- April 26, 2024
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An above average number of hurricanes has been predicted this year by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Flagler County Public Safety Emergency Manager Steve Garten said the time is now to get prepared.
Peak season for hurricanes is Sept. 10. The first named storm, Arlene, was earlier than normal, in April, in the middle of the Atlantic. “That scares me,” Garten told the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners on June 5.
He reminded everyone that most residents in Palm Coast experienced not a Category 3 storm with Hurricane Matthew but only tropical storm-force winds, so no one should be complacent. Flagler County could be hit by an even worse storm.
Emergency crews are already training for the next storm, Garten said. He added that one success during Hurricane Matthew was the assistance offered to residents with special needs. In part because of a proactive approach to help, Flagler County sheltered more residents with special needs than any other county in the state, Garten said.
Sign up for Code Red and download the Disaster Preparedness Guide at flagleremergency.com.
In other county government news:
The fax machine is about to get retired, as new technology replaces a permitting system that has been in use since 1991 in Flagler County. As a result, getting permits for everything from putting up a new fence to constructing a new house should be streamlined.
“This will speed up the entire process,” said Jason DeLorenzo, government affairs director for the Flagler Home Builders Association.
The Flagler County Board of County Commissioners approved on June 5 an agreement with Tyler Technologies Inc. for a new system, EnerGov, for a cost of $152,681, using funds that had been set apart for technology.
Municipalities around the country have been changing to computer permitting in recent years, getting away from personal visits to the building department.
Currently, contractors have to go to the permit office to submit a plan, and then pick it up when it’s ready. They also must return if there are any revisions.
One of the most valuable features for builders, DeLorenzo said, is that inspectors will be able to make comments in real time in the field. Contractors will be notified if a project passed or failed right away, instead of waiting for the inspector to return to the office to file a report.
— Wayne Grant
The Flagler County Board of County Commissioners made several appointments to advisory committees at their June 5 meeting.
— Wayne Grant
The emergency communications system used by first responders, deputies, and city and county employees during emergencies, is getting outside help.
The Flagler County Board of County Commissioners voted June 5 to accept a bid of $175,620 from Omnicom Consulting Group Inc., of Tallahassee, to assist the county with the design and implementation of a replacement of the current Harris EDACS 800 MHz public radio system with the “latest industry standard.” The estimated completion of the upgrade is by the end of 2019.
The county proposes five new towers, with a height “necessary to maximize coverage and building penetration.” Suggested locations include Cody's Corner, Espanola, Marineland, Plantation Bay and one at the Palm Coast library that would be less than 200 feet high and unlighted.
Some of the components of the current system, which is 10 years old, are reaching “end of life” as designated by the manufacturer. Officials have said the provider has agreed to service the current system until a new system is installed.
The minimum goals set by the county include improved coverage area, reliability, capacity and better features such as GPS. The Flagler County Sheriff’s office and the cities assisted with the search process.
— Wayne Grant
