Published: Saturday, December 21, 2013 at 7:49 p.m. Last Modified: Saturday, December 21, 2013 at 7:49 p.m.

ORMOND BEACH Troy Kent is old enough to remember when gates didnt block the approaches to Ormonds tranquil sands or a nighttime drive on the beach wasnt illegal.

The city commissioner says he often dreams of reviving the notion of free and open access to the citys roughly four-mile stretch of beach.

I bet if you ask people how the beach was in the (19)70s and 60s, the farther back you go, the better and better it was, he said. The main thing is that our beach was accessible. Its bothersome that you cant get on your own beach.

Kent, 38, who represents the Ormond beachside south of Granada Boulevard, is pressing his colleagues to discuss an attempt to take back the citys beaches and approaches from Volusia County, which has managed the coastline since 1986. Though a proposal hasnt been formally introduced, Kent suggested at a recent commission meeting that Ormond residents be allowed to access the beach by vehicle for free while everyone else, including other Volusia County residents, would be charged $20 a day.

We know what our residents want and need, he said.

Kents call was prompted after the countys apparent unwillingness, so far, to open up the Milsap Road approach, north of Ormonds Andy Romano Beachfront Park, which opened this year. Kent and others believe opening that approach would allow many more people to enjoy the multi-million dollar parks no-traffic zone and solve parking issues that have plagued the stretch.

I wouldnt even be having this conversation if the beach approaches were open, he said. But the county has put its head in the sand. Theyre not being team players.

Ormond Beach has six approaches within its limits, but only two of them Granada Boulevard and Cardinal Drive are open for vehicular access. Beach Safety spokeswoman Tammy Marris said soft sands in the summer lead to periodic closures of the Granada approach.

Kent said under his plan the city would man the toll booths and Ormond Beach police would be responsible for patrolling the beaches. The county would continue to provide lifeguards as Ormond residents pay county taxes, he said.

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Ormond official wants beaches back