Officials pick up tips to improve city

Palatka Daily News, August 30, 2001
By VIRGINA WISSEL

Palatka city officials picked up some innovative ideas to improve the city at the Florida League of Cities 75th Annual Conference in Lake Buena Vista on Aug. 23-25.

"Several very good ideas applicable to Palatka came out of this conference," said Mayor Karl Flagg.

"None of the 405 municipalities that belong to the Florida League of Cities are 'snooze' places. Every one of them is active," said Betsy Driggers, city clerk. "This league is one of the biggest in the United States and the strongest league in Florida."

Allen Bush, city manager, said the Community Redevelopment Agency session applied to what Palatka is looking into for taxes in community redevelopment districts.

Regarding the newly passed Communications Tax update distributed at the conference, Bush said Palatka has rates comparable to other cities around the state. "But we may need to audit our telecommunications service provider to double check on our rates,"he added.

"The conference gave me a chance to network with officials from other cities," said Mary Lawson Brown, vice mayor and commissioner. Brown was reelected to the board of the Florida League of Cities representing District 2 at the 2001 conference. During the second general session, the Faces of Florida: Race Relations and Your City presentation included a film clip featuring Brown. A Palatka native, Brown has served on the Palatka City Commission for 17 years. The vice-mayor expressed her interest in the boost that international trade can give to Palatka.
"With the expansion of the city's airport and the availability of the barge port, I believe that this trade will come about," Brown said.

Commissioner Hernan Azula, also interested in international trade, spoke of his desire to travel internationally to promote economic development in Palatka. "One useful session I attended focused on negotiations," Azula said. He said the presentation featured a framework for negotiations using "win-win" strategies.

James Norwood said the seminars would be of value to him as commissioner. "One of the things I took home with me was the concept of learning how to get legislators to work on our causes," Norwood said. Norwood said he wants to make sure the infrastructure in Palatka is in place for expanded growth, especially the water and sewer lines.

See August 30 , 2001 issue of Palatka Daily News for original article.