Weekly comments from Dale Martin

By Dale Martin
City Manager
Fernandina Beach
January 15, 2021

City Manager Dale Martin

As the celebrations of the old year end and the new year beginning fade, the projects and efforts of the City included in the current budget continue and preparation begins for next year’s budget.

At the Golf Course, a topic of recent significant interest, the number of rounds played remains consistent, if not higher, than the previous year. The recent loss of Mr. Steve Murphy, General Manager, has created some operational challenges, but Ms. Kristy Benjamin, Food and Beverage Manager, and Mr. David Younger, Superintendent, have performed admirably in the interim. Indigo Golf Partner representatives have indicated that the new General Manager, Mr. Cliff Easum, is slated to begin work on Monday. Welcome, Mr. Easum.

Mr. Jeremiah Glisson, the City’s Fleet, Facilities, and Sanitation (and whatever else I throw at him) Director, has provided exceptional assistance as the Toptracer facility nears completion and operation. The facility itself has been constructed, furniture ordered, and the building is now powered following the installation of electrical service. Final interior improvements should be completed shortly and Toptracer staff are scheduled to arrive on Monday to begin the installation of technology (computers and radars). The intent remains have the facility operational by the end of this month and available for use to the general public in February. An official grand opening will likely be scheduled in March or April after initial kinks are corrected and the weather warms.

At the Marina, the management transition to Oasis Marinas has been completed, with the first month of operations under Oasis Marinas now complete. Mr. Taylor Fitzsimmons is the Marina Manager, leading a staff comprised of experienced local talent, including Ms. Cathy Chapman, Assistant Manager. The first monthly Owner’s Report is being drafted (to be included with the Monthly Reports presented to the City Commission on Tuesday). The report will provide additional details related to the transition, operations, maintenance, and projects (specifically fuel restoration and wi-fi upgrades). Later this month, the City and Marina will host the Sunshine Redfish Tournament, organized by the National Redfish League (Jan 28-30).

As a segue to Airport activities, I am working with Mr. Fitzsimmons, Mr. Nathan Coyle (Airport Director), and Ms. Lisa Finkelstein (Main Street Director) to develop a program to demonstrate the economic activity generated by the Marina and the Airport. Comments are frequently heard that the Airport (especially) and the Marina (much less) contribute minimally to the economic success of City businesses. We are exploring some opportunities to determine and demonstrate the role of Airport/Marina in business activity in the City.

The decision to postpone the 2021 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance until May (May 20-23) has provided an opportunity for the Airport to complete some projects that were being shuffled to accommodate the traditional March Concours date. The re-paving of Runway 4/22 (over $2 million, funded through federal sources) is concluding with final grooving and painting. City staff will conduct a final review today, with the runway likely to be re-opened this weekend.

The construction of a new fuel farm, originally delayed by the pandemic and subsequently postpone due to the anticipation of the March Concours, will now begin. The later Concours date will provide sufficient time to have the project completed prior to the new May event.

City staff has completed a review of proposals submitted by three businesses to operate out of an underutilized hangar (Hangar B). The hangar has been being used for aircraft storage, but a business already located at the Airport desires additional space. The proposal will be presented to the Airport Advisory Commission for a review before being considered formally by the City Commission. If approved, a “domino-effect” may occur as the relocation will then create a vacancy which will likely then be offered to one of the other businesses that had offered a proposal for Hangar B.

Several additional hangars are under construction (funded privately) and in planning (City owned, funded, in part, through State funds). The waiting list for hangar space continues to lengthen, now with approximately eighty people interested in hangar space.

At Tuesday’s City Commission meeting, Passero Associates and Marquis Latimer will present current concept/design efforts for the waterfront. Funds for the initial efforts are included in the current year’s budget. The preliminary intent is to complete enough of the shoreline stabilization and park projects to host (pandemic pending) the November petanque tournament.

Improved rail crossings at Ash and Centre Streets, also included in this year’s budget, await final railroad review and authorization. The improvements to these two crossings (intended to be completed this summer) are a precursor to the re-opening of the Alachua Street crossing, a project which has long been desired and been resuscitated through several years of collaboration between the City, State transportation officials, and railroad officials.

Finally, the City Commission will again gather for its annual goal-setting session at the end of this month to set the stage for the development of next year’s budget. As previously mentioned, it will continue to be a busy year.