Milissa Holland, the forceful and popular Flagler County commissioner—she was elected with 65 percent of the vote six years ago and ran unopposed two years ago—said today she will run for the Florida House, giving the county its first solid chance in 48 years to have direct representation in Tallahassee by one of its own, and giving Democrats the rare chance of a pick-up in a House dominated by the GOP.
“I’ve been very proud of what I’ve accomplished here in Flagler County and I love what I do as a county commissioner, and it’s very difficult to make the decision to leave all of that,” Holland said. But, she continued, “it’s the first time we will have a full representative in 48 years. It’s extremely important. If you look at the district, this is why we pushed the census so hard in an effort to have our voice heard. We knew the opportunity was there to have an entire representative, and Tallahassee made that determination that we should. They didn’t give St. Johns a whole seat and give us a portion. And they didn’t do it with Volusia either. They stated that Flagler County has gotten to a place where our voices should be heard as equally as many other counties in the state of Florida.”
Holland will make a formal announcement at Holland Park in Palm Coast Monday (May 21), at 1:30 p.m. The park is named for her father. She will be filing a letter of resignation regarding her county commission seat, but the resignation won’t be effective until Nov. 6, so she will remain in that seat until then. At that point the governor has a choice to either appoint a replacement or call for a special election. Frank Meeker, the Palm Coast city council member, is the name on the lips of many people who follow the two governments as a leading contender, including his own.
Holland’s decision, following months of speculation and weeks of rumors, upends a race that until now had featured Travis Hutson, the 28-year-old Republican novice with heavy GOP support, and Doug Courtney, a Democrat from Flagler County and perennial political candidate who has yet to win a race, or come close.
Holland would have been a formidable candidate regardless, but the district’s new boundaries vastly improve her chances: Precisely 60.12 percent of the electorate in the newly drawn 24th House District is in Flagler County (by voting age population, not registered voters), with 20.51 percent in St. Johns and 19.37 percent in Volusia, making Flagler’s voters the clear heavyweights in any contest—the more so since Volusia’s and St. John’s slivers of the district themselves split the remaining votes.
The question was not whether Flagler could field candidates to take advantage of the new boundaries, but whether it could field viable ones. Donald O’Brien, an insurance executive from Palm Coast and a Republican, briefly campaigned against Hutson but dropped out abruptly last week.
Holland, 40, brings deep experience to the contest, a sense of legacy—her father, the late James Holland, was a Palm Coast founder and city council member—and political acumen that helped her forge alliances across party lines: just last summer she was appearing alongside Sen. John Thrasher, a staunch Republican, before the Florida Cabinet in a battle against a local development Holland and the county commission had fought for two and a half years. She prevailed.
“I think there are a lot of Independents and Republicans that will support her regardless of her party affiliation,” Barbara Revels, who chairs the county commission and had been urging Holland to run for legislative office, said. She’s right: Holland has several prominent local Republicans’ admiration and outright support.
“I think we’re losing one of our most valuable assets in the county. I hate to see her go,” said Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts, a friend and frequent political ally, who was drafted to run for office 11 years ago by Holland’s father. “On the other hand, an infusion of dedication and commitment and concern and competence and compassion in Tallahassee is not a bad thing for us either.”
Asked directly whether he would support her candidacy, Netts paused, then said: “Yes. Republican, Democrat, that’s less important than what you stand for. I thinks she’s always been a person of integrity, of honesty, commitment to the constituents. I don’t know what more you could ask.”
Alan Peterson, a Republican, fellow county commissioner and occasional opponent of Holland’s on some issues, was equally categorical about his support of her candidacy, “because this is essentially local government, and whether we’re Republicans or Democrats doesn’t make any difference at all, it’s your philosophy and your outlook on government and what you think is important,” Peterson said. “I think Melissa knows Flagler County very well, I think she knows the people in Tallahassee, I think she’s had experience dealing with the Legislature in Tallahassee, so there are a lot of very good reasons as to why she would be a major asset and benefit for the residents of Flagler County. I mean, it’s very diff icult in my opinion for somebody to be elected to an office who has never had any governmental experience, and her opponent would be one of those who has not had any experience.”
Hutson did not immediately return a call about Holland’s candidacy Thursday evening.
Revels is contending with a mixture of relief and anxiety, Holland’s decision cutting both ways for Flagler County: her voice on the commission will be unquestionably lost. The resignation is irrevocable, at least for this election cycle, whatever happens. On the other hand, Revels had been despairing at the absence of a strong candidate running for a House seat as if gift-wrapped for a Flagler County voice. (It’s no small matter that Holland’s decision also relieves Revels of some guilt that she wasn’t herself running, since she is likely the only other local candidate with as strong a case for higher office. She lost to Bill Proctor, Flagler County’s current representative in the House, by a few hundred votes in 2004.)
“I’m so excited that we have an incredibly viable candidate to represent Flagler County, knowing how hard Milissa fights for her constituents and her county,” Revels said. “She’s got the knowledge and the connections. Its going to be wonderful for us. But on the other hand all those things I said,” Revels continued, repeating Holland’s qualities, “she’s done all that on the commission and it’s going to be a big hole to fill with a lot of unknowns for us.”
Revels, for years the realist echo to Holland’s idealism, continued: “It is a risk for her and she and I discussed that it would be incredibly terrible if she were to resign the commission and not win. But I think just knowing her reach within the county, how well she’s known, how well she’s handled all of her constituent services, she’ll have many people cross the isle.”
Some of that cross-isle appeal across the county was audible in—for example—the voice of John Rogers, a Bunnell city commissioner. “That’s wonderful. That’s absolutely wonderful. We’ve got to get her elected,” he said immediately when told of Holland’s decision. Rogers is a Republican. “I vote the person, not the party,” he says, explaining his enthusiasm: “She has a chance of winning, that’s why, and I think she would do a great job representing Flagler County.”
Courtney, the Democrat now facing Holland in the Aug. 14 primary, on the other hand, was more subdued, describing the coming race as “very challenging,” but giving Holland a chance “as good as mine” of winning. He said he had broader contacts and background in the district’s three counties.
Meeker, the Palm Coast City Council member with his eyes on a commission seat, weighed his words carefully when asked about Holland’s candidacy: he is a member of the Flagler County Republican Executive Committee. He has obligations. “My loyalty oath is to the party,” Meeker said. “This is a partisan election, and as much as I like Milissa Holland, I have to support who the party picks. That’s just the way it is. And I think we have a very strong candidate.” Meeker was not yet speaking definitely of running for the commission, though he said he’d been thinking about it plenty and studying county issues.
For now, however, the attention will be on Holland for creating what Meeker describes as “an exciting race” in contests generally defined by plodding issues and sometimes doddering candidates. It’s not a coincidence that the clincher, for Holland, was a moment with her soon-to-be 16-year-old daughter Tori, who often accompanies and assists her mother in community and civic events and has developed civic initiatives of her own.
“The defining moment came when my daughter made a comment to me on everything that I’ve been able to accomplish here as well as fighting, taking issues to Tallahassee, that affect our residents for the last six years,” Holland said. “In her words I’ve been there for six years acting upon the residents’ concerns, and it certainly had positive impacts on a multitude of issues. She had encouraged me to step up and do this at this moment in time. I had to come to terms with it for me. This had to be right for me. I’m somebody who’s very passionate about this community. I’m also passionate about the issues I take on.”
And now, she said, it is.
Heybooboo says
I hope she still has time to make a potato dish for the Political Potatoes Cookoff in Bunnell on Saturday!
PJ says
You will be missed here in the County but I hope you win and take us to the capitol. My very best wishes Commissioner Holland!!!!
Sandra says
Why missed? what real change has occured in our county?? Are the county’s taxes lower???
Ambroz says
Ms. Holland is a great person: smart, industrious, and altruistic. She is a very valuable asset to our community and will make an excellent representative for Flagler County in Tallahassee. I wish her the best in this worthy endeavor.
Jeff Sawyer says
I read about Milissa Holland running for county commissioner in the local paper way back when; I was so impressed by her and the fact that Flagler (at the time) never had a female commissioner – ever! Talk about dark ages…I looked her number up in phone book (yes we used those) and called her – she answered the phone. I told her I wanted to help her and that I have this advertising truck and I wanted to put her ad (for free) to help her win the election. Perhaps you remember this truck? Anyways, I am very proud to have helped this wonderful person. Good luck Milissa! To see her ad click:
http://sellmyhome495.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BBRtruck_night.jpg
Anonymous says
Jeff you talk about the dark ages. Melissa has and will take us back into the dark ages. Do you know what AGENDA 21 is. Sustainable Development of which she and the commissioners are all about. Do you like your freedom, owning your own home, car etc. Well, Melissa has been big on Government Grants. Do you realize Government Grants are our tax payers money given back to your county with attachments. Your tax dollars match each and every grant we get. Sustainable Development eventually is going to take away your property and all of your possessions. It is the United Nations dictating to your Federal Governmnent and your Federal Government having seminars for all the county commissioners and your Palm Coast City Council that goes for Bunnell, Flagler Beach Beach and all the other cities within the county and throughout the country. Agenda 21 and sustainable development will eventually take away our FREEDOM. Check it out people. it is out there…
Bill says
Holland is a legend in her own mind. The players are all holding hands, and in place to maintain the power. The county is deeper in debt since Holland was elected 6 years ago, and the unemployment rate is higher than it was. What did Holland do before running for Commissioner that makes her qualified for anything? She’s where she’s at because of her dads name. Why did Holland wait until now to get in? If she was so sure she was the right person for the job, she would have gotten into the race long ago.
[Bill, and other commenters: Ms. Holland is fair game in the comment section. Her family, particularly her children, are not. Please don’t waste your time and ours bringing up either. Thanks.–FL]
The Honest One says
You are exactly right Bill, the taxpayers in this county and Palm Coast should do a little investigating on Agenda 21 and Sustainable Development. That is what she is all about. Do you see what is happening with our government. Does not matter what party you are affiliated with they are all socialists and you are all supporting one if you vote for her.
ric says
Good luck Milissa, you have my vote.. We do not have a county or city official with any skill or willingness to get involved with the state and I think you are the one who can co the job..
The Honest One says
Ric, you talk about skill, is she really working in our best interest. Look up Agenda 21 and Sustainable Development. See where our county is going with Melissa Holland. NOT GOOD FOLKS!!!!!!
Sandra says
Not true, there are many people better qualified!!
"My Daily Rant" says
I dont see this happening,Flagler county is in such a mess, I have lived in Palm Coast since 1974 and watched this beautiful place fall to peices over the last 10 years.Also the back door deals, Bings Landing rented for$500 a month.should be 4 times that,the renter said he had $60,000 of work in it.Im a builder and looked at the job with county supplying the labor(yes county) there was no way $60,000, ask Barbara Revals to price it out she is a builder.Also dumping $150,000 of bed tax money to build marina at marineland which from what I understand is privately owned.This bed tax money is raised to run events that will bring people into Flagler county for multiple days.Well good luck Miss Holland, but you have not earned my vote.
The Honest One says
My Daily Rant, you have my vote…..What you have said is exactly correct. This county is making their decision according to their pocket book, not the tax payers. Barbara Revels a county commissioner is in
conflict of interest because she is a builder and realtor. She should not be a commissioner. Good Ole Boy Politics. You grease my palm and I will grease your palm!!!!!!!!!!!!!
John Boy says
My only problem is that she will not resign until after he is elected. This means that the Fraudster ( Rick Scott) will get to appoint her replacement. The criminal is probably already reviewing Non Competitive Bids for her successor.
Think first, act second says
John Boy,
According to Florida Statutes she must resign 10 days before the first day of qualifying which is 6/4. Her resignation does not have to be immediate and she states it will be Nov 6, whcih is election day, FS 99.012 is the statute if you want to read it for yourself. Item 3 and all sub items. But you and some of the following posts make good posts. If she knew she was going to run for the House seat why did she not do it sooner and give those wanting to replace her seat time to obtain petition signatures and avoid the fee for qualifying, answer, self indulgence. Now the op-editorial by Frank Meeker appears to be quite timely. Several days before she announces and my money is with the other poster who thinks he is the prime candidate for the seat. You cannot make me believe he did not know about this before yesterday and sought the opportunity for the op-ed and the posts on this site.
Now if I am wrong, and I have been before, then by her waiting until 2 1/2 weeks before the qualifying week has she placed Flagler county in a position of having to hold a “special election” to replace her and bear the cost of that. Makes you wonder if she has any concern for that. I agree with some of the other posters, she will have to win my vote and she has not yet done that!
There is also another issue in the article that I see, Netts and Peterson openly supporting her is a ethical violation of their Oath of party affiliation filed when qualifying for their respective races. Wonder if there will be retributions by their party hierarchy. Noticed that Meeker did not violate the oath.
By the way all of these documents can be read at the SOE website.
palmcoaster says
I agree with my Daily Rant for the same reasons this time and as such my ballot will be cast.There is only one positive for us all in Ms Holland decision and that is no longer conflict of interest regarding a commissioner personal relationship with the second in command in the Sheriff Department.
The favors lobbied and materialized for wealthy special interest is something that most of us find hard to swallow, forget or forgive. Probably sooner or later her position will be occupied by current City Councilman Frank Meeker. Too bad that lately he is supporting the county’s demand for more $$ from the half cent tax. That should be a big no no from Palmcoasters.
palmcoaster says
To Flagler Live. Regarding your words to Bill while not knowing if Bill’s comment was complete as posted, or not. While trying to be fair on behalf of Bill’s post and to start with: Ms Holland’s relatives, Dad and daughter are mentioned and written about in your editorial above, by Ms. Holland herself and Flagler Live as well. Bill statement regarding the “real world reality” that a prominent mans offspring has the open door to success, just because bears his family name is an undeniable fact . Here in Flagler County we have some of those familiar Dad’s names offspring’s as constitutional officers some doing a great job, some as local banks executives, some in law offices and also doing a good job . Is a fact, if that offspring will do or not a good job , on the eye of the beholder taxpayer exercising his/her first amendment. Sure those Dad’s are so proud as I would be if the child was mine. My words are strictly directed at what was posted by Bill above, as I don’t know if there was something bordering the improper that may have been deleted. I was here and going to city council meetings when Mr. Holland was a councilman and was never and approachable representative, he kept himself at a comfortable distance of questions or concerns expressed by the residents being myself one of them, felt like we were not at his level. In spite of that I gave all my support to Ms. Holland when running as the first woman for the county commission, but in the last few years she changed on a certain way and not for the better.
[Palmcoaster, there’d be no problem with a comment addressing Holland’s mention of her daughter in the context of her race (along the lines of, say, debating Carter’s wisdom of bringing his discussions on nuclear weapons with his daughter Amy into his debate with Reagan in 1980), but that’s not what the commenter was doing. Gratuitous tastelessness involving candidates’ families won’t be tolerated. There’s plenty to say about the candidates themselves. Let’s stick to that.–FL]
palmcoaster says
To Flagler Live, thank you for the reply. Then I guest that there was much more, to what was posted by Bill. Keeping our comments in a respectful manner, I agree with you, is positive to all here.
Linda H. says
People like Dr. Bill Proctor have made themselves available to their constituents just about any time they were needed. He has gone out of his way to attend meetings in Palm Coast.
He is going to be missed.
Frank J. Meeker says
Ummm, so far, the PC City Council is unified on keeping the ½ cent sales tax just the way it is, and that includes me. At the council meeting the other night, I pointed out the county has stayed below the roll back rate for (I think it was five) years and oddly, that is around $500,000 which is about what they are trying to recoup by using the state default formula for the ½ cent (and I don’t blame them for trying to do so, money is tight for all of us). I also pointed out that by going to the default formula and shorting the city out of about $600,000, if I’m going to have the funds necessary to continue replacing those portions of the stormwater system that have reached the end of their useful life (and the truth is, we have 30-40 million in needed repairs here for the next five years), then to make up the shortfall in the budget for next year, I either have to reduce the estimated amount of 7.5 million to 6.9 and risk something failing (and when that has happened in the past, it hasn’t been a good thing for Palm Coasters) or I have to raise the millage. I suggested the county raise their millage up to the rollback, and leave the current formula alone. Both the city and the county need to look at what specific project, not necessarily projects, that you want to use this money for and focus on accomplishing that task. I’d like it to go to stormwater. The ½ sales tax is only a small portion of that total budget, and that is why we have to look at other funding mechanisms as the current stormwater fee just isn’t doing the job and ITT isn’t here to fund it out of their deep pockets like they did when many of us bought here years ago. Too many projects don’t contribute a “stormwater fee” yet use the streets and bridges that will fail if we don’t keep up with the drainage infrastructure and the system is way more than just the swale in front of your house. Drive down Belle Terre and look at the work the city is doing at Royal Palms Waterway and you’ll see that if that structure was allowed to wash out, Belle Terre could be cut in half. There are plenty more structures like this one. Then everybody would understand why I’m taking this issue so seriously. If we sit on our thumbs which would be as usual for a non-proactive approach, it would be too late. Just sayin’…
Frank Meeker, Palm Coast City Council
District 2
Sandra says
Do the wish of the people!!! Let the tax expire!!!
Linda H. says
Mr. Meeker, you certainly above all have known about these possible failures for years since ITT left, and were urged to action “way back when”.
Now we are in the 11th hour and facing a possible usage fee that many cannot afford. Tough to continue to pay rising fees and taxes without jobs, and the value of our homes and neighborhoods plummeting, isn’t it?
This city has not made the hard choices that will be necessary to get through this recession. And you still do not realize that your residents just don’t have the money.
While none of the 4 stormwater options increased visible taxes on palmcoasters, the 6% utility usage fee (which could go 2% higher) certainly will. That’s a pretty significant amount to ask people to pay for the next 30 years without jobs and it will continue to rise.
Just sayin…
palmcoaster says
Thank you Mr. Meeker for your clarifying reply.
I have to retract my statement above, as “then I read” that Councilman DeLorenzo vote was on the county favor and yours too, regarding the half cent sales tax distribution. I am glad that now there is a unified stand. If we are going to keep the current distribution, I will vote Yes for the half cent tax referendum for both the school and government.
Now, regarding our old deteriorating-ed storm water system as as we do not have a specific separate account for it, I wonder if the city could use some of the revenue earned by the very profitable water and sewer utility to fund the storm water system repairs. In the past the utility funded, as is commented so far over 2 million for consultants and meetings within 2 years, for the status quo now, due to lack of more $$ and loss of cities and counties associated funds. I am talking about the Coquina Desalination Plant, that we actually didn’t and don’t need. If my 2 million figure is incorrect please feel free to document us. Also 6 millions from our utility revenue was utilized for the welcome mat Old Kings Road infrastructure adjacent to what else other than..?, pet project Town Center , who’s CRA benefits mainly developers like Mr DeVore Lowes/Palm Coast Holdings, Mr. Chiumento free standing building and all the other wealthy developers and franchisees. For some peculiar reason the big box Walmart is no where to be seeing, then can we go after Walmart for the 6 millions spent because of them, plus the maintenance now of that newly created infrastructure?
If our very prosperous revenue utility paid for all the above why doesn’t as well contribute now with a more urgent need to repair our decaying storm water system?
Then also we have …those kings ransom rates consultants as we see, they only gather data that our highly trained professionals already on the city payroll could as well and present to us on a power point. No need to pay a group of 3 or 4 individuals foreign owned enterprises sometimes, 75,000 for couple of presentations telling us what we already know. Mr Meeker I consider you a cleaver man….and bet you know that our higly compensated professionals in the city can do a better job than these “consultants” and we will save hundreds of thousands. What is up with our local government wasting our hard earned taxes in all these useless consultants that contribute to nothing? Why do we pay our staff for? Then is when we wonder who is in the take…Just a suggestion..
Roy Longo says
Good luck Commissioner Holland. You will be missed at the County level but will be a great voice for Flagler at the State level and I know you will do well.
The True Anerican Says says
Roy, Perhaps if you investigated AGENDA 21 and Sustainable Development you would not be praising Melissa. Do you like owning your own home and a car or two and freedom of speech etc. everything that is in your Constitution, which by the way protects We The People. Melissa is very much for Sustainable Development. Educate yourself and click on below.
Sustainable Development Means a Wrenching Transformation of Your Life
http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/agenda21/
http://www.democratsagainstunagenda21.com/
tulip says
The stormwater fee of $96 a year that is on our utility bill will be eliminated and the fee will be based on our electric bills. Some of us will pay about the same, some will pay more, depending on usage. I don’t know how it works or those on FPL budget plan. Also, EVERYBODY will pay into it, whereas everybody doesn’t right now.
I keep hearing people have no money—granted some don’t, but everywhere I go I see full eating places, people running around with smart phones, i pads and pods,etc. and a lot of other electrical gadgets people must have. This all cost money, where does it come from if they “have no money”
As far as eliminating the 1/2 sales tax—-for every $2.00 spent we will “save a penny? Wow, I”ll be rich in no time! Now, all those pennies will add up to help the county and cities. Also, sales tax money is contributed by visitors, tourists, that purchase things here in Flagler county. I would rather keep the tax the way it is and collect sales tax money from “outsiders”, therefore sharing the burden, than eliminate it and face the possibility of even higher taxes that won’t be contributed to by anyone else.
Alex says
I hope Mr. Meeker will respond to palmcoaster’s comments regarding PC Utility and money spent by the utility.
Frank J. Meeker says
Oh, where to start. Linda H. Of course we’ve known for years of possible failures, and have had some, the structure across from Mother Seton, two different failures on Florida Park Drive, the last weir before Graham Swamp come to mind as examples. Most of those failures had to do with water piping under the fabriform weirs, eroding the dirt used to form the dam and leaving a hard shell of fabriform and concrete. Think of a scope of ice cream with some of that chocolate sauce that hardens into a crusty shell, and then melt the ice cream out. That is what those structures looked like. What we’re seeing now is different. All materials used in building the drainage system whether cross connecting pipes under roads, pipes discharging into ditches, the metal that holds the flashboards which control the water levels,…all of those individual pieces of material have an expected useful life, usually around 25-35 years. Since it was all put in place at about the same time, do you think it is unreasonable that it is all failing about the same time? Doesn’t surprise me one bit.
Tulip. Thank you, you hit the points perfectly pointing out that the utility franchise fee being designed to replace the stormwater fee with a more diverse funding source more appropriately distributed throughout the community. In fact, even with the proposed utility tax, on average, people would pay less than the $8 they pay now. My portion will be a bit more as I use a bit more electricity than average. Those who use less will pay less. But the cost will be shared by more commercial and industrial users which will help to keep the cost reasonable assuming future councils don’t get too greedy. As I said at the council meeting, if you or somebody else has a better option for funding this need, I’m listening.
Palm Coaster, the Utility is a separate and stand alone entity not funded by the general fund at all, but is rather an enterprise fund. Their source of income is user fees. The more water you use, the more you pay. It has nothing to do with the ad valorum taxes we all pay and is not supposed to be mixed with those funds. It is not appropriate to use money from the water and sewer enterprise fund to repair “works” in another area funded by the general fund, or as in this case, the Stormwater fund which itself was supposed to be an enterprise fund. Of course the others are the golf course, tennis facility and the IT department. I should probably define and enterprise fund at this point.
GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) requires state and local governments to use the enterprise fund type to account for “business-type activities” – activities similar to those found in the private sector. Business type activities include services primarily funded through user
charges. NCGAS 1 defines the purpose of enterprise funds as:
“…to account for operations (a) that are financed and operated in a manner similar to private business enterprises — where the intent of the governing body is that the costs (expenses, including depreciation) of providing goods or services to the general public on a continuing basis be financed or recovered primarily through users charges; or (b) where the governing body has decided that periodic determination of revenues earned, expenses incurred, and/or net income is
appropriate for capital maintenance, public policy, management control, accountability, or other purposes.”
Moreover, it is important to note that the total cost of the activity does not have to be paid for by the user charges. The government (or other governmental entity – in this case HUD) may subsidize a significant portion of the costs of the enterprise fund.
You are correct, the utility funded Coquina Coast, and I want to say it was 2.5 million, as one of the members of the Coquina Coast Desalination plant Cooperatives. This is a whole ‘nurther discussion, and this is supposed to be a forum about Milissa running for the House seat, but there is a lot more to the Desal issue than just the cost. It has to do with the seven or more years the city was in with the water management district trying to secure additional water from the aquifer, it has to do with the duration of that consumptive use permit, it has to do with the District’s policy that longer duration permits can only be used if an alternative source of long term water supply is included in the review, it had to do with the best available information at the time indicated a population increase that would exceed our allocation, etc. This permitting program is so costly, that is why I have been pushing for higher rates to those who buy water outside the city limits. If you are part of the city, there are benefits that you should have that somebody outside of the city shouldn’t. The cost of water is one of them in my opinion.
Now, the Wal-Mart deal had a number of interesting elements to it. One was to encourage Wal-Mart to build a big superstore in the near future. Council had a letter of commitment on that from Wal-Mart, but the Old Kings road improvements were done for one reason,…get them to buy the property under the belief if they owned it, they would be more likely to build on it when the market was right. The 6 million was utility money that was set aside in their (the utility) five year capital improvement plan for placing utilities in the ground from Sr 100 to Palm Coast Parkway. In order to make the Wal-Mart commitment, that amount was used to make the road improvements, and those land owners that benefited from those improvements are required to pay the money back.
Lastly, I agree with something else you said. I ask Mr. Landon routinely, why am I using consultants for this work when you tell me I have a professional staff. Usually, the answer is “oh, it has something special associated with it that needs a PE signoff”. I don’t by that and I’ve raised the issue in workshops and at business meetings, but am not getting any other “takers” so asking the question is about as good as I can do for the time being.
Linda H. says
I appreciate your reply, Mr. Meeker. However, I am going to have to disagree with any tax/fee set in stone for 30 years and especially one that could go as high as 8% usage per month. Because of the cost to the citizens, this is something I think should go to the voters first. And I’d like to hear how other municipalities are handling it. Can you tell us that?
There is no question we need to be doing something different, I’m just not sure this is it.
Think first, act second says
Based on your last paragraph, if you ask Mr. Landon a question and he gives you an answer you do not believe, what do you do further. How do you evaluate his job performance if he is not receptive to taking advise/criticism from his employers, you and the other 4 members of the council. What is the position of Mr. McGuire, DeLorenzo and Lewis on not receiving answers to their questions, and I would like your response, I know I can ask them.
Frank J. Meeker says
Think first act second,…thank you for noticing the point about the loyalty oath.
Frank Meeker, Palm Coast City Council
District 2
Hank Rearden says
Mr Meeker,
Did the loyalty oath “thingee” apply when you supported 3 democrats for City Council over qualified republicans?
palmcoaster says
To our Councilman Frank Meeker. I thank you for your extended and detailed reply. Not that I agree with all the reasons as you pointed:
1) When ICDC (ITT Community Development Corporation) projected and filed the plans for the creations of Palm Coast the expected population to be served by their water utility, was originally much higher than was when we were the highest population explosion county on the country. How come 4 years ago all of the sudden the SJRWM (Saint Johns River Water Management) decided that we would need to provide another source of water to our utility, thus justifying the waste of 2.5 million in meetings, workshops and permitting for the Desalt Plant thru paying these king ransom consultants? I understand that we have to take your word because then you were our district ombudsman for SJRWM, but the sudden demand from the SJRWM to our Palm Coast utility for more sources of water, was nowhere justified in our eyes.
2) I was and I am totally aware of what an enterprise, one of them our water utility is and that I always knew as such as well. What is not an enterprise formed yet, is our storm water system and maybe is needed at this point, now that will be funded from the additional taxes in our power bill.
I was one that supported to buy our utility and I am still glad we did. Because clearly is like pulling gold out of the ground. Just don’t waste the gold or the gold profits.
3) Utilizing funds from the enterprise water utility account needed for when the Walmart “one day” will come and instead was used to fund the Old Kings Rd infrastructure tells me that “a lot of flexibility is utilized when pleased” wether GAAP or NCGAS… just takes a bit of bending the rules. Then if we get the Walmart to show up, the money for their utility infrastructure is gone…. When all those benefited land owners will be paying us back the 6 millions? Because our budget is under strain now and if Walmart owns the land may want to show up soon. Can council demand Walmart to comply with the letter of committment? Because is really peculiar that we “the people” have always to comply with the approved projects to corporations or developers, but they always get off the hook easy and even trash any documents signed to us. I thought we have in our payrolls hefty legal departments compensations to defend our interest, don’t we…?
4) With all due respect to our Commissioner Milissa Holland as this was to be her editorial and comments instead….but I am sure she understands, as this issue as well mirrors on the county. Tomorrow at Tuesday 9 AM county and city discuss again in the Community Center located on Palm Coast Parkway and Clubhouse Drive the half cent tax distribution and the I 95 Interchange. All those residents not on a 9 to 5 job, better attend…in spite that as usual, won’t be allowed a say…
5) Should be a unified Council and Mayor request for vote of approval on the utilization of all these king ransom rates consultants that achieve zero. Mr.Landon said some PE needed. As I understand we have on the city payroll Mr. John Moden a PE director of the ESWD. How come, for the Parkway East Development 2 meetings, the City of Palm Coast Community Redevelopment Director Mr. Ernesto Abreu was not present? Is he a Professional Engineer (PE) in that occupation, as he receives even higher compensation than the lady county (PE) Engineer Ms Alkhatb Kifah? Even Mr. Jose Papa presenting both meetings is our City Senior Planner at another high rate pay. None of them capable to do as simple as research as paid to those consultants?
Thank you again Mr.Meeker and please lets keep trying to lobby for the residents tax payers and local businesses that sustain us all.
Jim says
Why would we want to elect someone who will not return phone calls about problems in the county? We need someone who is committed to and for the people, not personal gain. I will never vote for Milissa Holland, Wake up Flagler County.
The Honest One says says
Jim, I am so glad there are still some intelligent people around in Palm Coast. Maybe you can try to educate the ones that have no clue as to what Melissa Holland Obrien is all about. “AGENDA 21” folks, read all about it on the Internet.