Palm Coast, FL - Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly is still waiting for more workspace for his employees more than a year after he completely evacuated the East Moody Boulevard location because of mold and other health hazards last June.
In an effort to move things along, Staly wrote a letter to the Flagler County Board of Commissioners, reiterating the information that the Florida Attorney General's Office has stated that the county is under a duty to provide office space at no charge to county constitutional officers. Staly added in the letter: "The current temporary arrangement is not even remotely adequate and my employees cannot continue to operate in these conditions."
In the letter to the County Commissioners, Staly said that his employees' ability to serve the community is severely impaired due to a shortage of space. The Operations Center had 35,000 square feet of space as opposed to the current space of less than 6,000 square feet to work in. He said the new facilities being built in Palm Coast and Bunnell are great long term solutions but his office needs space now.
Staly said that there is more space available in the Courthouse. The problem is that the extra space is divvied up between other county agencies. He said it is the County's responsibility to find the space for the Sheriff's Office and that he believes the County Commission is in violation of the law by not making the space available.
An expensive lease for temporary space is not recommended by Staly. He said that's not in the best interest of the taxpayer. Staly went on to say that this situation can no longer be allowed to continue with no resolution in sight. It's time to take real action with a realistic temporary and cost-effective solution.
The Flagler County Commission has a discussion of the Sheriff's office space on the agenda for their next regular meeting on Monday, July 15 at 5 p.m.
