- December 16, 2025
+ Coffey: Medicaid legislation ‘very bad’ for Flagler County
If approved, new state Medicaid legislation could cost the county an additional $63,000 per month, according to County Administrator Craig Coffey.
Under the new proposal, Medicaid bills received after May 1 will be automatically deducted from local governments’ half-cent sales tax — with a 15% reduction — regardless of whether the charge is in dispute by officials. There would be an appeal process for these claims, Coffey told the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners in a March 5 workshop, but all funds would be deducted first. Should the county contest that the charge came from a non-county resident or any other reason, Coffey and County Attorney Al Hadeed would then need to travel to Tallahassee, go before a board and make a case for a refund.
Staff estimates county impact at about $13,500 per month in revenue sharing and about $50,645 in half-cent sales tax.
“This … is going to be a very bad thing for us,” said Coffey, who recently penned a letter to the state in opposition to the bill (read the full letter at www.PalmCoastObserver.com).
“I suspect that every county in the state is going to fight this one,” added Commissioner Alan Peterson.
+ County buys new 3,000-gallon tanker
Replacing an 20-year-old, 1,000-gallon vehicle currently in use by the county, staff has purchased a new 3,000-gallon Rosenbauer water supply tanker for $349,482.
“From (1982), the standards have changed tremendously,” Fire Rescue Chief Don Petito said. “(The tanker) will be more unique to our situation in the west side of the county, (where there are fewer hydrants). … It’s a special-order truck, and it’s made just for Flagler County.”
+ County contract: $30,000 non-violent drug offender rehab
The Flagler County Board of County Commissioners approved the Stewart-Marchman Act, of Daytona Beach, to provide a judicially led, treatment-driven collaboration with the county for rehabilitation services to non-violent drug offenders and their families. The contract is for $30,000.
“These funds are kind of dwindling, but we continue to seek grants to provide the service,” said Deputy County Administrator Sally Sherman.
Sherman also praised high school students who perform anti-drug presentations at middle schools. The students will perform a skit at the county’s prescription drug forum 6 p.m. Thursday, March 8, at the Emergency Operations Center.
+ Former fire officer jailed for sexual battery on minor
Mark Fowler, a former lieutenant with Flagler County Fire Rescue, has been charged with capital sexual battery on a victim younger than 12.
Fowler, 41, was arrested Thursday in Valdosta, Ga., by the U.S. Marshals Service, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. The charges are the result of an investigation that showed the victim was molested during a two- to three-year period while Fowler lived in Putnam County.
+ Design for Matanzas interchange: $668,000
A $668,651.43 first-phase design-and-permitting contract with HDR Engineering Inc. for an Interstate 95/Matanzas Woods Parkway interchange was approved Monday, March 5, by the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners. The second phase of the study is under review by the Federal Highway Administration.
According to County Administrator Craig Coffey, this design phase is expected to last about a year. Funds for construction should be available from the state in 2014.
+ Economic-development director starts in Flagler
New Economic Development Director Helga van Eckert introduced herself to the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners March 5.
Van Eckert’s first meeting with the Economic Opportunity Advisory Council took place Feb. 29, when the group toured the Whitney Lab and heard a presentation from the Palm Coast Business Assistance Center and Flagler Technical Institute.
+ Corrections
Gaje Pou is co-owner of Asian Armor Tattoo Co.
Patrick and Maureen Flanagan have five children.
The 70-centimeter MRI at Florida Hospital Flagler was the first of its kind in Florida made by General Electric. However, Radiology Associates already has a 70-centimeter MRI made by a different vendor.
+ Public meetings
Palm Coast City Council — the next regular workshop is 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 13, at city offices.
Flagler County Board of County Commissioners — the next regular meeting is 5 p.m. Monday, March 19, at the Government Services Building.
Flagler County Economic Opportunity Council — the next regular meeting is 9 a.m. April 4, at the Emergency Operations Center.
Flagler County School Board — the next regular workshop/meeting is 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, at the Government Services Building..
Prescription Drug Forum — a community forum on prescription drug abuse, featuring guests Sheriff Don Fleming, United Way President Ray Salazar, Circuit Judge Joseph G. Will and Stewart Marchman-Act Behavioral Healthcare CEO Chet Bell, will be 6 p.m. Thursday, March 8, at the Emergency Operations Center.
