Author: Keith Jones

3^rd Annual – “Toys for Tickets Program”

The Flagler Beach Police Department is proud to announce the annual “Toys for Tickets” program will once again be repeated this holiday season!  Citizens who receive a warning citation for a traffic infraction or parking offense will have the opportunity to donate a toy in lieu of paying a fine. Citizen participation in this program is 100% voluntary.

Beginning Monday, November 13, 2017 and continuing through Tuesday, December 12, 2017, Flagler Beach Police Department Officers, at their discretion, will be issuing “toy waivers” along with warning citations for non-criminal State traffic and/or City parking offenses.  The “toy waiver” allows the motorist to donate a new, unwrapped toy to “Christmas Come True” instead of facing a potential civil fine.

“Christmas Come True” is a non-profit organization based in Flagler Beach, whose mission is “to provide a complete Christmas experience for area resident parents who are unable to financially afford a traditional Christmas for their families.”

Motorists who voluntarily choose to participate in the program will be instructed to drop off a new, unwrapped toy, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at:

Flagler Beach Police Department

204 South Flagler Avenue

Flagler Beach, FL 32136

“The response to this program the last two (2) years has been overwhelming and heartwarming,” stated Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt Doughney.   “The positive public reaction and their willingness to participate in the “Toys for Tickets” program is what the spirit of the holiday’s are all about” Doughney continued.  “Gaining compliance with traffic laws and parking ordinances is always our goal and creating a positive holiday memory for a child in need is a fringe benefit that we can all be proud of at the end of the day.”

For additional information regarding this year’s program, please contact Chief Doughney at (386) 517-2020.

#FlaglerBeach   #ToysforTickets

“250 pounds of Prescription Drugs Collected”

 

Yesterday afternoon Agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) retrieved 250 pounds of unused and/or expired prescription medications collected by the Flagler Beach Police Department. The collected prescription medications will be disposed of properly by the DEA.

 

Some of the prescription medications that were dropped off by citizens were collected on Saturday, October 28, 2017 in connection with National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.  Additional prescription medications that were turned over to the DEA were done so over the past six (6) months, in conjunction with our CVS/pharmacy Drug Collection Unit initiative.

 

Chief Matt Doughney stated “Our participation in the bi-annual DEA National events coupled with our daily Drug Collection Unit helps to keep our City safe. Opioid addiction can lead to a variety of problems and working with the DEA to collect and properly dispose of prescription medications is extremely important to the safety of our community”.

 

If you have any questions about National “Prescription Drug Take Back Day”, please feel free to contact Chief Doughney at (386) 517-2020.

Sign up deadline for FEMA assistance extended

 

October 30, 2017 – Residents in need of disaster assistance have been granted more than an additional two weeks to apply with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

 

The deadline for Individual Assistance has been extended from Thursday, November 9 to Friday, November 24 – the day after Thanksgiving.

 

“This is very good news for our residents,” said Sally Sherman, Flagler County’s acting Public Safety Emergency Manager. “While we certainly don’t recommend that anyone wait until the last minute to file an application, many people have the day after Thanksgiving off work and may be able to use this time to get the applications completed.”

 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved the extension late last week.

 

“In light of the number of new daily registrations and FEMA’s history of granting extensions in similar disasters, I request the State be granted an additional 15-day extension for Individual Assistance registration,” wrote Willie G. Nunn, Federal Coordinating Officer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

 

Residents can register with FEMA online at https://www.disasterassistance.gov. The FEMA helpline number is 800-621-3362, and TTY users can call 800-462-7585.

 

The closest Disaster Recovery Center for Flagler County residents is located at the Putnam County Fairgrounds in East Palatka – 118 Fairgrounds Road – State Road 100 west to U.S. 17.

 

The hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today through Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, November 5.

 

Officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Small Business Administration (SBA) will answer questions and assist residents with applications. The SBA will help both residents and businesses apply for low-interest loans.

 

End of Free Yard Waste and Debris Removal

Hurricane Irma impacted our community on September 11, 2017 and the City of Flagler Beach has worked diligently to pick up storm related yard waste and construction debris over the past six plus (6+) weeks.

Crowder Gulf: Disaster Recover & Relief was contracted by the City to pick up storm related yard waste and construction debris and they’ve completed their contractual obligations to our City.  Since the middle of this month our City Sanitation Department has removed additional storm related yard waste and construction debris and the time to return to normal sanitation removal has come.

Effective on Monday, October 30^th there will no longer be free removal of construction debris or excessive yard waste by our City Sanitation Department.  City Manager Larry Newsom stated “We’ve worked really hard to get our City to look like it did pre Irma and I’m very proud of the work done by our Sanitation Department”.  Newsom continued by saying “If you put out excessive yard waste now and it’s green, it’s obviously not related to Hurricane Irma”.

The City’s Sanitation Department will continue to be responsible for the removal of household garbage and recyclables, and they will follow their regular pick up schedule.

If there are any questions regarding the removal or excessive yard waste or construction debris related to Hurricane Irma please feel free to contact Flagler Beach City Hall at (386) 517-2000.