- December 26, 2024
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Volusia County is hoping that $10 million of state funds allocated to the Florida Department of Commerce will help relocate Belvedere Terminals' proposed fuel farm at 874 Hull Road near the city of Ormond Beach.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the "Focus on Florida" fiscal year 2024-2025 budget on Wednesday, June 12. The budget totals $116.5 billion. The budget, according to a press release, prioritizes tax relief for citizens, the state's education system, law enforcement, disaster preparedness, economic development and environmental conservation.
“This budget delivers historic support for education, infrastructure, and conservation, yet spends less than the year before and includes major tax relief,” DeSantis said in a press release.
Volusia County stated in a press release that the $10 million of funding "could potentially fund the relocation of a fuel storage and distribution terminal currently proposed to be located in Ormond Beach to a more appropriate site in Volusia, Brevard, or Flagler County. ... Volusia County will only apply for the funding if the applicant cooperates in relocating the terminal to an alternate location."
“Volusia County is grateful to the governor, the state Legislature, and the Volusia County Legislative Delegation for responding to our request for funding and their support in helping to solve the community’s concern and potentially relocate the fuel terminal to a more suitable location,” County Manager George Recktenwald said.
Belvedere plans to build a fuel terminal at 874 Hull Road consisting of three tanks with about 300,000 barrels of fuel storage on site, or about 12.6 million gallons.
Citizens have been pushing back against the proposed fuel terminal since becoming aware of it in August 2023. They have cited concerns surrounding safety, quality of life and the environment, due to the proposed location's proximity to local neighborhoods, the city's municipal airport and the Ormond Beach Sports Complex.
The state budget also allocated $2.1 million to Volusia County for the expansion of its emergency operations center in Daytona Beach. The expanded area, the county stated, will function as a dual-purpose saferoom during emergencies and a training area during non-emergency periods. The facility will be enhanced to include bunk space for 70 people and equipped with necessary restroom facilities.
