News
By Michael Hernandez, 6-10-24
YULEE, FLORIDA—The Nassau Board of Commissioners approved June 10 a $1 million land purchase for a new animal services campus. The County staff reached out to Raydient Places & Properties to inquire about a land acquisition opportunity. A parcel on State Road 200 near US Highway 17 was identified and determined to be a high-potential site, meeting the facility recommendations, having excellent visibility and access and being centrally located in the high-population areas. The County completed two independent appraisals to verify the value of the property, consistent with Florida Statues. Dozens of sites meeting preliminary acreage requirements and locations were reviewed including the possibility of locating the new facility at the future Yulee Regional Park. The process has taken over two years.
The contract for the purchase of the parcel is made between Nassau County and Wildlight LLC in the amount of $1 million. Nassau County desires to purchase the property in order to create the Animal Resource Center to expand/relocate Nassau County animal services to better serve the community.
News Flash • Notice of Consideration of Real Property Purchase
https://www.nassaucountyfl.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3369
REAL PROPERTY PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN NASSAU COUNTY AND WILDLIGHT, LLC FOR PROPERTY IDENTIFIED AS A PORTION OF PARCEL NUMBER 44-2N-27-0000-0002-0030. Copies of the Agreement are available at the County Manager’s Office at the James S. Page
Agenda Item M was approved 4-0 (Commissioner Klynt Farmer was absent) with motion made by Commissioner Jeff Gray and seconded by Commissioner A.M. “Hupp” Huppman.
James Page Governmental Complex Reallocated $500,000 For Office Space
The Nassau County Board of Commissioners approved an amendment to re-allocate $500,000 to the James Page Government Complex due to space limitations within the Complex for office space for the Public Safety Training Center (Project 8). The amendment is made to the Nassau Florida Prosperity Plan Strategic Priorities.
The Nassau County Board of Commissioners previously adopted 10 other Nassau Florida Prosperity Plan Priority Projects including:
- Project 1: Crawford Diamond Industrial Park Water Plant ($4.5 million)
- Project 2: ‘Old’ Sheriff Administration Campus Remediation ($2 million)
- Project 3: Animal Care and Control Campus ($1.25 million)
- Project 4: Public Safety Radio System Upgrades ($1.6 million)
- Project 5: Public Safety Radio Replacement ($2.285 million-
- Project 6: Westside Regional Park Amphitheater ($2 million)
- Project 7: 4th Street Property Reinvention/SBDC Office ($2 million)
- Project 8: James Page Governmental Complex ($500,000)/see above
- Project 9: Broadband Local Planning Team ($150,000)
- Project 10: Northeast Florida Fair Association Sewer ($50,000)
- Project 11: Town of Hillard Public Water Service Improvements ($195,000)
Total: $17.313 million
Original funding came from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021—an economic stimulus bill signed into law on March 11, 2021. All funds are obligated by Dec. 31, 2024 and expended by Dec. 31, 2026.
Thomas Creek Implementation Plan Update 2024
Nassau County Stormwater Director Katie Peay, presented the Thomas Creek Implementation Plan Update at the June 10th Nassau County Board of Commissioners meeting. The original Thomas Creek Implementation Plan was approved by the board Dec. 21, 2022 with a Resilient Florida Grant awarded on Feb. 24, 2023 with a $1 million match and $400,000 Work in Kind application approved on Aug. 28, 2023. The focus of the grant was a land acquisition and the first four homes are being appraised. The Thomas Creek watershed consist of Upper, Middle and Lower Thomas Creek just above Duval County in an area that experiences frequent flooding problems. An April 2022 storm resulted in 5.8 inches of precipitation over three hours and Hurricane Irma resulted in 12 inches of precipitation over two days. Any dredging needs to be a benefit to the public said Ms. Peay. A community meeting is scheduled June 20 in Callahan from 4-6 p.m. Work has been done through one grant with two grants pending.
American Beach Water and Sewer District Approves Cost Sharing Agreement for $1.137 Million Contract
The Nassau County Board of Commissioners meeting as the American Beach Water and Sewer District approved a cost-sharing agreement with the St. Johns River Water Management District for a $1.137 million contract for a Septic Abandonment/Sewer Connection Project giving an additional 180 days to perform sewer connection hook-ups on 101 private homes eliminating existing septic tanks.
Nassau County Awarded $299,000 Grant for Cybersecurity
Nassau County has been awarded a $299,000 cybersecurity grant for equipment and licensing software without a required match from the Florida Department of Management Services. The grant is for one-year and ends June 30, 2025 with no renewals permitted.
Nassau County Commemorates 134th Anniversary of Prince Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church with Proclamation
Prince Chapel was established in 1897 but damaged by a hurricane in 1953 before burning down in 1985. A new chapel was built in 1987 when two acres of land were donated by Charles and Pearl Albert on Hendricks Road in Nassauville. On April 28, 2024 the congregation held a 134 year Anniversary Celebration under the leadership of Rev. LaTefonie (Tiffany) Gulama. The Nassau County Board of Commissioners recognized Prince Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church with a proclamation.
Nassau County Adopts Bonds for Rights-Of-Way and 26 Month Maintenance Period
Bonds for Wildlight Avenue, Curiosity Avenue and Crosstown Boulevard with 26-month maintenance period were adopted by the Nassau Board of Commissioners with funding coming from the Road and Bridge Maintenance Account.
Nassau Prosperity Alliance Annual Report
The Nassau Prosperity Alliance (NPA) reported out of 67 Florida counties, Nassau County ranks 14th Best Place for Families, to Buy a House, To Live in, and for Outdoor Activities and 19th Healthiest County; and 22nd Best County for Retirees.
Special Nassau Vision 2050 Update Scheduled Wednesday, July 17 at 10 a.m.
The Nassau County Board of Commissioners with the assistance of Halff Associates is presenting a Nassau Vision 2050 Update (Wednesday, July 17 at 10 a.m.) on the next steps concerning future direction of growth and governance within the County. See Vision 2050 website at: www.nassaufl2050.com.
Highlights from April Newsletter
- Nassau County Animal Services responded to 6,223 calls for service in fiscal ear 2022-2023 which included the adoption of 1,482 pets, the transfer of 80 pets to rescue groups and hosted 76 animal adoption events.
- Nassau County celebrated the life of William Bartram—America’s first native born naturalist, explorer, artist and author in April, 2024 which marked the 250th anniversary of his travels in Nassau County.
- The Nassau County Attorney received 120 requests for legal services in April with 97 requests for legal services completed, 39 public notices issued and 402 public records requests fulfilled.
- Nassau County’s Bicentennial Blog highlighted the significance of the railroad industry in the County—the gateway into Florida and celebrated the historic 1881 Callahan Train Depot during the 19th Annual Railroad Day Festival held April 20.
- April 2024 saw 28 new vendors (17 Florida based and 2 local) register to bid on new projects with Nassau County.
- The Nassau County Library System circulated 19,650 items (books, audio books, cds/dvds and other items) in April.
- 500 vehicles participate on the Saturday, April 20th Nassau County Solid Waste and Keep Nassau Beautiful bi-annual Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Event (brining 100 gallons of cooking oil, 80 propane tanks and a 30-yard dumpster full of paint).
- Staff reviewed a site plan for the Chase Bank Fernandina Beach, a new banking center proposed (3,328 square feet) on the north side of Sadler Road.
2030 Nassau County Comprehensive Plan Amended
The Nassau Board of Commissioners amended the 2030 County Comprehensive Plan which now limits the potential development to 2.35 million square feet of industrial and 40,000 square feet of commercial. ICI Villages Industrial Park is a planned future regional employment center which is expected to bring in job growth and public facility infrastructure to the southwestern portion of the County. Some 248.75 acres located on south side of US Highway 90 is rezoned form Agriculture and Commercial to Industrial.
Property Owner Receives Reduction of Lien for Violations
Lovie Elaine McVeigh was cited for violating the 2020 Florida Building Code and fined $100 a day starting on Nov. 9, 2021 on property located at 86414 Cardinal Road, Yulee.
The current fine reached $69,597 for 692 days of fines. The Code Enforcement Staff Recommendation is a lien reduction to $34,967. The Code Enforcement Board recommendation is a fine of $1,367. The Nassau County Board of Commissioners set the fine at $10,747 (a 85 percent reduction). The motion for the fine was made by Commissioner Gray and seconded by Commissioner Huffman.
The fine was given for seven unpermitted sheds with no primary structure on the property as required. Later a modular home was placed on the property but without a permit. The sheds were eventually removed from the property. A second McVeigh property was fined for over $44,000 and the fine was reduced to 15 percent or $6,900 which has not been paid yet b McVeigh.
4-H Summer Camps Have Begun
4-H Summer Camps began the first week of June. To view the camps, visit:
https://nassaufl.co/4-HCamps2024.
Capital Improvement Plan Workshop Set June 24 at 4 p.m.
As part of the annual budget process, county staff will be presenting the draft Capital Improvement Plan for fiscal year 2024-2025 to the Board of County Commissioners on June 24 at 4 p.m.
June 10 Nassau County BOC meeting agenda:
New Meeting Time for Nassau Board of County Commissioners
Today’s June 10th meeting was the first time the Nassau Board of Commissioners met at the new meeting time of 5 p.m. This new time is for meetings on both the Secondand Fourth Monday while the meeting on the Third Wednesday will continue at 9 a.m. All board meetings are held at the James S. Page Governmental Complex, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, Florida. The June 10 Nassau Board of County Commissioners meeting lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes.
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Michael Hernandez, from California is co-founder of the Citizens Journal—Ventura County’s online news service. He is a former Southern California daily newspaper journalist and religion and news editor. Mr. Hernandez can be contacted at [email protected] and is editor of the weekly “Stories Speak Volumes,” “Nov. 5—Election Day Countdown” and “Revive America.”
