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Flagler County prioritizes mental health facility, library grant for legislative session

News-Journal - 11/17/2020

The Flagler County Commission listed funding for a mental health facility and supporting a grant to build a larger library as two of its top priorities during a workshop and special meeting Monday afternoon.

Commissioners discussed, ranked and approved policy and funding priorities they plan to pursue during the upcoming legislative session, which begins March 2.

Holly Albanese, library director and legislative liaison, shared the eight policy priorities and four funding priorities during the meeting. Commissioners added a fifth funding priority at the end of the meeting.

Policy priorities ranked in order by the commission:

Support the Legislature appropriation funding for the Public Library Construction Grant Program so the county can construct a larger library and fill a gap in the underserved southern part of the county. Support affordable and high-speed internet. Flagler County’s rural areas have limited internet access which is impacting children’s access to school, access to telemedicine and public safety, and is hurting expanding business opportunities. This support would help create a comprehensive plan and public funding to improve infrastructure. Increase the Small County Consolidated Solid Waste Grant population cap. This will allow Flagler County to continue receiving grant funding, which it has received since 2007, and support the operations of the Solid Waste Program and maintain the status quo for residential collection rates. Continue support of the SCRAP and SCOP grant programs to assist small counties in paving farm-to-market roads. Flagler County already receives millions of dollars from these programs each year and funds the bulk of the county’s entire capital improvement program. This will allow the county to continue constructing new roads, improving existing roads and replacing any other infrastructure failure because of age or breakdown of the system. Protect and increase funding for the State of Florida Transportation Disadvantaged Program, a coordinated statewide effort which groups riders together for a shared ride service. This will continue the service in Flagler County and allow more individuals without means of transportation to access medical care, employment, food, education or other life-sustaining needs. Restore and protect Florida’s Housing Trust Funds. In Flagler County, State Housing Initiatives Partnership funds are used for repair of existing housing stock to allow seniors to age in place and to provide retrofitting for persons with special needs or disaster assistance for critical home repairs. This will allow the county to continue helping seniors, the disabled and those who are displaced. Maintain short-term vacation rental legislation status quo. Maintain the status quo in regards to local government regulations for short-term vacation rental legislation. Continue to support home rule. Continue to encourage the State Legislature in seeking local government input on all legislative matters that have the potential to directly impact local communities.

Funding priorities ranked in order by the commission:

Collaborative project to create a mental health drop-in center in Flagler County: Requested funding: $245,000. Since 2017, Flagler County has had the highest suicide rate in Florida. This would provide funding for the first year of operations, allowing the county time to apply for grants and to create a public-private partnership known as the Flagler County Behavioral Health Consortium. This consortium moving forward will create a funding mechanism through donations from local nonprofits and public entities for future sustainability. West Flagler County Stormwater Management Planning Project: Requested funding: $ 500,000. This will provide direction for developing flood mitigation projects to improve quality of life and protect against future flood-related property damage in western Flagler County. It will also generate a roadmap for long-term mitigation solutions. Sewer connections on the barrier islands: Funding request $2 million. This was not initially on the list of funding priorities but was added at the last minute by the commission. This would fund planning and design for the project. Willow Woods Potable Water and Coastline Resiliency Project: Requested funding - $1.6 million. This project will provide long-term access to a reliable source of clean drinking water for existing and future Willow Woods community residents along with controlled disposal of household effluent invariably improving coastline resiliency. Plantation Bay Water and Wastewater Utility Subsidy Relief: Requested funding - $550,000. This will assist with the cost of the two-year subsidy the county must pay and will allow Flagler County to turn over the utility to the Florida Governmental Utilities Authority so it can continue to make major capital improvements to the water and wastewater plants without increasing utility user rates. If it does not get funding from the state, the county will need to use its reserves to pay the $550,000.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Flagler County prioritizes mental health facility, library grant for legislative session

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