By Cindy Jackson
Reporter
April 24, 2019 11:30 a.m.
Prior to the meeting of the Board of County Commissioners on April 22, 2019, was a very brief workshop session to discuss Pavement Management issues. The board was provided with a list of 28 projects. That list was comprised of projects taken from two other lists categorized as Major/Minor Collector Roads and Millings Roads – both county-wide.
Projects were ordered according to priority and the BOCC previously agreed upon the criteria on which roads were to be rated. Factors included traffic volume, ride-ability, cracking, road patches, age of roadway and rutting. The higher the score, the worse the state of the road.
The handout noted that funding split among the three categories as follows:
Major/Minor Collector Roads – 36%
Local Roads – 57%
Millings Roads – 7%
Public Works Director Cameron Hansen and County Engineer Laura Borgesi were both quick to point out the lists were fluid and “common sense” would prevail.
Hansen said, “We have spoken to the contractor and if we can get him a list by mid-May, we will be able to complete the projects by the end of the fiscal year.”
Roads scoring a 45 or above (with 50 being the worst) included Kings Ferry Road (District 4), Old Dixie Highway (Districts 4 and 5), S. 14th Street to Sadler Road (District 1) Pages Dairy Road (District 3) Chester Road (District 3), CR 108 (Districts 3 and 4) and Lessie Road (District 4). (Note: The section of 14th to Sadler has been completed since the list was compiled).
Regular Meeting of BOCC
The regular meeting of the BOCC was called to order at 6PM and Commission chambers were filled to capacity. Parents, coaches, and children from the Callahan Soccer Club descended en masse to express their support and need for lights at their fields.
The Callahan Soccer Club has been active at the Kirsten M. Higgonbotham Memorial Park since 1991. Bryceville Ballpark has lights, fields in Fernandina Beach have lights and the Yulee Sports Complex has lights. While $205,000 had been allotted previously to purchase land from Rayonier, that money could now be reallocated to the cost of light installation. The Nassau County School Board needs to approve the measure first and the re-allotment of the funds from land acquisition to lighting installation would need to be approved by the BOCC. To that end, a public hearing has been scheduled for May 13.
Other highlights of the meeting included a presentation by Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT). SWAT, as explained on its website, “is Florida’s statewide youth organization working to mobilize, educate and equip Florida youth to revolt against and de-glamorize Big Tobacco. SWAT is a united movement of empowered youth working towards a tobacco free future.” The young representatives who came before the commissioners advocated for the need for a County Tobacco Retail License.
Sheriff Bill Leeper was also in attendance to formally request the Board of County Commissioners confirm Captain Greg Foster as the Emergency Management Director. The motion was approved by a vote of 5-0. The Emergency Management Director reports to the County Manager during a declared State of Emergency. Former Emergency Management Director, Mr. Billy Estep retired earlier this month.
For a complete listing of county commission and committee meetings, please visit
https://www.nassaucountyfl.com/calendar.aspx
Editor’s Note: Born in Hagerstown, Maryland, Cindy received her BA in Political Science from Dickinson College. Upon graduation, Cindy began her career on Capitol Hill working as a legislative aide and director. She later became a part of the public relations and lobbying team of the American Iron and Steel Institute and served as director of the office of state legislative affairs for the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Cindy was involved in economic development with the state of Maryland, and served as executive director of Leadership Washington County. As a community volunteer, Cindy participates in numerous volunteer activities serving as a member of Sunrise Rotary, and as board member of Cummer Amelia Board of Directors.