The Flagler County Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 18 approved a maintenance agreement and a first amendment to a 2023 perpetual easement with the Hammock Dunes Owners Association that formalizes county responsibility for maintaining approximately 2.3 miles of dune reach and identifies HOA funding toward maintenance.

County engineer Hamid Tabassian summarized the agreement: “The perpetual easement agreement makes the county responsible for the maintenance of the 2.3 miles of the Hammock Dune reach. And with that, they are providing $570,000 towards maintenance of that area,” he told commissioners.

Board action and public comment: Commissioner Greg Hansen moved to approve the agreement and the amendment; Commissioner Richardson seconded. The board called for public comment. Richard Hamilton of Island Estates said he supports renourishment but raised concerns about the process and community consent, noting a pending and separate dispute between Island Estates and Hammock Dunes. County administration and staff answered questions about timing and funding: County Administrator Lucy Petito said the county mailed required MSBU notices at a $0 assessment for this year to meet statutory deadlines, and that the HOA’s payment is intended as an interim contribution until an MSBU assessment is implemented in a future budget cycle.

Why it matters: The agreement helps make the project eligible for FEMA CAT G criteria and provides a local funding contribution while county staff and an outside engineering firm finish work on apportioning an MSBU so future assessments reflect benefit and geographic area. Petito told the board the added tourism development tax allocation approved earlier in the meeting and other county funds combine to produce approximately $8.1 million budgeted for beach work in FY27, with the 2‑penny TDT reallocation contributing roughly $1.76 million of that revenue.

Implementation: Staff said the HOA’s payment will be replaced by the MSBU levy once the assessment apportionment and engineering analysis are complete. Petito and other staff said the MSBU technical work is expected to take a few months; the first public hearing on the budget and assessments is scheduled for Sept. 11.

Outcome: The board approved the maintenance agreement and the amendment with no opposition.

Provenance: The beach renourishment items (agenda item 8d) were introduced and discussed in the Aug. 18 meeting; the public hearing and votes occurred during the same session.