The City of DeLand will host a public open house to introduce and discuss proposed Tiny Home regulations.
The open house will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, August 14 at City Hall, 120 South Florida Avenue. City staff will be on hand to share details about the proposed regulations, answer questions and gather feedback from community members.
The regulations would guide where and how tiny homes can be constructed within our community. They are tentatively scheduled to go before the Planning Board on September 10 and the City Commission on October 6.
"One of the goals of the City’s newly updated 2050 Vision Plan is to provide additional small-format housing options, and tiny homes would add another housing choice for the residents," said Planning Director Carol Kuhn.
Residents, developers and anyone interested in learning more are encouraged to attend.
The DeLand Fire Department has received Accredited Agency status with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) for meeting the criteria established through the CFAI’s voluntary self-assessment and accreditation program.
The DeLand Fire Department is one of more than 300 agencies to achieve Internationally Accredited agency status with the CFAI and the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Inc. (CPSE). This makes DeLand Fire the only accredited agency in Volusia County and one of 31 in the state currently accredited. DeLand Fire is also the first fire department in the county to achieve ISO Class 1 status.
“I am extremely proud of our fire department,” said Mayor Chris Cloudman. “This accreditation is a reflection of the dedication, professionalism, and high standards upheld by the men and women of the DeLand Fire Department. Their commitment to excellence and tireless work helps make our community safer and stronger.”
CFAI is dedicated to assisting the fire and emergency service agencies throughout the world in achieving excellence through self-assessment and accreditation to provide continuous quality improvement and the enhancement of service delivery to their communities. The CFAI process provides an agency with an improvement model to assess their service delivery and performance internally, and then works with a team of peers from other agencies to verify and validate their completed self-assessment.
Fire Chief Todd Allen stated that the agency’s achievement of Accredited Agency status “demonstrates the commitment of the agency to provide the highest quality of service to our community.” Chief Allen also said, “We have also been able to use the Commission on Fire Accreditation International’s process as a proactive mechanism to plan for the future of this agency and locate areas where we can improve on the quality of the services we provided.”
Chief Allen said the process took about three years from start to finish, which included conducting a community risk assessment and meeting with community stakeholders to receive input. Outside assessors also gave recommendations for the fire department to focus on such as planning for future growth and internal training practices, Allen said.
As you start your spring cleaning, the City of DeLand is here to help!
The city's annual Community Shred & Clean Up Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 5. The event will be held in the Melching Field parking lot, 601 South Woodland Boulevard.
Shredding will be available on a first come, first served basis from 9 to 11 a.m. or until capacity is reached. Shredding is available to DeLand residents only and is not for commercial use. Each household can shred up to five boxes of documents.
Acceptable items to shred:
• Dry paper products
• Bound books
• Paper clips
• Spiral bound notebooks
• Photographs and blue prints
Prohibited items that CANNOT be shredded:
• Garbage and food products
• Wet paper
• Large metal items or 3-ring binders
• Wood and wood products
• Plastics including styrofoam
• Toner cartridges
Dumpsters will also be on site from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for residents to drop off larger items. Hazardous waste, paint and appliances will not be accepted.
Items that can be accepted include furniture, sinks and toilets and building material scraps.
The City of DeLand will host its annual Tree Giveaway on April 12, offering residents an opportunity to beautify their properties and enhance the local environment.
The giveaway, which is done in partnership with the DeLand Breakfast Rotary Club, will take place beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 12, at the city’s Public Services complex, 1102 South Garfield Avenue, with vehicles entering from the Amelia Avenue side.
“Planting trees is one of the most impactful ways we can care for our community,” said Mayor Chris Cloudman. “We’re proud to continue this great tradition by helping our residents make DeLand even greener.”
A total of 1,000 trees will be given away, with a limit of three trees per residence and a maximum of six per vehicle. Trees are available to all residents within the DeLand Utility Service area. Residents must bring proof of residency and a completed tree selection form, which can be found here: Tree Giveaway Form. Tree availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Residents picking up trees on behalf of others must bring a written request and proof of residence for that individual.
Several firefighters were recognized during the DeLand Fire Department's annual awards.
The top honor of the year went to Morgan Fambrough, who was named Firefighter of the Year. Justin Pacifico was the recipient of the Chief Hanes Pride and Ownership Award; Travis Sawyer was awarded the Meritorious Conduct Medal; Deputy Chief Justin Desy, Lieutenant Justin Bass and Firefighter Christian Vallejo received the Distinguished Service Medal for conducting high water rescue in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. Several other firefighters received unit commendations for their professionalism and bravery during responses to notable events in 2024.
“The dedication and bravery demonstrated by our firefighters each day does not go unnoticed,” said DeLand Fire Chief Todd Allen. “Our annual awards gives us the opportunity to recognize those who have gone above and beyond in their service to our community. Their commitment to excellence and selflessness embodies the very best of the DeLand Fire Department.”
Firefighter of the Year: Morgan Fambrough
Morgan joined the department in 2022 and has proven to be an asset. She always has a positive attitude and she is constantly involved with department events/programs and enjoys assisting with public education events or celebrations that the City puts on.
Firefighter Fambrough is a valued member of the DeLand Fire Department Honor Guard and has attended the Jacksonville Pipe and Drum Academy as well as the Honor Guard Academy at the Florida State Fire College. As a member of the honor guard, Morgan has participated in multiple details throughout the year from Parachutes for Patriots, the VFW Ceremony and the DeLand Dog Parade. She has also represented the department Honor Guard at service related funerals for Jacob Bridger, Luke Kimming, and Matt Fair.
Morgan has also sung the National Anthem at multiple events to include- First Responder’s Night at Stetson University, the opening ceremony at the Florida Professional Firefighters Conference, Daytona State Colleges Fire Academy graduation and the Greater West Volusia Chamber of Commerce annual meeting. In November of 2024, she was asked to sing the National Anthem at the annual Florida fallen firefighter memorial. She performed flawlessly for the memorial that honored thirteen fallen firefighters and the family members that were in attendance. Firefighter Fambrough is also in the prosses of learning to play the bagpipes so that she can participate with the departments pipe and drum band.
This year, Morgan completed her paramedic training, passed the National Registry examination and is currently clearing to be a lead paramedic. Firefighter Fambrough has also completed Fire Service Hydraulics, Pump Operations, Aerial Operations and is in the process of finishing her Relief Driver packet. She continues to expand her knowledge in technical rescue and has completed VMR Operations, Rope Rescue Technician and is scheduled to attend Confined Space Rescue Technician and Trench Rescue Technician courses in the coming months.
Firefighter Fambrough truly encompasses what it is to be a DeLand Firefighter. Her positive attitude, willingness to do anything that is asked of her, and her ability to connect with the citizens of DeLand both on scene and at public events are just a few reasons why Morgan is the Firefighter of the Year for 2024.
Chief Hanes Pride and Ownership Award: Firefighter Justin Pacifico
Throughout his time with DeLand Fire Department, FF Pacifico has been an asset to any crew he has been a part of. It’s safe to say that Justin is “into the job”.
In the past year, Firefighter Pacifico completed numerous classes including technician level training for Confined Space Rescue, Rope Rescue, Trench Rescue and Structural Collapse. His desire to train and better himself led him to complete Truck Company Operations, “One Bad Tour” which is a continuous 24 hours class and also place #1 out of 135 candidates in the Florida State Fire College’s Smoke Diver selection process.
Firefighter Pacifico has also helped tremendously with new hire orientation and is always willing to share his knowledge with members of the DFD and surrounding departments.
Firefighter Pacifico is willing to do anything that needs to be done without being asked, and it’s obvious that he not only cares about his brothers and sisters in the department, but also the citizens of DeLand. His Pride and Ownership to the firefighting profession keeps with highest traditions of the fire service and the City of DeLand Fire Department.
Meritorious Conduct Medal: Travis Sawyer
On May 22, 2024 the fire service in Volusia County was saddened to find that one of our brothers had taken his life. Jacob Bridger, a South Daytona firefighter, was only 22 years old. His ties to the City of DeLand Fire Department were numerous. Many of our members instructed him during his time in the fire standards program at Daytona State College, his father David Bridger (a lieutenant with Holly Hill Fire Department) also teaches alongside our instructors at the academy, and Jacob had previously applied with the DeLand Fire Department, but withdrew his application after being offered a job with the City of South Daytona.
Upon learning of his death, Chief Allen reached out to Chief John Brandt of South Daytona to offer condolences and the DFD’s help with any, or all portions of Jacob’s funeral service; Chief Brandt accepted this offer. Engineer Travis Sawyer, the DFD Honor Guard Commander, immediately acted to handle the planning of the service as well as coordinating the involvement of local honor guard teams. It’s also important to note that Travis had an emotional tie to the Bridger family having previously worked with Jacob’s father while he was a member of the Holly Hill Fire Department before joining the ranks of the DFD.
As one can imagine, the grief that South Daytona Fire Department was dealing with was considerable, and planning a service during this time would inhibit their ability to properly grieve the loss of Jacob. Travis met with Chief Brandt and the funeral home director regularly and put together a plan to properly remember our fallen brother. Travis was able to coordinate honor guard teams from the cities of Deltona, Palm Coast, Daytona Beach and personnel from the Florida Pipes and Drums. Travis was instrumental in providing Chief Brandt and the Bridger family with information regarding firefighter funerals and the traditions that are involved. Due to this, the firefighting community was able to honor the life of FF Bridger in a way that he, and the Bridger family deserved. Engineer Sawyer acted in a highly commendable manner in the performance of his duties as Honor Guard Commander of the DeLand Fire Department and is deserving of the Meritorious Conduct Medal.
Distinguished Service Medal: Deputy Chief Justin Desy, Lieutenant Justin Bass, Firefighter Christian Vallejo
On October 9th and 10th, Hurricane Milton caused devastating damage to the State of Florida with powerful winds, heavy storm surges and intense rain bands. During the early morning hours of October 10th, the City of DeLand received concentrated rains that measured 20” over a 24-hour period in certain parts of DeLand. Around 7 am, the city’s EOC began to get reports of rising water in various areas of the city. The DeLand Police and Fire Departments began responding to these areas of need and reporting the situation back to the EOC. The EOC began getting multiple reports of homes underwater in the Glen Eagles neighborhood, as a retention pond had overfilled from the record rains and began spilling into that neighborhood. People could not escape in time and were consequently trapped in their homes- even retreating to their attic spaces to escape the rising waters.
With little time to spare, our fire and police officers quickly assembled and began trekking through the high waters to get to the trapped citizens. Keep in mind, the water was chin-deep on these gentlemen and they did their best to keep their feet on solid ground and utilize poles to feel for underwater holes and hazards. At risk to themselves, the coordinated effort between the firefighters and police officers rescued 14 individuals from these rising waters.
For this reason, these firefighters are receiving the Distinguished Service Medal!
Unit Commendation: Lieutenant Chris Murray, Firefighters James Young and Morgan Fambrough
On May 2nd, 2024, DFD was dispatched for a reported plane crash in the area of Carter Road and Highway 11. Lieutenant Chris Murray and Firefighters James Young and Morgan Fambrough responded from Station 82. When they arrived on scene they located the plane nose down, heavily damaged and in a cow pasture approximately 200 yards off the roadway. Due to the distance from the roadway, the crew had to decide what equipment they thought would be needed and carry it through the pasture in full bunker gear. Once they arrived at the plane, it was apparent that the pilot was entrapped in the wreckage and badly injured.
Lt. Murray quickly established command while his crew began working to extricate the patient. While the elderly pilot was semi-conscious, he had multiple broken bones and significant lacerations. The crew was able to cut and pull enough of the plane away to perform a rapid extrication and place the pilot onto a long backboard. He was then loaded into the bed of a VCSO pickup truck and driven to the waiting med unit before being transported as a trauma alert by Air Care to Halifax. Due to their quick response, and extrication, the pilot was in critical but stable condition and ultimately survived the crash.
This group of firefighters acted in a highly commendable manner that upholds the highest traditions of the fire service and the DeLand Fire Department.
Unit Commendation: Lieutenant Justin Bass, Engineer Randy Bruce, Firefighters Trent Sanders, Jake Pequignot, Joshua Brown and Christian Vallejo
On April 28th, 2024, DFD units were dispatched for a reported structure fire at 703 West Beresford Ave. Units arrived to find on scene to find a small residential structure with smoke issuing from a window. Personnel quickly went to work once they arrived on scene. The crew from Tower 81 forced entry ahead of Squad 81 who was stretching a hose line to the front door. Upon making entry crews encountered heavy smoke and heat. Crews prioritized a primary search and located an unconscious occupant in the front bedroom. The occupant was quickly removed to the outside of the structure. Once outside, crews determined the patient was pulseless and apneic. CPR was initiated and ROSC was achieved twice while on scene before the victim was transported to Advent Health DeLand. Unfortunately, the occupant of the home passed away later that evening. The dedication to their craft, and cohesiveness, gave the occupant the highest chance of survival.
This group of firefighters acted in a highly commendable manner that upholds the highest traditions of the fire service and the DeLand Fire Department.
Have you ever thought, "I wish I would have known about the dog parade, I totally would have gone" or "I didn't know there was a farmers' market in Downtown DeLand". Let's change that together!
In an ever-changing and fast-paced world, we are being bombarded with hundreds, if not thousands, of messages daily. With so much information competing for your attention, we want to make sure you, as a resident or business owner, receive the news that matters most to you.
The city's Community Information division is responsible for communicating important information, news and events in a timely manner. To ensure we are fulfilling that mission, we have created a short survey to learn:
- How you currently receive your news
- What type of information is most important to you
- How you prefer to stay informed
Your feedback will help us improve our communications efforts and better serve you! Please consider taking this brief survey to help us keep you in the know!
As we enter a new year, many individuals are looking for new opportunities and a fresh start. The City of DeLand is here to help with its second annual Career Expo later this month.
The city’s Career Expo will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, January 25 at the Sanborn Activity and Event Center, 815 South Alabama Avenue.
"We are excited to host our second annual Career Expo and provide members of our community with an opportunity to find their forever job," said Mayor Chris Cloudman. "This event is a great way for individuals to connect with potential employers and learn about different career paths within our city."
The Career Expo will feature representatives from various organizations, including the City of DeLand, County of Volusia, the Volusia Sheriff's Office, Florida Department of Transportation, Volusia County Schools, Sparton, the U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force, and many more. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with staff and community partners to ask questions about their respective organizations and learn about available job opportunities. In addition, applications will be accepted on the spot for those interested in pursuing a career with any of the participating organizations.
The City of DeLand is excited to announce the launch of a charity calendar featuring the DeLand Fire Department’s beloved firehouse dog, Henry.
The 12-month calendar is sponsored by Advent Health DeLand and features professional photographs at Fire Station 81 and in-studio by Canovas Photography.
In 2022, a stray dog sauntered to the grand opening of the DeLand Fire Station 81 and photo-bombed the ribbon cutting. After 30 days of not being claimed, the Boston Terrier-Beagle mix (we did a DNA test!) found his forever home at Fire Station 81.
The fire department named him Henry “Hank,” after our city’s founder.
As Henry's fame grew, it was clear he had the potential to be a shining star of community engagement. However, it turns out Henry had other priorities. More often than not, firefighters and staff find him napping or indulging in a snack rather than attending to his "duties."
Henry has claimed several spots around the firehouse as his own personal retreats, including Chief Allen's office, and he’s been known to enjoy the occasional sun-soaked nap on the back patio.
Since we couldn’t quite harness Henry’s talent for community engagement, we realized it was time to put him to work in a way that suited him best. And so, the idea for a Henry-themed calendar was born—100 percent of the proceeds will benefit the firefighters' charity of choice, the Childhood Cancer Foundation.
Each page of the calendar features helpful fire safety tips and important reminders to keep you and your loved ones safe year-round.
Now, Henry’s lack of work ethic is actually working for a great cause!
Sponsors
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the following businesses for their generous support of this project:
Advent Health DeLand – Thank you for covering the printing costs, ensuring 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit the Childhood Cancer Foundation
Canovas Photography – A big thank you for donating your professional photography services and capturing Henry’s playful spirit and charm
Bark DeLand – We appreciate your ongoing support in keeping Henry looking his best with your expert grooming services, ensuring he’s always camera-ready
Calendar Highlights:
February: Henry dressed in his Mardi Gras costume for the DeLand dog parade
November: Henry with his firefighters and Tower 81
August: Henry in-studio with swag from area schools for back-to-school
Don’t miss your chance to bring a little Henry into your life.
Hosted by the Dr. Joyce M. Cusack Resource Center, this year’s Thanksgiving Feed the Community Event Thursday, November 21, 2024 from 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM will serve as a time of remembrance, reflection, and renewal of hope. The event will be held in Spring Hill Park, 971 South Thompson Avenue.
For many in our community, this holiday may not be one of abundance. Some may not be able to afford a Thanksgiving meal, while others may be facing loneliness, homelessness, or displacement. For those feeling isolated or disconnected, a community dinner can bring the comfort of family, belonging, and hope.
A host of generous community partners have come together to ensure that this Thanksgiving holiday is one filled with joy, warmth, and togetherness.
We will be offering free hot meals, along with a coat, socks, gloves, and blanket giveaway to help provide warmth during the colder months (first come-first served).
Additionally, various giveaways will be available, aimed at easing the challenges of day-to-day life and sparking hope for a brighter tomorrow.
Whether it’s a warm meal or a winter coat, these small acts of kindness can make a big difference for those struggling this holiday season.
Please join us in making this Thanksgiving a time of compassion, connection, and renewal for all.
For more information or to donate, please contact the Resource Center at:
City and county leaders gathered to celebrate the completion of the newest section of the Charles Paiva Greenway. The 1.35 mile stretch of trail, extending from East Minnesota Avenue to U.S. 92, was officially christened and opened for public use.
The Charles Paiva Greenway is a popular outdoor recreational area that runs through the heart of DeLand and previously stretched from Earl Brown Park to Stetson University's campus. With the addition of this new section, residents and visitors can now enjoy a seamless trail experience. The trail is named for longtime commissioner and Vice Mayor Charles Paiva, who has served the city as an elected official for a combined 20 years and has been an advocate for a dedicated trail system in our city.
"This is an exciting day for our community," said Mayor Chris Cloudman. "The completion of this project not only provides a beautiful outdoor space for our residents to enjoy, but also promotes healthy and active lifestyles."
Funding for this project was made possible through a $1.5 million matching grant from the Volusia ECHO program. This voter-approved initiative utilizes property taxes to support projects that enhance the environment, culture, history, and outdoor recreation in Volusia County.
Future plans for the Charles Paiva Greenway include connecting it to the DeLand SunRail station in the west and extending it east along the planned Beresford Avenue extension.
"We are grateful for the support from our county leaders and partners in making this project a reality," added Mayor Cloudman. "We look forward to seeing how this greenway will continue to positively impact our community."
TALLAHASSEE, FL – The Florida League of Cities (FLC), the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments, today announced the winners of the 2024 Florida Municipal Achievement Awards. Hosted annually, the Florida Municipal Achievement Awards provide municipalities the opportunity to receive deserved recognition for superior and innovative efforts in four award categories: Economic Advancement, Environmental Stewardship, Local Action and Public Engagement.
This year’s winners and their projects are:
• Economic Advancement Award – City of St. Cloud, Economic Gardening Program
• Environmental Stewardship Award – Town of Oakland, Oakland Nature Preserve
• Local Action Award – City of Sarasota, Attainable Housing Density Bonus Program
• Public Engagement Award – City of DeLand, DeLand Digital Historic Tour.
“Across Florida, our cities, towns and villages are innovating and working hard to make their communities even better places to live,” said FLC President Greg Ross, Mayor of Cooper City. “These projects are outstanding examples of how cities are on the front lines of hearing from our residents and planning for the future. On behalf of the League, I’m proud to recognize this year’s outstanding winners and celebrate their success!”
The Economic Advancement Award focuses on a city program that supports, highlights or partners with a city’s local business community to improve the economic well-being of a city. The City of St. Cloud developed a Downtown Economic Gardening Program, an approach that promotes companies growing from within their own structure. The St. Cloud Program was multiple layers of financial and technical assistance programs for businesses affected by the pandemic and prolonged construction of the city’s streetscape project. The program offered $190,000 in grants, technical support, fee waivers and marketplace information for small and mid-size businesses.
The Environmental Stewardship Award focuses on a city program that promotes environmental sustainability, improves and protects environmental conditions or provides environmental education and outreach programs. The Town of Oakland supports the Oakland Nature Preserve (ONP), which offers diverse ecosystems, engaging classrooms and outdoor pavilions that welcomed 40,000 guests in 2023. The Preserve hosts students for hands-on science education as well as summer camps and a Youth Climate Project. For adults, it offers programs that include firefly hikes and senior walking groups. Supported by the Town, the ONP’s conservation efforts include tree planting and land acquisition.
The Local Action Award is given to a city for a specific, single citywide effort that successfully addresses a local need. The City of Sarasota has been focused on a voluntary density bonus program to incentivize the private development of attainable housing units. In 2023, the Sarasota City Commission adopted a downtown attainable housing density program. Several projects have been submitted for an estimated creation of 87 attainable housing units downtown. In March 2024, the Commission approved a second attainable housing density program that will incentivize the creation of mixed-use development and require housing for a mix of incomes along the major commercial corridors and commercial centers.
The Public Engagement Award focuses on a city program that builds a more vital, participative community. The program develops civic awareness, increases education and knowledge of local government functions or promotes active participation among residents, businesses and visitors. The City of DeLand developed a campaign showcasing the city’s historical assets. The city launched two digital historic tours on Google Maps and Google Earth. These self-guided tours take participants on a journey to explore some of DeLand’s most iconic landmarks dating back 140-plus years. More than 20 sites are featured on the tours, which map out the city’s four historic districts.
All winning cities will receive a trophy and be featured in the FLC’s award-winning magazine, Quality Cities (QC), as well as on the website and social media outlets.
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Founded in 1922, the Florida League of Cities is the united voice for Florida’s municipal governments. Its goals are to promote local self-government and serve the needs of Florida’s cities, which are formed and governed by their citizens. The League believes in “Local Voices Making Local Choices,” which focuses on the impact citizens and city leaders have in improving Florida’s communities.
Starting the week of May 19, micro surfacing will take place in four subdivisions throughout DeLand.
Micro surfacing is a cold mix paving system that uses polymer modified asphalt emulsion with graded aggregate and extends the life of existing roadways by preserving the existing infrastructure. Access to sections of the road will be limited as surfacing commences and the substance cures (typically takes 1-2 hours). Residents are asked to refrain from parking on the street during the project and to turn off sprinklers that may spray onto the street as that may delay surfacing.
Door hangars have been left at residences in Heather Glen, Waterford Lakes and Lake Lindley Village and a message board is on display at Victoria Hills alerting residents to the project.
The schedule will be as follows (weather permitting):
The city has broken ground on a new Utility Administration Building – part of a $95 million plan to expand and enhance the city’s public services complex and wastewater treatment plant to meet future demand and reduce the reliance on septic systems in the region.
The city held a groundbreaking ceremony Friday, June 23 at the Public Services complex, 1102 South Amelia Avenue, to kick-off construction of the new Utility Administration Building. The new 24,000-square-foot utilities administration/emergency support and response building (UAB) will be one of many changes to the Public Services Complex. The new building will house the full complement of Utility Department and Engineering Divisions personnel. Both teams have outgrown allocated space in multiple buildings that they occupy. In addition, the UAB will offer educational support rooms for training, emergency support facilities that do not exist to adequately support the 80+ team members that are charged with supporting the needs of the water and sewer infrastructure during activations.
The improvements to the water reclamation facility project includes; the expansion of the permitted daily treatment capacity of the plant from 6 million gallons per day (MGD) to 8 MGD, the replacement of the current gaseous chlorine disinfection process with the use of ultraviolet disinfection technology, and other improvements that will permit us to meet the new advanced treatment process requirements of St. Johns River Water Management District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
City Commissioners also recently approved annexation of almost 5 acres of land to the north of the existing property at 1102 South Amelia Avenue to allow for expansion of the entire complex.
“These projects are the resultant of years of planning, thousands of hours of design and coordination, and will better support and house our Public Service Department Team members that not only serve the City but over 80 square miles of north-central Florida ,” said Public Services Director Chad Gamble. “Our city is not only dedicated to exceeding the environmental goals of the State FDEP and St. Johns River Water Management District but also being purposeful and intentional about attracting and retaining the best and brightest people to serve the greater DeLand area. This re-envisioning of our public services complex will achieve both of these things.”
Built in 1978, the city’s wastewater treatment plant was named in honor of Wiley M. Nash, who served as Utilities/Public Works Director and later as Mayor. In 1990, the facility was upgraded to an advance treatment system to produce reclamation water and reduce the discharge of effluent into the St. Johns River. The plant currently services to 68,000 residential customers within the city and outlying areas of northwestern Volusia County. In total, the utility service area is roughly 80 square miles.
With estimates of an additional 20,000 residents living in DeLand and surrounding areas by 2035, the plant’s capacity would need to increase by an additional 2 million gallons per day. A total of 6.4 million gallons per day is expected to be treated by 2040.
Additionally, the improvements will allow the city to decrease nitrogen and phosphorus runoff into the Blue Spring Water Basin and maintain the city’s compliance with state regulations on effluent discharge. Once complete, it is projected that the water treatment plant will help reduce total nitrogen flow to Blue Spring by 146,177 pounds per year and total phosphorus by 91,324 pounds per year.
Construction is expected to start later this year with a projected completion date of the summer of 2026.
Happy February! Do your kids (or you) love Henry?As we celebrate love and friendship, we are releasing Henry-themed Valentine’s Day cards available here as a printable PDF.
Henry “Hank” is the DeLand Fire Department’s live-in dog and is beloved by all the staff and firefighters. The goal of having him as a station dog is to provide love and comfort to our crews as they come and go throughout their long 24-hour shifts away from home.
Henry’s StoryIn January 2022, a small dog walked into the grand opening celebration of Station 81. After running around the station during the ceremony, we were able to catch him and turn him over to animal control. Thirty days went by and no one came forward to claim him so we formally adopted him, naming him Henry “Hank” DeLand.
The City of DeLand invites you to help shape the future of our parks.
We are partnering with Stetson University’s Center of Public Opinion Research for a research study to gather input from residents on parks and recreation amenities in DeLand.
Resident input will be added to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan as we work to better parks and recreation amenities in our community.
Your participation will involve completing a brief online survey, which should take about 10 minutes. Residents can find the survey at this link: https://stetson.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_78R8Z2dQViAnfr8 or scan the QR code on the attached flyer.
If you have any questions about the study or experience any problems with the survey, please contact CPOR Manager Liam Leider at 386-822-8836.
Long after Mayor Robert F. Apgar retires, his memory will live on in an area where he has dedicated a majority of his adult life improving for the benefit of others.
On Monday night, the City Commission unanimously approved naming an area encompassing Spec Martin Memorial Stadium, Conrad Park, the Chipper Jones Family Little League Complex of DeLand and Earl Brown Park, the “Apgar Sports Complex”.
All of the parks and facilities will retain their names within the complex being named in Apgar’s honor.
A resident of DeLand since 1959, Apgar will retire after roughly 34 years serving on the City Commission. First elected in 1983, Apgar served on the commission until 1991 and returned from 1996 to 2001. He resigned in 2001 to run for a Mayor and was elected later that year. He has served as the city’s mayor for the past 21 years.
Apgar will retire in November and is believed to be the longest serving mayor in Volusia County’s history. His last day in office is November 15.
Naming the complex after Apgar is a great way to commemorate his efforts to improve the city’s sports and recreation facilities, said Vice Mayor Charles Paiva who made the motion at the end of Monday night’s meeting.
Under Apgar’s watch, the city has undertaken a number of projects to improve its recreational facilities, including multi-million dollar renovations at Earl Brown Park, Conrad Park and Spec Martin as well as the construction of the Sanborn Activity and Events Center that replaced the original 1969 building.
City staff has been working with engineering firm, CPH, to design entryway features for the Apgar Sports Complex.
“It means a lot to me,” said Apgar, who was left in the dark on the plans. “Most of you probably don’t know, but I ran a playground at Earl Brown Park; played on all of those fields; coached on most those fields; and spent a lot of my life in that area, so that does mean a lot to me.”
Two projects were awarded ECHO funding this week after receiving approval by the Volusia County Council.
The Charles Paiva Greenway, which runs north from Earl Brown Park along Alabama Avenue to near Stetson University, received a $1.5 million grant that will allow the multi-use trail to be extended about 1.3 miles from East Minnesota Avenue to U.S. 92.
With the completion of the trail, DeLand will have trails that not only go through its core area, but also has trails that head east, west, north and south – creating a perimeter around the city.
“The city is very appreciative of the funding that was awarded by the Volusia County Council,” said Mayor Robert F. Apgar. “These projects will go a long way toward improving the quality of life for our residents and visitors.”
The Volusia County Council also approved appropriating $150,000 in funds for Jackson-Lane Memorial Park to go toward purchasing new playground equipment that will be accessible to children of all abilities.
The city will provide matching funds for the projects, which are expected to be completed or in progress in 2023.
The Volusia County ECHO program is a voter-approved initiative that is funded using property taxes to support projects for environmental, cultural, historical and outdoor recreational purposes.
(DeLand, FL) – After several months of hard work and dedication from staff, the City of DeLand is excited to announce the launch of its redesigned website.
Working in partnership with CivicPlus, which specializes in building city and county e-government communication systems, the primary goal during the redesign process was to create a website that is easier for users to navigate and one that is more aesthetically-pleasing.
“I know our staff has worked diligently to create a website that our residents will find more useful and informative,” said Mayor Robert F. Apgar. “Not only have we developed a website that is more user-friendly, but I believe it does a much better job of showcasing our great city and the people who work hard for our citizens.”
The front page features a graphic button section that links to our most searched pages; a news and social media section and an integrated calendar that lists all of the city’s upcoming special events and meetings.
Users are also able to customize their experience by signing up for notifications via email or text whenever news, special events, meetings and more are added to the website.
The website also has an accessibility feature powered by Audioeye, a program that works to ensure the website remains in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The city’s redesigned website may be viewed at www.deland.org.
By clicking “Log In” on the MyAccount bar at the top of the screen, users may create a login for the site or use their Facebook profile to access MyAccount. Once logged in, visitors can choose the modules, features and keywords that they’d like to see most often, including calendars, news items and emergency alerts. Site users can also save favorite pages within MyAccount, encouraging more-frequent visits and making important information even easier to find! Check out MyAccount and customize your own page at http://www.site.com/MyAccount!
(DeLand, FL) – Officials broke ground this week on a connector road that will give a number of businesses in North DeLand access to a major thoroughfare.
The Eidson Drive connector project will provide companies located in the Northwest Industrial Park, Patterson Park and Airport industrial base access to State Highway 11. These companies, which include DaVita Labs, Kingspan and Complete Parachute Solutions, among others, also represent some of the city’s largest employers with a total employee base of more than 2,500 people.
“While the connector road being built is only about a mile long, this project is a great example of the public and private sectors working together to provide tremendous economic opportunities and benefits for existing and new businesses as well as our entire community,” said Mayor Robert F. Apgar.
The Eidson Drive connector project is a public-private partnership between the City of DeLand and the DeLand Arboricultural Partnership. Mayor Apgar thanked the Skinner family for donating the land for the project. He also thanked Senator Tom Wright and former state representative David Santiago for sponsoring the appropriation to provide funding for the initiative. The Florida Department of Transportation allocated $1 million for the project with the city funding the remaining balance.
The connector is expected to be complete by the end of 2022.