Representative Sam Greco and Senator Tom Leek were elected delegation officers and local leaders pressed the new Flagler County legislative delegation Wednesday for state backing on a range of infrastructure, public safety and education projects as lawmakers warned statewide member‑project funding will likely shrink to pre‑COVID levels.

Local officials delivered a coordinated set of requests aimed at water and wastewater work, stormwater and drainage projects, beach renourishment, a regional trails and conservation center, school funding fixes and behavioral‑health facilities — many asking the delegation to help secure matching state dollars.

The county’s delegation first named Representative Sam Greco chair and Senator Tom Leek vice chair by voice vote. Later in the meeting the delegation also voted — again by voice — to nominate Senator Leek as chair and Greco as vice chair of the 2026 delegation; counts were not specified on the record.

The county presented a brochure of priorities covering agriculture, health and safety, resiliency, conservation, recreation and small‑business growth. Andrew Dance, chair of the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners, said the county’s top capital project requests include the design and construction of the Black Branch North Drainage System, relocation and construction of a sheriff’s substation and marine unit on county land of the barrier island, renovation and expansion of the UF/IFAS Extension Office, and completion funding for a Regional Trails and Conservation Center. “Projects that benefit our residents by supporting agriculture, health and safety, resiliency, conservation, recreation, and small business growth,” Dance said.

County tourism and conservation leaders asked for the final $3,000,000 to finish the Regional Trails and Conservation Center. Amy Lukasick, executive director of Flagler County Tourism, said the county has earmarked $10,300,000 since 2020 and needs the additional $3,000,000 to complete a self‑sustaining 23‑acre facility that would serve as a trailhead and hub near State Road 100. The center is intended to connect to a nearby FDOT pedestrian bridge and more than 135 miles of local trails.

Palm Coast officials outlined municipal infrastructure needs including conversion of Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 1 to advanced water treatment, brackish water treatment at Plant No. 3 and construction of an equalization tank to reduce impacts from heavy rainfall. Acting City Manager Lauren Johnston said the city also is seeking help with widening Old Kings Road, construction of a maintenance operations center, neighborhood stormwater projects and rehabilitation of the Frida Zamba pool at the Palm Coast Aquatic Center.

Flagler Beach officials repeated a request for a $2,000,000 legislative line item to fund a 50% match on an extension of the Lambert Avenue water main and a secondary river crossing under the Intracoastal Waterway. Commissioner Jane Mealy told the delegation the municipality currently has a single water main across the river and that a disruption would cut service to thousands. Mealy said the project was ineligible for some Department of Environmental Protection grants and therefore the city is seeking the line item.

Flagler County Schools Superintendent Lashaka Moore asked lawmakers to restore the state allocation for student transportation to the historical 80% level — she said recent funding averaged about 50% — and to update capital outlay formulas to include pre‑kindergarten and adult career education students so schools’ capacity reports better reflect real enrollment pressures.

Daytona State College outlined education and workforce projects including a $17,200,000 request for an airframe and power plant facility, a $3,200,000 request to finish an emergency services center remodel, and other career and safety investments.

Behavioral‑health and health sector speakers asked for program support. Andrew Williams of SMA Healthcare described a planned integrated stabilization and men’s residential program in Bunnell: a 20,000‑square‑foot facility with 20 stabilization beds and 28 residential beds, scheduled for construction in summer 2025 and completion in summer 2026. Representatives of AdventHealth asked lawmakers to consider prior‑authorization reform, expanded workforce development beyond nursing and increased mental‑behavioral health funding.

Other presenters highlighted regional transportation, broadband and clinic funding priorities. Colleen Nikulin of the Volusia‑Flagler Transportation Planning Organization urged support for advanced transportation technologies, sustainable funding and pedestrian/bicycle safety initiatives. Alex Retkin of Charter Spectrum praised state broadband programs and urged continued policy support for deployment. Rebecca DiLorenzo of the Florida Association of Free and Charitable Clinics asked the delegation to reauthorize a $3,000,000 appropriation for dental and mental health services and to extend sovereign‑immunity protections to student clinicians volunteering in free clinics.

Several presenters emphasized the practical need to show local matches. Representative Greco asked municipalities to specify matching plans when they present member‑project requests, saying it’s “atypical for the state to come in and just fund 100%” of a local ask. Greco and Leek both encouraged jurisdictions to pursue executive‑branch grant programs as well as legislative line items.

Senator Leek urged realistic expectations for member projects this session, explaining that the pool of member‑project money expanded during the COVID period and has since been trimmed. “I think we are returning to a pre‑COVID member‑project pot,” Leek said, and advised local officials to pursue newly dedicated environmental and water funding set aside from the state’s gaming compact revenues if their projects qualify.

Speakers also raised smaller but locally salient items: the Flagler County Cultural Council highlighted state cuts to arts funding and the county’s Turtle Trail public art program; one resident requested state assistance against feral hogs in Grand Swamp; and the Friends of A1A proposed creating a Centennial Commission for the A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway in 2027.

The meeting closed after final officer nominations and brief remarks. The delegation did not record roll‑call tallies for the chair and vice‑chair votes; both elections were announced as approved by voice vote.