A Year in Review: What happened in Ormond Beach in 2022?

It's been an eventful year. Let's take a walk down memory lane — in photos.

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January:

  • Jan. 4: The city announces it will adjust its pay rates for employees mid-contract. This decision came after union representatives for firefighters, police and the city's employees approached the commission asking for better wages to help with employee retention and hiring. 
  • Jan. 13: The Omicron variant of COVID-19 surges in Volusia County, with cases almost doubling from the previous week. However, emergency department and hospital visits are lower than the summer of 2021.
  • Jan. 18: The City Commission turns down the Tattersall at Tymber Creek project, echoing residents' concerns about flooding. 
  • Jan. 25: The Volusia County School Board unanimously votes to approve a collective bargaining agreement with Volusia United Educators, the teacher's union, increasing the base salary for a new teacher with a bachelor's degree to $47,500, up from $44,335 in the 2020-2021 school year.
  • Jan. 28: The Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce installs its new board for 2022, with Don Grindle as its new chairman.

February:

  • Feb. 1: Detective Thomas Garcia, a 12-year veteran of the Ormond Beach Police Department, was recognized as Volusia County Crime Stoppers Officer of the Year during a City Commission meeting.
  • Feb. 8: Volusia County Council Chair Jeff Brower delivers annual State of the County address, expressing optimism for the future of the county. He issued three goals for the year: protect and improve water quality, lower the tax burden on citizens while increasing revenue sources, and allow citizens to drive on the beach without entry fees.
  • Feb. 15: Not entirely sold by any of the ideas presented for the redesign of Cassen Park, the Ormond Beach City Commission directs staff during a workshop to combine design elements from each concept before putting a bid out for a professional design firm.
  • Feb. 22: Unsure of whether to extend his contract, the Volusia County School Board decides to discuss the future of Volusia County School Superintendent Scott Fritz in a future workshop.
  • Feb. 28: The Garden Club of the Halifax Country celebrates its 100th anniversary.

March:

  • March: 4: Volusia County Councilwoman Heather Post announces she has withdrawn from the council's at-large representative race and will not seek another term in public office in the 2022 elections. She had announced in November 2021 that she planned to seek the at-large seat. 
  • March 14: Volusia County elected officials discuss creating a transportation subcommittee to address infrastructure needs amid current growth during a meeting of the Roundtable of Volusia County Elected Officials. Two months later, they decide to put the creation of a transportation subcommittee on hold — at least until January 2023.
  • March 17: Ormond MainStreet Executive Director Julia Truilo announces she will retire at the end of April after 10 years in the position.
  • March 26: Ormond Beach Historical Society holds a dedication ceremony for the new historical marker at the Nathan Cobb Cottage. The 125-year-old cottage may be the only standing building in the state constructed from the remains of a wooden schooner. 
  • March 28: Volusia County Schools Superintendent Scott Fritz announces via an email to all staff that he will not be extending his contract. 

April:

  • April 1: The Conklin Davis Center for the Visually Impaired celebrates a ribbon-cutting, marking the merger of the Conklin Center and the Center of the Visually Impaired.
  • April 5: Developer Paul Holub will gift a new outdoor basketball court to the city for the South Ormond Neighborhood Center, as announced by City Manager Joyce Shanahan during a City Commission meeting.
  • April 12: The Volusia County School Board unexpectedly fires Superintendent Scott Fritz in a 3-2 vote. The school district's director of human resources, Rachel Hazel, will serve as interim superintendent.
  • April 22: S.R. Perrott celebrates its 60th anniversary with a country bash featuring singer Jake Owen.
  • April 26: The city and the Garden Club of the Halifax Country celebrate a ribbon-cutting for the completion of Ormond Beach's first all-native plant park, Vadner Park.

May:

  • May 10: City holds contentious OB Life meeting to discuss a 600-foot airport runway extension project. One resident has to be escorted out by police after he interrupts the meeting to speak up against the extension.
  • May 15: Longtime radio host and former County Councilman Big John dies. He was 76.
  • May 17: Volusia County Schools hires its new superintendent, Carmen Balgobin.
  • May 19: Ron Rice, the "Suntan King" dies. He was 81.
  • May 30: City holds annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service, featuring former mayor and former Florida Rep. Fred Costello as guest speaker.

June:

  • June 3: Volusia County Schools celebrate the last day of school.
  • June 9: City answers questions about its proposed 600-foot airport runway extension project in a Q+A.
  • June 14: The St. Johns Water Management District board aimed to consider the sale of over 18,000 acres of conservation land, about 3,000 of which were in Volusia County, and part of the Volusia Wildlife Corridor and Volusia Conservation Corridor. After local environmentalists and elected officials raised concerns, the item was withdrawn from the board's consent agenda. On June 17, SJRWMD Board Chairman Rob Bradley tweeted that the board "has no intention of considering the sale of District lands."
  • June 17: Zone 3 City Commissioner Susan Persis is reelected for a third term since no other candidate filed to run against her by the end of the upcoming election's qualifying period.
  • June 23: Frappes Italian Grille, located in Ormond Beach's downtown, closes after 32 years in business.

July:

  • July 7: The Florida Department of Education releases school grades. Three Ormond Beach elementary schools receive an A: Pine Trail, Tomoka and Pathways.
  • July 12: Smart Growth America releases its "Dangerous by Design" 2022 report, identifying the Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach metro area ranked first.
  • July 13: Citizens for Ormond Beach holds a forum ahead of the primary election. Candidates running to represent Zone 1 on the City Commission and District 4 on the County Council participate.
  • July 19: The city and county each approve a tentative millage rate for the upcoming fiscal year. In Ormond Beach, commissioners agree to pursue a millage rate of 3.7610 mills, which is 5.8% above the rollback rate; at the county, the council plans to go to rollback.
  • July 31: Interim Fire Chief David King retires after 23 years with the Ormond Beach Fire Department.

August:

  • Aug 1: Howard Bailey takes up the reigns as the new chief of the Ormond Beach Fire Department. He was previously the fire chief for Volusia County Fire Rescue. 
  • Aug. 2: The Volusia County Council approves a $600,000 ECHO grant for the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center renovation project.
  • Aug. 12: The Federal Aviation Administration notifies the city that its $3.3 million grant for the airport runway extension project has been revoked. The city states "no further" action regarding the extension is planned. 
  • Aug. 15: Class is back in session for Volusia County students. 
  • Aug. 23: Lori Tolland wins the primary election for for the Ormond Beach City Commission Zone 1 seat with 55.17% of the vote.

September:

  • Sept. 6: The Volusia County Council unanimously approves a participation agreement with the city of Ormond Beach, the St. Johns River Water Management District and Volusia County’s Volusia Forever program to buy a 19-acre parcel of land near Riverbend Nature Park for conservation.
  • Sept. 7: The Ormond Beach City Commission looks to increase its impact fees. Some land uses, such as single-family residential, could see an increase of over 400% in road impact fees. 
  • Sept. 13: After Ted Doran received a negative evaluation, the Volusia County School Board switches its attorney to Aaron Wolfe, a partner with Doran's firm. 
  • Sept. 14: United Way presents the finding of its Focus on ALICE: Disabilities report at One Voice for Volusia; the report notes that in Volusia and Flagler County, 71.5% of families who have a child with a disability struggle to make ends meet. 
  • Sept. 29: Hurricane Ian brings historic flooding throughout Volusia County, causing over $156 million in damage to homes and businesses.

October:

  • Oct. 11: Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington delivers his annual State of the City address, saying Ormond remains "a charming oasis by the sea." 
  • Oct. 12: Citizens for Ormond Beach holds candidate forum ahead of the November general election. City Commission candidates running to become mayor and represent Zone 4, as well as those running for Volusia County Council At-Large and District 4, participate.
  • Oct. 17: Becky Parker is named the Ormond MainStreet's new executive director during the organization's annual celebration.
  • Oct. 18: The Ormond Beach City Commission approves the proposed Tattersall at Tymber Creek project in a 3-2 vote. It's the fifth time a development proposal for the 84-acre property at the northwest corner of Tymber Creek Road and Airport Road has come before the commission for review.
  • Oct. 25: Volusia County Schools reports 204 separations to date. Though instructional vacancies total 187, and support vacancies are at 243, the district states it has hired 655 new teachers.

November:

  • Nov. 1: City Commissioners Dwight Selby, Troy Kent and Rob Littleton recognized for their years in public office during their last commission meeting.
  • Nov. 9: Due to an already-weakened coastline after Hurricane Ian, Volusia County issues a mandatory evacuation order the beachside as Hurricane Nicole approaches.
  • Nov. 15: The new Ormond Beach City Commission is sworn into office.
  • Nov. 17: After being in business for 28 years, the Rossmeyer family announces it has sold Bruce Rossmeyer's Daytona Harley-Davidson and Destination Daytona at 1635 N. U.S. 1 to Teddy Morse of the Ed Morse Automotive Group,
  • Nov. 28: The Volusia County School Board swears in its reelected and newly-elected board members: Ruben Colon, Jamie Haynes and Jessie Thompson.

December:

  • Dec. 6: The Ormond Beach City Commission unanimously approves a $202,155 contract proposal from local company Zev Cohen and Associates for the design and required permitting for the Cassen Park redesign project.
  • Dec. 8: The city's Planning Board recommends a denial for the 200-unit Tymber Creek Apartments development, citing too high of a density increase.
  • Dec. 9: Volusia County announces it seeks to fire its Corrections Director Mark Flowers after the government agency reported a seven-month internal affairs investigation revealed he had created a "hostile work environment" and that he violated inmates' rights; Flowers claims he was retaliated against for blowing the whistle on inmate abuse at the jail.
  • Dec. 11: Fletcher's Irish Pub and the Live Like Cameron Foundation raise over $75,000 for children battling cancer during the third-annual Shave for the Brave fundraiser.
  • Dec. 20: Volusia County Manager George Recktenwald and County Attorney Michael Dyer will each receive a 4% raise, as approved by the Volusia County Council in two 5-1 votes after discussing performance evaluations. Outgoing council members Ben Johnson, Billie Wheeler, Heather Post, Fred Lowry and Barb Girtman, are recognized.

 

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