast Florida, died peacefully on January 19 in Maitland.
You’ll Miss Him
At noon today the world ended as the sound of seven trumpets was replaced by the words “I, Donald John Trump…” Until then it was a fairly good run. An excellent run, in retrospect, considering what we’re losing.