A FlaglerLive Special Report
Flagler County government and the town of Marineland have come close to losing their joint ownership of the 90-acre River to Sea Preserve, the public park, after the state’s land trust discovered that the county and the town were allowing the for-profit Ragga Surf Cafe to use the preserve for its operations since September without permission from the state and in violation of the county’s own rules and procedures.
Flagler County and the preserve were informed on Nov. 6 by Florida Communities Trust, a division of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, that they were out of compliance with the state grant that ceded the park to the local governments, and that they could both lose ownership. It wasn’t the first time that Marineland had violated state terms applying to the preserve.
To forestall loss of the preserve, the county informed Ragga Surf Cafe on Nov. 15 that it would have to clear out by the end of the year. That triggering outrage by the business’ supporters and a campaign by the business to “Save Ragga Surf Cafe.” That campaign continues.
How did it come to this?
There was a lot of good will from Flagler County and in the outreach work associated with a Ragga Surf sister company. But there was also bad faith by both Flagler County and Ragga Surf, starting with a license agreement the county issued in September that amounts to an artfully deceptive end run.
And there were zero rent payments, or any kind of payments, from Ragga Surf to the county for any of Ragga Surf’s operations.
The agreement allowed Ragga Surf temporarily to operate at the preserve. But the agreement is not with Ragga Surf. The county couldn’t issue such an agreement to a for-profit company, at least not under the terms discussed by the County Commission. It is with Ragga Surf’s sister company, Inter-United Soccer Club Corporation, a non-profit that the owners of Ragga Surf also own. (See the Temporary Use Agreement here.)
In essence, Flagler County government and Ragga Surf signed an agreement that created the impression–and the legal construct–that the county was working with a non-profit at the Preserve. It is as if, say, the owner of Captain’s BBQ at Bings Landing, another county park, also owned a non-profit, and used that non-profit to win special dispensations or favors for Captain’s BBQ.
There has been bad faith on Ragga Surf’s part, too, as it has conducted a “Save Ragga Surf Cafe” campaign that made Flagler County government–its temporary savior, essentially–into its persecutor. “This type of action is unwarranted and unnecessary to say the least,” County Administrator Heidi Petito wrote Jim Powell, the co-owner of Ragga, earlier this week. Petito was also sharply critical of Powell apparently claiming, falsely, that the county had promised him a long-term lease, that Ragga’s rights had been violated, and that the county was not responsive to him.
Ragga Surf Cafe has portrayed itself throughout as the saintly, good-hearted organization only interested in running a community-oriented cafe and periodic markets in Marineland so it can save children from hunger and hardship from Kenya to Nicaragua and help 700 kids play soccer in Palm Coast. The county is saying it just wanted to help. Some of that is beyond doubt. But it’s not as simple as either organization is making it seem. What follows is a preliminary account of how they go here, based on interviews, official documents, emails and pronouncements at an August public meeting.
Ragga Surf Cafe is a for-profit company established in 2021 by Palm Coast’s Powell, his mother and others. It has a big and enthusiastic following. Until the end of August Ragga Surf operated a food truck, an ice cream trailer and a gift-store trailer (Raggamuffin) in Marineland on private land near the surf owned by developer Jim Jacoby. Jacoby evicted the Cafe.
Since then, it’s operated on a swath of the River to Sea Preserve’s parking lot and adjoining boardwalk. Its large food truck and two trailers, like the business sign at the edge of the set-up, are entrenched as if with entitled permanence. That part of the boardwalk is lined with 16 tables that can each seat six, with another four nearer the trailers. An enormous generator, with a jerrican of fuel next to it, powers the operation.
No such generator is mentioned in the license agreement, though the agreement prohibits the use of any materials that require a government permit for storage, treatment or disposal, including keeping the material in the open. Ragga Surf, Ragamuffin and the ice cream topper are open five days a week from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The business is operating without a lease, and in an arrangement not afforded other for-profit companies. It’s also operating in violation of state rules. That’s not its fault. It’s doing what it was offered: a special favor initiated by County Commissioner Greg Hansen, encouraged by County Administrator Heidi Petito and granted by the Flagler County County Commission on Aug. 19.
Raga Surf is not blameless. The commission extended its favor in part on the false assumption that Ragga Surf is a non-profit. The county did so without a bidding process or a staff analysis, without rent payments or even permits or payments Raga Surf should secure and owe when it holds its periodic “marketplace” events, which draw up to 30 vendors–on public land. The vendor events also violate state and county rules, as Florida Community Trust informed the local governments.
Most gravely and inexplicably, the county extended the favor without permission from the Florida Community Trust, the division of the state Department of Environmental Protection that has oversight on public lands even if they are in local government ownership.
Maybe it wasn’t too inexplicable: Commissioners were impressed by Powell’s other involvement with Inter United, thinking it all part of the same operation. Ragga Surf has been very popular and beloved in Marineland. And commissioners didn’t want to be hard asses. They wanted to help.
But both the well-intentioned initiative of the county and the lofty mission of Powell’s associated non-profit did not stop either from committing a series of missteps, violations and misrepresentations–misrepresentations that, for Raga Surf, continued even today as it peddles a “Save Raga Surf cafe” online petition that blatantly and falsely blames the county for “job losses for our families and team this holiday season” and unfairly pins the blame for the eviction on the county, jeopardizing “a vital community space during the holiday season.”
No one is losing their job during the holiday season. The eviction doesn’t take effect until Jan. 1. And while the county is nowhere near blameless, its errors were the result of overzealous and sloppy good intentions. Nevertheless, county officials have been flooded with 400 or more emails–both the assistant county attorney and the commission chairman’s email accounts crashed and needed IT’s intervention to function again–characterizing the county as the bad guy.
“So much miscommunication on social media,” Commission Chair Andy Dance said. “It was entirely played that the county was issuing the termination just out of our normal course of doing business, without the background about the purchase of the property. People weren’t aware that it was purchased with community trust money,” and that strings attached to the property forbade certain uses.
Powell also claimed on social media that there’d been a “lease.” There never was. The county had issued a temporary license that was set to expire on Jan. 1 anyway. It might have renewed automatically for six months absent a 30-day notice from the county. The county issued the 30-day notice, 45 days ahead of time.
On Friday, the misinformation had gotten so rife on social media that Petito issued a public statement summarizing what had led to Ragga Surf’s eviction.
“We were a little upset because we did him a favor,” Moylan, the assistant county attorney, said. “We tried to help him out when he was in a pinch, and we do believe that they provide this community service and asset to the community. So we wanted to help. But then he puts his campaign out there online, misleading people into thinking that the county is acting capriciously and just sort of taking something away for no reason, when in reality we had no choice. We were instructed to do so, and it’s much more important for the public that the county be in compliance with the conditions of FCT than it is to have someone with a license be able to continue operating.”
The consequences of continuing with Ragga Surf under current conditions were not possible under any condition. But to the county, and the way the social media campaign was framed, it looked as if Ragga Surf was willing to put its interests ahead of the very community it was supporting, if that community included the Preserve.
“We could lose ownership of the preserve back to the state of Florida, which would be horrible,” Moylan said. “It would be a terrible outcome for everybody. We have to do what we’re supposed to do under the grant agreement with FCT. And so that’s why it was upsetting to us when we we saw this thing online about ‘Save Ragga Cafe,’ and it portrayed the county as if we were acting arbitrarily and just decided for whatever reason, we just wanted to get rid of them.”
Hansen, the commissioner, had sprung the Ragga Cafe issue on the commission for the first time at the Aug. 19 meeting. It was not on the agenda. There was no background documentation. Petito, the county administrator, backed him up. (Hansen is one of her strongest supporters on the commission: for her job’s sake she needs to keep him that way.) She summarized the situation about Powell’s operation getting evicted from Jacoby’s private land by months’ end, and how Powell was looking for a reprieve on nearby land, which Petito suggested could be the south end of the parking lot of the River to Sea Preserve.
But even Hansen had been cautious: he wanted the commission’s consensus “subject to dealing with the staff and finalizing the exact location and the agreement, the rental agreement, or lease agreement.” It wasn’t to be a blank check.
“He does have a nonprofit, so it would be something that we wouldn’t have to necessarily bid out,” Petito told the commission. “If the board were to give us direction to move forward, we would kind of negotiate what that looks like and then get the town’s permission. It’s my understanding that the town of Marineland had already kind of given it its blessing, but it would still have to come back to us formally.”
She was right about the non-profit. But she did not make clear that Ragga was not that non-profit, let alone make clear that Ragga is for profit. Powell’s Inter-United Soccer Club–whose IRS filings date back to 2010 (see its 2022 filing)–is not what’s set up in Marineland. It’s not clear how the county could legally get around the bidding requirements, as Petito claimed, just because a principal of the Cafe happens to be president of a non-profit.
What followed was a series of errors by omission and commission, even as county commissioners attempted to vet the matter more clearly.
“You’d have to explain the difference between nonprofit and for profit,” Dance said to his colleagues and to Petito. “Because as I’m sitting here thinking, we really can’t just enter into an agreement. Wouldn’t that have to go through some type of public process like we did with Bow Creek?” When private, for-profit companies are involved, the county is required to issue a request for proposal (RFP) that bids out the offer equally.
Assistant County Attorney Sean Moylan said the law allows leasing to non-profits without competitive bids as long as the commission did so by resolution, and showed a public benefit. But again: the commission at that point was put under the impression that Ragga Surf was a non-profit. It is not.
“We’d still have to bring this back to you for consideration in September, but to at least get the work moving,” Petito said.
“I don’t have a problem with with it in theory, then to have you work on something that you can bring back to us,” Dance said.
It never did come back. Not in September. Not in October. Ragga Surf set up shop and kept going.
Commissioner Leann Pennington was hesitant at the Aug. 19 meeting. “I’m not opposed to it as long as I guess Sean or Al [Hadeed, the county attorney] can tell us that does this need to go through the typical process we do,” she said. (Hadeed has deferred all questions to Moylan.)
“Lessons learned from the past is that I feel for the gentleman,” Dance said. “But his urgency does not mean that we have to cut corners or jump through without doing the to do proper due diligence on this thing with, you know, public input and everything.”
Then-Commissioner Dave Sullivan asked a pointed question: “Are all three non-profit?” Meaning all three trucks.
None of them are. Yet Petito said, accurately but without answering the question: “They’re all the same entity.” (Notably, in her correspondence with Melanie Orozco of Florida Communities Trust, when on Nov. 25 Petito took responsibility for failing to inform the state about Ragga Surf and one other matter related to the preserve, the county administrator not once referred to Ragga Surf as a non-profit. She only referred to the business as “a private concessionaire,” which is exactly what it is.)
Sullivan asked again: “What’s the non-profit? What does it support?”
Powell walked up to the podium at that point. It was his turn for omissions. “The non-profit that these businesses support is Inter-United,” he said. He did not say that Ragga Surf is for profit, only that “a lot of the proceeds go to the scholarship funds” of the soccer club. The obfuscation was such that anyone could reasonably assume that Ragga Surf and the club were part of the same non-profit.
He spoke at length about the benefits of the non-profit with children in Palm Coast and abroad, how the non-profit started small and grew to 700 kids now playing soccer, and so on. In the same breath, he spoke about starting with four employees and now having 35, presumably in the Ragga Surf complex, but again, never making a distinction between the soccer club and Ragga Surf.
“I hate being in this position where I have to stress and ask for help pretty quickly. And so I just appreciate the opportunity just to be here and ask for this help,” Powell said. He said he asked for an extension from Jacoby, the private land owner in marineland. He didn’t get one and said he was never given a reason for the eviction. “We have actually the Marineland marketplace that we put on,” he said, “we’ve got 30 vendors that come out now, and it’s been a powerful thing for the community and the local vendors too.”
Maybe so. But that, too, has been done in violation of county rules: no permit, no arrangements to contribute money to the park, as would normally be the case (such as when Flagler Broadcasting rents Princess Place Preserve every fall for the Creekside Festival: it contributes thousands of dollars to the county for upkeep of the preserve), meaning that Ragga Surf is pocketing all the proceeds, however munificent (and unknown) its later disbursements to the soccer club.
Pennington suggested a “special permit” to allow Ragga Surf to keep operating while the county works out the more formal arrangements. She did so on the assumption that it was a non-profit.
Moylan proposed the brief licensing agreement the county could draft with Marineland. “And again, to repeat what I said earlier, as a nonprofit, if this is the route we want to go as a nonprofit,” Moylan said, “there is the ability to enter into a more long term lease, as long as we make the findings about the benefits to the community, which would be spelled out in a resolution.” As a non-profit.
Despite clear discomfort and reservations from commissioners, the commission agreed by consensus that the administration could issue a temporary license–not a lease–so Ragga Surf could move to the park land and operate from there–as long as Petito was to bring back more formal documentation for the commission to approve in September. But again, the Commission was operating under the impression that Ragga Surf itself was a non-profit. “It’s a great story. Thank you for sharing what you’re doing,” Dance told Powell, referring to the soccer club’s outreach. “But I think you have consensus from us to continue pursuing that.”
As it turned out, Flagler County government and Marineland found themselves facing the potential loss of the River to Sea Preserve, one of the county’s major attractions and natural treasures, precisely because, as Dance had feared, they “cut corners or jump[ed] through without doing the to do proper due diligence on this thing.”
Several county officials have owned up to the county’s mistakes. “That was our fault that we did not give the proper notice to the FCT,” Moylan said in an interview Saturday. “We’re working to straighten that out. We want to be in their good graces. We very much believe in the mission, or the purpose of the Preserve, which is to provide a passive recreational amenity that balances public access and preservation of the environment together. So we believe in that. We want to bone up and do everything correctly. We’re working on that. We do have a key staff, not by way of excuse, but to be candid, we had a key staff person, Mike Lagasse, who left us and went to St. Johns County, closer to home. And so some balls did get dropped, and this would be one of them.”
Lagasse had been the county’s land manager. He left in July.
Despite numerous attempts, Powell was not willing to answer a reporter’s questions, nor were other members of the organization when visited in person at the preserve Saturday. If their trailers had been less fixed and rooted wagons, they’d have been circling.
“We are trying to strategize what we should say to the public next,” Powell said by text. “We will get in touch once we are ready.” Later Saturday afternoon he texted a link to a Ragga Surf statement posted on social media. The statement strove for accuracy and more overt gratefulness this time: “We are forever grateful for the County and Town for helping us temporarily transition to the River to Sea Preserve and granting us use of the space for the last 4 months. We believe they did the human thing – going above and beyond to help. We cannot say enough how much this means to us.”
“There’s no doubt they have a significant following, and not just from the county,” Dance said in an interview Sunday morning. “So a lot of heartfelt support for them. The accommodation was I think the right thing to work out a solution. It’s unfortunate that now because of the timing and the holidays it’s making things more difficult than it should be.”
Jim says
Seems pretty straight forward to me. The whole plan was presented to the county being careful to not state Ragga Surf is a “for profit” enterprise. Clearly they are for profit and, as such, should not be given any benefits any other for profit company could or should receive.
Further, the county didn’t notify Florida Communities Trust about what they were doing in direct violation of the agreement. Nothing further need be said.
Ragga Surf needs to pull it’s equipment from the site, thank the county for what they did for the short term and either go find private property to operate from or just close shop. That’s their problem, not the county.
And, finally, what kind of county government do we have when things like this happen and no one at the top either does their homework on factfinding or (I wonder) deliberately misstates the facts to get the desired action. Anyone think there will be any fall out from this inside the government or will it just be “business as usual”?
XYZ says
Jim: Time will tell with Petito’s yearly work evaluation will she get “A” an “B” s
like the last one whereas she really needs to be fired for this.
John Weber says
This is the most corrupt County I’ve ever lived in they told the north gets no money and all they do to do is cater to these chump changes these fake rich people that they have their ass up the whole commission I already complained to the FBI about these people they all need to be fired and arrested just for the taxes they take out of them on decks they need to be arrested I have a formal FBI complaining against these bombs narcissist Psychopaths this is what Psychopaths do look it up
Michael J Cocchiola says
You have a Republican county government. Rules, regulations and laws do not apply.
Jason says
I’m not sure if anyone is tracking the stats but the national media stories would lead me to believe that there’s corruption in all levels of government regardless of affiliation.
Just go back and look at how many people chose to resign office in Florida after the new reporting requirements for assets came into effect.
I can guarantee you that no single party has a monopoly on corruption and I’d be willing to bet that the party you think is more corrupt likely isn’t in terms of convictions and investigations.
Jane Gentile Youd says
What don’t you all get by now that Hadeed and Petito got to go go go go far far away to the next galaxy ASAP with no retirement pay just a deal that if they leave quietly they will be spared potential civil ( and perhaps criminal) consequences.
Isn’t it obvious by now what idiots they are ( in my personal opinion)?
Maria says
You can state your opinion without such venom in your words. You should strive to emulate your name and be more Gentile.
Jane Gentile Youd says
When the word fit I use them. Hadeed has screwed up everything from the purchase in 2013 of the P Bay water system for 3 million above appraisal; buying the old sheriff building, buying the dilapidated Sears building; paying Captains a settlement years after their lawsuit for being shut down because the shack could not be used for their business anymore ( in 2019) ad its still going on 5 years later and a million dollars in their pockets later; the Old Dixie Hotel which should have been knocked down over 3 years ago but Hadeed not even doing what the judge ordered he can do over a month ago and fine owners $1,000 a day which as of yesterday he wrote me that he will do so – when he should have imposed the daily fine the minute the judge signed the Order!
But Hadeed ,instead, continues to pay his pal – former county attorney over $40,00 to make sure this POS remains standing in the face of the taxpayers he sticks his $1million a year budget in our faces across the street and adjacent to the POS.
My original post was much too ‘gentile’ based is the way I speak ; what I should have said is that they should be criminally investigated – including any offshore accounts and that list should include the developer’s sweetheart who makes their presentations for them, at our expense ( unheard of in Miami) Adam Mengel. How about that we have a Growth Management Director who does not own a inch of land in Flagler County – does not LIVE in Flagler County but who does the bidding of the developers and destroys the land of us Flagler County property 0wners – he thinks RV’s and Extended Stays arw great next to homes over a million dollars but no grocery store to shop in!
Lock ’em all up and throw away the key is what I should have said in my first post.
Deborah Coffey says
One has to wonder if the deceit and corruption (all in the name of good intentions) of today’s Republican Party knows any bounds at all.
Jason says
I hope you haven’t turned a blind eye to the corruption of the Democrat Party. There’s corruption on soo many levels that are leaps and bounds worse than Republicans. Republicans definitely got their own corruption but Democrats specialize in it. There’s a reason I follow the stock trades Pelosi makes — and it’s not because I admire her ethics…
Tony says
Any of the dealings that have gone bad in this county have nothing to do with the party you are affilated with, it is all about favors and money. The good ole boy network has been working in Flagler for a very long time. If you pay attention you see some good people within the county move on to other governments, WHY, it’s called the good ole boy network. You can’t fight the system when it’s been the way it has been for so long. Get rid of all the people, that have been in power for as long as they have. You have 3 new commissioners, we need one more to go and then you can see some change. Then with commissioners that are not part of the problem you can make changes. Not until there is all new blood on that county commission will things change.
Slow Learners says
Once again, a false sense of urgency results in the FBCC cutting corners and creating a mess. They didn’t learn anything from one of their other fiascos — Captain’s BBQ — another complicated private/public arrangement. It speaks volumes to the lack of attention to detail that nobody remembered to bring the item back to the Board until the state put the county on notice.
Laurel says
And what of the status of the Bronx Pizza dangerous valet parking projected to be in the FDOT right of way, traveling on foot, and by vehicle, back and forth across 17th Road, right on the intersection of A1A and 17th?
How about the continuous re-zoning of residential areas to favor developers, or ignoring single family residential zones by allowing commercial businesses in, with way higher than normal number of people per unit?
Flagler County does have its favorites.
JMH says
Is the gift shop within Ada compliance…entry ramp 12/1…etc.
XYZ says
Heidi Petito , Al Hadeed and Sean Moylan, the Laurel and Hardy’s of
Flagler County all making high 6 figure salaries. So much that they could
have cost us or nearly did our precious major attractions and Preserves.
FIRE THEM ALREADY! We deserve much better than this. We smell
BS. Not wanting to be as Hansen put it “hard asses” does not translate
into your administration not doing their ” due diligence”. Without any
background documentation Petito backs Hansen??? So here is someone
who gets EVICTED by his former landlord and a light bulb doesn’t go off?
A for profit operation operating without a lease, no permit, paying no rent,
in violation of State and County rules without permission from the FCT
is all about the County not doing there “due diligence”. Petito is a master
at GASLIGHTING, leaving out or omitting the facts that Regga Surf
is a for profit operation and not presenting this information on November 25th
to the FCT speaks volume and yet she had September and October to bring this
information back th the FCBOCC and did not do so is stunning to say the least.
Well FCBOCC it only takes 3 vote to fire Petito so grow some balls and do it!
There have been others fired or let go for MUCH LESS like Faith, remember her
a brilliant person who was key in getting enormous funding for the county
who didn’t cost us losing in lawsuits and potentially losing our precious parks
and reserves. And as for this persons filing for a non profit, another mishap,
that is not in Marineland , do a audit to see where the money of his for profit
had gone, he should be opened to it if all is copasetic.
Jane Gentile Youd says
XYZ Faith Alkahatib ssaved millions of dollars for the county and was instrumental in getting FDOT hekp and grants. She wass fired because Heidi hated her and she wouldn’t play ball ( in my opinion) with the taxpayer’s interests at risk. She, not Hadeed got the funding for the beach – which will also save his house which sits on top of the sand just about! Petito Hadeed Molyan and Mengel need to be f i r e d….
I hope this new commission listens to the truth and does not dust reality under the table at our expense. We are the laughing stock of Florida ( my opinion)
Mark says
To Flagler Live: Thank you for shedding more light on this story. This type of in-depth local reporting is critical for our community.
We love Ragga and hope there is some way for them to continue in Marineland. But can you please do a story about what’s going on behind the scenes?
A Google search on Atlanta-based Jacoby Properties reveals that there are much larger development plans in the works. And now it all makes sense why Ragga was evicted from their prior location.
https://www.change.org/p/save-marineland-florida
Does anyone know what resulted from last months meeting?
FlaglerLive says
We’ll be following up, and paying closer attention to Marineland.
John Weber says
We need to do a story on the montex they take millions of dollars in taxes without representation you need to do a story on the voter suppression how I can vote for five representatives and only one represents me and the other four cancel out all her projects for the poor people of the contacts we have no sidewalk for the Vietnam that’s a wheelchairs Andy dance Greg Hanson these are all low life thugs want to be f****** criminals
PDE says
When Ragga Surf’s truck was parked on Mr. Jacoby’s land, they used traffic cones to block off his parking lot on A1A on days that they weren’t open.
I like to park there to go to the beach and it always bothered me that they were allowed to do this (I used to remove the cones and park there anyways).
I was pretty sure that they didn’t lease the parking lot, only the land the truck, etc. was parked on – and for that reason, I never patronized their business.
I always thought that Ragga Surf was self serving and selfish to block the parking lot access, and when they moved to their present location, they set up tables along the public use boardwalk fronting the beach, partially blocking pedestrian traffic too.
So, because of the county’s missteps and Ragga Surf’s attitude of entitlement, I won’t miss them one bit if they’re evicted.
L R F says
Your last sentence says it all. Couldn’t agree more.
marlee says
I liked where were originally located….Now, it really is upsetting that
they became part of River to Sea….I was surprised that they were “allowed” to do that.
and…..it doesn’t blend in to that environment like it did before.
Debra Clark says
Hansen didn’t learn his lesson from the Captain’s BBQ fiasco that cost us taxpayers money and the loss of a quiet, public park. Heidi Petito was also involved in that mess and she should have been fired when Craig Coffey left.
Tired of it says
Just another of the many shady deals done by our local Republican politicians…remember…Captains BBQ, The Green Lion, the contaminated Sears building, the contaminated old hospital, the failing water plant and on and on. You get what you vote for.
Vincent Maccherone says
Everyone say it slow with me. W H I T E P R I V I L A G E!!!!
John Weber says
By far the most corrupt County I’ve ever even heard of I live out here in Daytona North and what they call them on decks we pay millions of dollars in taxes with no representation for two years I’ve been trying to get a sidewalk for the Vietnam Vets on Route 305 that go shopping at the Dollar General it’s their only store Andy dance could care less Greg Hansen is just a turd they’re all Thugs and this proves it all this Hanky Panky lack of integrity I’ll be running for the office in 3 years I’m a man of integrity a retired Union ironworker and I don’t go for all this garbage and back door b******* Andy dance sucks and you can tell him I said so we have a formal complaint in with the FBI against these racketeers more evidence that’s all you really need to vote non-narcissistic non Psychopaths these are all sick people with no conscience taken office our whole country is run by narcissist Psychopaths like Trump Rubio Lindsey Graham no Smiles never a smile and no laughter truly dead inside we are totally tricked by these tricksters read up on narcissism
Nephew Of Uncle Sam says
Start prepping now if your going to run, don’t wait 3 years. Contact the County Party of your choice and they’ll start working with you.
John Weber says
The mondex they’ve been taking millions of dollars out of here for many many years it all goes to the Departments we’re over run with security that we don’t need we need roads sidewalks we need to make the mondex a city of its own so we can elect real honest people with integrity and he dance has only been chairman for a year or two he thought it was going to be the same old message until I started calling the FBI on this phone these are all thugs we elect we need to get normal people in there and stop the narcissism and Psychopaths all countries run by these bastards now I’ll be looking for your vote in a few years thank you a man of integrity
Kyle says
Could be just me but the journalist for this particular article seems to have a vendetta. I just get the impression there’s some kind of vengeance or issue they have with this situation. Personally, I don’t understand how umbrella businesses can be considered “for profit” when the parent company is nonprofit. And to be clear Jan 1st is a “holiday” so yes the employees will be unemployed during the holidays. Being more impartial should be the goal of journalism and this comes off very aggressive and should be redone by an impartial journalist.
FlaglerLive says
The commenter is misinformed. ExxonMobil has an enormous non-profit called the Exxon Foundation. That doesn’t mean ExxonMobil could sell gas at the River to Sea Preserve by securing the sort of temporary agreement Ragga Surf did. January 1 is a holiday of course, but from Ragga’s past practices, the operation shut down on holidays, making the matter moot as far as that day is concerned. We are grateful the commenter recognizes the aggressive reporting. It’s what we specialize in, especially when the record bears correcting regarding aggressive misinformation tactics of those involved in this story, for example–aggressive misinformation that no doubt would be turned on this publication as well, as seems to be the case with anything or anyone who looks a bit past Ragga’s halo, though the principal focus here is county government and the use of public land. The same analytical approach would have applied regardless of the company profiting from an arrangement that clearly violates rules. The commenter is likely misinterpreting this article for not being aware of our long history of reporting on the county’s at-times cavalier and damaging and inexplicable handling of our county parks.
Kyle says
Respectfully, your analogy is wrong. While yes there may be an entity called “Exxon Foundation” or whatever you want to call it as a non-profit, the parent company is Exxon. Whereas in this situation it appears the non-profit is the parent company of Ragga thus reinforcing my point. For instance, when you create an LLC and you DBA under that umbrella of LLC with a different company name, the LLC rules still apply to whatever business you DBA. Seems it would be the same with a non-profit. Though I nor I bet flaglerlive are attorneys familiar with business law but from what is available online about the law the answer is yes it can.
FlaglerLive says
You are again misinformed. Ragga Surf is incorporated as its own for-profit company with the state Division of Corporations, as the article documents. The soccer club is an independent, separate filing. The two have no corporate, parent-child relationship in the state’s eyes, and no such relationship is relevant as far as the legal arrangement locally: Ragga Surf is a for-profit company doing business on public land, without paying rent, and due to the county’s and city’s errors, in violation of state rules. That, incidentally, would have been the case whether the company was for profit or not. We do not run misinforming comments just to correct them, or to embarrass the commenters. Please stop, because we do not have the time to debate misinformation, either. This debate is closed. As to other readers, please comply with our comment policy. Thank you.
XYZ says
There is a FCBOCC meeting this evening at 5pm regarding this mess,
looks like they read the article and comments and decided that they are
no longer able to keep this on the backburner hidden , everyone
should pack the room and call for the firing of Petito, Hadeed and
Moylan, enough is enough!
FlaglerLive says
This item is not on tonight’s agenda, though the public will be afforded the chance to address it.
BLINDSPOTTING says
How does a business set up their tables on a public boardwalk where
the public enjoys running, walking , exercise or just going to take in
the ocean breezes and relaxing and gets away with this, once again
we have no oversite along with the lack of consideration for taxpaying
citizens, our local restaurants need a permit to do so! What about
liability! We have emails from Petito where she blatantly withholds
information or gives false information and even defends her
misinformation regarding the foreign flight school issues in our
communities, that whole airport complaint portal findings was a
misrepresentation of citizens valid complaints, what ever happened to
the 500 and more compliants that they claimed were under investigation,
we wrote to the commissioners and when they are put on the spot they
do not reply. Petito is the reason why Roy Sieger still has not been fired,
she is his buddy, following the county losing a lawsuit against a pilot
tenant several months ago and another pending lawsuit from another
tenant pilot, they think they are indisposable but can dispose of decent
people who they feel are threats to their livlihood. Petito needs to be fired,
she is running this county down to the ground or at least return her to
her previous position within the county, she is in no capacity and is unfit
to be in this important position, she does not have the skills nor the know
how, she is a waste to our hardworking taxpayers money.
Vincent Maccherone says
As a local business owner who has to pay property tax and every other thing that comes along with having a business (a brick and mortar). it’s a shame to see businesses like this get by with favors when I can’t get no favors. I don’t wish them bad but they should do it just like everybody else has to
PColdtimer says
I used to go to that boardwalk a lot before this for profit business that operates on public land without paying rent built there settlement there. It is not fair for citizens who just want to enjoy nature for free and sit on that boardwalk in peace. Now that boardwalk is occupied by a restaurant that does not even pay rent.
I hope they leave elsewhere and actually pay rent like most businesses.
Villein says
Just another con artist getting one over on the County commissioners. Nobody thought to question maybe we shouldn’t set up a food truck on land we don’t own and are beholden to by the State? Legal did an absolutely disgraceful job on this. The commissioners can at least try to redeem themselves by holding their subordinates accountable.
XYZ says
Villein: That’s what the big problem is on this FCBOCC, they
do not hold anyone accountable, we have lost money through
lawsuits, them purchasing buildings which are useless, they
don’t even listen to a judge with the fining of the scoundrels
of the Old Dixie hotel debarcle, what’s up with them very
strange , I hope they are reading these comments they should
feel embarrassed about how their citizens feel about them,
do you hear us FCBOCC, we don’t need to see you floating by
on Christmas floats waving at us, we need all of you to take action
and put your power where your mouths were when you ran for
these seats, why are you people so use to forgetting about your
campaign platforms once you get in, so what you don’t have the
votes at least make it known to your constituents that you are
fighting for us , make your voices heard on behalf of the citizens
concerns and complaints, or get out we don’t need you there to
relish in your glory. Your citizens are the most important,
ACT LIKE IT!
Geannine VanLeer says
Ragga Surf owners are a lovely and generous family my son and I know personally. Their surf summer camp and the attentive, kind instructors have gave my 9 year old the gift of a hobby and sport that I’m sure will gift him a lifetime of joy. Their food and ice cream treats are always a fun and refreshing snack after a log day at the beach. Even after the surf camp concluded, my son continued to surf Marineland and the Ragga Surf Summer Camp instructors who happened to be surfing there always took the time- unprompted- to give him tips, pointers, and encouragement.
They are wonderful and an asset to this community. Not even getting started mention their non-profit endeavors. What is this county even thinking?
Laurel says
Geannine VanLeer: I support non-profits, do you think I can set up a business on public tax payers’ lands, especially on the beach, without paying rent, and without going through proper, legal procedures?
Maybe I can set up a bar. Here in Flagler County, it may be possible. The rest of you businesses, pay up and do it right.
FlaPharmTech says
I was just on their website. A cute little business. Many, many items for sale, in addition to the food and coffee offerings. Also surf boards, really nice surf boards. No price given, but I’m sure pricey.
Yet they operate rent free?! The website says they’re located off of Oceanshore in St Augustine. St Augustine of course is St Johns county.
I got priced out of building a modest primary residence off of Sanchez in Hammock.
Am I a bit ticked off that this biz is operating rent free in an east coast Florida paradise? Yes, and ticked off at the powers that be who sanctioned this.
David Schaefer says
Ship these clowns to West Palm to live in Trump’s castle they do not deserve to live in Flagler Co.
Laurel says
David Schaefer: It’s actually Palm Beach, not West Palm Beach, but neither muni wanted Trump there. Palm Beach did not accept him… until they benefitted from his Presidency. West Palm Beach was pissed as tax payers were paying big money for his motorcades. Other locals were mad because flight patterns changed. I guess he didn’t like the normal flight pattern that went right over Mar a Lago.
Yeah, he just spreads love and joy everywhere he goes.