Nassau County Board of Commission talks trash

By Cindy Jackson
Reporter
March 22, 2019 9:30 a.m.

Talking trash could well have been the theme of the meeting of the Board of County Commissioners on the morning of March 20, 2019.

Becky Diden, with the Department of Solid Waste addressed the commissioners about the many challenges facing the Nassau County Convenience Recycling Center located in Callahan (46026 Landfill Road).

Ostensibly, Ms. Diden was there to request the BOCC rescind two ordinances enacted in 2009 and 2010 – both of which related to the type of waste accepted and fees charged at the Nassau County Convenience Recycling Center. At the time, both resolutions were approved in response to the closing of the West Nassau Landfill in 2009. At the time, they seemed like a good idea.

According to the County’s website:

Effective October 1, 2010 the Nassau County Convenience Recycling Center located at 46026 Landfill Road Callahan Fl 32011, [was to] accept residential waste generated by Nassau County residents at no charge. The Convenience Center [was to also] accept for recycling: glass, office paper, cardboard, newspapers, magazines, automotive batteries, scrap metals, plastics, aluminum cans, tires and electronics.

Yard waste and residential construction demolition debris (such as carpet and remodeling material) [was] not be accepted at the Center. [Those ] items were to be taken to Continue reading →

Leave a comment | Posted in General |

FDOT Road & Lane Closures

FDOT
Press Release
March 22, 2019 4:30 p.m.

Nassau County

I-95 (FIN 431958-1-52-01)
Daytime lane closures from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday southbound near the Nassau County line and Georgia State line for Gateway sign and guardrail construction.

I-95 from Florida State Line to Georgia exit 22 (Horsestamp Church Road)
Daytime lane closures for GDOT resurfacing project.

State Road A1A from Peeples Road to Gene Lasserre Blvd Continue reading →

Leave a comment | Posted in General |

12 Beach access walkovers in need of immediate repair or replacement for safety reasons

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
March 22, 2019 1:00 a.m.

 

Boardwalk at Fernandina Beach access 35S

Following receipt of a March 15, 2019 study by the engineering firm of Gillette & Associates, Inc. on the condition of beach walkovers in the city of Fernandina Beach the city has taken action in the interest of the safety of beach goers.  Three boardwalks (at 35S, 38 and 40) are so unsafe that they are scheduled for demolition.  Nine others (at 6N, 4N, 10, 27, 28, 29, 30, 36, and 39) will be undergoing immediate repairs.

Gillette’s study went beyond the original scope of work, which was initially limited to identifying the boardwalks that posed the greatest threat to public safety and should be closed.  However, engineers conducted a degree of examination on all boardwalks to determine which required immediate attention.  The visual inspection covered decking, railing, joists, girders, pilings and connectors.  Although constructed at different times, the basic design and construction plan for the walkovers remained consistent.

Gillette concluded that all of the walkovers have some degree of dune intrusion and require repairs, some more than others.  Gillette ranked the walkovers according to a Continue reading →

2 Comments | Posted in City News |

Diocese of St Augustine issues statement of “credible allegations of sexual abuse”

Diocese of St Augustine
Press Release
March 22, 2019 1:00 p.m.

Statement on Holy Ghost Father William Malone

Jacksonville, Fla. – Credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor have been made against Father William Malone, a Holy Ghost Father who served in the Diocese of St. Augustine from January 1982 to March 1992.

The abuses occurred in the early 1980s at Sacred Heart Parish in Jacksonville.
A thorough review of the allegations was conducted by an independent investigator. Based on his report, the Diocesan Review Board found the allegations to be credible. The report has been shared with local law enforcement. Bishop Felipe Estévez has met with the victim to express his deep sorrow for the Continue reading →

Leave a comment | Posted in General |

Teens to perform “A Little Bit of Everything” – March 29 – 30

Amelia Community Theatre
Press Release
March 22, 2019 3:30 p.m.

Click here for tickets.

Amelia Community Theatre’s teen troupe, ACTeen, presents a theatre showcase called “A Little Bit of Everything” at 7:30 p.m. on March 29 and 30 at 209 Cedar Street.

ACTeen, Amelia Community Theatre’s teen troupe.

The show features sketch comedy, improv, monologues, singing, and dancing, performed by teens ages 13 through seniors in high school. It is directed by Toni D’Amico.

Open seating in ACT’s Studio 209 theatre will begin at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are available at www.AmeliaCommunityTheatre.org or by calling 904-261-6749. Amelia Community Theatre, founded in 1981, is a nonprofit 501(c)3 theatre, located in downtown Fernandina Beach.

 

Leave a comment | Posted in General |

FBCC postpones decision on Amelia Bluffs FLUM change to April 16, 2019

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
March 21, 2019 9:50 a.m.

More than an hour before the scheduled start of the FBCC meeting on March 19, 2019, almost all seats in City Hall Commission Chambers were taken by people opposing the proposed FLUM change for Amelia Bluffs LLC.

More than 100 people packed Fernandina Beach City Hall Commission Chambers at the City Commission’s March 19, 2019 Regular Meeting, overflowing into the hallway and outside the building.  Most were there to urge City Commissioners to vote down Ordinance 2019-08, changing the city’s Future Land Use Map (FLUM) from Conservation to Low Density Residential for approximately 6.4 acres of land known as Amelia Bluff located on the east side of Citrona Drive across from Fernandina Beach High School.  Fifty-four people, mostly newcomers and city residents, spoke and urged commissioners to put environmental concerns ahead of concerns over potential litigation with the developer who has proceeded to clear land and construct infrastructure on the basis of permits given by the city and the St. Johns Water Management District.

After over 4 hours of public input, staff presentation and discussion, the Fernandina Beach City Commissioners (FBCC), with the consent of the property developer’s agent, agreed to put off a decision until their April 16, 2019 Regular Meeting.  In the interim, the city manager, city attorney and staff will meet with the property agent to see if there is any way to resolve or ameliorate the associated problems.

[For background on this issue, see earlier articles and comments in the Fernandina Observer.]

In consideration of the large number of people attending the FBCC meeting for this particular issue, Mayor John Miller moved it up on the evening’s agenda.  Discussion began at 6:10 pm and continued to 10:30 pm.  The meeting itself went on until 11:35 pm. Continue reading →

15 Comments | Posted in City News |

Final permit issued to complete marina repairs caused by Matthew

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
March 21, 2019 7:27 p.m.

Late this afternoon the City of Fernandina Beach finally received the official go ahead from the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) to proceed with repairs to the northern portion of the Fernandina Harbor Marina attenuator.  The repairs, which include removing and replacing an existing floating dock structure and pilings as well as a gangway, are needed to return the marina to its pre-Hurricane Matthew (2016) operation condition.  Work in the marina’s south basin was previously permitted and is underway.

In the letter, signed by Col. Andrew D. Kelly, Jr., ACE District Commander, the city was also put on notice that “that the applicant [city] utilize the Congressional Authorization to move the Federal Channel westwards or the attenuator structure Continue reading →

Leave a comment | Posted in City News |

BOCC designates March 23 – 29 as “United Way Week”

By Cindy Jackson
Reporter
March 21, 2019 9:37 a.m.

The Board of County Commissioners conducts an annual fundraising campaign for the United Way of Northeast Florida.

At the BOCC meeting of March 20th, the week of March 23-March 29, 2019 was designated as United Way Week to help spread awareness about the United Way and their efforts to help build a better community to live, work and play.

According to the resolution, since 2010, the Board of County Commissioners have conducted annual fundraising campaigns resulting in contributions of over Continue reading →

Leave a comment | Posted in General |