- March 14, 2025
County Commissioner Nate McLaughlin fought back tears Monday, Aug. 6, as he recognized more than 30 individuals and groups, both local and beyond, who lent a helping hand in providing clean drinking water to the 2,200 residents of Daytona North.
McLaughlin’s Daytona North self-serve potable water project, code named Project Grace, was approved by the commission in April, is set to construct a $61,000 well house at the area’s Hidden Trail’s Community Center. The building of water pump-houses is taking place this week, according to Special Projects Coordinator Andy Johnson.
The approximated $6,000 annual operating costs of the well will be paid for through local property taxes.
“When you reach out, it’s amazing those who are reaching back,” McLaughlin said, before presenting certificates of appreciation to donors. “The depth to which (Daytona North residents) were suffering is what was (surprising) to me. … Every time I talk about this, I get emotional, because it’s amazing, when people are in trouble, what others will do to help.”
For nearly 30 minutes, McLaughlin called contributors to the front of board chambers, before presenting Andy Johnson, who he called a “tireless worker,” with an award, and being presented an award himself.
The final party recognized was the United Way of Volusia Flagler’s Women’s Initiative, represented by Donna Murray, who also recently joined staff at the Palm Coast Observer, and the new Ormond Beach Observer, as an account manager.
In addition to the well house, McLaughlin said, the other thing Daytona North residents requested at his first town hall meeting was “simple.” Like Flagler Beach and Palm Coast, they wanted a free movie night. There’s a licensing fee associated with those, County Administrator Craig Coffey explained. So, in response, Sheriff Candidate Jim Manfre, and his wife Cornelia, “ponied up” the fee, McLaughlin added, and the town has had free movies there for months now.
The partners
A full list of community partners, who donated or contributed to building a free, self-serve potable water well in Daytona North are as follows:
Builders First Source
Cities of Flagler Beach and Bunnell
Flagler County Chamber of Commerce & Affiliates
Flagler County Health Department
Flagler County Home Builders Association
Flagler-Palm Coast Kiwanis Club (McLaughlin said the Kiwanis was the “first ones out of the gate” to contribute)
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Florida Rural Water Association
Scott Kelley
M&M Development
Bunnell City Manager Armando Martinez
Flagler Beach City Commissioner Jane Mealy
Bunnell Mayor Catherine Robinson
Palm Coast City Councilman Frank Meeker, who also works for the St. Johns River Management District
St. Johns River Management
The office of Sen. Bill Nelson
New Coastal Homes
Mary Obrzut
Joe Pozzouli
R&K Certified Roofing of Florida
Rotary Clubs of Flagler Beach, Flagler County, Ormond Beach and Palm Coast
Rotary International, District No. 6790 (“This is the big one,” McLaughlin said. “They do a lot of water wells across the world.”)
S.E. Cline Construction
Second Harvest of North Florida
Flagler Beach Commissioner Marshall Shupe
Pastor Charles Silano (“[He] is the center of all this,” McLaughlin said.)
Town of Beverley Beach
United Way of Volusia & Flagler Counties
United Way Women’s Initiative
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ocala office
