- April 19, 2024
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+ If enough lawsuits are filed, the city will remove red-light cameras
Dear Editor:
I agree that yellow-light timing is not synchronized with the flow of the turning traffic in Palm Coast.
But the city will not make any attempt to remove the cameras until enough lawsuits are filed against them by the drivers. I have never heard, seen or read of a turn lane “T-bone accident” happening in my 70 years of driving.
Walter Albano
Palm Coast
+ Tennis center project shows city leaders are good to work with
Dear Editor:
The Friends of Tennis organization has a rich history of working with the city of Palm Coast. With a team effort, we were able to build an award-winning public tennis facility: the Palm Coast Tennis Center.
As with all projects, there are plans in place for enhancements. Current budget woes are well known. However, this background provides an opportunity for community groups and the city to form partnerships on valuable projects. Recently the Friends of Tennis, Habitat for Humanity, KemperSports, local businesses and the city came together on such a project.
The tennis center was sorely lacking in shaded space, and the city estimated a cost of approximately $45,000 to build a large shade structure — clearly not an option. Friends of Tennis and Habitat approached the city with a partnership plan wherein they would provide the design/permitting and all the labor and share 50% of the material cost with the city.
City Manager Jim Landon, and his staff approved the proposal. As a result of this community partnership, the structure was completed at a cost savings to the city of 95% over the initial estimates. Currently this structure is in use at a total cost of $2,600 to the city.
Access to our city leaders is easy and cordial. I’d suggest other community organizations consider this type of partnership with the city for projects that would benefit the community. Friends of Tennis has partnerships with the city in numerous areas. Last year the group provided $9,000 in scholarship money for local kids and more than 1,000 community service hours, sponsored local youth tournaments and was a sponsor for last year’s Men’s Futures Tournament.
We feel the city of Palm Coast has been an excellent partner and supporter of our community efforts, and we intend to continue with our part to build a better community.
Jeff Davis
President, Friends of Tennis
+ Public-private funding could make ice skating a reality
Dear Editor:
From all accounts, the temporary ice skating platform erected at the band shell at the Ocean Center complex in Daytona Beach during the recent holiday season was a rousing success.
It occurred to me that an indoor ice-skating facility here in Palm Coast would fill the gap in providing recreational activity for families and seniors on a year-round basis.
A combination of public and private sector financing might be used in building and operating the facility.
Robert T. Anderson
Palm Coast
+ Planting trees in a forest is a waste of time and money
Dear Editor:
It certainly was good to see the walkway/bike path installed on White View Drive, but I can’t help but wonder who ever approved the purchase and installation of the trees across the street from the walkway.
I love civic beautification as well as anyone, but why are they spending the time, money and manpower to plant trees in a forest? That side of the street is rife with greenery that has to be regularly pruned because it is overgrown, yet there are crews of men digging holes and diligently planting magnolia trees and other species almost directly against a wall of foliage or under full-grown trees. Is this going on everywhere?
What a waste of time and money. Schools have to do away with field trips for kids while the community needlessly plants trees where there are already trees. Talk about misplacing priorities.
Victor Washkevich
Palm Coast
+ Please publish the names of businesses that were robbed
Dear Editor:
I really enjoy my copy of the Palm Coast Observer every week. I just have a question about the Cops Corner page. Why are the incidents only listed as, for example, “4900 block of Belle Terre Parkway,” instead of identifying which business was robbed?
As a concerned citizen, I would like to be informed as to what crimes are taking place in what areas to protect my safety during the day or at night.
I suggest the names of businesses be listed so the citizens can be informed.
Carol Carter
Palm Coast
Editor’s Note: It’s ironic because, typically, the complaints we get about Cops Corner are the exact opposite! Some people feel it’s an invasion of privacy, even though everything we publish in Cops Corner is public record and no names are used.
Our policy is to withhold names of people and businesses on that page. After all, it’s not the victims’ fault that someone stole their jewelry; and the store doesn’t deserve a bad name just because someone shoplifted there. So, we’ll continue reporting on the incidents in a general way. You can always contact the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office for the full incident reports, if you’d like.
