ORMOND BEACH
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 13, NO. 41
GRAD IS MIT BOUND PAGE 4B
FREE ON NEWSSTANDS | THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2025
Putting up a ‘spite’ fence Developers plan to fence off the former Tomoka Oaks golf course. Neighbors call the move ‘spiteful.’ PAGE 3A
$1M for the community Philanthropists Larry and Andrea Franks inducted into United Way’s Million Dollar Roundtable. PAGE 2A INSIDE HOME RULE
Ormond Beach recognizes officials as ‘Home Rule Hero’ award recipients. PAGE 4A
RIBBON-CUTTING
Phenix Salon Suites celebrates new location in Ormond Beach. PAGE 5A
HURRICANE PREP Self-serve sandbags now available at Nova Rec. PAGE 6A
BRIEFS Ormond Beach Police search for suspect in armed assault The Ormond Beach Police Department is searching for a suspect in an aggravated assault that took place last month on May 6 at a local restaurant at 1930 W. Granada Blvd. Police report that the 25-year-old suspect, Anthony Rodriguez, brandished a firearm at restaurant staff, including a juvenile, during an altercation at around 9 p.m. No injuries were reported. Rodriguez currently has a felony arrest warrant for four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to a press release. Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers of North East Florida at 1-888-277-TIPS.
INDEX
Calendar..................... PAGE 3B Cops Corner............... PAGE 6A Crossword.................. PAGE 2C Letters........................ PAGE 8A Public Notices............ PAGE 5C Sports......................... PAGE 6B Tributes ...................... PAGE 2C Real Estate..................PAGE 7A
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Milestone moment: Seniors cross the stage Seabreeze, Mainland celebrate graduations for Class of 2025. PAGES 1B-2B Seabreeze teacher Tanya Wilhelm (second from left) gets hugs from her students before the graduation ceremony at the Ocean Center on Friday, May 30. Photo by Michele Meyers
City tables $1.9M landscaping contract Commissioners also tabled an agreement with VCS to split the cost of the school resource officer at OBMS. JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR
The Ormond Beach City Commission tabled an auto-renewal of a $1.9 million contract with Yellowstone Landscape at its meeting on Tuesday, June 3, with some commissioners expressing interest in putting it out for bid next year. The city has been utilizing the same contractor for its landscaping services since 2012. The contract with Yellowstone includes mowing and grounds maintenance services to over 375 sites in the city. City Commissioner Travis Sargent pulled the contract from the consent agenda, saying that while Yellowstone “does a great job,” he had concerns with the packet the commission received. Namely, the inclusion of additional services approved last year, a map showing exact locations where the company services and other administrative updates. “I would like to table this until those documents get in there,” Sargent said. “... This contract’s been in there since 2012. I think
it might be time to bid it out.” Leisure Services Director Robert Carolin said that the contract the commission was given in the packet was the original one from 2012 because it has been an ongoing auto-renewal. If the commission decides not to renew it, the contract would expire on Oct. 1. If the commission, however, does decide to go out for bid, staff would need time to prepare that, Carolin added. Commissioner Lori Tolland suggested the commission look at bidding out the contract for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, and approve Yellowstone’s existing contract once the commission receives the updated information requested by Sargent. “I agree that when you have a cost this big ... that sending it out is a smart thing because you might have a more competitive bid,” Tolland said. SRO CONTRACT ON HOLD
Sargent also pulled an agreement between the city and the Volusia County School Board for shared funding for a school resource officer position at Ormond Beach Middle School. The agreement dictates that the city and School Board split the cost of the officer’s salary and benefits equally. “I sent the School Board an email asking how many other municipalities fund with a 50/50 match, and I haven’t received an
answer,” Sargent said. “I am not for funding this. I think this is something School Board needs to fund.” According to a staff report, the city established an agreement with Volusia County Schools in 2017 using a grant that provided funding for three years. After grant funding expired, the city and VCS agreed to split the costs. The city’s share is a little over $27,000. The school district does have other 50/50 cost share agreements for SROs with other cities: DeLand for two SROs, Daytona Beach for 11 SROs and South Daytona for one SRO. Additionally, the district has an agreement with the Volusia Sheriff’s Office where VCS pays 55% of the cost for deputies. City Manager Joyce Shanahan said having an SRO at OBMS is a great outreach opportunity for the Ormond Beach Police Department. “It provides a valuable service to the children and they provide a valuable service to the community,” Shanahan said. “So if they weren’t willing to fund it, then I think our children would lose out on the opportunity to build a relationship with the Ormond Beach Police Department officers.” Sargent said he agreed. “But I’m not willing to have the taxpayers continue this,” he said.
An AA at 14
Ormond Beach student earns associate degree at 14 years old.
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History on show Ormond Beach Historical Society’s second annual summer camp celebrates Native American heritage.
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