- December 16, 2025
+ Council member Meeker wants Players Club cleaned up
At the corner of Palm Coast Parkway and Palm Harbor Parkway, tucked away behind large oak trees, is a dilapidated tennis club that once was the premiere spot for Palm Coast tennis enthusiasts.
Now, the nets are torn, the landscaping has overgrown the facilities, and City Council member Frank Meeker wants something done about it.
“I would like to have (City Manager Jim Landon) contact the owner of the property and have them get that place brought up to some kind of standard acceptable for the city of Palm Coast,” Meeker said Tuesday, April 19, at the City Council regular meeting. “It does not reflect well when residents come to the city.”
Meeker added that if residents let their property get to that point, they would be facing several code-enforcement fines.
“Saying hello is one thing, but saying hello without the teeth of code enforcement doesn’t do any good,” Landon said.
Nestor Abreu, community development director, will look into getting the property back to standards.
+ Board OKs additional iFlagler teacher for $50,000
In its second year of operations, iFlagler virtual school has doubled its student base. With 15 adjunct teachers currently instructing grades seven to 12, the School Board unanimously approved adding iFlagler’s first full-time, core-subject-area high-school teacher to the payroll for approximately $50,000 a year, which is the average teacher salary including benefits. In addition to virtual instruction, this teacher will also provide academic and career counseling to students.
+ Future Problem Solvers go global, get funding
The School Board agreed to fund four Future Problem Solvers teams to attend the 2011 International Conference June 9 to June 12, at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, for a cost of $16,150. The approval was motioned by Vice-chair Andy Dance, seconded by John Fischer, and passed by a vote of four to one. Colleen Conklin apologetically opposed the funding.
“I feel kind of like we’re put in a horrible position,” she said, “because this program is phenomenal … I just am concerned about the equity for (funding) one program for one group and not doing it for (all groups).”
Dance noted that high-functioning students should not be held “hostage” by the district’s funding limitations, and Conklin agreed. It’s just, she said, “the timing couldn’t be worse.”
A total of 33 students, three teachers and four parents will be attending the conference, and the School Board has approved covering the registration and housing costs of each student and coach. Parents will not be funded.
“These students are high achievers when they leave this program, so I think the small amount that we invest in that is worth it,” Superintendent Janet Valentine said.
Airfare will be paid for with a school purchasing card reimbursed by fundraisers, parent-teacher-organization funds, internal funds and more. Airfare is estimated at $500 per ticket; student costs will be $100 per day.
“You guys go out there and represent us well,” Chairwoman Sue Dickinson told Future/Community Problem Solvers present at the meeting. “We know you will.”
+ Mercedes, PT Cruiser collide, narrow U.S. 1 to one lane
U.S. 1 was narrowed to one lane after a crash sent at least two to Florida Hospital Flagler.
At 4:59 p.m. Thursday, April 14, a silver PT Cruiser was traveling west on Whiteview Lane. As it turned onto U.S. 1, it collided with a silver Mercedes sedan, which was traveling in the inside lane, according to Cpl. R. Naugher, of the Florida Highway Patrol.
Both were transported to Florida Hospital Flagler, Naugher said.
The front end of the Mercedes was smashed, as was the driver’s side of the PT Cruiser. Both cars were cleared onto tow trucks shortly after 6 p.m., and there was just one patrol car left on clear lanes by 7:30 p.m.
+ Corrections
From 2006 to 2009, 1,100 jobs were lost in the city of Palm Coast.
PUBLIC MEETINGS
Palm Coast City Council — the next regular workshop is 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 26, at City Marketplace.
Flagler County Board of County Commissioners — the next regular meeting is 9 a.m. Monday, May 2, at Government Services Building.
Flagler County School Board — the next regular meeting is 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 3, at Government Services Building.
