News
By Michael Hernandez, 11-6-24
FERNANDINA BEACH—The Fernandina Beach City Commission has a new Mayor with James Antun winning (67.53 percent, 5,960 votes) over Darron Ayscue (32.47 percent, 2,866 votes). Both are currently serving on the Fernandina Beach City Commission. (see Citizens Journal Election Report)
The total Nassau Countyelection saw a 85.37 percent voter turnout with 66,142 ballots cast out of a total of 77,477 registered voters, an impressive 85+% turnout of registered voters.
Antun represents Seat 4 and Ayscue represents Seat 5 and both have terms till 2026 with Ayscue staying on the Fernandina Beach City Commission despite losing the mayoral contest.
Also elected to the Fernandina Beach City Commission on Tuesday’s Nov. 5 general election were three new individuals:
· Joyce Tuten (54.26 percent, 5,111 votes) over former Mayor Bradley M. Bean (45.74 percent, 4,209 votes) for Seat 1;
· Genece Minshew winning by 19 votes with final count pending (50.1 percent, 4,627 votes) over David Sturges (49.9 percent, 4,608 votes) for Seat 2 in an election race that has not been certified; and
· Timothy M. Poynter (52.3 percent, 4,710 votes) over Christy LaBryer Kelly (47.7 percent, 4,296 votes) for Seat 3.
11-6-24 FB Commission meeting business:
Stryker Corporation Approved To Provide Defibrillator Devices for $522,000
This is a 10-year agreement (Agenda 6.2) of $522,223 with Stryker Corporation for medical supplies providing automated external defibrillator devices in city facilities bringing the total contract amount from $1.8 million to $2.3 million over 10 years. Chances for survival rise fmrom only one percent to 20-30 percent if a defibrillator is used.
Downtown Preliminary Design Overview Presented
Heard a presentation by Kimley-Horn Senior Landscape Architect Matt Jurney on the downtown preliminary design overview (Agenda 4.5) with $1.1 million dollars available presently. Major objectives include: replacing sidewalks/crosswalks (brick crosswalks maintained) with parking added to side streets losing only four parking spots downtown and protecting and enhancing existing oak trees.
Public Comments: Ms. Phillips: Are you aware of the time capsule under the brick? Debbie R: “People come here to see the originality, how we use to be. Save the bricks.”
Commissioners Approve $259,000 For Data Flow Systems Upgrades
The Fernandina Beach City Commission approved an amount not to exceed $259,038 (Agenda 6.4) for Data Flow Systems upgrades for the purchase of TAC II SCADA System Product Line. This is the telemetry system used for waste water systems—one of the components that allows the city not to have an operator 24-7.
$127,000 Approved For Freeman Well Drillers
Commissioners also approved an amount not to exceed $127,490 (Agenda 6.3) for Freeman Well Drillers, Inc. for fiscal year 2024-2025 for the two wells at Water Plant #3 (well 31 and 32) at the Municipal Airport and replace only what is necessary.
Other Commission Actions:
· Proclamation of November as “Emily Adkins Blood Clot Awareness Month” (Agenda 4.2) honoring Emily Adkins who passed away Oct. 21, 2022 from a pulmonary embolism resulting from a preventable blood clot. According to the National Blood Clot Alliance, an estimated 900,000 individuals within the United States are affected by blood clots and 100,000 pass away from preventable blood clots annually. The family created Emily’s Promise to educate Floridians about risks associated with blood clots.
· Proclamation of November as “National Native American Heritage Month” (not in the agenda) with special focus on President Herbert Hoover’s Vice President Charles Curtis who was a Native American (Kaw/Kansa tribe).
· Receipt of two checks from $2,500 and $2,350 to the Amelia Tree Conservancy Land Conservation Trust Fund donation which is seeking to raise $25,000 by Nov. 30 (Agenda 4.4) and is rapidly getting near the target mark.
· Approved an amendment (Agenda 6.1) to the Labor Agreement between the City of Fernandina Bach and the Laborers’ International Union of North America, AFL-CIO-CLC.
· An amount not to exceed $75,000 approved (Agenda 6.5) to CROM Coatings and restorations, a tank manufacturer, the original contractor.
· An amount not to exceed $51,980 approved (Agenda 6.6) to Atlantic Pipe Services LLC for manhole and lift station rehabilitation of Fernandina Beach’s gravity sewer system at south 8th Street with the City of South Daytona, Florida.
Usophthalic based resin is used for the underground sewer pipe liners.
· Board appointment of Paul Pocock made to Airport Advisory Commission (Agenda 7-1) with his three-year term ending December 31, 2026. He is an active pilot (former Air Force F-16 pilot and retired Dela Air Lines pilot) who would like to help preserve and improve the airport.
· Board appointment of Pat Gass made to the Historic District Council (Agenda 7-2) with three-yar term ending Dec. 31, 2026.
City Commissioner Comments:
· Bradley Bean, Mayor (Seat 1): “I will have the gavel one more time. Thank you so much for your comments.”
· David Sturges, Vice-Mayor (Seat 2): “I am pro-goat. I am all about costs. We spent 1 million on our city this evening. We maintain our city. Bradley, I have enjoyed you being the mayor. I want to say it has been an honor to serve the city I love and wish this city success.”
· Ronald “Chip” Ross (Seat 3 termed-out): “Thank everyone who made kind comments. I’ve been elected twice and served seven years as a City Commissioner. I want to thank Linda Bell with Nassau Beautiful and Jacob Smith, a consultant, who works for the railroad. I want to thank Bronson Lamb, who use to run the Marina. I thank three (individuals) who came up with bike trails in the city. I thank Lynn Williams the marina would never have been built (without you). I thank Brandon Dixon an engineer for the underground utilities. I thank Eric Quartell who did a great job and came up with the idea of riverfront park and has done hundreds of hours. The final person is Tami Cossack with the historic district who galvanized the neighborhood. These are just a few of the people who worked tirelessly behind scenes to improve the community. My biggest thanks goes to my wife, who provided sound advice.”
· James Antun (Seat 4): “I am absolutely humble to be your future mayor. I promise to represent everyone fairly and I look forward to leading the city the next two years.”
· Darron Ayscue (Seat 5): “I want to thank my fellow commissioners. Thank you David (Sturges) and Bradley (Bean) for your friendship.”
Public Comments:
· Lori H: (53 min): “Thank you Mr. Ross. for your time on the Fernandina Beach City Commission and residents. Thank you for your time and commitment.”
· Jack A: (55 min): “Great city election…This thing with RYAM is not over. Stop ethanol from coming to this island…It is outlandish that $1,000 is being spent per acre for goat clearing. This is city spent money without proper investigation.”
· Alison D. (58 min): “We buy land and don’t develop it. We partner with state and federal government. We’ve done a number of projects on the island. We work with land conservation. We have some oversight on 11th Street…Goats are commonly used for conservation. We have no concerns about (them).”
· Chuck O. (68 min): “I wish to speak about Chip Ross’ tenure on the commission. He has been a defender of our Amelia Island—a reliable vote to preserve our community, a hard-working man to drive public opinion and a great public servant.”
· Tania K. (71 min): “I could always count on Chip Ross to ask the right questions. Thank you for what have done for the city.”
· Wally G.: (72 min): “We have a beautiful mural thanks to the commissioners…We had three young ladies competing (Cloe, Candice, Coco) in the world largest skateboard competition in California—all following in the steps of Poe Pinson.”
· Tami K.: (75 min): “Chip Ross is a lightning rod. The amount of time researching documents, attending meetings and making phone calls. He values preservation. You Chip, walked the talk. You are an amazing friend and neighbor.”
· George H.: (79 min): “We are concerned about heavy construction. We’re asking the city to develop a traffic plan. We are asking (the city) to develop such a working strategy. We need help from the city as we face impacts of development.”
· Annette K.: (83 min): “We have seen a huge increase in traffic. I see huge issues (about) safety. Too many trucks (are) coming down streets. We want support as we go through (an) approval process for a traffic plan.”
· Sandy K.: (85 min): “Thank you Dr. Ross for standing your ground. We will miss your presence. We have many conservation groups in this island. We have to conserve our dunes. It would be great to do dune conservation.”
· Paul L.: (87 min): “Thank you Mr. Mayor. We are going to miss your young energy…I am here for the alligator issue. Let’s make something happen.”
· Mary P.: (91 min): “I love Fernandina. I will always fight to defend the treasures we have left. Dr. Ross thank you for your service in city commission. Bradley this one comes hard. It takes guts and strength to lead. I wish you the best. My hope is that our city, country can come together.”
· Pete S.: (95 min): “We have compromise and change but that change is not a revolution but an evolution. I want to thank everyone in this room. You provide the stability. We have five gentlemen here on this commission. Thank you. Job well done.”
· Joyce T. (97 min): “If you would pay us to clear an acre it would cost $10,000. We don’t have enough volunteers. The goats were brought in so they don’t overgraze the native plants. The goats give us an upper hand. I am pro-goat.”
Fernandina Beach Project Updates:
· The Fernandina Beach Airport has received grant funding for the rehabilitation of Taxiway A at the Airport. This $2.6 million project is scheduled to begin in December.
· The Downtown Revitalization design is now 90 percent complete. Construction within the Downtown is expected to begin Spring of 2025.
· The U.S. Coast Guard has made the necessary repairs and the Amelia Island lighthouse beacon is working again. The City is currently out for bid for the phased restoration of Florida’s oldest working lighthouse.
· City staff will begin working to convert parking lots C & D at the waterfront to petanque courts for the 2024 Amelia Island Open. This event is scheduled for Nov 16-17.
· Some 80 tons of trash are removed from Fernandina Beaches every year.
· RYAM has not yet brough an application to the City.
https://fbfl.us/DocumentCenter/View/24798/110124?bidId=
All motions were approved unanimously except for the appointment of Pat Gass to the Historic District Council (approved 4-1).
Agenda (3 pages):
https://fernandinabeachfl.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3260/files/agenda/8249
Watch (2 hours, 3 minutes):
https://www.fbfl.us/815/City-Meeting-Videos
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” and “Revive America: Make America Great Again.”
