- April 20, 2024
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The Flagler County government and Clerk of Court Tom Bexley are at an impasse over the allocation of space at the county courthouse, and the county will move forward with a lawsuit against Bexley tomorrow, July 26, unless there is a change of heart overnight, according to the county administration.
The county and the clerk have been at odds over the space for months: The county has asked Bexley to cede 5,000 square feet of additional space in the county-owned building for use by the Flagler Country Sheriff's Office, which has had the bulk of its staff quartered there ever since employees were evacuated from the FCSO's Operations Center in June 2018 because of mold. Sheriff Rick Staly has said the tight quarters at the courthouse impede the agency's operations.
The clerk has responded that he can't afford to provide more space.
After County Administrator Jerry Cameron, at the County Commission's request, on July 17 sent Bexley letter stating that the county would prepare to sue him if he did not agree to have an independent space study conducted on the building and abide by its recommendations, Bexley met with Cameron and County Commission Chairman Donald O’Brien July 19 and he told them he would provide them with an interlocal agreement for additional space.
He did so July 24. But the amount of space Bexley was offering was much less than the county had been seeking: 1,018 square feet.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
