PBO 06 2021

Page 1

Observer

300 NEW JOBS AT BOSTON WHALER 6

YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

JUNE 2021

VOLUME 7, NO. 11

State of the state of Florida A review of the major legislation passed during the 60-day legislative session that just ended. PAGE 2 BRIEFS Kiwanis’ Law Enforcement Officers of the Year

Crista Rainey

The Flagler Palm Coast Kiwanis Club held its annual Law Enforcement Officer Appreciation Luncheon and awards ceremony on May 12. Deputy First Class Crista Rainey was named Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office after being nominated by Sherif Rick Staly. Officer Dan Tobin was honored from the Bunnell Police Department, and Officer Evan Scherr was honored from the Flagler Beach Police Department

Take time to update ALERTFlagler

PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID DAYTONA BCH FL PERMIT #447

It’s been nearly three years since Flagler County rolled out its free, fine-tuned, and upgraded ALERTFlagler emergency notification system to protect residents and businesses through public safety alerts, and now officials are urging all to update their information — ahead of the need. Enroll or edit your information at www.flaglercounty.org/alertflagler.

Cleanup work was underway June 1, at the Old Dixie Motel, across the street from the entrance to Plantation Bay.

Cleanup underway at Old Dixie The new owner has agreed to clean up the property by June 3 and pass an ‘all rough’ inspection by Aug 20. “We want to give the new owner – who we believe is operating in good faith – the time to make the necessary repairs and improvements.”

Local Postal Customer

Photo by Brian McMillan

JERRY CAMERON, county administrator

JULIE MURPHY FLAGLER COUNTY PIO

An abandoned, unsafe, unsanitary, dilapidated motel has already been given a new breath of life as its new owner — 2251 S Old Dixie Hwy LLC (also the property’s address) — has paid the fines and back taxes accrued by the previous owner, and has removed dumpsters of trash. The swimming pool has been drained. “We are encouraged by how much has been accomplished in very short order,” said County Administrator Jerry Cameron. “The closing agent sent checks totaling about $70,000 to cover all of the fines and back taxes owed Flagler County and the Florida Department of Health (Flagler). This bodes well for the working relationship for the new owner.” The relationship with the previous owners — brothers Ajmal M. and Zubair M. Zulali — was frustrating at best for the many Flagler County departments, as well as the Florida Department

of Health-Flagler. Eventually the county filed a lawsuit to compel the brothers into action “to abate the nuisance,” or the buildings would be demolished. They opted to sell. “It was a masterful collaboration by the team,” Cameron said. “We had done everything we could to work with the previous owners — cajoled them, advised them, fined them — but eventually we had to enter into litigation against them to effect change.” Flagler County earlier this month entered into an agreement with the purchaser, signed by managing member David Shebiro, to ensure the conditions that pose a danger to human life and a hazard to the safety and health of the community don’t persist. The three-page document outlines the past problems and details corrective actions that must be made by the purchaser within a tight timeline ending August 20, 2021, or a cash bond of $250,000 will be required payable to the Flagler County Clerk of Courts that the county may use to

demolish the building structures. “Given the new owners performance so far, we have no reason to believe it will come to this,” Cameron said. The agreement stipulates the following will happen by June 3:  Remove all litter and debris from the property  Drain or repair and secure the pool  Erect a fence on the property to prevent the access of trespassers to the dilapidated motel site It also stipulates that the purchaser will satisfactorily pass an “all rough” inspection to include the following by August 20:  Electrical rough  Mechanical rough  Second rough plumbing  Framing The county has not dismissed the lawsuit, neither has it asked that a hearing date be set. Should the court schedule a hearing before the Aug.20 deadline, the county will seek a continuance to allow the new owner to timely complete its obligations.


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