How to fix the city-county problem

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

Distrust between our local governments flares up on a regular basis. It was evident at the City Council meeting this week, when City Manager Jim Landon told the council about the latest scuffle between the city and Flagler County.

Apparently, the county doesn’t want the city to use the radios to communicate with the hospital during emergencies because it clutters up the frequency. Instead, the county wants city emergency staff members to use their cell phones. That didn’t sit too well with city officials, who treated it like a slap in the face.

The city and county often treat each other like competitors. They want to attract companies from other states to relocate here, but somehow it seems to be less of a victory for Flagler County if the company lands within the city limits of Palm Coast, and it’s less of a victory for Palm Coast if the company lands in unincorporated Flagler County.

But the county benefits no matter where a business thrives: Everyone has to pay county taxes regardless. In reality, it seems, Flagler County should do everything it can to direct prospective companies out of unincorporated territory (such as the airport) and get them to build in one of the cities, instead. That maximizes the tax revenue because then, the company has to pay city taxes — Bunnell, Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, doesn’t matter — in addition to county taxes. A city’s success in no way diminishes from the county’s success.

The city and county also each want to control as much as of the sales tax money as they can. And they can’t agree on who should decide how state impact fees are spent locally. The problem is, the debate is all about power and influence and not necessarily what will benefit the residents the most.

To address this troubled relationship, I have three modest proposals:

First, in “Freaky Friday” style, City Manager Jim Landon should switch places with his counterpart, County Administrator Craig Coffey, for the entire budget season. After thinking of issues from each other’s perspective, all city and county officials will find a new appreciation for each other.

The second: We should form a task force, which would then discuss the pros and cons of forming a committee that would make plans to hire a mediator of a Love Summit.

Third, and this might be the most important: the Palm Coast and Flagler County governments should each adopt proclamations of love and peace. I imagine Palm Coast’s proclamation might read something like this:

Whereas, Palm Coast has more trees, shorter grass, blacker asphalt and more good-tasting-water awards than Flagler County, and

Whereas, Palm Coast’s Business Assistance Center is probably the envy of any county effort at economic development, and

Whereas, Palm Coast is superior in all ways to Flagler County, despite being located therein

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that Palm Coast will agree to play nice with Flagler County and does love said county.

Flagler County could return the favor by extending an olive branch proclamation that would read thus:

Whereas, Palm Coast would not even exist if it weren’t for Flagler County, and

Whereas, Flagler County’s diversity from sea to shining farm blade makes its quality of life better than any froufrou median, and

Whereas, Palm Coast might think it can boss us around, but ...

Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that Flagler County will, despite Palm Coast’s delusions of grandeur, generously extend a hand of fellowship, effective for 30 days.

Have a better idea for improving county-city relations? Email editor@palmcoast observer.com.