- October 29, 2024
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Updated 11:18 a.m. June 11
The city of Palm Coast decided early in the pandemic that it would not shut off water for homes that are behind on their bills. In the meantime, the city is working on ways to help.
City Manager Matt Morton explained, during the June 10 Virtual Town Hall meeting, that the federal CARES Act did not apply to counties with populations under 500,000, so no federal dollars were offered initially.
(Hours later on June 10, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that the state would disburse up to $1.2 billion in CARES Act funding for smaller counties, with some stipulations.)
“We’re not stopping there,” Morton said.
He explained that the city has worked proactively with the Community Development Block Grant program and secured a grant of about $90,000 to help families with low to moderate income pay utility bills in the coming months. That grant should be available in July.
The city's utility is granting money to Flagler County Human Services, and the city’s Customer Service Department can also direct customers to grant-providing agencies, to help pay utility bills. Palm Coast has also worked with Flagler County to lobby Tallahassee to obtain CARES Act funding.
“At some point, we will be back to shutoffs, but for now we’ve taken a very proactive approach … to assist our residents with utility bills,” Morton said. In an email after the meeting, he said shutoffs would ultimately resume "as we move into/toward Phase III." In the meantime, "we are focused on service provision and public safety as the first steps."
There will be no late fees or penalties for the time being.
“I’m sure that’s going to go a long way to help our residents who are struggling with the pandemic,” Mayor Milissa Holland said.
Morton also said the city is working on a plan to reopen the Community Center. In conjunction with Flagler County, some camps are resuming June 15, and extra sanitizing protocols will be put in place to make those who are 65 and older feel comfortable. Some group activities that would normally take place in a large room will be divided into smaller groups in smaller rooms.
Fire Chief Jerry Forte said during the Town Hall meeting that limited city staff will begin working in City Hall as of June 15. (Fire crews will also begin training together again.)
Morton gave a glowing review of virtual services, such as permitting, offered during the pandemic.
“The transition to virtual … continues to be absolutely tremendous,” he said.
June 17 will be the last Virtual Town Hall. On June 24, Holland will present her State of the City address.
