The Flagler County BOCC heard a prompt presentation by Flagler County Executive Airport Director Roy Sieger updating the County on the noise issues. Sieger explained they have asked for new noise studies, but have been turned down. Gray Robinson’s Demand letter was read at the meeting, highlighting the demands of local residents. Residents demanded that the airport require flight schools to cease touch and go operations, and flights that involve low flowing low over Quail Hollow and Seminole Woods. The letter continued demanding the airport require flights to stay above 500 feet when over these residential areas. They also stated they wanted a hotline directly to airport staff to allow for communication when planes violate the above requirements. Sieger stated that the first two points are not feasible, because they do not have the authority to decide what kind of flights are allowed at the airport or not. They are already working on addressing these issues with pilots and flights that are not in line with the recommendations that the airport has put out. The FAA is in charge of airspace and air traffic management, not Flagler County Airport. The Flagler County Airport has assurances to follow from the FAA in order to receive the grants they receive. FDOT also has assurances similar to the FAA assurances. When it came to noise, the FAA responded to two residents concerns regarding the noise, stating that “noise from aircraft in your area is unavoidable.”
Following public comment, the board heard discussions by the County staff, the sheriff, public, and Carver Center representatives about the Sheriff PAL program utilizing the Carver Center for their programs. There is an inter-local agreement between Flagler County, Flagler Sheriff, Flagler Schools and the Carver Center Board. The sheriff stated that he has heard some of the rumors regarding this agreement, and he stated on record that the PAL program is not looking to take over the Carver Center, but rather to partner with them to offer more programs to children in the area. The county voted to approve the interlocal agreement 5-0.
The BOCC passed the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee’s report unanimously before they moved on to reconsider the position of Heather Haywood on the planning board. No new records have been presented since the last meeting, Deputy County Attorney stated they did have a few screen shots of text messages as well as Facebook messages from someone impersonating Greg Hansen. Ms. Haywood was at the meeting, and stated that one of the board members has been slandering her since June. Ms. Haywood has insinuated that the person slandering her was a female. She claimed that this person has been spreading misinformation and stated that there would be three vacancies on the board because of this harassment and slander. Ms. Haywood stated that she did in fact send everything requested of her as soon as she was able to. Hansen again stated that he did not ever communicate with Ms. Haywood, despite her earlier statements that she did talk to him. Hansen moved to remove Ms. Haywood from the board and Pennington seconded the motion. The board voted unanimously to remove her from the board. Commissioner Dance apologized to Ms. Haywood about how the matter unfolded, but he felt the public records request and the lack of timeliness with it was not acceptable.
