The Flagler County Board of County Commissioners met on February 9, 2026, for an evening session that included eight proclamations, an emotional plea from a caregiver to save an adult daycare program, a contentious settlement agreement for a disputed marina development, and the formal designation of the sheriff as the county’s chief correctional officer.
All five commissioners were present: Chair Pennington, Commissioner Dance, Commissioner Carney, Commissioner Hansen, and Commissioner Richardson.
Volunteer Recognition and Proclamations
The meeting opened with recognition of volunteers who have dedicated over 1,500 hours to removing Brazilian pepper and trash from Betty Steffick Preserve. A volunteer representative thanked his team and invited commissioners to join them at 8 a.m. the following morning.
The commissioners then approved eight proclamations. Commissioner Hansen presented a proclamation declaring February 23-27, 2026, as Invasive Species Week in Flagler County, warning that species, including feral hogs, Cuban tree frogs, and plants like Brazilian pepper, threaten native biodiversity and cause economic harm. The motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Richardson presented proclamations recognizing January 2026 as Human Trafficking Awareness Month, January 2026 as National Stalking Awareness Month, and February 2026 as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. All three proclamations passed unanimously.
Brianna Miller, residential service manager at Family Life Center, accepted the proclamations and emphasized the ongoing need for awareness. “We wish that we could just highlight February as Valentine’s Day and make it about chocolate and kisses, but there’s more,” Miller said.
Additional proclamations were approved for Flagler Auditorium’s 25th anniversary, Friends of A1A, Florida Arbor Day, and Florida State Parks.
Caregiver Pleads to Save Adult Daycare Program
During public comment, Steve Darmmo made an emotional plea to save an adult daycare program that helps his wife, Renee, who has Alzheimer’s disease. Darmmo, who will turn 83 later this month, described himself as his wife’s 24/7 caregiver.
“I found a program here in Flagler County that has helped Renee and me,” Darmmo said. “This particular program has been a lifesaver for my wife and me. Without a caretaker, she’s doomed. She’s dying right now. We all know that. I’m putting it very bluntly. I grieve every day.”
Darmmo criticized a letter directing families to seek services in St. Johns or Volusia counties instead. “Why cannot this county, as good as any other county in this state, put forth that effort, write the grants, contact our state representatives, our federal representatives, and say, ‘Listen, they need that program,’” he said. “I plead, I beg of you to reconsider getting rid of this program.”
Chair Pennington acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, saying the program has the rest of the year to be phased out. She noted that nonprofit groups have reached out about potentially taking over the program.
Youth Baseball Field Access Concerns
Demetrius McClure spoke on behalf of families seeking fair access to public baseball fields, stating that priority has been given to Flagler Babe Ruth over other organizations. He said coaches associated with travel organizations have been barred from recreational coaching settings this year.
“I’m just asking for clear and clarity and transparency across the board,” McClure said. “This community is growing, Flagler County is growing, and having those assets that we can grow not in a competitive side, but be able to do our thing as well.”
Several commissioners indicated they are working on the issue. Commissioner Richardson said she sent an email to the administration asking for all parties involved to meet. Commissioner Hansen noted that the Parks and Recreation Board has cancelled several meetings, preventing discussion of the matter.
Sheriff Designated Chief Correctional Officer
The commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance designating Sheriff Rick Staly as Flagler County’s chief correctional officer. Sheriff Staly explained that this is a statutory requirement that formalizes his existing role.
“This is probably the sheriff has been the chief correctional officer probably since 1917,” Staly said. “This is just complying with a state law that says you must designate either yourself or me.”
Staly noted that 10 counties in Florida have the board of county commissioners run the jail, but Flagler has not pursued that option. He assured commissioners that there is no additional compensation or change in duties. “I will not be taking my wife out for a big fancy dinner because I got a big pay raise tonight. Doesn’t happen,” he said.
The vote was unanimous.
Environmentally Sensitive Land Ranking Updated
Eric from the county’s land management division presented an updated list of environmentally sensitive land projects. Two new projects were added: Cedar Point, the Dupont State site on the beach side, and the Bull Creek flood plain addition. The Strickland 80 property near Hunter Ridge was removed after the property owner declined the county’s offer based on appraised value.
The motion to approve the updated ranking list passed unanimously.
Flooding Dispute in the Hernandez Avenue Area
A presentation video was shown to provide evidence of flooding at a home on Hernandez Avenue, which they attribute to a neighbor’s newly constructed driveway directing water onto an easement and toward their property during Hurricane Helene.
“My home is what is being flooded when this happens,” Tyson said, showing video of water inside their home during the storm.
An attorney representing the neighboring property owners said his clients met with county staff who determined the flooding was not coming from their property. He noted the area received 19 inches of rain during Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the most since 1917.
The commissioners took no action on the matter, which involves questions about unpermitted structures on county-owned easement property and the potential surplus of that land.
Hammock Harbor Marina Settlement Approved
The most contentious item of the evening was a proposed settlement agreement in the Hammock Harbor lawsuit. The development would create a dry-stack boat storage marina with a future restaurant on the former Newcastle Marine property along A1A.
County Attorney Rodriguez recommended approval, explaining that a special magistrate had ruled there were questions about whether requiring a special exception was proper when not explicitly provided in the code. He said continuing litigation would be costly, and the ultimate outcome would likely still permit the use.
Hammock residents strongly opposed the settlement. Kathy V expressed disappointment, saying county staff “bent over backwards to bring this development forward” even though it “has no place in the hammock.”
Laura Stillman, president of the Hammock Community Association, argued the development violates the A1A scenic corridor overlay, which prohibits boat repair establishments and outdoor storage.
Jody Ballinger presented research arguing that marinas are not similar to commercial recreation uses as permitted in C2 zoning and should require rezoning as a planned unit development.
The developer’s attorney said they negotiated the settlement in good faith and were confident they would prevail in court. He said proceeding through a special exception process would have been futile because it was not enumerated in the code for C2 zoning.
“I don’t believe in that. I think we negotiated a deal and that’s here for you,” the attorney said, declining to reopen negotiations.
Commissioner Dance expressed frustration that the special exception process was not pursued, saying it could have built goodwill with the community.
The settlement agreement was approved 3-2, with Commissioners Dance and Hansen voting no.
Other Business
The commissioners approved the consent agenda unanimously. A special meeting was scheduled for Monday, February 23, at 11 a.m., with the next regular meeting set for Monday, March 2, at 9 a.m.
Chair Pennington announced upcoming events, including the Race of the Runways at the airport on February 28 and the 11th annual POW event at Princess Place on February 28 and March 1. County offices will be closed on February 16 for Presidents’ Day.
Commissioner Richardson discussed her work on a “File of Life” initiative with fire rescue to help residents have medical information available for paramedics during emergencies, inspired by her mother’s recent passing.
Commissioner Carney reported on attending the Florida Beach Preservation Association conference, noting that St. Johns County has 10 beach nourishment projects in progress. She also mentioned that the Bunnell Police Department won both the people’s choice and judges’ awards at the Creekside chili cookoff, ending the Sheriff’s Office’s long winning streak.
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