- April 25, 2024
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+ Desalination project seeks public input online
Approximately 70 residents attended the Coquina Coast Seawater Desalination public meeting Wednesday, March 9, at Whitney Laboratory at Marineland.
The Coquina Coast Seawater Desalination Project is investigating the feasibility of a seawater desalination plant to be located in the Flagler County region.
The plant could be online by 2020, and at full capacity, could produce about 25 million gallons of fresh water daily.
The project team stated the main objective of the meeting was to explain the siting process and obtain resident feedback on the criteria before potential facility locations are selected.
Site-selection questions ranged from tax ramifications of plant ownership and acreage needed to how far inland the plant could feasibly be located, according to Jerry Salsano, of Taurant Consulting Inc. Salsano is under contract with the city to assist as project administrator.
At the meeting, the project team asked meeting participants to weigh in on siting criteria by affixing sticky dots to the criteria board or boards they feel is/are most important.
The exercise revealed residents feel environmental stewardship is the most important in site selection, followed by community values and comparative cost.
The public meeting results will be combined with input received through an online survey, at www.CoquinaCoastDesal.org, and provided to the project team at its March 23 meeting.
+ Final election results confirmed in Flagler, Bunnell
The official results are in for last week’s municipal elections. In Flagler Beach, the results show Marshall Shupe and Kim Carney winning commission seats. In Bunnell, Jenny Crain-Brady and John R. Rogers won seats by 28.00% and 24.44% of the vote, respectively.
+ 23-year-old arrested for drugs near child facility
Marissa Spearman, 23, was arrested Monday, March 7, for possession of marijuana with intent to sell or deliver on or near a childcare/recreational facility at 203 E. Drain St., Bunnell, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Spearman was also in possession of a stolen, tan Huffy women’s bicycle. Spearman was in possession of one large baggy containing 26 individually wrapped items containing marijuana.
+ Bridge on CR 305 to reopen
The bridge a mile south of County Road 2006 on CR 305 reopened Tuesday, March 15, as the fifth of seven bridges being renovated on County Road 305 by Flagler County. The work was funded by federal stimulus and State Department of Transportation funds and was completed by Superior Construction of Jacksonville at a cost of $808,869.71.
+ ‘Baggy Pants’ bill passes through Florida Senate
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Gary Siplin to prohibit students from wearing clothing that exposes their undergarments at school passed its second stop through the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, March 9. Siplin, who has introduced similar legislation in the past, calls the bill “pro-education, pro-jobs, pro-family legislation (that) is designed to teach our children how important appropriate attire is to future success.”
Under Senate Bill 228, students in breach of the state’s dress code could receive punishment from parent notification to exclusion from extra-curricular activities for up to 30 days.
Siplin, who launched a digital billboard awareness campaign about the “baggy pants” bill last year, said that the impetus for the legislation “is to put the focus back on learning in the classroom … by eliminating inappropriate dress as one of the many distractions in public schools today.”
The bill also was presented to the Senate Budget Committee March 15, and passed unanimously.
Identical legislation is being sponsored in the Florida House by Rep. Hazelle Rogers.
+ City appoints residents
Vivian Richardson was appointed to the canvassing board for the 2011 elections by the City Council, Tuesday, March 15.
William Venne was appointed to the Utility Advisory Committee in a unanimous vote Tuesday, March 15, by city staff. He was the only candidate up for the position.
Mary Giraulo, Dennis Hurlie and Sandra Miller into full terms on the Leisure Services Advisory Committee; Eleanor Milberg was elected for a partial term.
+ City reduces polling places to six
City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday, March 15, to reduce polling stations for the 2011 elections from 21 district-specific locations to six “mass polling” stations.
Instead of residents having to vote at precinct-specific stations, they will now have the option to vote at any of the six in the city.
“There will need to be a strong education campaign to let people know where these (locations) are,” City Manager Jim Landon said. He added that the plan will save half the cost for the city.
+ Municipal elections move to even years
A motion to place a proposal on September’s election ballot to realign municipal elections with state and primary elections on even-numbered years was passed Tuesday, March 15, by a vote of 5-0. This is a matter of convenience and “significant cost savings,” according to the council, and could result in a greater voting turnout.
“If the voters approve this come September, then we would not have an election in 2013,” City Manager Jim Landon said. Under this proposal, seats that are set to expire in 2013 would extend to 2014; seats to expire in 2015 would be up in 2016.
+ Early voting moved from Bunnell to library
A motion to relocate early voting stations from the Supervisor of Elections office in Bunnell to the Flagler County Library in Palm Coast was carried without objection on Tuesday, March 15, by the City Council. Early voting will also be extended from one week to two.
+ Public Meetings
Palm Coast City Council — the next regular meeting is 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 29, at the City Offices.
Flagler County Board of County Commissioners — the next regular meeting is 5p.m. Monday, March 21, at the Government Services Building.
Flagler County School Board — the next regular meeting is 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, at Government Services Building.
Town Hall Meeting – There will be an open discussion with School Board member John Fischer, Monday, March 21, 6:15 p.m., at the Flagler County Public Library.
PALM COAST HAS HIGH-QUALITY H20
Palm Coast Water Operations Manager Jim Hogan announced Wednesday, March 9, that Palm Coast was recognized for having the “Best Tasting Drinking Water in Northeast Florida” by the Florida Section American Water Works Association, Region II and the Florida Water Environment Association.
Judges chose Palm Coast’s water among six Florida utilities that submitted test samples at a March 3 regional meeting in Jacksonville. This is the third time Palm Coast has been recognized in five years, receiving praise in 2007 and 2009. The city will now compete against other regional winners at a statewide tasting at the Florida Water Resources Conference on May 3, in Orlando, with the winner eligible to compete in the “Best of the Best” competition at a June conference.
