FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – Flagler FIND Commissioner Randy Stapleford hosted the October Florida Inland Navigation District Community Outreach event at the Palm Coast Community Center attracting upwards to 140 attendees, including 3 judges and many elected officials.
Kicked off by the pledge of allegiance by County VSO David Lydon, followed by the National Anthem beautifully sung by 9-year-old Laurel Duffy, and ending with the infamous Vince Cautero singing Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.” Cesar Romero provided his gift of soft background songs and music during the event. The event wine was generously donated by Ken and Kelly Tarsitano of Flagler Winery/A1A distilleries, Flagler Beach.
Commissioner Stapleford started with the introduction of elected officials and asked for each FIND County Commissioner and FIND Staff to come forward for introductions. Stapleford gave a brief overview of the FIND economic benefits to Flagler County followed by a grant check presentation 0f $302,000 to Flagler County for the BINGS landing project. Executive Director Janet Zimmerman concluded with an overview of the FIND mission and economic impact to Florida.
The following day the FIND Commission met at the Flagler Beach Chambers. As a taxing authority, FIND has two Grants program specific to the taxes levied on each county – “Waterway Assistance Program (WAP) and Capitol Assistance Program (CAP).” Flagler County is unlike other counties in many ways. Flagler County has significantly fewer launching facilities and boat ramps, public boat docking and mooring facilities, public fishing and viewing piers, boardwalks and waterfront parks, marinas, waterway environmental education facilities, and service/fueling stations.
Up until this October FIND Commission meeting dredging of “man-made” canals have not qualified for WAP grants. WAP grants are designed to “enhance waterway access” and to improve public access to the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Flagler FIND Commissioner Stapleford has underscored this mission statement since his appointment by Governor DeSantis. His persistence paid off.
The Board of Commissioners, having previously, and exhaustively, discussed the WAP grant program, more specific to public canals, voted favorably to include public canals into the WAP grant program. The provisions of this change are below:
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Public Navigation: Projects or project elements in the category of public navigation that will qualify for up to seventy-five percent (75%) program funds must be within the Intracoastal Right-of-Way (ROW),or provide public navigation channel access to two or more publicly accessible launching, mooring or docking facilities. Navigation channel lighting and markers must be located on primary or secondary public navigation channels. Navigation projects or project elements that have one facility open to the public will qualify for up to fifty percent (50%) program funding. Dredging that is associated or ancillary to another use (such as a boat ramp, marina or pier) will be prioritized according to the associated use. Dredging of a canal or channel not associated with another use (such as a boat ramp, marina or pier) that does not provide access to at least one publicly accessible launching, mooring or docking facility will be prioritized as “other waterway related project”.
Bings Landing project funds. -
Other waterway related projects. Waterway projects that do not meet specific criteria in subsection 66B-2.005(5) or (6) or subparagraphs 66B-2.008(1)(a)1.-16., F.A.C., but are located on eligible waterways shall be considered for funding under the priority listing of “other waterway related project” and eligible for 25% funding. except that a county with a population under 250,000 according to the Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research shall be eligible for 50% funding for navigation dredging projects. In addition, navigation dredging projects in man-made canals shall require the following: (a) the local government sponsor shall have an approved placement facility for storage, processing and/or disposal of dredged material; (b) the local government sponsor shall establish a long term dredge material management plan for the public man-made canals in its jurisdiction; and (c) the local government sponsor shall provide at least fifty percent (50%) of the required matching funds through general taxes or special assessment of the benefitted properties.
Flagler County, but specifically the city of Palm Coast, has been pursuing every avenue available to tackle the issues of public canal dredging. Although the 50/50 FIND WAP grant is not the funding end-all for canal dredgings, it does help in the heavy cost burdens of such a large-scale project.
Commissioner Stapleford’s appointment to FIND by Governor Ron DeSantis has done well for our county and cities. Flagler has benefited in countless ways with the many associated waterway grants that FIND has afforded our County and cities.
