- December 16, 2025
+ Bings Landing bait-and-barbecue contract finalized
The long-negotiated bait, tackle and barbecue contract at Bings Landing was finalized Monday night, Aug. 15.
No trees can be removed in shop expansions or renovations.
The initial five-year lease agreement, beginning Sept. 1, includes a five-year renewal option. Rent is set at a base $500 per month rate. For more, see www.PalmCoastObserver.com.
+ County accepts roadway as public property
The County Commission voted unanimously Aug. 15 to accept a portion of Strickland Road/Durrance Lane as a public road, with further work to be done concerning title insurance, the property deed, right-of-way analysis and financing.
Commissioner Barbara Revels was concerned about county liability. Commissioner Nate McLaughlin worried that if the board passed on taking the road now, for free, it would be forced to buy it from a private resident in the future, when that region of southern Flagler is urbanized.
Chairman Alan Peterson brought up the possibility of establishing a new tax district near Strickland Road and Durrance Lane, so that nearby residents would be responsible for the approximated $12,000 needed for annual maintenance.
“This, to me, is what a special taxing district is all about,” he said. “This isn’t like normal roads throughout the county … There’s no reason for somebody that doesn’t live here (to use it).”
+ Clerk of court Wadsworth to select bank for county
According to County Attorney Al Hadeed, in his report to the County Commission Monday, Aug. 15, Gail Wadsworth, Flagler County Clerk of Courts, will now have the sole responsibility of selecting a bank for county funds.
Since 2009, staff has attempted to work with the clerk to develop a competitive bidding process, he said. “Unfortunately, we have not succeeded.”
The county rallied for an open bidding process that selects a bank at the lowest possible price for citizens, County Administrator Craig Coffey explained in an email. However, the clerk, with staff’s consent, already issued bid documents, and banks already provided proposals based on the clerk’s lower cost factor.
“It is not a question about power,” Hadeed stressed. “It’s about cooperation during extraordinary (economic) times.”
He recommended that the board seek no legal action to regain a group dynamic in selecting banking services.
The board agreed, but was nevertheless distressed.
“I’m somewhat shocked and disappointed,” Commissioner Barbara Revels said.
Board Chairman Alan Peterson agreed that spending public funds in a legal pursuit would be unwise, but he worried that placing this responsibility onto the clerk, who also audits banking services, was counter-intuitive.
“I’m very disappointed we do not have a collegial atmosphere at the moment,” he said, noting that all the board could do is hope Wadsworth handles her new responsibility well.
Wadsworth took the podium.
“I can’t hand over my obligation to the public I serve to you, as much as you can’t hand over (yours) to me,” she told the board. “I can’t … comfortably hand you the services I was elected to perform.”
+ Free back-to-school shots offered at clinic
The Flagler County Health Department and Flagler County Schools will offer a free back-to-school shot clinic at the Flagler County Health Department, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20. Walk-ins are welcome. The Flagler County Health Department is located at 301 S. Carter St., Bunnell. Call 437-7350.
+ Corrections
• Putnam State Bank is entertaining offers for the land at Leidel and Lee drives for a potential 50-unit development, Sawgrass Villas.
• Flagler County Flight Operations revenues are projected to increase by $100,000 in the next fiscal year, while expenses should increase about $56,000, translating to a savings to taxpayers of about $44,000.
• Matilda Sapienza was born Aug. 15, 1911.
• The turtle pictured on Page 4 in the Aug. 11 issue was a green sea turtle, according to Kevin A. Marczak, a former ranger at Gamble Rogers State Recreation Area.
+ Public Meetings
Palm Coast City Council — the next budget workshop is 9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, at city offices.
Flagler County Board of County Commissioners — the next regular meeting is 9 a.m. Monday, Sept. 7, at the Government Services Building.
Flagler County School Board — the next workshop is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, at the GSB.
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