- April 28, 2024
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Dear Editor:
Former City Commissioner Jeff Boyle was correct when he wrote that certain citizens of Ormond Beach should stand down on their criticism of the current City Commissioners for seemingly missing the threat that has become the disruptive Belvedere fuel farm proposal. To her credit in another recent letter, City Commissioner Susan Persis raised further awareness of just how dangerous this fuel farm would be for Ormond Beach.
But both letters left me with the impression that our city and Volusia County were the leads in staving off the crisis. I respectfully offer that this may not be enough to stop it.
Concurrently, Ormond Beach resident and State Representative Tom Leek should be using the full weight of his office, and accompanying influence his candidacy for the State Senate strongly suggests. That is that Representative Leek is very influential in Tallahassee. In a recent Facebook posting, Leek said, “As a vehement opponent of the proposed fuel terminal project, I am working every angle to derail this project.”
I hope that one angle is to take the matter up directly with Gov. Ron DeSantis. Our governor knows this area quite well, as he used to represent our community in the U.S. House of Representatives.
And we know our governor is not shy when it comes to reversing decisions made by state agencies, in this case Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection which provided the air construction permit to Belvedere back on Aug. 1.
Bob Baumer
Ormond Beach
Dear Editor:
Watching Ormond Beach develop and grow over 45 years (some good, some not so good), I am stunned by the pace in past several years and specifically paving the way for Belvedere Fuel Terminals. There is no explanation for the absurdity of this project going from zero to "We
can't do anything for fear of lawsuit" says Volusia County Attorney Paolo Soria in only a year and a half. Belvedere in news comments mid-August estimated their project at $250 million, now mid September and that value is $750 million; maybe they are setting themselves up for that lawsuit.
Although County Council appears not to receive detailed weekly reports on staff activity, namely planning projects and inquiries, Ormond Beach City Commissioners do. This is evidenced in the City Manager's Weekly Report to Mayor Partington and Commissioners of June 24, 2022, when
Planning Director Steven Spraker reported his meeting with Belvedere Fuel Terminals. It is also important to mention that County Councilman Troy Kent was an Ormond Beach commissioner at the time of this report and Lori Tolland, although not a commissioner, was indeed on the Planning Board.
Belvedere Fuel Terminals' proposed project from County Planning first landed on City Senior Planner Robin Gawel's desk on May 16, 2022, and in five short weeks, Belvedere has a meeting with SPRC and is reported to mayor and commissioners.
I am confident the proposal of 16 fuel terminals is an unusual Land Use in little Ormond Beach not to mention the location shoehorned into residents, Sports Complex, local businesses and airport...Red Flag! Yet not a peep at a time when city could have "stirred the pot" and maybe Ormond Beach would not be fighting for their beautiful community now.
On July 18, (first reading) and Aug. 1 (second reading) the City Commission authorized definitions of Land Use Amendments in Ordinance No. 2023-41 to actually include Oil Storage and Distribution Facility (shall not be closer than 50 feet to any property line...wow). Unanimous yes vote!
In the private sector, such ill-judgement would cost me my Job. Sadly our elected officials have indeed made ill judgement in protecting the residents for which they were elected to protect.
Celia List
Ormond Beach
Editor’s note: In a Volusia County Growth Management pre-application meeting summary regarding Belvedere Terminals, county records indicate that Ormond Beach Senior Planner Robin Gawel received information on the fuel farm.
However, Planning Director Steven Spraker said in an email that city staff didn’t receive this notification via email or other communication, and that no access to the Volusia County permitting system was made. Spraker said city staff received a request to meet after Belvedere met with county staff and was directed to the Ormond Beach Site Plan Review Committee.
Dear Editor:
The Observer article “County adopts maximum Volusia Forever millage” covering the final Volusia County budget hearing cited the concerns Councilman David Santiago had about the tax rate impacts on the cost of living.
The dollar amount cited in the article by Councilman Santiago was that “going to rollback would have meant a $5 monthly tax cut for the average citizen." However, by my math that is incorrect.
Going to rollback would have cut the tax on the average home by $2.73 a year, or a 23 cent per month tax cut, not $5 per month. I am not sure where the $5 per month figure came from. Keeping the millage flat at 0.2 will cost the average homeowner in Volusia County about $30 a year, or $2.50 per month.
Going to the rollback millage of 0.1818 would cost the average homeowner $27.27 a year, a savings of $2.73 a year. To get to the $5 per month tax cut cited, you would have to own a home worth over $3 million.
I appreciate the council’s concerns about raising taxes, but 23 cents a year is not much of a tax cut, and yet by voting to keep the millage flat at 0.2 the council went a long way in funding programs vital to protecting our water quality and our quality of life. I am grateful the council did not cut the millage for the Volusia Forever or ECHO programs.
Pattie Gertenbach
Ormond by the Sea
Editor’s note: According to a county spokesperson, Councilman David Santiago’s statement was incorrect. For a home with a $250,000 taxable value, had Volusia Forever gone to rollback, the estimated savings would have been $4.55 annually, not monthly.
