Public Safety and Education

A February 11, 1972 article questioned if a single police force in the area would be feasible. Civic League member, Sam Bell, said that the consolidation of area police forces would save money and increase efficiency. Bell suggested that the new County Charter provided for the establishment of an Urban Service District. This district would be set up by the county and funded through taxes of those residing within the district. On February 23, 1972, the News Journal ran another article on the merger issue. In this article, Sam Bell's views were once again stated and a public hearing was announced for March or April. Bell said, "the way this area is growing now, the consolidation of certain public services is going to be necessary. We can't wait. The time to act is now."

On March 8, 1972, the News Journal announced the Civic League's position on the School bond issue and the construction levy. At a dinner at the Danish Table Restaurant, the Civic League unanimously voted to endorse the proposed $10 million dollar bond issue and two million-dollar tax levy for Volusia County school construction. These proposals were items six and nine on the ballot for the next weeks election.

In response to the increasing crime rates of Daytona's youth, the Civic League sought solutions to alleviate this alarming trend. Consequently, at an early membership meeting in late 1973, the Civic League extended an invitation to the Boys Club of the Halifax Area, Inc. to acquaint League members with the goals and visions of their organization. Studies demonstrated that crimes perpetuated by youthful offenders often occurred due to lack of supervision and boredom. The Boys Club provided a safe, fun environment for youth that might have otherwise utilized their time on criminal mischief. On October 9, 1973, Richard Harkness, President of the Boys Club of the Halifax Area, sent a letter to J. Saxton Lloyd to discuss the financial future of the Boys Club and to solicit aid from League members. He stated that the figures presented before the League for their upcoming budget were substantially deficient and he implored Lloyd to ask the League to support the Boys Club whether it be collectively or individually.

On May 6, 1978, the Civic League received a poignant letter addressed to all members from a Volusia County citizen and educator. The author of the letter expressed concern over the School Board's actions against Dr. Jenkins and Dr. Thornblad. He suggested that they were being forced from their positions because they represented "a threat to the continuation of old practices caused by years of inbreeding." In particular, Dr. Jenkins and Dr. Thornblad threatened the power that the Volusia Educators Association held over the Volusia County School Board. The letter continued to warn League members of the inherent danger for all Volusia County educators if the Volusia Educators Association was permitted to monopolize the power over the School Board. The author of the letter implored the Civic League to denounce the action of the Volusia Educators Association; however, no specific course of action was recommended.

On February 6, 1980, Thomas T. Cobb wrote a letter to the Civic League Executive Committee in respect to the criminal justice complex. In the letter, Cobb asked the Committee for a special meeting to discuss the project or forgo the meeting if the League decided not to take a position on the matter. On February 11, 1980, Cobb received a letter from Community Development Director, James E. Huger. Mr. Huger apologized for not being able to attend the special meeting scheduled for February 14, but he did express his desire to have the Courthouse Annex built in the downtown area because of its easy accessibility and enhancement of the downtown improvement program. In addition, Huger supported approval of the bond issue because paying for the jail over a three-year period would be too great a tax burden on the citizens.

The bond issue that Huger referred to was the Criminal Justice Center Bond Referendum. This referendum included provisions to build a new constitutional jail, judicial facility and public safety operations center. The cost of the project would be $35 million. It was decided that a General Obligation Bond would be used at a 7% interest rate over a twenty-year period. In addition, the Indian Lake Road site was chosen because of its centralized location and the County already owned the land. The proposed advantages of the new Criminal Justice Center included a cost effective, Constitutionally and structurally safe jail. In addition, judicial expansion was necessary because the judicial circuit's caseload was up over 40% since 1977. In general, the complex would allow for greater efficiency in cost, communication and time management.

On November 20, 1980, James E. Huger sent a letter to Chairman Thomas T. Cobb. This letter focused on released prisoners and the assistance in the community available to facilitate their resettlement into society. Huger stated that he checked with the Correctional Officer in Volusia County, the head of HRS and many other organizations only to find that the Salvation Army was the only organization designed to help released prisoners in Volusia County, and that, was only for one night. Huger respectfully asked the Civic League to draft a request to the Legislative Delegation for review of the problem and possible solutions. On January 23,1981 the News Journal published an article on the Civic League's position on prison reform. The League urged the Volusia legislature to take prison reform seriously because rehabilitation did not exist within the present system. The League suggested that one solution would be the creation of "halfway houses to ease a criminal's return to society."

The Civic League's fight for prison reform continued into April of 1981. On April 10, 1981, the Civic League passed a resolution asking state and county officials to "cease counterproductive programs, policies and attitudes which have contributed to a breakdown in our criminal justice system and, as soon as possible, begin programs which contribute to genuine rehabilitation of criminals." Civic League Chairman George Boone said more should be done to aid ex-convicts in our society. Boone also said the resolution was for businessmen in hope of soliciting their aid in the hiring of ex-convicts. The League members wanted state officials to appropriate funds for better rehabilitation programs that would be recovered by a lower recidivism rate. On April 12, 1981, the News Journal ran an editorial on the Civic League's resolution. The editorial fully supported the Civic League's attempt to relieve the crime problem in Volusia County and the State of Florida as well.

 The Civic League has always expressed great concern over the safety of Daytona's beaches. The Volusia Interlocal Beach Commission (VIBC) was established on December 20, 1983 to monitor beach safety and issues related to Volusia County beaches. On July 1, 1985, the VIBC, under the Chairmanship of Kurt Massfeller, convened a special meeting to discuss recommendations for uniform beach safety. The proposed recommendations included a controversial proposal to prohibit vehicular traffic on Volusia County beaches within three to five years. In the meantime, the VIBC wanted to institute a traffic management plan which would permit single lane beach parking to the West of two North-South traffic lanes. Areas to the East of the traffic lanes and soft sand areas were for non-vehicular, recreational use only. In addition, the VIBC called for traffic free zones to deter beach cruising and the placement of caution signs to warn pedestrians of the lack of complete, supervised traffic control. The VIBC also proposed to ban nighttime driving, and enforce all beach regulations sternly.

At the Civic League regular membership meeting on July 19, 1985, the League devoted most of their attention to the issues discussed in the report by the VIBC. Frank Gummey and Jonathan Kaney were the two speakers. Gummey, Daytona Beach City Attorney, spoke of the legal aspects concerning beach safety and liability. He stated that he himself favored driving on the beach; however, the city was liable for accidents caused by uninsured motorist. Jonathan Kaney, of the Beach Commission, talked about the image and economics of the beach. He noted that the image of Daytona Beach was "sleazy" and this image forced beachfront motel rates down. The meeting then continued with a synopsis of the VIBC's report followed by an economic appraisal of the feasibility of their recommendations. This appraisal was not optimistic with costs running into the millions, and the Commission's lack of budgetary power. In addition, many smaller communities, such as Ponce Inlet and Daytona Beach Shores, did not approve of the report. The meeting ended with a question and answer period that raised many interesting points. These points included Police concern over A1A overcrowding if beach access was denied to cars and the cost of insurance and litigation if a city decided to self-insure.

On October 1, 1985, J. Saxton Lloyd sent a letter to League Chairman Peter B. Heebner. In the letter, Lloyd expressed his appreciation for the efficiency of Highway Patrolman Robert L. Vogel in his efforts to interdict the trafficking of illegal narcotics. In addition, Lloyd suggested that Patrolman Vogel be presented an award at the next membership meeting. At the next Executive Committee meeting on October 23, 1985, Lloyd reiterated his view on Vogel and asked the members to recognize his achievements. On a motion by Jim Huger, the members voted to present a plaque and a check for one hundred dollars to Patrolman Vogel. On November 22, 1985, at the regular membership meeting, Chairman Heebner presented the award to Highway Patrolman Vogel.

On March 21, 1986, the Civic League Executive Committee met to discuss the School Bond Construction issues. Dr. Surratt, Superintendent of Volusia County Schools, spoke on the importance of supporting the $115 million project. The plan called for the construction of six new primary schools, two new middle schools and two new high schools. The new construction would total $56,361,853. The rest of the funds would be utilized for remodeling, computer equipment, maintenance and replacement buses. Dr. Epley then gave a detailed explanation of the financing and expected results of such a massive undertaking. This plan called for financing by selling bonds, which would be repaid from taxes called “voted mileage”, and other money would come from the capital improvement tax. In the bond report, the School Board assured that the bond issue would not raise taxes. The Civic League meeting concluded with a motion to support the bond issue. This motion was passed unanimously and Chairman Heebner said that he would ask the Executive Committee to support the issue with funds at the next meeting. On April 15, 1986, Chairman Heebner publicly announced the League's support of the bond issue and on April 18; the News Journal published this announcement.