Beachfront park activity jumps 170%

Ormond Beach Observer
News

In other city news: Commissioner Troy Kent opposes water fluoridation; plus, downtown landscaping on the way, budget savings and more.

BY MIKE CAVALIERE | ASSOCIATE EDITOR

In a first-quarter report on Andy Romano Beachfront Park, at the June 18 Ormond Beach City Commission meeting, Leisure Services Director Robert Carolin announced that traffic at the park has jumped about 170% from April to May.

According to vehicle counts, taken by staff at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily, the park recorded an average of 45 cars per weekday in April, and 84 cars per weekend day. In May, those numbers jumped to 51 vehicles per weekday and 143 per weekend day.

Based on a three-person-per-car estimate, the number of visitors from those vehicle counts equate to 153 people per weekday, and 429 on the weekends.

“I think, overall, this park is successful because we were able to communicate so clearly with the community and understand the vision they held for this park,” Carolin said. “This park was truly a homerun, and it truly screams, ‘Ormond Beach!’”

But work still needs to be done. According to Carolin, tables and benches still need to be sealed, and erosion in the dunes, near sidewalks and around the northeast entrance continue to be an issue.

To combat other challenges, staff has also increased garbage pickups to twice a day, as well as contracted for quarterly power-washing and bathroom janitorial services. Carolin noted that he hopes to permanently make the park a traffic-free zone, as well.

To address parking deficits, Commissioner Troy Kent suggested the county build a 100-car overflow lot, beside the park’s existing lot, and potentially charge drivers $5 per day, or maybe $20 annually, for cars that would rather park nearby than find a spot down the road.

“This, to me, needs to happen yesterday,” Kent said. “It will be a moneymaker for the county — especially when our park is full.”

Fluoride: “I’m baaack!”

Kent was also the lone dissentor on a vote for the city to advertise bids for a company to use a hydrofluosilicic acid cocktail to fluoridate the city’s water system.

“We say we’re doing this for the fluoride, but I want to remind the commission: This is hydrofluosilicic acid,” he said. “Don’t medicate me or my fellow residents without me personally, or my doctor, knowing.”

Kent sent a letter more than a year ago to the city’s current fluoride distributor, asking what chemicals comprise the fluoride mix, but he never received a reply.

“There’s 76-78% of an unknown chemical in this (compound),” Kent said. “We are going to be putting arsenic in the water. … Some may say it’s negligible …. (but) it’s bad for humans. It’s not good for you.”

Contract bids are due July 24.

Other business …

Of eight proposals received to refund an existing water and sewer bond from 2006, PNC Bank, with an interest rate of 0.848%, was awarded the bid. By refinancing, the city will save $436,800.
The city signed a deal with the state to install landscaping on the new Granada Boulevard medians, which were constructed by the state as part of the city’s ongoing downtown streetscaping. The work is estimated to cost $275,000, with annual maintenance of $15,000.
JD Weber Construction, of Ormond Beach, was awarded the bid for installation of stormwater pumps along Wilmette Avenue. The company submitted the lowest of three bids received, for $258,600. The project will be funded 75% through a federal grant. The remaining $64,650 will be funded through the city’s stormwater fund.

The board unanimously approved amendments to its ordinance on sexually oriented businesses in its final reading, establishing a 500-foot buffer between such companies and churches, schools and other establishments, among other tweaks. See www.ormondbeachobserver.com for previous coverage.