- October 10, 2024
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In February, the Florida Department of Transportation conducted an inspection at the Ormond Beach Municipal Airport that identified obstructions at the ends of the end of each runway.
FDOT then asked the city to conduct an aeronautical survey and prepare an obstacle action plan. The Federal Aviation Administration has advised the city to prioritize the project, according to a summary in the City Commission’s Sept. 20 consent agenda.
But commissioners are opting to wait — at least until the project can go through an official bidding process.
“I’m not overly impressed with Hoyle and Tanner,” Mayor Bill Partington said. “I think there’s been some big concerns raised about their work.”
City staff had requested the commission approve a $118,700 work authorization for engineering consultant firm Hoyle, Tanner and Associates, Inc. for the survey. The firm has worked on several airport projects for decades.
Resident Sharon Trescott, whose property in unincorporated Volusia County abuts the airport, spoke before the commission at its Sept. 20 meeting and asked them to delay awarding the work authorization until they learned more about the project. She said that she and other residents who live by the airport have been going back and forth with the FAA regarding obstructions as documents presented by Hoyle, Tanner and Associates show discrepancies about the boundaries of their properties.
She presented the commission with the original 1942 airport survey.
“I don’t think you all have really realized what we’ve been through out there,” Trescott said.
Partington said he wanted to hear more about what Trescott had to say regarding inconsistencies.
Two other speakers at the meeting — Lindsey Pate and Rebecca Mangali — urged the city to bid out the project to grant opportunities to other firms.
Airport Manager Steven Lichliter said the city primarily uses Hoyle, Tanner and Associates because it specializes in smaller general aviation airports.
Most of the cost of project — 98% — would be funded thanks to two grant, one from the FAA and the other from FDOT. The city’s contribution would have been $2,374.
Though identified as a high priority item, city Economic Development Director Brian Rademacher said typically, FDOT’s expectation for addressing issues raised during an inspection is that they will be resolved prior to the next inspection.
The city’s next inspection is in February.
The Ormond Beach City Commission voted 4-1 to adopt a 4.16% tax rate increase at the final budget hearing on Sept. 20.
The total millage rate of 4.0060 mills (or $4.0060 per $1,000 in taxable property value) is 13.71% above the rollback rate, or the rate that generates the same amount of tax revenue as the previous year. Mayor Bill Partington voted against. He previously said he believed the tax rate increase to be too high for residents.
The tax rate increase accounts for additional funds for Leisure Services and the city’s Facilities Renewal and Replacement fund. The city states the millage rate will generate $500,000 in more funding for Leisure Services and $300,000 more for the R&R fund.
The additional dollars will help with field improvements and maintenance projects at Nova Community Center and the Ormond Beach Sports Complex, such as the reconstruction of fields two through five at Nova Rec and a softball quad lighting project at the sports complex.
No one spoke in favor of, or against, the increase at the hearing.
Volusia County’s Tree Replacement Trust will hold a tree planting event at Tymber Creek from 7:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 30.
The planting will take place at the community’s retention pond, located north of the Tymber Creek Subdivision entrance on North Tymber Creek Road.
The county will be planting 30 trees to help create shade and canopy around the pond, according to an event flyer.
Volunteers are needed and should bring sunscreen, a hat, water and bug spray. The county will provide garden tools.
To sign up, call Anna Copeland at 386-736-5927 ext. 12728, or email [email protected].
Ormond Beach Police Detective Jessica Fowler was recognized as the department’s nominee for Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida’s Officer of the Year on Thursday, Sept. 14.
Ormond Beach Firefighter Mikayla Laks was recently granted lead paramedic status after passing the Volusia County Medical Director’s Paramedic clearing process.
The city’s Board of Adjustment and Appeals and Planning Board meetings in October have been canceled due to no applications.
