Flagler County and local municipalities and organizations presented their annual lists of requests of the state government to Florida Rep. Paul Renner and Sen. Travis Hutson Dec. 18, even as Renner warned attendees that this will be an unusually lean budget year.
State support for a mental health care drop-in center, the proposed UNF MedNexus health care education campus in Palm Coast and Jacksonville University's planned expansion to Palm Coast topped the Flagler County government's list of priorities.
The city of Palm Coast also sought state support for the widening of Old Kings Road and the addition of a parking lot/trailhead for Lehigh Trail, and for classifying residential areas with pep-tanks as a priority for post-hurricane power restoration, since the tanks can back sewage into homes if they exceed capacity because the pumps aren't functioning.
Below is a summary of what Flagler County and Palm Coast are seeking from the state.
Flagler County
Policy priorities:
- Support the Legislature appropriation funding for the Public Library Construction Grant Program.
- Support affordable and reliable high-speed internet throughout Florida.
- Increase the Small County Consolidated Solid Waste Grant population cap.
- Continue support of the SCRAP and SCOP grant programs to assist small counties in paving farm-to-market roads.
- Protect and increase funding for the State of Florida Transportation Disadvantaged Program.
- Restore and protect Florida’s Housing Trust Funds.
- Maintain short term vacation rental legislation status quo.
- Continue to support home rule.
- Continue support for funding of the state university system presence in the city of Palm Coast by the University of North Florida known as MedNex.
Funding priorities
- Collaborative project to create a mental health drop-in center in Flagler County. Requested funding: $245,000
- West Flagler County Stormwater Management Planning Project. Requested funding: $500,000
- Sanitary sewer collection system for the barrier island North Marineland to Hammock Dunes Bridge. Requested funding: $2,000,000
- Willow Woods Potable Water and Coastline Resiliency Project. Requested funding: $1,600,000
- Plantation Bay water and wastewater utility subsidy relief. Requested funding: $550,000
City of Palm Coast
- PEP system power restoration prioritization: Deem that the restoration of power for PEP Tank Service Areas are a lifeline function and power restoration is prioritized.
- Lehigh Trailhead at Belle Terre Parkway construction: Provide legislative support for District 5 FDOT to include Lehigh Trailhead at Belle Terre Parkway construction in 5-year Work Plan.
- Old Kings Road Phase 2 snd 3 construction: Provide legislative support for District 5 FDOT to include Old Kings Road Phase 2 and 3 construction in 5-year Work Plan.
