- December 15, 2025
Flagler County got one step closer to expanding its jail Monday after the County Commission approved a $1.05 million agreement to work on the design, permitting and related activities for adding more beds and space to the Flagler County Inmate Facility.
The continuously overcrowded jail has been one of the County Commission’s main priorities over the last 12 months. But under the proposed design, eight new pods would add about 250 more cells.
“It’ll also provide the ongoing manpower savings that often kill jail projects when they aren’t designed properly,” County Administrator Craig Coffey said Monday.
The state has also approved allocating $150,000 for the jail expansion.
Coffey said the new design also includes expandability of up to 1,000 beds over the long term, which could mean going several stories up.
The $1.05 million is a fixed price that will be funded by sales tax, officials said, regardless of what happens during the design process. The new cells won’t be available for another 2.5 or three years, Coffey said. In total, the project could cost between $12.5 million and $15 million.
Flagler County Undersheriff Rick Staly said the current inmate facility is not in compliance with many state and federal regulations.
“What you’re going to get as we go through this process is a very efficient jail,” Staly said. “One of our concerns is more people means more money, and we’d like to make the jail as efficiently as possible — both in energy and staffing.”
The contract was approved 4-1, with County Commissioner Frank Meeker in dissent. Meeker said he thought much of the preliminary work could have been done in-house, which would have saved money.
“I just want you to know that because of my concerns on this and to make sure that I’m hammering my issue home: It’s not that I’m against the project, I know what you need to do, (Rick), I know what needs to happen,” Meeker said. “But to make sure my concerns are heard, I will be voting against this motion.”
Commissioners recognize Cauley
More than 20 employees of the Flagler County Public Works department lined the back wall of the County Commission chambers Monday morning as Public Works Director Benjie Cauley was honored.
Cauley, who was hired by Flagler County on Aug. 2, 1976, as a carpenter for the roads and bridge department, is set to retire this year after 37 years.
“I just want to say that you made Bunnell High School proud,” County Commissioner Barbara Revels said. “There are a few in the room who attended Bunnell High School like me, but congratulations on a wonderful career.”
Cauley said his crew of about 20 full-time employees is his “core.”
“I couldn’t have done it without them,” he said. “I appreciate it.”
