12/31/19 @ 4:30 p.m. -

Happy New Year Nassau County! We wish you all peace, health and happiness in 2020. County Offices will be closed on Wednesday, January 1, 2020, in observance of the holiday, however we will resume normal business hours on Thursday the 2nd.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

12/31/19 @ 9:30 a.m. - In May 2019, the Board of County Commissioners hired an Engineering Firm, CPH, Inc., to conduct a safety study at the intersection of South 14th Street and Simmons Road in Fernandina to determine whether or not additional safety controls should be added. The study analyzed a variety of factors including traffic volumes during four and eight hour increments, traffic volume during peak hours, pedestrian volume and crash data. The conclusion was that a traffic signal or roundabout is warranted at this location.

Now that the Board is aware that there is an issue requiring additional control, they are responsible for implementing safety measures while long-term intersection improvements are planned. At the October 14, 2019 meeting, the Board approved a Resolution to establish a four-way stop. It is anticipated that the striping and signs for the four-way stop will be in place no later than the end of January 2020. This is a temporary solution while CPH, Inc., prepares their final recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners regarding future intersection improvements including a roundabout or red light.

To view the study in its entirety, please click here.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Engineering Department at (904) 530-6225.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

12/30/19 @ 1:40 p.m. - Emergencies are unpredictable and when they happen, your financial stability can be at risk. Whether its an illness, job loss, home or car repair, your cash flow can be majorly affected if you aren't prepared.

Begin planning an emergency fund so that you have savings to offset the sting of an unexpected financial burden. A good rule of thumb is to put away at least 3 to 6 months worth of expenses to use as a safety net.

Also, don't forget that most standard homeowners insurance policies don't cover flooding. Just a few inches of flooding can lead to loss of thousands of dollars to your home or business. Most policies require a 30 days waiting period before the coverage becomes effective. Begin looking for a policy today to ensure you are covered before a flood risk approaches.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

12/30/19 @ 8:15 a.m. - The Board of County Commissioners will have a Special Meeting today at 5:30 p.m. regarding electronic gaming facilities.

County Manager/County Attorney, Mike Mullin, has been following this issue around the State and has met with representatives from the Sheriff's Office on several occasions to discuss concerns regarding an increase in crimes generated at these facilities. The Sheriff's Office has provided the attached Executive Summary which will be discussed at the meeting tonight.

Please be advised that our Board Room is undergoing renovations and equipment needed to live stream the video will not be functioning. The public is welcome to attend the meeting. Meetings are held in the Commission Chambers located at 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097 (James S. Page Governmental Complex).
Audio (recordings) will be available following the meeting.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

12/27/19 @ 10:40 a.m. - The St. Johns River Water Management District has launched "Water Less", a year-long campaign that promotes seasonally-appropriate outdoor water conservation. Their website states, "With irrigation systems accounting for about half of a home’s total water use, we see homeowners (and business owners) as natural allies in water conservation. Throughout the next year, the Water Less conservation focus will shift each season to reflect the unique water needs of Florida lawns and landscaping".

Lawns go dormant during the winter and need less water so the campaign focus now becomes "Skip a Week", to encourage everyone to skip every other week of irrigation. A new focus will be encouraged with each new season to remind residents of proper watering schedules to save precious water resources and to help you save on your water bill.

If you have any questions, please contact Water Conservation Coordinator, Deirdre Irwin, at (386) 329-4341 or via email at dirwin@sjrwmd.com.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

12/20/19 @ 4:35 p.m.

County Offices will be closed from Monday, December 23rd - Wednesday, December 25th. We will resume normal business hours on Thursday the 26th. We hope that everyone has a safe and happy holiday.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

12/20/19 @ 11:15 a.m. - On Saturday, January 11, 2020, County Extension Director, Rebecca Jordi, will conduct an Adopt-A-Tree Adult Educational Workshop at the Yulee Extension Office located at 86026 Pages Dairy Road. Participants will learn about proper tree selection for your location, soil, sun/shade, and more. Those who complete the workshop will be offered 1 or 2 free, 3-5 gallon trees to plant on their property in Nassau County. The event is free, however registration is required. To register, please click here. 

Please note that this is an adult workshop and childcare will not be provided.

Thank you to Keep Nassau Beautiful and Liberty Landscape Supply for sponsoring this event. If you have any question, please call (904) 261-0165.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

12/19/19 @ 3:15 p.m. - The Florida Department of Transportation has secured Traffic Control Devices, Inc., for intersection improvements at US 1 and Ratliff Road. The improvements include new traffic signal boxes, a new controller cabinet with backup batteries, IT Communication Equipment with Closed Caption Television for remote monitoring, new detector loops and illuminated street signs. They will also be installing 13 street lights which will be staggered along both sides of US 1 in the north and south directions of the intersection.

Construction will begin on Monday, January 6, 2020 and will last approximately 90 days. Motorists should expect miner traffic delays. The project manager is John Patterson and he can be reached at (904) 360-5576 with any questions or concerns.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

12/19/19 @ 1:30 p.m. - On Saturday, October 26, 2019, Keep Nassau Beautiful and the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners hosted a Hazardous Waste Recycling Event in which residents could dispose of items that can't be disposed of in the regular trash including paints, electronics, pesticides, and more.

A total of 441 vehicles delivered over 42,000 pounds of hazardous materials! Below are some photos from the event, as well as a breakdown of materials collected and participants by zip code. A big thank you to everyone who volunteered, as well as to those residents who participated.

This event used to be held every year in the spring however it has been extended to twice per year due to the large amount of participation. We will share information about the next recycling event within the next couple months. If you have any questions, please contact Nassau County Solid Waste at (904) 530

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Adrienne Burke
Director, PEO Department
(904) 530-6300
aburke@nassaucountyfl.com
 
NASSAU COUNTY ADOPTS WESTERN NASSAU VISION BOOK
 
Nassau County, Florida, December 18, 2019 – The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has adopted by resolution the Western Nassau Heritage Preservation Vision Book. The adoption of the Vision Book is the culmination of a community-driven process to proactively plan for the future of western Nassau County, including all of the County west of I-95.

In response to a Fall 2017 Urban Land Institute report on the impacts of growth on Western Nassau, the Nassau County Planning and Zoning Board (PZB) formed a subcommittee, the Western Nassau Heritage Preservation Committee (WNHPC). Five PZB members who live in Western Nassau served on the WNHPC. The committee was charged with discussing the future of Western Nassau, and to work with the Planning and Economic Opportunity Department to determine how they can best assist in planning efforts. The Committee’s logo “Our Heritage, Our Future” echoes the historic Hilliard Poultry Association signage as a nod to the County’s past.

During the process, Nassau County Department of Planning and Economic Opportunity (PEO) facilitated an extensive public outreach campaign to gather input from residents, property and business owners, and state and local agencies to craft their vision for the future.  On March 26, 2019, after a full year of community engagement, the WNHPC adopted the following mission statement:

The Western Nassau Heritage Preservation Committee exists because there is a genuine desire on the part of our citizenry to ensure what our name implies--Preservation! We enjoy a rich heritage in Western Nassau County. Through purposeful community engagement, we are driven to gain perspective and insight for inevitable growth. The underlying impetus of our goal is to maintain a high quality of life, preserve rural character, and ensure fiscally sustainable and appropriately controlled development.

The Committee and PEO staff then translated community input into the Vision Book’s goals, objectives, and strategies to be implemented over the planning horizon through 2045. Objectives and strategies relate to community goals including history, natural resources, health, quality of life, recreation, jobs and education, and public spaces and infrastructure. Community partners and other related planning efforts such as Vision 2032 and the County Comprehensive Plan are also included in the Vision Book.
 
The Vision Book was approved by the Western Nassau Heritage Preservation Committee on October 22, 2019. The full County Planning and Zoning Board recommended approval to the BOCC in November 2019. Last month, the County PEO staff received the Outstanding Public Participation award from the First Coast Chapter of the Florida Planning and Zoning Association for efforts related to the Western Nassau Vision Book. The WNHPC and County staff extend many thanks to the numerous citizens who took time to attend meetings and events, or stop to talk to staff during community events. The Vision Book is truly a citizen-led plan and would not have been possible without their time and interest.
 
More information on the work of the Western Nassau Heritage Preservation Committee and the Vision Book can be found at: www.nassaucountyfl.com/westernnassau.
 
The Nassau County Planning and Economic Opportunity Department is charged with leading long-range and current planning for the community, with a focus on technical planning, implementation and management of the Land Development Code and Comprehensive Plan, development and site plan review, and assistance to citizens, the Board of County Commissioners, County Manager and other staff, advisory boards, government agencies, and the private sector regarding growth and development in Nassau County. For more information on our Plan, Code, or current initiatives, visit www.nassaucountyfl.com/planning, call (904) 530-6300 or email planninginfo@nassaucountyfl.com.
 
-Adrienne Burke
 Director of Planning & Economic Opportunity