Residents: Let us vote

by Andrew O'Brien | Staff Writer

Palm Coast City Manager Jim Landon says the proposed $10 million City Hall makes long-term financial sense.

The residents who attended the Thursday, Nov. 4, presentation revealing the city’s plans to build a new City Hall agree: Let’s take a vote. But as it stands right now, the decision whether to build the proposed $10 million structure is in the City Council’s hands.

When the city of Palm Coast incorporated 10 years ago, its city offices were located at the Palm Coast Community Center. It has moved four times since, and is currently entering the final year of a three-year lease at the City Marketplace, formerly City Walk.

The Palm Coast City Council wants a permanent home. City Manager Jim Landon delivered the second of four town hall meetings Nov. 4 to explain the proposal.

Creative accounting could support funds

“We’ve been nomads when it comes to city offices,” Landon told the crowd of nearly 200 residents last week.

The proposed 40,000-square-foot building would be located in Town Center, with an estimated cost of $10 million, or as Landon pointed out, $250 per square foot. The two-story building would house all of the city’s current needs, and would have room for expansion, according to Landon.

At the meeting, he pointed out that the funding wouldn’t come from taxpayer dollars, though that statement drew groans from the energetic crowd, comprising mostly Tea Party members.

Because all of this money must be spent, Landon and city staff have devised the plan to fund the new building through dollars the city already has. The funding breakdown: building department fund for $1 million (10%), utility funds for $1.2 million (12%), capital projects fund for $2 million (20%) and the State Road 100 Community Redevelopment Area for $5.8 million (58%).

Landon said it will be more beneficial to the city long-term to own rather than rent. The city is currently paying $240,000 annually for its lease at City Marketplace.

Landon explained that it makes sense for the city to proceed with building the City Hall now because construction costs are down. The project also would create temporary construction jobs—all without raising taxes.

In 2005, 82% said ‘no’

In 2005, the city proposed a 70,000-square-foot City Hall building with an estimated cost of $22 million. Approximately 82% of the voters opposed it.

Tom Lawrence, chairman of the local Tea Party movement, said five years ago, the City Council reached out to voters for permission.

“After you go out to the public with these four meetings, will you then go out with a referendum to build or not to build?” Lawrence asked Landon.

“In Florida and in Palm Coast, (the charter) states that if you borrow money long-term and you use property taxes to pay it back, you have to get voter approval,” Landon replied. “The state and city law say that if you don’t borrow money long-term and don’t use property taxes, then your elected officials make the decisions.”

One resident shouted out: “Then they will be elected temporarily!”

But the plan is devised so it doesn’t issue debt. Without debt, taxes won’t be affected, and therefore it’s the City Council’s decision.

CREDIT: Andrew O'Brien

The crowd of nearly 200 residents at the Nov. 4 town hall meeting expressed 

displeasure with not having a vote in regard to the proposed Palm Coast

City Hall.

Mayor Jon Netts is in support of the City Hall plans.

“If I were confident that everybody would sit down and look at the long-term vision and analyze this — sure, why not put it on a referendum,” he said. “This is the same old story. You elect people to make the best judgments they can on behalf of their entire constituency.”

County Commissioner and former City Council member Alan Peterson was also in attendance, and though he agreed the city needs a new City Hall, he said it should be a referendum item because the residents deserve a vote.

The next town hall meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 15, in the Buddy Taylor Middle School cafeteria.

PERSONAL VS. POLITICAL

After the meeting, Landon noted that even though state statute says the decision to build City Hall belongs to the City Council, many residents now feel that, because they were allowed to vote in 2005 and this time they won’t have a vote, the city is eliminating them from the process unfairly.

Because of that reality, Landon sees building the City Hall as politically risky, regardless of dollars and cents.

“From a business standpoint, there’s no question it makes sense for the community and the organization,” he said. “It’s a quandary: Do I do the easy political, emotional thing, or do I move forward and continue to recommend what makes good business sense?”

At the meeting, Landon said he has often reflected on the question “Why now?”

“I will tell you that if I was talking from my own personal interest … I hope we don’t do this,” he said. “If you were talking about what’s good for Jim Landon and his family — it would be go home and quit talking about this. However, that’s not why I’m being paid those high dollars.”

CHANGE OF HEART

Ted St. Pierre, a Palm Coast resident and Tea Party member, was vehemently opposed to the proposed City Hall building when he attended the Nov. 4 town hall meeting. When he left later that night, it was a different story.

St. Pierre said he didn’t want it and the city didn’t need it. But, after the meeting, he got to thinking.

“Now’s the time to build because prices are just right,” he said.

The next day, St. Pierre called City Manager Jim Landon and said that residents are wary about promises made by city government.

St. Pierre suggested that a citizen oversight committee be established to oversee the construction of the building step-by-step to ensure promises are kept.

The group wouldn’t be appointed by the City Council, but would be volunteers. Landon and Mayor Jon Netts have asked St. Pierre to champion the committee.

The presentation also made St. Pierre realize something else. An outspoken critic of Landon and his salary, St. Pierre now said he’s worth every penny.

“I thought (Landon) was overpaid, but that man is working for his money,” St. Pierre said. 

JOURNEY MAN

by Andrew O’Brien | Staff Writer

Matanzas QB Tim Morley moved nearly 2,500 miles across the country to pursue his dream of playing college football.

It was a mid-April day at Madison High School, in Rexburg, Idaho. Tim Morley, a freshman at the time, was practicing his hand-offs with his 4x100-meter relay team. Parker, one of the sprinters, wasn’t in his place. Morley looked around for his best friend, and then saw him walking out of the gym.

“He had this terrible look about him,” Morley remembers.

Parker then told Morley, his best friend since third grade, that he and his father were relocating to a nearby high school. It was saddening news, but it also changed everything for Morley on the football field.

2,100 yards passing

Parker was the coach’s son, and Morley knew that no matter what he did, it was going to be tough to become the starter.

Morley realized, however, that he was being given an opportunity to prove himself now that his best friend was skipping town.

“I always say the Lord will provide the way, but I have to do the work,” Morley said.

Finally, the door opened when Morley was a junior. He led his team to a 5-4 finish that year, throwing for more than 2,100 yards and 20 passing touchdowns. Nine out of 10 plays was a passing play.

Following his junior season, Morley faced a quandary. He was in his comfort zone in Rexburg. He had a lot of friends there and he was about to rule the school as a senior. But Morley knew if he wanted to get the looks from college scouts, he needed a bigger stage.

“My dad and I started talking, and despite the enormous success I had my junior year, I was having a hard time getting looks with colleges,” Morley said.

2,500 miles later …

His parents, Thomas and Valerie, were considering retirement and took a trip to Palm Coast to meet with Matanzas Pirates coach Keith Lagocki. Thomas always told his son that if he wanted to play in college, he would have to make sacrifices.

“Valerie and I were planning coming to Florida, but we probably pushed it a year or two before we had planned,” Thomas said. “We felt like Timmy had this opportunity and Florida provided some things that Idaho didn’t.”

Morley’s sister, Beth, who is a currently a sophomore at MHS, also made a sacrifice to relocate. Beth was an avid ballroom dancer in Idaho, something that she hasn’t been able to get back into since moving to the East Coast. Morley said he often reminds himself of the sacrifice his sister made for him.

In January 2010, Morley and his family made the move.

“It was the single most difficult decision of my life,” Morley said Tuesday. “I was taking a step in the dark because I knew nothing about this place. I went in completely blind to everything.”

Breaking records

Though this season hasn’t gone the way Morley envisioned as far as wins and losses, it has still been successful. His former high school only won one game this year, while Matanzas has won three, including the preseason game.

He has also shattered several Matanzas football records. Heading into the Pirates’ final game against Fernandina Beach Friday, Nov. 12, he has accumulated more than 1,200 yards, thrown for eight TDs, and has rushed for six, which are all Pirates’ records at QB. Lagocki said he will own every QB record after this season.

“He’s fought hard,” Thomas said of his youngest son. “He’s given it all from day one. He comes out hard each week, and I think he’s grown up a lot. I think he’s matured in many ways, and sometimes that comes with losses.”

Morley said his improved running game makes him a marketable dual-threat for college programs. The 6-foot, 170-pound gunslinger prides his arm accuracy, but also enjoys showing off his 4.55-second 40-yard speed.

Lagocki said Morley’s work ethic and coachability will help him reach the next level.

“He just has unlimited potential for success because he’s such a sponge and he just wants to learn,” he said.

Heading for Ivy?

And so, with the season winding down, Morley has his sights set on fulfilling his life dream: playing Division 1 college football.

Though he’d love to play for some big-name schools like Utah, Oregon and Oregon State, Morley realizes going to an Ivy League school would be a solid audible.

He’s been heavily recruited by the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League school in Division 1-AA. The Quakers are reigning champions of their conference, and are in first place this season at 5-0, and 7-1 overall.

Morley realizes if he plays in college at all, it’s a prestigious accomplishment. “I’m in the top 3% of high school players in the country,” he said.

And though Morley sports a 3.6 GPA, he knows that going to an Ivy League school will take a lot of work with the playbook and the textbooks.

Morley said freshmen are required to spend three hours locked in a room with tutors to get their studying done.

In college, Morley plans to major in pre-med with a biology degree. He hopes to become an orthopedic surgeon.

“I want to be the guy who athletes see to be put back on the field,” Morley said.

Wherever football takes him, he’s sure to enjoy the journey.

TWO COOL

Two Matanzas High School twins with some autistic traits got to shine the brightest on senior night Friday, Oct. 29.

by Andrew O'Brien | Staff Writer

When they were 6 years old, identical twins Vito and Thomas Quadara, who are physically disabled with developmental delays and some autistic traits, had one wish for Christmas: They wanted football gear.

That wish came true Christmas morning when their parents, Vito Sr. and Barbara, got them the whole shebang. Jerseys, helmets, pants, pads. They had it all.

“They love football,” Barbara said.

They love it so much, in fact, that on Christmas night, they went to bed fully decked in their football attire.

That unforgettable Christmas was the beginning of a future filled with pigskins and the gridiron.

Football is all about hard-hitting. It’s about athleticism. Speed, too. But it’s also about being a team. For Vito and Thomas, they got to experience being a part of a football family firsthand.  

From summer camp to kick-off coverage

Vito and Thomas were obsessed with football since they were students at Indian Trails Middle School.

Pirates coach Keith Lagocki held an annual summer football camp. Barbara confronted Lagocki about getting Vito and Thomas involved, but she was a bit hesitant because of their disabilities.

“It was only for three days out of the week,” Barbara said. “I started by standing on the side, watching. But by the second year, I was just dropping them off.”

The relationship between Lagocki and the Quadara’s continued through high school, and Vito and Thomas wanted to stay involved.

Lagocki always made a point to include them. Through the first three years, the twins helped the team by doing anything and attending occasional away games.

By senior year, they were a part of the team completely, getting their jerseys on Thursdays and attending all home and away games.

Lagocki said it was a natural progression to allow Vito and Thomas to be a part of the football program at Matanzas. He confronted Barbara a year ago and mentioned his plan about having them appear in their senior game against Sandalwood High School.

Then, on Thursday, Oct. 28, Barbara picked up her twins from practice. When they got in the car, they told her they would be playing Friday.

“They were walking on cloud nine,” Barbara recalls. “I don’t know who was more excited: them or me and my husband. … My husband was speechless and he never thought he’d get to see the boys in football gear.”

On Friday, Oct. 29, Vito and Thomas appeared in kick-off coverage during the first quarter of the Pirates game against Sandalwood.

“I was a little nervous, but I’m glad I got do it,” Vito said after the game.

Added his brother, Thomas: “I got to run out on the field when they called my number and my mom was happy for me.”

Said Lagocki, “They’ve been the biggest fans of Matanzas football since I’ve been here. What we did (Friday night) allowed all the coaches and players to thank (Vito and Thomas) for being so supportive and being such big fans.”

One play will last forever

Barbara said thanks to Lagocki, the entire team has made her twins just two other players on the team, something for which she will always be grateful.

“Coach Lagocki has taught his football team how to be around disabled people — how to treat them and how to respect them,” Barbara said. “My sons are able to walk through school and feel comfortable being a part of the football team.”

Barbara recorded the play, and it’s already a family classic.

“This was an opportunity of a lifetime that I’ve captured forever. Those five minutes of fame for them. We have a tape, which will last a lifetime.”

In fact, it’s reminiscent of sleeping in football gear on Christmas night. Barbara said Vito hasn’t stopped watching the videotape of his memorable night.

Galtronics to launch pilot program

After months of delays in product design and construction, Galtronics Telemetry Inc. will launch its pilot program in November.

by Andrew O’Brien | Staff Writer

Galtronics Telemetry Inc. has begun production on its smart-grid energy device, symHome Energy Management System. In early November, the company will start a 100-home pilot program to test its new device, but it hasn’t been an easy road to reach this point.

Last April, the pilot program was estimated to include about 500 homes. Graydon Parsons, president of Galtronics Telemetry Inc., said that because of the economy, the program was scaled back.

“We’ve been optimizing the system to make sure we can have the  costs as low as possible and comply with all the requirements,” Parsons said.

The product will likely go live to the public beginning in January 2011 and will cost $399.

Are jobs on the horizon?

Galtronics Telemetry was lured to Palm Coast through business and ‘green’ incentives after the company predicted it would create 40 jobs in three years.

“The city of Palm Coast laid out an attractive incentive plan and their initiatives in being a ‘green’ city lines up well with what we are doing, “ Galtronics Telemetry Vice President Sean Lafferty said.

Though the company currently employs seven people, Lafferty expects that by the end of 2011, it will employ at least 25.

“We’ve been in the research-and-development phase,” Lafferty said. “When the product goes to the market, that’s when the employment ramp begins.”

Still, Galtronics Telemetry has done as much local business as possible, he said, including buy custom-designed rubber pieces from a company in Bunnell.

Small device could yield large savings

Photo credit: Andrew O'Brien

The delays have been caused in part by multiple design changes, which then caused more delays as the company waited for approval from Underwriters Laboratories Inc., the public safety company that oversees product certifications and solutions.

Lafferty and Parsons hope to sell around 30,000 devices in 2011. Beyond that, Lafferty said, they hope to sell around 10,000 per month in 2012.

Mary Rodgers' neighborhood

The Matanzas Pirates placed fifth in the regional tournament as a team.

by Andrew O’Brien | Staff Writer

Mary Rodgers reached into her Nike golf bag — cluttered with Florida Gators head covers — and unsheathed her seven iron. She was on the par-three eighth hole at Grand Haven Golf Course Monday, Oct. 18, vying to repeat as the girls district 10-1A champion. She reared back and launched the ball high above the water toward the island green.

But a gust of wind churned up and caught the ball, flinging it into the water. No big deal, Rodgers thought. She took her drop and tried again.

Splash.

“I was so angry,” Rodgers recalled a week later. She took a deep breath, however, and finished the hole with a quadruple bogey.

“They shuttle you to the next hole, but I told them I wanted to walk,” she said. “Actually, you could say I stomped to the ninth.”

Rodgers went on to par the ninth hole and birdie the 10^th. Her 77 was low enough to win the district championship and help lead the Pirates to its second-consecutive team title.

From homemade to MVP

Rodgers grew up with golf.

At 4 years old, she dragged around a set of homemade clubs. At 11, she played in her first nine-hole tournament, which she won after shooting a 39.

For the next two years, she played the nine-hole format (the same format featured in high school until the district, region and state tournaments). She started playing in 18-hole tournaments at age 13.

Rodgers estimates she has won about 35 tournaments, and that includes the Palm Coast City Championships earlier this year. She won the Juinor 14-and-over title, shooting a 74. She also had the lowest round of any female golfer in the field.

Rodgers exudes leadership, too. She’s been the Pirates MVP three seasons in a row, and her game has inspired her teammates.

“As our team captain this year, Mary really helped raise the level of play among her teammates,” said coach Louise Wolfe. “I think that the way she approached her teammates and exemplified the desire to succeed extrinsically motivated the other players to step up their game as well.”

Over the summer, Rodgers worked incessantly on her downfall: her short game.
“I was used to three-putting every green,” she said. “I was scared for a three-foot par putt.”

But she’s greatly improved that facet of her game, which was evident when she sunk a 30-foot putt to save par on the 17^th hole in the district tournament. Now, the short game is one of her favorite parts, she said, but she still loves pulling out her driver and letting it rip. She averages about 250 yards off the tee.

And her hard training is paying off on the score card. Over the summer, she shot a 68 en route to winning the 18-hole Volusia/Flagler Junior Golf Association tournament. In the last match of the high school season, Rodgers shot a 32 — still tied for a two-county best for boys and girls golfers — on nine holes against Pedro Menendez, at St. Augustine Shores.

“The holes were as big as trash cans and everything was dropping  that day,” she said.

Coincidentally, Rodgers’ lone hole-in-one also came at St. Augustine Shores, when she was 13.

Regional disappointment

After missing the state cut by two strokes each of her first two seasons, Rodgers fell short again Tuesday, Oct. 26, after shooting an 82 in the regional tournament.

But fellow golfers beware: Rodgers doesn’t graduate until 2012.

Contact Andrew O’Brien at andrew@palmcoastobserver.com. 

Food pantry hits the road

Grace Community will use a surplus bus for deliveries. 
by Andrew O'Brien | Staff Writer
The Flagler County Board of County Commissioners voted 4-1 to donate a surplus vehicle from Flagler County schools on Oct. 18. County Commissioner Milissa Holland dissented. 
The vehicle, a 2002 Ford E450 bus, will be donated and outfitted with a refrigerator, food heaters and other items necessary to provide people with food who don't have the transportation to make it to any of the food pantry's facilities.
Pastor Charles Silano, director of Grace Community Food Pantry, said the bus will be on the road year-round and not just during the holidays.
"There's a lot of people who don't have transportation," Silano said. "The good news is we're encountering more volunteers who want to help in this endeavor." 
Holland praised Silano's work within the community, but said she couldn't support the vehicle donation because it would set a precedent for other organizations to come to the County Commission with similar requests. 
"I think there's a need to support these efforts, but I don't think it's the government's responsibility," Holland said.
County Commissioner Alan Peterson agreed with Holland in the sense that a precedent would be established, but he still voted to approve the donation.
According to County Attorney Al Hadeed, the commissioner won't be required to grant such requests in the future because the decision is based on each individual request.
For the most recent quarter, from July to September, Grace Community Food Pantry helped 10,091 people and 2,397 households.
Silano said the main goal is to relieve stress on the people.
"We just want to build communities," Silano said.  

Holland seeks 3-D solution

With the economic referendum no longer on the ballot, it's back to the drawing board for economic development. The referendum will still be included on the Nov. 2 ballot, but the votes won't count.


by Andrew O'Brien | Staff Writer


Enterprise Flagler has closed the playbook on its new game plan for economic development, for now, and County Commissioner Milissa Holland has expressed that there is no clear-cut solution to the county's unemployment rate and non-diversified economy. It will take a variety of solutions, she says, because the problem isn't one-dimensional, it's 3-D.


Enterprise Flagler Executive Director Greg Rawls and board member Michael Chiumento stood before the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners Monday, Oct. 4, and requested the economic referendum appearing on this year's general election ballot not be counted. The County Commission unanimously approved the resolution to remove the referendum. 


Still, the commissioners acknowledged that Enterprise Flagler's work on the referendum brought economic development into focus for  the county. 


"The entire community (wants) to see leadership ... to address the tax burden, the unemployment, the diversity and the competitiveness our community is lacking," Chiumento said.


Holland said it was now time to "build upon some of the groundwork that was laid out by the referendum discussions." 


She asked staff to set up workshops with the other municipalities, as well as Enterprise Flagler and the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce & Affiliates.


"We need to be architects of our own destiny," Holland said at the meeting. "I think having a dedicated funding source is well-recognized, but I also think that the public deserves for us to work diligently to become more proactive rather than reactive to these issues."


Next step: Involve the municipalities 
Holland also said the focus shouldn't be on the prized 100,000-square-foot building that Enterprise Flagler has discussed. She said a speculative building could sit empty. 


For Holland, the process going forward should be centered on strategic planning. She said the county and its cities need to create the community they want to become, identify our assets and then market them.


A suggested alternative to the economic referendum has been a half-cent sales tax. With the referendum removed, the sales tax could highlight the upcoming discussion.


According to the Department of Revenue, the half-cent sales tax could generate approximately $3.8 million annually. 


Another potential player in the "3-D solution" is Hire Flagler, which began about a year ago and continues to meet to brainstorm ideas for job creation. 


"When it comes down to economic development," Holland said, "it can't just be one solution that you look toward. It needs to be multiple solutions that we create."


Economic vs. School Board referendum 
Enterprise Flagler also recognized the school district's referendum for the continuation of a .25-mill tax. 


"Based on the feedback we've received from the community," Rawls said, "many citizens are concerned with having two ad valorem tax initiatives on this fall's general election ballot. A key component to economic development is Flagler County's great school system. The last thing we want is to jeopardize the School Board from obtaining necessary funding if residents voted against  both initiatives." 


School Board member Andy Dance said he thinks it will be more palatable once voters realize the school's referendum is not a new tax, but a continuance of what they've been paying. The economic referendum was a new tax.


"The popular thought always was that having both (referendums) on the same ballot would be a negative," Dance said. The fear, he indicated, was that neither tax would be supported if there were two. 


As for what might have led to the demise of the economic referendum, County Commissioners Barbara Revels and Alan Peterson speculated the specificity might have been Enterprise Flagler's main hurdle: Residents may have been hesitant because they didn't know exactly how the money would be spent. 


"It was too general," Peterson said. "Essentially, it said give us $2 million a year and trust us." 


The estimated cost to taxpayers for the referendum was about $20 or $30 each year, which would result in about $1.8 million collected annually, and would have been controlled by the County Commission. It was expected to bring in about $15 million over 10 years. 

Bakery rolls past Flagler

Enterprise Flagler Executive Director Greg Rawls suggests that a recent, failed try at attracting a bakery is evidence that voters should pass the referendum.

by Andrew O'Brien | Staff Writer

King's Hawaiian bakes a lot of dinner rolls. So many rolls, in fact, that the California-based company accounts for more than half of dinner-roll sales in the U.S. The company recently signed a deal to locate a bakery and distribution operation in Gainesville, Ga. The project is estimated to create 226 jobs within five years.

What does this have to do with Flagler County?

According to Peter Anderson, vice president of Patillo Industrial Real Estate -- North Florida's largest owner of industrial property -- Gainesville, Ga., is similar to Flagler County, except in one respect: The Atlanta suburb had a 111,000-square-foot shell building waiting for a company to inhabit. Flagler County didn't.

Enterprise Flagler Executive Director Greg Rawls said he got the lead on this project about eight months ago, but because the county is lacking industrial facilities, the company decided to take its bakery -- and all 226 jobs -- 450 miles north.

"Our biggest building is a church, and our second-biggest is the School Board transportation building," Rawls said.

Rawls' motivation for pointing out the failed attempt to attract the company is clear: He wants to convince the residents of the county to vote on the economic referendum Nov. 2. The referendum asks voters to raise property taxes by .25 mills for the next 10 years. The funds would be dedicated to erecting speculative buildings and otherwise promoting job growth in the county. Enterprise Flagler, which could play an advisory role to Flagler County in the process, has been criticized for not being more specific in its plans, despite the unveiling of a new county webiste: www.flaglersnewgameplan.com. 

Anderson was brought in on a personal level, not as a consultant, and he said he didn't conduct any studies to confirm his impressions. But he said his company has been in the business of building Class-A industrial parks and facilities for the last 60 years, and he thinks Flagler has a lot to offer, including proximity to Interstate 95, a high quality of life and high-end housing for executives. Those factors, he said, make Flagler a candidate for national and international industrial companies. The missing piece is the top-notch industrial site.

Anderson said as a private developer in Jacksonville, he's generally opposed to governments getting involved in speculative development. But in Jacksonville, companies can choose from 10 million square feet of available industrial space. Not so in rural counties.

"In rural counties ... sometimes the government has to step in, and you hope that they'll be looking to step out as quickly as you can, too, once they prime the pump," he said.

According to Rawls, ITT built the most recent industrial park in the county -- in the 1980s. He said, "The private sector cannot deliver to get the modern facility that this county needs."

Anderson said he found the economic development referendum intriguing. He said that in the end, residents will have to decide whether they want Class-A industrial sites in their community at all. 

Contact Andrew O'Brien at andrew@palmcoastobserver.com. 

K-9 takes down two criminals

what can Blu’ do for you? by Andrew O’Brien | Staff Writer

K-9 takes down two criminals

Six K-9 units plan an integral role in the operations of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

Blu’ has been eating a lot lately, but not just his dog food. 

The 2-year-old Belgian Malinois is the four-legged better half of the K-9 unit with Dep. Jon Welker of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. Blu’ also was the paws behind apprehending two criminals over the weekend.

Both burglaries took place along the Belle Terre Parkway corridor, and in both instances, the two suspects were treated for bite wounds at Florida Hospital Flagler.

The first incident took place around 8:30 a.m., Friday, Aug. 27. Blu’ and Welker brought down Jeremiah Harris, 20, of Bunnell, who was charged with two counts of burglary, two counts of resisting arrest with violence and grand theft in relation to the burglary at 149 Rae Drive.

The incident began when the residential alarm went off at the home. Deputies responded and waited for the occupant to return home.

According to the Sheriff's Office, Laura Kruger was heading home when she spotted a male walking along Rymfire Drive — the  same male she saw when she left for work earlier that morning. The male, later identified as Harris, was carrying a laptop similar to the one that was missing from Kruger's home.

Meanwhile, another deputy saw a suspect who was walking southbound on the Rymfire Drive sidewalk. The suspect matched the description provided by Kruger.

That’s where Welker and Blu’ got involved.

Welker and his K-9 tracked Harris to 1 Reynolds Place, where Welker noticed muddy handprints on the porch screens. That led Welker behind the home to investigate the canal, where Harris was finally located.

Harris was transported to the Flagler County Inmate Facility without further incident. The pursuit took nearly two hours and also caused Rymfire Elementary School to go on lockdown for about 35 minutes.

Paula St. Francis, principal of RES, said it’s mandatory the school practices lockdowns at least twice a year and said Friday’s lockdown went smoothly.

Pine Grove pursuit

The weekend wasn't over for Welker and Blu’. The team apprehended Markis Flourney, 18, of Daytona Beach, Sunday, Aug. 29. Flourney is being charged with armed burglary to an unoccupied dwelling, grand theft and resisting arrest. He, too, was transported to the Flagler County Inmate Facility. Additionally, there was a second suspect involved, who, as recent as the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 1, is still at large.

Deputies responded around 10:15 a.m. to Pine Grove Drive based on a report of two males kicking in the front door of an unoccupied home. Witnesses said one of the men had a gun.

The two men fled in a vehicle after deputies arrived. The getaway car crashed shortly after on Belle Terre Parkway, and the suspects ran in opposite directions.

Flagler County’s FireFlight and Volusia Air One helicopters searched from the air, while Welker and Blu’ nabbed Flourney.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office at 313-4911.

At work and home

For Welker and Blu’, these were just two days on the job. He said Blu’ has been deployed on more than 70 narcotic or patrol-related searches, but he’s more than a sheriff’s canine. Welker says being a canine handler is the most rewarding position he has held in his law enforcement career.

“While at work, I can perform my duties with the confidence of having a dedicated partner by my side, who will, without hesitation, sacrifice himself to protect me," he said. “At home, I’m fortunate enough to have Blu’ as an additional member in my family. He takes the role of a loving family pet to my children while maintaining his role as my best friend and partner.”

County responds to economy

Flagler County has had to act more like a business in today's economic climate, and under County Administrator Craig Coffey's reign, the county has eliminated nearly 60 jobs in the past two years.

by Andrew O'Brien | Staff Writer

It was nearly 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, April 28. Martha Creamer was drinking her morning coffee, watching the local morning news. She had been in the job hunt for several months, and had no luck. On the television screen came a mention of an event called Employ Flagler, which was sponsored by the county and the One Stop Career Center, beginning at 8:30 a.m. It was now or never.

She jumped up, got read and headed out of her home to arrive at the job fair around 8:35 a.m. Creamer figured it would be an opportune time to network with professionals, meet with potential employers and  to get her face out there.

"I've learned the importance of networking, especially when you are in search of a new job," she said. "It is important to make contact with potential employers and get yourself out there."

As a result of contacts she made at Employ Flagler, she was hired at the Flagler County Agricultural Extension. She'll begin June 7.

For Creamer, it was a rare stroke of luck, combined with her hard work. It was even more rare of an opportunity when you consider the county has been forced to scale back its operations, just like most businesses in the area.

Unemployment:
Flagler County - 15.4%
Volusia County - 11.9%
State Average - 11.2%
National Average - 9.5%
In March 2010, 53 Florida counties had double-digit unemployment rates. In April 2010, it was 45.
Source: Agency for Workforce Innovation

Craig Coffey is Flagler County's administrator, or in other words, the county's chief executive officer, and he's been the man behind many of the tough decisions.

The first budged he approved in 2008 resulted in more than 40 layoffs. The next budget resulted in 17 more. Other positions have remained unfilled after employees have moved on. In total, the Board of County Commissioners now employs 288 people, down from a high of 350 two years ago.

He consolidated departments and reduced services. He put out new bids on contracts to save money and make county operations more efficient. By privatizing landscaping, the county saved $100,000. He saved $250,000 by renegotiating health insurance for the employees. He cut $1 million from the Sheriff's budget and $250,000 from the clerk of court.

His staff also made cuts on smaller levels, such as reducing the number of Blackberry phones from 22 last year to 10 this year. Last year and this year, county employees have gone without raises. When employees have moved on or retired, Coffey has filled their positions by paying lower salaries -- sometimes reducing the salaries by as much as 50%.

"We've done everything and more than a business would do, and we've done it all under public scrutiny," Coffey said.

County Commissioner Milissa Holland said, "How I saw it was not only a challenge, but an opportunity to become more efficient. But, also, to identify what the county's role was within the community."

Joe Mayer, the county's director of community services, said, "We are leaner and meaner now, there's no doubt about it."

This summer, the county will likely have even more tough decisions to make. In 2008, the commission approved Coffey's $2.2 million cut in the general fund. In 2009, he cut another $2.8 from the budget, which last year was $68 million for operations. This year, he predicts they'll have to cut another $1.5 million to $2 million if they want to raise the millage rate as little as possible.

"You're going through the same struggles year after year that business and homeowners are going through. The decisions are different, but they're just as tough. We value every dollar we receive," Coffey said. 

Hammond: Caseload unhealthy

Despite the caseload increasing by 261% in four years, Judge Kim Hammond sees no reprieve.

by Andrew O'Brien | Staff Writer 

The judicial system is much different today compared to 1980, when Judge Kim Hammond became the resident administrative judge for the 7th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. In 30 years, Hammond has witnessed the caseload for the circuit judges grow exponentially, and now, he says, it's near the breaking point.

Between 2005 and 2006, the two circuit judges heard 1,327 civil cases. Between 2009 and 2010, there have been 3,458 -- an increase of 261%.

Flagler County Clerk of the Court Gail Wadsworth said Hammond has the largest criminal docket in the circuit, which includes Volusia, St. Johns, Putnam and Flagler counties.

"The problem," Hammond says, "is you can't get to the cases as quickly as the opponent would like. You live in more of a fear that you do it in a hurry."

Hammond suggested the work has been overwhelming for quite some time now, and he's starting to become anxious.

"I'm not sure how long this can go on, frankly," Hammond added. "You find yourself moving more quickly than you should trying to cover the cases and not spending enough time considering the matters. That not only affects your product, but the quality of your product, and that's troublesome."

Wadsworth added, "I think they have a tremendous overload. When you have two judges doing all the work of five judges -- if you use 2004 statistics -- then our judges and their related staff are overburdened."

She compared the work load of the judges to a kindergarten teacher having an excessive amount of students in a class.

"You can't effectively teach 52 five-year-olds," she said.

According to Molly Justice, court communications officer for the 7th Judicial Circuit, for another judge to be appointed to a circuit, the state Supreme Court issues a certification of need to the state Legislature. AT this year's legislative session, the certification of need called for three additional circuit judges and two county court judges in Volusia County. Although the circuit judges can serve in any of the four counties in the circuit, county judges can only serve in their home counties.

However, according to the Office of the State Courts administrator, the request for judges was not funded in the budget this year. In fact, 2006 to 2007 was the last time the Legislature funded new judges, when 55 were approved. Of those 55, the 7th Judicial Circuit received one, now serving in St. Johns County.

Wadsworth said something needs to change, so she'll continue to speak out.

"I think the more drums we bang, the more likely we are to (be noticed)," she said.

Flagler County has two circuit court judges, Hammond and Judge Raul Zambrano, who has served here since November 2005. Prior to Zambrano's arrival, Hammond was the only circuit judge in Flagler County. Hammond presides over the felony criminal, probate, guardianship, Marchman Acts, Baker Acts, juvenile cases and some civil cases, while Zambrano presides over the civil docket, which includes family law and foreclosures.

Hammond is retiring this year, and the books close July 26 for the Aug. 24 primary election. Whoever is elected will have a big job ahead.

Hammond pointed out that it's hard to measure how many people are affected by the judicial system, but that "you can affect a great deal of people and cause a lot of harm if you don't fun the judicial branch."

County nears 'Tweet'-ability

The Sunshine Law requires that e-mails and other written forms of communication by public officials and employees be archived. The county wants to add social networking to the list.
by Andrew O'Brien | Staff Writer


One-hundred and forty characters: Some might say that's not enough to express anything, but that's all Twitter -- the fastest growing Web site on the Internet -- allows.

In fact, that first sentence exceeded Twitter's allowance by 31 characters. But, Flagler county believes the site will be useful.

"Social networking is a new phenomenon," said Carl Laundrie, public information officer for the county. "It's an effective means of communicating with a lot of people, at a very little expense."

Laundrie has spearheaded the movement to revamp the Sunshine Law, which dictates they way social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, can be used. For example, press releases could be replaced or enhances by posts and tweets instantaneously.

The Sunshine Law requires public officials, elected or appointed, to do public business in full view of the public. Meetings and notes are public record. A separate law requires officials to archive their e-mail and other correspondence for at least three years, and Laundrie wants to update that list to include Facebook and Twitter. The problem is, Facebook posts and Twitter tweets -- including those sent to public officials from residents -- would then need to become public record, as well.

Laundrie said the Internet usage law hasn't been updated or revised in 10 years, so he is hoping the county will amend it on the local event. In the plan he is working on finalizing, Laundrie said, various departments, including the Emergency Operations Center, would be responsible for managing their own Twitter accounts.

Cindy Dalecki, owner of Marketing 2 Go, a business that predominantly uses Facebook and Twitter to promote a company's brand, said that since 2007, nearly 300 million businesses have created fan pages on Facebook. In March, Facebook was the most-visited Internet site, beating out Google for the first time.

"It's social media, not social selling," Dalecki said. "You're building a relationship. It's not an advertisement."

Dalecki did allude to the fact that having a county or city page on Facebook or Twitter could be beneficial from an economic development perspective because it could show different businesses what the county or city has to offer, enticing them to relocate.

Contact Andrew O'Brien at andrew@palmcoastobserver.com.

Commission declares this April Sexual Assault Awareness Month

With domestic violence on the rise, the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners and the Family Life Center are raising awareness.
by Andrew O'Brien | Staff Writer


The good news: Florida's crime rate is at a 39-year low. The bad news: The report released April 7 by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement reflected a 15.6% increase in domestic violence-related murders, and a 71.4% increase in domestic violence manslaughters. One out of every three girls and one out of every six boys are sexually abused before the age of 18.

"These statistics are devastating, but we must remember they're not just numbers on a report," said Diana Christen, CEO of the Family Life Center. "Each report represents women, men and children whose lives have been turned upside down by someone who is supposed to love them.

"We must never forget that 232 people were killed by someone they once trusted, someone they once loved," she said, adding that one of the victims was a Palm Coast resident.

Those statistics, coupled with the growing concern over the lack of reporting of sexual violence crimes, encouraged the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners to declare April Sexual Assault Awareness Month, putting the county in line with the national movement.

"We're blessed to have great partnerships with the county, the school district and the school board," Christen said. "Because they support our efforts, we are able to reach even more Flagler County citizens."

But Christen is still concerned, and she's hopeful the recent declaration can bring awareness now more than ever.

"We hope that one day the violence will end as a result of people understanding what the violence actually does to another person," she said.

As part of the education emphasis, staff of the Family Life Center has appeared at Matanzas High School and will head to Flagler Palm Coast High School next month. At Matanzas, the center conducted more than 70 classroom presentations, teaching students about dating violence, bullying and other topics.

"Our hope is to not only intervene with some of the students who are experiencing it, but we're hoping to prevent it for years to come," Christen said. "(Education) begins in the home, but it also becomes a soceital issue because it infiltrates into our schools, and then it really becomes everybody's issue."

Through the James F. Holland Foundation, County Commissioner Milissa Holland has been an advocate of sexual assault awareness.

"Our children are suffering from sexual abuse," Holland said. "Although it's an uncomfortable conversation to have, it's a necessary one to help them overcome their challenges and support these victims."

The Family Life Center has been in Flagler County since 1987, and there are currently 20 people staying at the shelter, along with another 18 in transitional housing. Emergency shelter, crisis counseling and court advocacy are among the most-used services the Family Life Center provides to more than 500 individuals annually.

Victims or others with questions should call the 24-hour crisis hotline at 437-3505, or go to www.flcsafehouse.org. To donate food, clothes or supplies to the Family Life Center, call 437-7610.

Contact Andrew O'Brien at andrew@palmcoastobserver.com. 

Lady Bulldogs rejuvinated

In a district tournament warm-up, Flagler Palm Coast High School shut out Spruce Creek 9-0 April 9.
by Andrew O'Brien | Staff Writer

"More what?"
"Mor-gan!"

It was the bottom of the third inning. Flagler Palm Coast High School second baseman Morgan Bunting was at the plate, leading off the inning. Her teammates cheered her from the dugout as Bunting dug in and ripped a double down the left field line. She coasted into second base, pumped her fist, and the inning was underway.

The next two batters did some bunting of their own. Kayla Lamphier and Kelsey Donahue, two of the faster players on FPC, bunted for base hits to load the bases for slugger Lee Ann Spivey. Spivey, the sophomore catcher, hammered a ball to dead-center field, and the Spruce Creek center fielder dropped the ball at the fence. One run scored, and the bases remained loaded.

Two more infield bunt-hits improved the Bulldogs lead to 3-0, and then after a Spruce Creek pitching change, FPC scored three more runs to extend the lead to 6-0.

That was all sophomore pitcher Maria Matty would need. She kept the Spruce Creek bats silent to complete the 9-0 shutout victory.

With only one game remaining until the district tournament, the Bulldogs (11-7) had hoped for a strong showing the week of April 5. Instead, before the Spruce Creek win, they dropped two to district opponents, losing to last year's No. 1 seed, Deltona, and this year's top team, DeLand, in extra innings Monday and Wednesday, respectively.

FPC coach Sarah Poppe told the Bulldogs after their two losses that they needed to play as though they were starting a new season if they wanted to make a run at the district championship.

"We have the team for it," Poppe said after the Spruce Creek game. "Tonight, the girls were so positive. They're getting back to the ... way they were at the beginning of the season. It's doing the little things that matter."

The "little things" include some of the wildest plays, which the team practices so it will be ready for a situation such as the play to end the Spruce Creek game.

There were two outs in the seventh. Runner on third. The Spruce Creek batter lifted a soaring fly ball to right field. The ball seemed destined to land in the center of a triangle formed by right fielder Ashton Stevens, first baseman Sam Mittel and second baseman Bunting. Then Stevens came sprinting in and dove. The ball landed in her glove, but as Stevens hit the ground, the ball flipped into the air.

Bunting to the rescue. She reached out and snagged the ball barehanded, bobbled it, and then squeezed it into her glove. Game over. FPC wings.

"I saw the ball and it was just a reaction," said Bunting, who smiled through stitches in her right cheek, the price to pay for trying to turn a double play against Deltona earlier in the week. "To catch it with my bare hand was exhilirating."

The Bulldogs had a lot to smile about in the game against Spruce Creek. All the bounces went in their favor.