9/24/20 @ 8:00 p.m. - Attached is Executive Order No. 23 issued by the Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. This Executive Order lifts the mandatory mask requirement in the County limits and became effective at 12:00 p.m. today.

This new Executive Order still encourages use of masks at indoor  business establishes. It will remain in effect for 30 days unless extended.

If you have any questions, please contact the County Manager's Office at (904) 530-6010.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

9/23/20 @ 8:30 p.m.

At today’s special meeting, the Board voted 3-2 to end the mandatory mask mandate, effective at noon tomorrow. Health Director, Dr. Seidel, spoke at the meeting and credited several mitigation efforts to the recent low case counts including use of masks, social distancing and frequent hand washing.

Though the mandate has been lifted, residents are still strongly encouraged to wear masks when unable to socially distance. Further, businesses can still implement their own mask mandates should they choose. Please note that masks will still be required in all County facilities.

A Executive Order outlining the new guidelines will be issued tomorrow.

The Board will continue to meet weekly and hear updates from Dr. Seidel. Should cases begin to spike again, the Board could consider reinstating the mandate in the future.

-Sabrina Robertson
County Manager’s Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
 
Contact:
Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
(904) 530-6010
srobertson@nassaucountyfl.com
 
Suspension of Beach Driving to End Tomorrow
 
Nassau County, Florida, September 23, 2020 –On Sunday, September 20, 2020, the National Weather Service issued a Coastal Flood Warning and High Surf and High Wind Advisories for Nassau County. As a result, the County Manager, in consultation with the Emergency Management and Public Works Directors, made the decision to temporarily suspend driving on County beaches (Peters Point south to State Park) due to the hazardous weather conditions.  
 
A site visit this afternoon determined that tides are slowly receding. The beach will be open to driving tomorrow at 7am. Tide levels will be monitored throughout the day and if unsafe conditions arise, beach driving may be suspended again.
 
*********************************************************************************************************
If you have any questions regarding, please contact Nassau County Emergency Management at (904) 548-0954.
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact:
Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
(904) 530-6010
srobertson@nassaucountyfl.com
 
 
Taco Pope Selected for County Manager Position
 
Nassau County, Florida, September 23, 2020 – On September 16th the Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved an employment contract with Nassau County’s own, Taco E. Pope, for the position of County Manager. Following the motion, a round of applause broke from county department directors and other local government officials in attendance.
 
“Nassau County is my home, it is where I grew up, where I am raising my kids, and I don’t intend to ever leave. I chose to dedicate the last 15 years of my professional career to Nassau. I am proud of the fact that I was asked to be the Planning Director, I was asked to be the Asst. County Manager and I have now been asked to serve as the County Manager. If the citizens will have me, I will  dedicate the next 15 years of my career to Nassau in whatever capacity the Board feels is appropriate. I just want to be a part of the team.” - Taco E. Pope, AICP
 
Taco holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from Florida Gulf Coast University and two Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degrees from the University of North Florida; a BBA in Business Management and a BBA in Transportation and Logistics. Taco also holds professional accreditation as a community planner through the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and is a ‘full member’ of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and the Florida City/County Management Association (FCCMA), a member of the American Planning Association (APA), and the Urban Land Institute (ULI).
 
Taco not only brings local knowledge to the County Manager position; he also brings15 years of local government experience. Of the 15 years, seven years were spent in supervisory roles with the last five years being in management where he served as the County’s Director of Planning and Economic Opportunity and then as the Assistant County Manager. During that time, Taco has been instrumental in fostering a collaborative, community-based approach to community formation through meaningful public engagement, transparency and a holistic view of quality of life.
 
Taco’s approach to governance has resulted in a number of State and Regional Awards including, most recently, the 2018 Best Practices in Community Planning from the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association; a 2018 Regional Award for Master Planning of Land Areas from the Florida Planning & Zoning Association; a 2018 Regional Award for Planning & Growth Management from the Northeast Florida Regional Council; a 2019 Regional Award for Outstanding Public Participation from the Florida Planning & Zoning Association.
 
In addition, Taco’s collaborate and community-based approach to his profession has resulted in requests to serve on both State and Regional boards and committees. Currently, Taco serves on the Florida Association of Counties Trust (FACT) Board of Trustees; the Regional Community Institute of Northeast Florida’s Board of Directors; he is the staff liaison to the Small County Coalition of Florida,  and was recently appointed to the newly formed Northeast Florida Economic Resilience Taskforce.
 
On the personal front, Taco resides in Yulee with his wife of 10 years, Amy, and their two sons. His oldest son was part of the 2020 graduating class at Yulee High School. His youngest son attends Wildlight Elementary School.
 
When asked why he wants to be County Manager, Taco stated, “Nassau County is my home, it means something to me. I consider myself lucky to have been raised here and to have the opportunity to raise my boys here. I want to craft a community they can enjoy with their grandkids and a community that all residents are proud to call home.”  
 
Taco has also been involved in athletics throughout his life. He was one of the founders of the Yulee Basketball Association (Yulee’s youth basketball league) and has coached numerous youth basketball teams including, three years as the assistant coach at Yulee Middle School. In the late 2000’s, Taco represented the USA as a member of the USA Tomahawks (now the USA Hawks), the USA’s representative team in the Ruby League, for three years. He earned several international appearances including three Atlantic Cup Championships and a World Cup Qualifying match. He also played six seasons in the AMNRL/USARL with the Jacksonville Axemen rugby league team and was placed into the Jacksonville Axemen Hall of Fame in 2015.
*********************************************************************************************************
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Human Resources at (904) 530-6075.
 
 
 

9/23/20 @ 10:45 a.m. - Drive-through COVID-19 testing will take place tomorrow, September 24, 2020, from 9:30 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. at the Journey Church. This is free for individuals ages 5 and up with proof of residency.

See flyer for additional info or call the Health Department at (904) 875-6100.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

9/23/20 @ 10:30 a.m. - The Board of County Commissioners has a special meeting today at 4:30 p.m. A copy of the agenda can be located here.

The meeting is open to the public and measures have been implemented to allow for social distancing if attending in person. This includes use of masks, hand sanitizer, and additional seating, monitors and speakers outside of the Board Room.

Individuals not wishing to attend in person can participate remotely via the following methods:

ZOOM/Webinar:

Join ZOOM meeting here:
Password: 987321
Use the "raise hand" feature within the ZOOM App to notify the Chairman if you would like to speak when your item comes up on the agenda.

By Phone:
Or iPhone one-tap:
US: +13462487799,,82411146045#,,,,0#,,987321# or
+16465588656,,82411146045#,,,,0#,,987321#

Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 346 248 7799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 301 715 8592
or +1 312 626 6799

Webinar ID: 824 1114 6045
Password: 987321

If participating by phone, hit *9 when your item comes up to notify the Chairman you would like to speak. You can follow along online by watching the meeting remotely on the Clerk's website.

Submitting Public Comment:
Residents can also submit comments for the record by emailing comments@nassaucountyfl.com or by calling (904) 530-6009 and leaving a voicemail.

9/23/20 @ 10:10 a.m. - Did you know that your library card can be used for more than just checking out books? It can be used for accessing online research materials, searching for jobs, building resumes, college admissions testing preparations, downloading e-books, streaming movies and music and more! 

The Nassau County Library System created this informational video highlighting all the uses for your library card. Take a look and learn more.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact:
Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
(904) 530-6010
srobertson@nassaucountyfl.com
 
County Extends Suspension of Beach Driving
 
Nassau County, Florida, September 22, 2020 –On Sunday, September 20, 2020, the National Weather Service issued a Coastal Flood Warning and High Surf and High Wind Advisories for Nassau County. As a result, the County Manager, in consultation with the Emergency Management and Public Works Directors, made the decision to temporarily suspend driving on County beaches (Peters Point south to State Park) due to the hazardous weather conditions.  The National Weather Service has since extended the High Surf Advisory through 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 23, 2020.
 
The temporary suspension of beach driving was extended the afternoon of Monday, September 21st after a site visit determined that the tides were still pushing into the dune area. Another site visit at 1:00 today determined that the beach driving areas are still under water. Therefore, the temporary suspension on beach driving is being extended again through noon on Wednesday, September 23rd. The Emergency Management Director and Public Works Director will meet onsite tomorrow morning to do an assessment. We will send out another update as soon as possible.
           
*********************************************************************************************************
If you have any questions regarding, please contact Nassau County Emergency Management at (904) 548-0954.
 
 
 
 
 
 

9/22/20 @ 12:30 p.m. - This week is Child Passenger Safety Week and Saturday, September 26, 2020 is National Seat Check Saturday. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to check their children's car seats to ensure they fit properly and that they are installed properly.

Attached is a W.H.A.L.E. (We Have a Little Emergency) Check program informational flyer which includes great safety tips and guidelines, as well as stickers to place on the child's car seat to provide vital contact information for emergency personnel in case of an accident.

Also, below is a short informational video about the W.H.A.L.E. check program.

The W.H.A.L.E. Check Program is funded by the Florida Department of Transportation and is designed to prevent injuries in children as a result of car crashes. For additional information, please visit FDOT's Community Traffic Safety Program website.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
(904) 530-6010
srobertson@nassaucountyfl.com

County Extends Suspension of Beach Driving

Nassau County, Florida, September 21, 2020 –Yesterday, the National Weather Service issued a Coastal Flood Warning and High Surf and High Wind Advisories for Nassau County. As a result, the County Manager, in consultation with the Emergency Management and Public Works Directors, made the decision to temporarily suspend driving on County beaches (Peters Point south to State Park) due to the hazardous weather conditions.

The National Weather Service has now extended the High Surf Advisory through 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 23, 2020.

Site visits made this afternoon determined that the tides are still pushing into the dune area, therefore, the temporary suspension for beach driving is extended through 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22, 2020, pending an assessment of erosion and beach conditions tomorrow morning. We will provide an update as soon as possible.

*********************************************************************************************************
If you have any questions regarding, please contact Nassau County Emergency Management at (904) 548-0954.