CITY WATCH: Town Center to pay $114,000 for its own deputy

Palm Coast Observer
News

The Town Center Community Development District will pay $114,000 to have a deputy assigned exclusively to patrol Town Center. A satellite Flagler County Sheriff's Office facility may also be set up there, also at the expense of the community development district.

The Palm Coast City Council approved the arrangement by unanimous vote as part of the council's consent agenda at its Nov. 17 meeting.

An interlocal agreement between the city, the Flagler County Sheriff's Office and the Community Development District states that the CDD will pay the city for the new deputy, and the city will then pay the FCSO as part of the city's ongoing agreement with the law enforcement agency.

Branquinho appointed vice mayor

City Councilman Eddie Branquinho is Palm Coast's vice mayor this year. Branquinho is taking over the rotating position from Councilman Nick Klufas, and was appointed vice mayor at a council meeting on Nov. 17.

Klufas and Branquinho are the only two council members, other than Mayor Milissa Holland, who are not new to the five-member board.

Palm Coast rolls out interactive maps showing road closures, swale maintenance

The city of Palm Coast has compiled a page of interactive Geographic Information Systems maps that show development projects, swale maintenance and Flagler County road closures.

View all of them at https://www.palmcoastgov.com/maps

Code Enforcement Board members chosen

The City Council selected four Code Enforcement Board members, plus an alternate, during the council's Nov. 17 meeting.

Jon Netts, Larry Pulos, Dean Roberts and Vincent Sullivan were selected as Code Enforcement Board members, while Geraldine Wright was selected as an alternate.

Palm Coast pays extra for staffing levels in excess of what the FCSO provides in other areas of the county.

"In no instance shall Palm Coast be responsible for or obligated to expend its own funds to pay for the cost of the additional deputy or the Satellite Office, which may be set up in Town Center," the agreement states. "The City will invoice the CDD monthly and then the City will submit payment to FCSO for these enhanced services."

Including the new deputy for which it will be reimbursed, the city will be paying the FCSO approximately $4.15 million this year for law enforcement services that include the stationing of 25 deputies and another six command staff members in Palm Coast.

"For our two new elected officials, and one returning, just a comment: Two major things that you need to do: One, look back in history. ... What things were done, and why, to make this the great community that it is? And secondly, looking forward: What can you do to add to this great community? It’s an awesome responsibility. People are watching closely. Remember, your responsibility is to the community as a whole."

— JON NETTS, former Palm Coast mayor and councilman