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.