News
By Michael Hernandez, 9-9-24
YULEE, FLORIDA—The Nassau County Board of Commissioners approved a tentative 2024-2025 county budget of $481,653,267 at the Sept. 9 meeting which will be officially adopted at the Sept. 23 meeting. This reflects a decrease of $6,766.964 from the preliminary budget adopted on July 22. The budget will pay for 18 new fire/rescue positions.
A total tentative millage rate of 9.1869 (included in the tentative budget) includes a 6.8822 county-wide mileage rate; a 2.2087 municipal service taxing district millage; a 0.0000 water conservation district millage; and a 0.0960 Amelia Island Beach Renourishment Millage.
11.8 million Tourist Development Tax Dollars For Paid Media Buying, Creative Media Development
The Nassau Board of Commissioners approved a $11.8 million contract (Agenda Item H) until Sept. 30, 2025 for professional services with Starmark International, Inc. in conjunction with The Amelia Island Tourist Development Council (AITDC) through use of Tourist Development Dollars to pay for media buying and creative media development. This reflects an increase of $3.88 million. These funds are generated by a five percent tax on short-term accommodations on Amelia Island and are not part of ad valorem tax revenue. The AITDC is an advisory board established by the Board of County Commissioners to oversee the development and marketing of Amelia Island and the expenditure of the tourist development tax revenues.
Roadside Ditch Cleaning And Rehab Contract Approved For $1.2 Million
Commissioners approved a roadside ditch cleaning contract (Agenda Item A) to Jax Utilities Management, Inc. for a total contract amount of $1.2 million with the initial contract not to exceed $635,000.
Commissioners Approve $748,300 Tourist Development Tax Dollars For Travel Services Contract
Commissioners approved a contract (Agenda Item I) to Cellet Travel Services LTD (which is out of the United Kingdom & Ireland), in conjunction with The Amelia Island Tourist Development Council (AITDC) through use of Tourist Development Dollars to pay for destination marketing services to enhance visitor experiences and promote tourism on Amelia Island.
County To Spend Just Over $270,000 For Kenworth Day Cab Roll-Off Truck
The purchase of a 2025 Kenworth T880 Day Cab Roll-Off Truck was approved for just over $270,000 (Agenda Item D) by the Board of Commissioners. Initially, Nassau County was awarded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant in the amount of $500,000 in June, 2024. This additional fleet truck will improve collection procedures and materials management at the County’s Callahan Convenience Recycling Center and Yulee Recycling Collection Site.
Commissioners Approve $155,000 Tourist Development Tax Dollars For Sports Marketing Services
Commissioners approved (Agenda Item F) an additional $60,000, for a total contract not to exceed $155,000 with Raconteurs, LC to provide sports marketing services using Tourism Development Tax Dollars. The contract is for facility review, analysis and recommendations.
Commissioners Approve $110,000 Tourist Development Tax Dollars For Marketplace Website
Commissioners approved (Agenda Item G) a contract for $110,000 for Ellen’s Marketplace to for maintenance and content creation for website and distribution services. The original contract was increased by $40,000 and is to be paid from Tourist Development Tax Dollars and will promote tourism on Amelia Island. The contract will include the writing of monthly blogs (distributed through email and pushed on social media), maintaining a calendar of events, promoting events, seek partner listings and provide monthly website maintenance.
Final Development Plan For 158-Single-Family Residential Units Approved
The Board of Commissioners approved the final development plan modifications (Agenda Item R) for the Amelia National Planned Unit Development (PUD) of 158-single-family residential units (10 more were added by the developer) on 159.88 acres of land. Motion was made by Commissioner A.M. “Hupp” Huppmann with second from Commissioner Klynt A. Farmer.
Nassau County Commissioners Comments:
Chair John F. Martin: District 1 (Fernandina Beach): 904-570-2594*
“(Kudos) for the awards received at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism” and (condolences) to the family of Thomas Eugene Townsend, Sr., a Marine Corp Vietnam veteran,” who had his funeral today. He had four Purple Hearts for his service. Keep the Townsend family in your prayers.”
A.M. “Hupp” Huppman: District 2 (South Amelia Island): 904-319-0686
Jeff Gray: District 3 (Yulee): 904-570-1946*
“We collected cases of water” at a fire department non-profit event held at Walmart…”We had 9.71 inches of rain in July and had a 100-year rain event in August with our employees working as hard as they can.”
Alyson R. McCullough: District 4 (Hillard): 904-319-0689
Klynt A. Farmer: District 5 (Callahan): 904-570-1357*
“We had a downpour on Friday during our regional economic development board meeting with representatives from all over the state… We had horrible road conditions but our road people worked (tirelessly) to keep the roads (open). They did a stellar service.”
(*Note: Commission Terms End on Nov. 18, 2024)
Upcoming Nassau County Events:
- Timber To Tides Design Overlay meetings planned for Sept. 10, Sept. 24, and Oct. 29 from 4-7 p.m. at the James S. Page Governmental Complex, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, Florida 32097.
- The Nassau County Public Library System is hosting a special program, Turpentine Days, led by local historian John Hendricks at the West Nassau Historical Society. The event is on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Yulee Branch Library on 76346 William Burgess Blvd, Yulee (within FSCJ College).
- Nassau County Extension Office is offering a Florida Master Naturalist Program Certificate for a three-day course from Sept. 24-27. Use Course Code IP24-06. Registration closes Wednesday Sept. 18. For questions, contact David Herbert at (904) 530-6356.
- The Bicentennial Celebration is hosting a Scavenger Hunt featuring photo challenges, quizzes and information about Nassau County’s history from October 1 to November 2. To participate download the Eventzee App, available in ITunes and Google Play Stores. Then create an Eventzee account by entering an email address, password, and username. Enter the event code: Wiswag.
Agenda
Watch (90 minutes)
https://nassaufl.granicus.com/player/event/2649?view_id=2&redirect=true
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: Make America Great Again.”
