- November 18, 2024
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The city would like to meet with the county to create a plan of attack for getting the beach renourishment project funded.
The Flagler Beach City Commission plans to meet with the Flagler County Commission in June or July to work out details of the planned Army Corps of Engineers beach renourishment project, including who will pay for any lobbyists sent to Washington, D.C. to press for project funding, and how the project will deal with city- and privately-owned beach walkovers.
Flagler Beach Commissioner Steve Settle said the city needs to meet with the county to discuss what Congress will evaluate when it considers funding for the renourishment project.
Flagler Beach Commission Chairwoman Carney said the Flagler Beach City Commission could send someone to Washington, D.C., but needs to be sure that would be a sensible use of taxpayer dollars.
“Why should our taxpayers spend all that money for a trip to D.C. if they don’t want us there?” she said.
Carney said the county doesn’t have a regular federal lobbyist, and suggested that if it decides to use federal lobbying firm Marlowe and Co., the county should pay for it.
The County Commission held a special meeting Monday, May 19, to discuss the renourishment plan. County Administrator Craig Coffey said at that meeting that he would like to know if the Flagler Beach Commission is united in support of the Army Corps plan.
Carney and Flagler Beach Commissioner Marshall Shupe sat in on the county meeting but did not address the County Commission.
“They want to hear from us, ‘We want you to proceed,’” Carney said.
The city and county also need to determine how to deal with beach walkovers that sit on land needed for the project, she said.
“I want them to say, ‘Our plan is not to take your stuff, our plan is to come in with an easement, a perpetual easement. This is how we get to a perpetual easement,’” she said. “There’s a lot of property down there that doesn’t belong to the city of Flagler Beach, and the county knows that."
The Flagler Beach City Commission agreed to request a meeting with the County Commission.
