- May 7, 2024
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Enterprise Flagler is no more. The fund balance will be returned to Palm Coast and Flagler County.
The embattled, public-private organization known as Enterprise Flagler was officially disbanded in its final board meeting by a unanimous vote Thursday, Sept. 29.
Barbara Revels, who represented the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners on the Enterprise Flagler board, made the formal motion to dissolve.
“It’s not a motion I ever wanted to make,” Revels said. “I’m really sorry this is happening. It’s kind of like, poof. I don’t know exactly what went down here.”
Revels has been a longtime supporter of Enterprise Flagler. She was in the minority to vote to preserve it when Co-president David Ottati proposed a restructuring plan in August. That plan included a new board, increased funding, more accountability and transparency.
At the dissolution meeting Sept. 29, Revels praised the cooperative efforts of Ottati and Co-president Craig Wall.
Michael Chiumento III seconded the motion. He also noted that former Enterprise Flagler Executive Director Greg Rawls was tireless in his efforts.
“I think we all owe Mr. Rawls and (Project Coordinator DeAnna O’Flaherty) a hand,” he said. The group applauded. “When I left my office across the street many nights at 8 or 8:30, Greg’s car was still there.”
Then Chiumento said to Rawls: “I apologize on behalf of this organization for the political conundrum you found yourself in.”
The organization has suffered in recent months from disagreements within its board, particularly between the private and public representatives. One disagreement that could seem minor but is indicative of how political Enterprise Flagler became in its last few months, centered around how the fund balance should be spent. The city of Palm Coast agreed at the beginning of the fiscal year to contribute $93,000 to the organization. But when it became clear that Enterprise Flagler was going to dissolve, City Manager Jim Landon said he did not want to pay the final check of about $23,000 without a clear understanding of how it would be spent.
Ottati insisted that the city had agreed to pay the money a year ago, and that the only honorable thing to do would be to fulfill its commitment.
Landon came to the final meeting with check in hand. He said the city was willing to pay, after all.
But Ottati indicated that the damage had already been done. “The point is a point of commitment,” he said. “After that’s broken, it’s a mechanical transaction. It’s irrelevant if we get the cash or not.”
Ultimately, Landon did pay the check. That left Enterprise Flagler with about $90,000 left in its account. Half of that went back to the city, and half went to the county.
The county was also given $4,000 to pay for accounting and tax filing. The county will take charge of all remaining Enterprise Flagler affairs.
Now, the focus shifts to the county’s Economic Opportunity Council. County Administrator Craig Coffey said in a later interview that this new organization will be transparent to the community. Tentative plans include broadcasting the meetings on TV and providing regular reports to the municipalities.
Ottati added at the meeting: “Just because we’re dissolving, doesn’t mean we need to stop doing economic development. We want to support the county in its efforts. At the end of the day, it’s we, the people who live here, who are impacted.”
