Tuesday morning, Palm Coast's City Council did its part to help spur development at the Flagler County airport, a county facility surrounded by the city.
The county needs city water and sewer at the site.
In case after case, Palm Coast has been more than happy to provide the service, provided the property in question was annexed into the city.
But such requirements threatened to ground projects like a planned National Guard Center and other businesses looking at airport sites.
With this proposed agreement between Palm Coast and the county, the city backs off on annexation.
In return, Palm Coast would get a city park, a seat at the table to review development and planning around the airport as well as road improvements along Belle Terre Boulevard and State Road 100.
Mayor Jon Netts of Palm Coast told fellow council members he felt it was a very one-sided agreement in favor of Flagler County, but he still voted in favor of it.
After the meeting he told us why. “Let's say the county is successful in this economic opportunity and they do get some development, Aveo Engineering," Netts sai. "Those people are going to live, they're going to buy homes, they're going to buy food, they're going to buy tv sets, they're going to buy clothing. All of that generates economic development for the city of Palm Coast.”
But the question is: why now?
What prompted this spirit of good will and trust?
County Commissioner Nate McLaughlin sat in on the meeting and said it's all about timing, especially when it comes to the National Guard plans. “It wasn't on the front burner. It was one of those back burner things and now as it looks like we may get funding next year, in the next cycle," McLaughlin said. "We've got to clean these little things up.”
The mayor agreed, adding, “sometimes when there's no pressure, you don't... you don't plan ahead.”
And as the mayor points out, an agreement can always be amended over time.
This interlocal agreement now goes to the county commission, which has yet to see or even hold a vote on it.