County wrap-up: First responders honored for Volusia County rescue

Sheldon Gardner, The Daytona Beach News-Journal
·4 min read
Thomas McGibeny, Declan Outlaw and Antonio Gonzalez stand before the Volusia County Council as they are recognized for their bravery in rescuing people from the Ponce Inlet Jetty in June.
Thomas McGibeny, Declan Outlaw and Antonio Gonzalez stand before the Volusia County Council as they are recognized for their bravery in rescuing people from the Ponce Inlet Jetty in June.

Several people, including one anonymous "good Samaritan," had a day named in their honor for saving lives along Volusia County's coast this month.

The county council accepted a proclamation naming July 11, 2023, as "Beach Safety and Coast Guard Heroes Day" for a rescue that occurred on June 15 at Ponce Inlet Jetty.

On that day, Volusia County lifeguards, Coast Guard members and the anonymous person rescued two adults and two children who were stranded during a storm "on the slippery rocks of the jetty, where they were pounded by heavy waves," according to the county's proclamation.

In the face of lightning and wind gusts, someone who the county had not identified as of July 11 rescued one of the children. Meanwhile, lifeguard Declan Outlaw swam to the others and brought them each to lifeguard and EMT Thomas McGibeny, who was on a jet ski, according to the county. McGibeny took them to a Coast Guard boat.

Others named in the proclamation for their help during the rescue are U.S. Coast Guard employees Corey Walsh, Collin Milne, Antonio Gonzalez, and Kenneth Gil de Rubio. Outlaw, McGibney and Gonzalez attended the meeting and received copies of the proclamation.

"I just wanted to get them home safe," Outlaw said.

People have died from rip currents: Are locals doing enough to warn Volusia County visitors?

The council also recognized the Beach Safety Division for their daily efforts to protect and save lives along the coast, naming July 11 as "Beach Safety Excellence Day."

"In a typical year, Beach Safety personnel rescue 4,060 swimmers, respond to 256 major medical calls, provide first aid to 479 persons, treat 3,165 jellyfish stings, assist with 1,829 disabled vehicles, handle 927 environmental calls, find 34 lost children and adults, and take 61,151 preventive actions," the proclamation reads.

Other business

Preliminary Volusia property tax rates set

The council set preliminary property tax rates for the next budget year, which will begin Oct. 1, and set the public hearings for the budget for 6 p.m. on Sept. 5 and Sept. 19 at the council chambers at 123 W. Indiana Ave. in DeLand. The proposed tax rates, some of which only apply to specific areas of the county are:

  • General Fund: 3.3958 mills

  • Public Safety Fund: 1.4541 mills

  • Library Fund: 0.4209 mills

  • Volusia Forever: 0.2 mills

  • Volusia ECHO: 0.2 mills

  • MSD Fund: 1.6956 mills

  • Fire Fund: 3.8412 mills

  • Port Fund: 0.0692 mills

  • Mosquito Control Fund: 0.1781 mills

  • Silver Sands Bethune MSD: 0.0117 mills

The recommended operating budget is posted at volusia.org.

Volusia County Veterans Services to get new office

Volusia County will open a Veterans Services office on Monday in the Deltona Regional Library at 2150 Eustace Ave. The office will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, according to a county news release.

Counselors will be on hand to help veterans, current military members and their dependents with issues such as benefits, job training and health care. For information, people can call 386-740-5102 or go to volusia.org/veterans.

Volusia tax collector opens extra certificate auction

While tax certificate sales usually happen once a year, a second round opened because property tax deadlines were extended after Hurricane Ian in 2022, according to the Volusia County tax collector's office. The sale opened on Friday and will close on July 31. For information, people can call 386-736-5938 or go to vctaxcollector.org/taxes.

A home for food trucks in Volusia County

While state law prohibits local governments from banning food trucks, officials can decide where to allow them. The county council advanced an ordinance that would allow them under certain conditions within "commercial, industrial, public and nonresidential portions of Planned Unit Development zoning," and within Prime Agriculture, Rural Agriculture and Forestry Resource zoning classifications.

The second reading is scheduled for the Aug. 15 meeting.

County's Emergency Medical Services gets new $3.2 million building

The county approved spending $3.2 million for the building at 1720 Mason Ave. in Daytona Beach for Emergency Medical Services. The current building in Holly Hill has a termite infestation and structural issues.

Volusia County names new spokesman

Michael Ryan
Michael Ryan

The council approved hiring Michael Ryan, a former communications director for St. Johns County government, to be the county's next director of community information. Ryan will start on July 24 and will replace Kevin Captain, who left the role to lead the county's Emergency Medical Services division.

Volusia County water reclamation facility to expand

The county council approved spending $475,000 to hire PC Construction Co. for management help on the expansion of the Southeast Regional Water Reclamation Facility in Oak Hill from 600,000 to 1.2 million gallons per day. The project will also upgrade the facility's "wastewater treatment processes to meet more stringent water quality standards established under the North Indian River Lagoon basin management action plan, adopted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection," according to the county.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia County honors first responders, sets tax rates and more