Bunnell, FL - A meeting between Flagler County officials and the Army Corps of Engineers leads to a new partnership between the two to complete their dune restoration project.
"Even if it means eliminating a half-block section just north of the South 28th Street boundary," said the county in a release.
The project currently consists of a section of dunes that runs about two-and-a-half miles from the north side of South 6th Street to the south side of South 28th Street. So far, Flagler has successfully secured more than $17 million in state and federal funding for this stretch's renovation.
And thanks to Wednesday's meeting (August 19th), they now have the help of the Army Corps of Engineers.
“The Army Corps of Engineers is definitely going to work with us to move this project forward,” said County Administrator Jerry Cameron. “They are working on an option that – quite frankly – is requiring them to jump through hoops, but they are doing it.”
Throughout the project, the county has been working to secure access easements of 141 affected parcels.
As of Wednesday, 11 owners responsible for 13 of those parcels had yet to grant the county access for the project.
“We have reached a point where these holdouts are preventing us from protecting miles of our beach, our roadway, our businesses, and our residents,” Cameron said. “This is about public safety, so we have to take some last resort measures.”
Owners that provided access have not relinquished any rights to use their parcels. Flagler officials say they have only granted permission for the work to be done on their dunes. That includes allowing agencies to replenish and maintain the dunes with sand and native vegetation.
