- November 7, 2024
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Palm Coast's new City Council: Heidi Shipley, Nick Klufas, Milissa Holland, Steven Nobile and Robert Cuff. (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland takes the oath of office Nov. 15. (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
Palm Coast City Councilman Nick Klufas takes the oath of office Nov. 15. (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
Palm Coast City Councilman Bob Cuff takes the oath of office Nov. 15. (Photo by Jonathan Simmons)
Two new council members and the city’s new mayor took their oaths of office and their seats at the dais Nov. 15 to the sounds of applause and bagpipes at the city's regular council meeting at City Hall.
Newly sworn-in Mayor Milissa Holland thanked the public, expressed her gratitude to outgoing Mayor Jon Netts and Palm Coast’s first mayor, Jim Canfield, and called Palm Coast “a city we can all be proud of.”
“We are a culturally diverse community, one that we should honor and celebrate at all turns,” said Holland, a former Flagler County Commissioner and Palm Coast’s first female mayor.
New council member Nick Klufas, the council’s youngest-ever member, said the city’s future is bright and that he’s “looking forward to doing great things with a great council and a great mayor.”
Council member Robert Cuff, who has been seated with the council for about eight weeks in an interim capacity after his predecessor Bill McGuire stepped down before the end of his term, thanked the public, outgoing Mayor Jon Netts and outgoing City Councilman Jason DeLorenzo, and joked, “At last, I have a little seniority. Eight weeks isn’t much, but I’ll take what I can get.”
The Coastal Florida Police and Fire Pipes and Drums played God Bless America during the change-over ceremony.
The five-member council’s two senior members are now Steve Nobile and Heidi Shipley, who were both elected in 2014.
In his parting remarks, Netts — who was elected mayor in 2007 after serving on the council since 2001 and on the city's code enforcement board for two years prior, and was barred from running or mayor again due to term limits — implored the newly-seated council to look to the vision of the city’s founders as the council shapes its its future.
“Your first mayor and council spent time to articulate a vision for our community,” he said. “Their vision was that Palm Coast would be a premier city to live, work and play. … We’ve been fortunate, and we remain fortunate, in that our citizens have elected people who share this vision. … To our new mayor and new city council members: As you make decisions about the future of Palm Coast, don’t forget to look back once in a while.”
Jim Landon, the city manager, praised Netts, calling him “on the top shelf” of elected officials, and also praised DeLorenzo, saying that he’d enjoyed watching DeLorenzo, one of the council’s younger members, grow into his role. Landon said he looked forward to working with the new council.
“It feels new and fresh, and that’s a good thing,” Landon said. “I like what I’m hearing, and believe we will work very well together.”
