On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners held a detailed workshop addressing several significant county matters, specifically, the creation of an Industrial Development Authority (IDA), the ongoing county attorney recruitment process, and complex budgetary issues centering around beach management funding. The meeting discussions, applicant presentations, and active public engagement reflect the community’s vested interest in these topics.
The workshop began with remarks and the pledge to the flag, followed by a moment of silence honoring veterans and first responders, coinciding with the recently observed Memorial Day holiday. Chairpersons expressed appreciation for the assembly of commissioners, staff, and public members, noting the absence of one commissioner due to illness but highlighting the busy agenda that lay ahead.
A key focus of the meeting was the presentation on the Industrial Development Authority, led by Amy Lucasic, the county’s tourism development director. Ms. Lucasic provided a comprehensive overview of the IDA’s purpose, which is to facilitate economic development by enabling the financing and refinancing of various projects through industrial development revenue bonds. These bonds offer low-interest loans to qualifying businesses, encouraging expansion and investment within the county. The IDA board, which must consist of at least five residents and registered voters of Flagler County, is the County Government’s vision for economic vitality, leveraging non-general fund revenues to help create new growth opportunities.
Fourteen applications had been received for positions on the proposed IDA board, with several candidates presenting themselves and sharing extensive professional backgrounds from sectors such as aviation, urban planning, economic development, real estate, legal expertise, and healthcare. Among the applicants were Bruce Parker, a seasoned aviation executive with international experience; David Alfin former Mayor of Palm Coast, who stated he is an urban planning graduate student with insights into regional bonding processes; Ray Ricky, an economic development leader with a track record in municipal growth initiatives; and Richard Mileby, a developer with a history in upscale hospitality projects. The applicants articulated their connection to Flagler County, often highlighting relocation decisions motivated by lifestyle and community appeal, underscoring a collective dedication to leveraging their talents for local advancement.
The commissioners expressed admiration for the depth and diversity of expertise among the applicants, with comments recognizing the wealth of knowledge assembled and the potential impact such a board could have on the county’s economic prospects. Appreciation was also extended to community partners like the Chamber of Commerce and homeowners’ associations, which assisted in outreach efforts to secure qualified candidates.
Subsequently, the meeting shifted toward the recruitment process for the county attorney position due to the impending retirement of the incumbent, Al Hadid, in August. Deputy Administrator Jorge Selenas outlined a multi-phase hiring plan that included updating the job description, posting the vacancy on key professional platforms, and evaluating the resulting pool of applicants. Although ten individuals had applied and eight met the minimum qualifications, the commissioners voiced concerns regarding the overall quality and quantity of applicants. Discussion centered on whether to move forward with interviews or to prolong the search, incorporating suggestions about engaging a specialized recruiting firm to widen outreach, despite the associated financial costs.
Commissioner Pennington advocated for keeping the search open longer to ensure a more robust candidate pool, emphasizing the significance of longevity and trustworthiness in the county attorney role. Meanwhile, there was consensus that Deputy County Attorney Sean Moland, who had been serving in a senior capacity, should assume the position on an interim basis for 90 days beginning August 1, allowing the board to evaluate his performance in a leadership role while continuing the search. Public comments included acknowledgment of Moland’s institutional knowledge and capability, balanced by the recognition that the role demands significant administrative and legal knowledge and experience.
The most extensive discussion revolved around the county’s beach management funding, a critical issue given the chronic challenges Flagler County faces in maintaining its coastline and infrastructure amid rising costs and environmental threats. Budget Director Heidi Petito presented updated financial projections, highlighting an anticipated 9.57% increase in property valuations, equating to approximately $6.1 million in revenue. However, she detailed how much of this increase would be absorbed by rising personnel costs, insurance, and constitutional offices’ demands, leaving a limited amount of discretionary funds for new projects.
Ms. Petito outlined several funding options under consideration for implementing the Beach Management Plan, including a proposed half-cent local option sales tax distributed across the entire barrier island, a more limited unincorporated-only beach funding plan requiring recalculation of assessments, and the possibility of no new funding mechanism, which was broadly acknowledged by commissioners and public speakers as unsustainable. The workshop featured input from residents and stakeholders, some of whom stressed the urgent need to act to prevent further erosion and damage, while others expressed concerns about tax burdens and the fair distribution of costs, particularly between beach area residents and inland citizens.
Public speakers like Greg Davis from Hammock Dunes emphasized the financial strain on homeowners who have shouldered private expenses for seawalls due to lack of county action. Others highlighted the economic importance of the beach as a tourism driver for sustaining employment for nearly a quarter of the county’s workforce and advocated for shared responsibility in funding. Contrasting perspectives emerged, including residents from westside areas questioning their obligation to fund beach projects which they felt offered them minimal direct benefit.
The commissioners debated the pros and cons of the implications of each funding approach, struggling with the realities of competitive grants, legacy program funding transitions, and the necessity for a strategic, performance-based allocation model for nonprofit and community services funding. Some Commissioners underscored the challenge of balancing competing needs such as public safety, library services, infrastructure maintenance, and beach preservation within a constrained fiscal environment.
Several commissioners highlighted the political and public hurdles in proposing new taxes, referencing the difficulty of securing the four-to-one majority required for the local option sales tax and noting Palm Coast’s significant stake in the process. While some favored the comprehensive 18-mile beach funding plan, others felt the need to consider the unincorporated area-only option as a pragmatic step forward. The meeting concluded without a definitive funding decision, with plans to return to the matter in subsequent sessions once all commissioners, including those absent, were present to contribute fully.
The Flagler County Board of County Commissioners will hold another meeting soon to finalize appointments to the Industrial Development Authority, continue the county attorney recruitment process, and chart a concrete path toward beach management funding that equitably supports the county’s unique coastal assets and residents.
