- December 14, 2025
+ Ottati leaving Flagler to be CEO at Florida Hospital Waterman
David Ottati, current CEO for the 99-bed Florida Hospital Flagler, has accepted the position of CEO for the 269-bed Florida Hospital Waterman, in Tavares. He will officially assume responsibilities on June 10. Ottati will replace Ken Mattison, who announced recently that he would be leaving Florida Hospital Waterman to pursue other Adventist Health System opportunities.
Ottati has served with Adventist Health System since 1996 when he was selected to join the management residency program. Since that time, he has held multiple positions, including program administrator for Florida Children’s Hospital, administrator for Florida Hospital Wauchula and Florida Hospital Lake Placid.
He assumed the Florida Hospital Flagler CEO position in March 2006.
“The selection process for the new Flagler CEO will begin immediately,” said Mike Schultz, President/CEO of the Florida Region for Adventist Health System. “We want to make sure that we are intentional with the selection of the next leader, but our goal is to not make this a long or lengthy process."
+ Bunnell city attorney resigns
Sid Nowell, Bunnell’s city attorney, announced his resignation at a Monday meeting of the Bunnell City Commission. The announcement comes weeks after Commissioner John Rogers moved to fire Armando Martinez, city manager for Bunnell. The motion failed on a 3-2 vote. Nowell cited health concerns as the reason for his resignation.
+ Flagler firefighters certify in ocean rescue
Flagler County Fire Rescue is conducting courses to certify as many fire fighters as possible in ocean rescue.
Seventeen county fire fighters are already certified and six more are taking the one-week Marine Rescue Operation course. The certification is in addition to the dual certification as firefighters and paramedics all agency members hold.
“It is really important to have this training,” trainer Aaron Price said at a practice session this week at Frieda Zamba Pool. “There are 19 miles of coastline in Flagler County and that doesn’t include the fresh water lakes and the Intracoastal Waterway.”
Price is a dual certified member of the Flagler Fire/Rescue and is also a certified ocean rescue trainer. He along with Lt. Mike Pius and Lt. Andrew Hardesty were certified in ocean rescue and later certified as trainers by the St. Johns County Fire Department.
The class entails swimming 68 laps in a pool before practicing ocean rescues for two hours daily.
Upon completion of the course, the participants will be certified with the National Fire Protection Association and U.S. Life Saving Association. They will also join the ranks with fellow Flagler County Firefighters as the only department certified in Ocean Rescue in Flagler County.
