Three top funding priorities of Flagler County’s are set to receive funding, pending approval by Governor Ron DeSantis. Improvements to the Agriculture Museum on Old Kings Rd, extended sewer systems on the barrier island, and Flagler Central Commerce Parkway are all set to receive millions in funding under this proposal.
Flagler’s two representatives in the state legislature, Senator Travis Hutson and Representative Paul Renner, were driving forces behind the allotment of these funds. They will be divvied up as follows:
- Septic to Sewer Conversion Project – $8 million
- Flagler Central Commerce Parkway – $6.8 million
- Florida Agricultural Museum Expansion Project – $4.5 million
“This is fabulous news for the residents of Flagler County,” said County Commission Chair Joe Mullins in a press release. “Senator Hutson and Representative Renner did a great job fighting for us. This is tens of millions of dollars that will be coming into our county instead of going elsewhere.”
His sentiments were echoed by Commissioner Greg Hansen, who spoke to AskFlagler in more depth about the proposals. “The [Agriculture] Museum has traditionally underfunded,” he said. “It has been operating very close to the profit-loss margin for a long time. But they have a vision, and we at the county are supporting that vision.” The Agriculture Museum, located at the northernmost tip of Flagler County, showcases agricultural history from across the state of Florida.
The sewage extension project covers territory in Flagler County east of the Matanzas River. For Commissioner Hansen, the grant is a relieving development after years of attempts. “We’ve tried and we’ve tried and we’ve tried, and we’ve gotten little bits of money here and there,” he said. “We successfully got it to Jungle Hut [Road], then the next piece that we’re starting on right now is to get it from Jungle Hut up to Bing’s Landing.”
Commerce Parkway is located off SR-100 in Bunnell, near Wendy’s and the Government Services Building. It’s the selected site which is slated to have Flagler’s new upcoming public library. Flagler Public Library Director Holly Albanese presented to the Board of County Commissioners in a January workshop meeting, outlining floor plans and cost estimates which this money could go towards.
Only a signature from Governor Ron DeSantis (himself a Flagler County product) is pending for these three projects to receive their multi-million dollar funding boosts.
