UPDATE (03-07-19): Plans to move the homeless camp have been scrapped due to complaints from the public. Now they'll stay in place as crews try to clean up the area.
"We are now going to have those camped behind the library (on the west side) move to the north end of the property while we clean," said Flagler County Public Information Officer Julie Murphy stated. "They will then be permitted to move back to their original location. Garbage receptacles will be provided to help keep the area clean moving forward."
Earlier reporting below.
Palm Coast, FL - It's been an issue for some time at Flagler County's main branch library on Palm Coast Parkway.
Now county and City of Palm Coast officials are taking action against the estimated two dozen or so homeless people camped out in tents behind the building.
Starting tomorrow morning (March 7th) at 10 a.m., a bus will be available to move those people temporarily to a county-owned campsite in the western part of Flagler.
County spokesperson Julie Murphy says taking those people to Russell Landing should improve their current living conditions, which she describes as "difficult".
"The site at Russell Landing offers running water, electricity, toilets, a shower and a sink," Murphy noted.
Flagler General Services Director Heidi Petito tells us it's the biggest county-owned campsite with running water and electricity.
"This is not intended to be a permanent solution, but it will improve health and safety issues for the homeless while we work toward a public-private partnership that will be permanent," Petito added.
Flagler County served a "notice to vacate" to those living behind the library last Saturday (March 2), offering up Russell Landing as an alternative along with twice-daily transportation from the site to an unspecified location in Palm Coast.
"Notices were handed out individually," Murphy stated. "15 were posted strategically on site as well as within the library."
That happened after Palm Coast Code Enforcement served a notice to the county stating that the library area must be cleared of "litter, debris, vegetation, and potentially life-threatening hazards".
The people living behind the library now are being allowed to take everything they have there to Russell Landing, be it via the bus or through an enclosed trailer should it be too big to fit inside the bus, per Petito.
"We are making every accommodation we can think of to help our homeless," Petito stated. "We are moving people with their pets and following all the rules that apply to animals in our parks."
Only six people have accepted the county's offer so far, according to Murphy, and another area would be needed to house any more homeless should they take the county up on the offer.
"They have to want us to relocate them," Murphy said. "They are vetted for community safety first by the [Flagler County Sheriff's Office] for open warrants and sex offender status."
The county also committed to providing transportation to those homeless on a case-by-case basis should they need to get to work or to see a doctor.
