[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6183858,"mediaKeyId","5093579-4b1266d920fbb0ce3bf530b24783699b","parentId",5093579,"title","Independent auditors issue clean report for Palatka FY2024; city debt rose as capital projects expanded","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",15299000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5093579-4b1266d920fbb0ce3bf530b24783699b&start=15299&end=15299","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5093579-4b1266d920fbb0ce3bf530b24783699b/thumbnail_15299000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6183858/Palatka/Putnam-County/Florida/Independent-auditors-issue-clean-report-for-Palatka-FY2024-city-debt-rose-as-capital-projects-expanded","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183858-654bfad83b186ec7a570b760299258ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1771222662&Signature=Yx4BiDAtTpD5CSiqyKd~fFm6kVLfROLSNyxkUihttqtF~q6guGKvLOYIvrIs4HPbUyiOq0h56CrJa-46n8s77Nrbccm95oArMniBQLVu446M4JhcelSyl45C43mciAhddkxs2hkdXRHxH~6aKElbG-I-kJJ8ccwnAGNHCrBwqn3SPGNGNVIdZIepryVdq-Mo9RmfGTBLzogWA9GX1VU4Mojps7o4O23Mb7bOL7N8u37r1zBUIzU8KDmw0tBeRk2zXcXgYthl2Wu6XwHe7B8yri21nnlnE8TrRFj7U~AWjDHb1SGAgo78kTgD9brv0P3-Ibm5BRjOy32P-3Mu5KGNsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Palatka","date","2025-06-27T01:55:55Z","article","Auditors presenting the City of Palatka’s fiscal-year 2024 audit told the commission Thursday that the financial statements were in order, there were no control deficiencies to report, and the auditors had identified no instances of fraud, illegal acts, or disagreements with management.

HCT & Company’s representatives summarized year-to-year changes: total citywide revenues rose modestly and grant revenue increased; capital assets rose notably as infrastructure work continued; and long-term debt increased to about $22.9 million from $14.6 million in the prior year, reflecting capital projects. The auditors said they completed testing of revenues, expenditures and capital-asset additions and issued the required communications, noting no material adjusting entries or outstanding issues.

Commissioners and city staff thanked the finance team for completing the audit on time and for maintaining internal controls amid what staff described as a turbulent year. Staff also told commissioners they had received a proposal to perform a separate operational audit.

The audit materials will be posted as the final report and the finance director said the city has no outstanding findings, a decrease in prior-year accounting anomalies had been corrected and the city’s reserve ratio remained above recommended thresholds.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Palatka's Regular Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","External auditors reported no findings or internal-control deficiencies in the city’s fiscal-year 2024 audit and noted an increase in long-term debt tied to capital and infrastructure projects; commissioners praised finance staff.","taxTitle","Palatka, Putnam County, Florida","taxId",54767,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6183862,"After botched festival year, Palatka commissioners urge review; community volunteers offer to lead revival",2662,11178000,13840000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5093579-4b1266d920fbb0ce3bf530b24783699b&start=11178&end=13840","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5093579-4b1266d920fbb0ce3bf530b24783699b/thumbnail_11178000.jpg","/articles/6183862/Palatka/Putnam-County/Florida/After-botched-festival-year-Palatka-commissioners-urge-review-community-volunteers-offer-to-lead-revival","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183862-bd4aa5276dbdd944e8fdf095a71d96fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771222662&Signature=JLmldiIL3BGId~CaWwcYfVwpqgNRavvH5t6xzrkJLDH2IY1u5hDLWvn3p7t80pjwnTQI86WEKWjLRxMdAhR-6H6CD590wGeORuyQ2w8rSdKP0eEvCi~dlIFOwp0PW-wjcteAg9hNKfJtOxZ4Ejz0pFhTnWz8xAM5AGxi4Pxn62nDkTb9rKdQbTK641QoT698DrpPXW06W3nGCjfeKagnSSj0444f4vAfQxiEaBuxO63dLe7PSZ7Vjq3T4Ttji77KQad1PTVcaGXSgmB4v6CjbjOKdBICL1srbiKzzkgaqF-dw6xvzobgrPaG1wzE9aMcKmdTNITfh9Cew0FMscolMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Palatka City Commission asked staff to assemble an after-action report on the 2025 Blue Crab Festival after residents and vendors told the commission the event’s planning and vendor payment process broke down this year.

Several public commenters said they had provided tents, tables and services to the event and had not been paid on schedule. One vendor told the commission he had lost $8,000 and had traveled to two city meetings to request help. The city manager and city attorney said staff had performed due diligence and that the city had no contractual obligation to pay private vendors a festival organizer had contracted with; staff also said the city did provide some services valued at more than $35,000 and that it had identified unpaid vendors that would need direct follow-up.

At a separate public town-hall meeting this week, community members urged that the Blue Crab Festival be returned to local, volunteer led organization and offered to help reconstitute the event with more advance planning. Commissioners said they were open to a locally run festival model but asked staff for specifics: an after-action report, vendor lists, copies of contracts and a clear statement of outstanding obligations. One commissioner suggested the city could contract a local event planner on an as-needed basis if staffing capacity is a problem.

No formal financial compensation decisions were made at Thursday’s meeting. Commissioners asked staff to provide written follow-up and said they wanted greater transparency about communications that advised vendors to appear at commission meetings to seek redress.","Public commenters and commissioners reported unpaid vendors, planning breakdowns and social-media controversy tied to this year’s Blue Crab Festival; commissioners asked staff for an after-action report and discussed returning the event to community leadership.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6183866,"City presents water-quality report showing compliance; commissioners ask staff to review utility rates",548,4689000,5237000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5093579-4b1266d920fbb0ce3bf530b24783699b&start=4689&end=5237","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5093579-4b1266d920fbb0ce3bf530b24783699b/thumbnail_4689000.jpg","/articles/6183866/Palatka/Putnam-County/Florida/City-presents-water-quality-report-showing-compliance-commissioners-ask-staff-to-review-utility-rates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183866-0908ed5b264fd5f6fd6096234d856a58/orig.mp4?Expires=1771222662&Signature=lK9OPr6nMkCky5ysY4WjXe4OL3K06bDo5wMSiK1wsziVxV4cI0HA-bYLeWj6lyzxNSLgpv4Uy-EMjR~bczEEWUbNzzTp78agvo5DhtpPmpmj8z7C~9LuHUgfQdQU133VvQukFlE7SQd3-Yx9J3v5nXjtuzWmWtLgVoI3wVZtN3SXfiUmLlfZ0nsH~qcKtujWJMRdALhmMmYkbtrRKu4tw7YuL6s9GTk7FSyVKIkv2Hmyzam6vs57VMkM7HSKmjz7Hs2bned33TA3V5ng-uBibK~GADNwVyjW1GXvCJqaCEP2VnNXf4FhnLDVsz3mA4Q24ZiuHVeAgX8o86J9QwaEUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented the annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) on drinking water quality and told the Palatka City Commission that the system’s test results were well within allowable limits.

The utilities presenter said the city had five positive coliform samples in the previous year; four were linked to old piping at a school development and were resolved after flushing. Within the city distribution, only one of 150 samples showed bacteria contamination; that sample was attributed to grease on a hydrant coupling and was corrected. The report showed sodium, copper and trihalomethane (TTHM) levels well under maximum contaminant levels; staff said chlorine is no longer used in the distribution system and aeration towers were addressing odors.

Commissioners thanked staff for improved water quality and asked follow-up questions about customer bills and rates. Commissioner Jones pressed staff to research prior references to an automatic water-rate increase and to present a detailed rate analysis as part of the July budget process. The city manager agreed to have finance prepare a cost/revenue analysis to determine whether current rates cover utility costs and to bring results during the budget work before July 10.

Staff also said they will prepare an annual review of utility pricing and present recommended adjustments if needed. Commissioners noted that while quality has improved, affordability remains a concern for small households with a fixed base charge plus usage charges.

No formal rate changes were adopted at the meeting; staff committed to return with analysis and recommendations to the commission during the budget cycle.","City staff presented the annual water quality (CCR) report and said tests show drinking water meets standards. Commissioners pressed staff to analyze utility rates amid past concerns about customer bills.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6183871,"Palatka commission backs one-phase push to replace streetlights with LEDs, asks finance for funding plan",667,11374000,12041000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5093579-4b1266d920fbb0ce3bf530b24783699b&start=11374&end=12041","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5093579-4b1266d920fbb0ce3bf530b24783699b/thumbnail_11374000.jpg","/articles/6183871/Palatka/Putnam-County/Florida/Palatka-commission-backs-one-phase-push-to-replace-streetlights-with-LEDs-asks-finance-for-funding-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183871-5c17dd145145ae700ce308d5f45229d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771222662&Signature=TWCH2j2LOXInMhTklis60ILFuM8nzdAv3mAMAIppWodUDCQ8xLd4op98TOdg5n4-zap8U1R4YQG4U6D4SgbBz4jHUuO0vgDa6wiptay3Ja19Q8~fT-2Tkn0LnoPxrH22zAmQcdUCDiGVzCr90cZWHiIXu4jMtxc~PRxwgjgPEpzoUIzpjnYHqPZ9t~Y4oxZ~c74QOyDB89nbhtPvNDit-rYWqbOl4nt57Qnhk1kC2qPGc7ouY66ODvO2PXcDDg7JufG-OScNPIfl4Y3-b8PEZBRD4vibORicOC5LABbLyKpq3KU0K-EzPsYV8sXDsEbNap6Zp0OtIJ-yhf5o2kjfzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Palatka City Commission voted Thursday to authorize staff to work with the finance department on identifying funding for a one-phase replacement of the city’s public streetlights with LED fixtures.

Staff presented an FPL cost analysis that divided the city into three phases and showed capital costs for replacing existing luminaires and for removing older fixtures. Commissioners said public safety and crime-reduction benefits weighed heavily in favor of an accelerated schedule.

The commission’s motion asked finance to evaluate funding options to cover the total cost of replacing the identified fixtures in one phase rather than staggered years. Staff noted that, once contracted and paid for, FPL’s lead time is typically six to eight months to receive and install the replacement fixtures and that some project planning would be required for scheduling, temporary work and neighborhood notifications.

Commissioners asked staff to confirm FPL’s capacity to source and install the fixtures within a 12-month period and to return with a budget plan. Several commissioners cited neighborhood safety improvements following prior targeted lighting upgrades and urged the city to prioritize hotspots and high-crime areas first if a single-phase approach required staging.","Commissioners voted to ask the finance department to develop funding so the city can replace public streetlights with LED fixtures in a single phase, with safety cited as the primary rationale.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_46":116,"_48":117,"_50":118,"_52":119,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":120,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":121,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6183877,"Palatka commission orders manager, city attorney to address airport compliance, requests update by July 7",1353,5398000,6751000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5093579-4b1266d920fbb0ce3bf530b24783699b&start=5398&end=6751","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5093579-4b1266d920fbb0ce3bf530b24783699b/thumbnail_5398000.jpg","/articles/6183877/Palatka/Putnam-County/Florida/Palatka-commission-orders-manager-city-attorney-to-address-airport-compliance-requests-update-by-July-7","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6183877-ed36ce7bbf8ca62bf287044789e43cd1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771222662&Signature=b00x3P1kZcEKh7JBUPUIg1Mmfli-mKw9xhAwbYIQAlVAkSXauTxKgLHxCxyU4bQaMYukwuBP9gkUfMShXrb5Zi7vpgyCDCINd82X2~LzaeerdRtr-OpSzxQhpid4pDsVnylHnh8XGXpvuHvZ9ZW6-nkA3jUFWsugS65amzuHZY2Ds24PknOpCbVz-iyRYvUWNheEMmAt1dja0w6bux6zT0-MpMEFo4lfjFiMrSZg9Iepgr-0ij0OyNbte3oeCmF6T~o6owX1p7Npy2aJ6U6J-4yRSgg0GVACEHBc0WQZG4PUNPfPtqgZ-LHMbv5roWXWW1DoynX7pqk3941uQC6JDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Palatka City Commission on Thursday directed the city manager and the city attorney to move forward with steps to address compliance issues at Palatka Municipal Airport and to provide the commission a status update by July 7.

The action followed more than two hours of discussion that began when commissioners raised concerns about tenant activities, long-term campers and other uses on airport property that might conflict with FAA grant assurances. Commissioners repeatedly said they had received complaints and that several advisory-board members had resigned. The city manager described a consultant review and a corrective-action plan that staff said had been completed and is being implemented.

The airport manager and a consultant briefed the commission, describing multiple categories of concern including nonaviation uses of airport buildings, long-term parking and camping on airport grounds, and questions about leases and rent documentation. “If it’s going to affect our funding … we need to move quicker,” one commissioner said, citing a recent FAA visit and the risk to federal grants. The city manager told the commission the city had completed due diligence and was moving forward with legal steps while balancing legal constraints and tenant rights.

Commissioners debated whether to issue cease-and-desist orders to specific tenants; the initial public discussion included several references to a club using the old terminal, a school/flight-training question, and prolonged camping/RV parking on airport property. The city attorney told commissioners she had advised staff on the legal framework and that staff should present any formal notice or direction through legal channels. Staff said portions of the airport property — including spray fields, potable water wells and the location of a fire station — were part of the FAA grant footprint and therefore needed careful documentation.

After a motion to add the airport item to the agenda as an emergency item, the commission debated motions and ultimately approved direction for the city manager and city attorney to continue work addressing compliance and to provide an update to the commission by July 7. Several commissioners emphasized they wanted written reports rather than brief verbal updates and asked staff to provide clear timelines for next steps.

The discussion included a request that, where possible, staff give commission members the same information at the same time to avoid confusion. The commission asked staff to include: copies of any formal lease documents or letters purporting to authorize tenant uses; the consultant’s findings and corrective-action plan; and any documentation submitted to FAA or other grant agencies.

The commission did not direct staff to pursue a single immediate enforcement action across all tenants; instead it instructed staff to pursue corrective steps set out in the consultant’s plan and to return with a detailed update. Commissioners emphasized their goal of protecting FAA funding and public safety while ensuring legal due process for tenants.

The airport discussion was the meeting’s longest single item and drew several public comments and a town-hall–style exchange that included airport users and people who live near the facility. The record shows commissioners requested written updates and additional documentation and asked staff to seek faster resolutions where legal obligations allow.","Commissioners pressed the city manager and city attorney to address multiple potential Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) compliance problems at Palatka Municipal Airport and asked for a progress report by July 7 after an extended public and commissioner discussion.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Independent auditors issue clean report for Palatka FY2024; city debt rose as capital projects expanded

After botched festival year, Palatka commissioners urge review; community volunteers offer to lead revival

City presents water-quality report showing compliance; commissioners ask staff to review utility rates

Palatka commission backs one-phase push to replace streetlights with LEDs, asks finance for funding plan

Palatka commission orders manager, city attorney to address airport compliance, requests update by July 7