9/17/19 @ 9:45 a.m. - Keep Nassau Beautiful will be hosting a beach clean-up event this Saturday, September 21st from 8am-10am. If you are interested in participating, please register online here and select your beach access point. Site captains will be available at each location to provide gloves, trash grabbers and buckets. Volunteers should bring sunscreen and water, if desired.

Call KNB at (904) 261-0165 or email knb@keepnassaubeautiful.org with questions.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

8/22/19 @ 12:45 p.m.

Attention Nature Lovers! The Florida Master Naturalist Program is offering an Uplands Module this Summer.
UF/IFAS Nassau County Extension along with community partners is offering an Uplands module beginning September 9 and ending October 2, 2019. This core course will provide classroom, field trip and practical experience as related to the Upland Systems of Florida. Classroom instruction will cover ecology, habitats, vegetation, wildlife and conservation issues for Florida’s... Hardwood forests, pinelands, scrub, dry prairie and rangelands as well as urban green spaces. Field trips will focus on providing students with real-life examples of these systems in Nassau County.
The only requirements of students are enthusiasm, attendance, and class project participation! Hurry up and reserve your spot today!
The Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) is an adult education UF/IFAS Extension program developed by the University of Florida and provided by professionals throughout the state of Florida. FMNP training will benefit persons interested in learning more about Florida’s environment or wishing to increase their knowledge for use in education programs as volunteers, employees, ecotourism guides and others.
Please register at: http://masternaturalist.ifas.ufl.edu/ and for further questions please call 904-530-6350.

-Justina Dacey
 Nassau County Extension Office

8/20/19 @ 4:45 p.m.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact:
Sabrina Robertson
Administrative Manager, County Manager’s Office
(904) 530-6010
srobertson@nassaucountyfl.com.
 
Establishment of a Subcommittee for the Beach Community Working Group
 
Nassau County, Florida, August 20, 2019 - On December 19, 2018, the Board of County Commissioners formed a Beach Community Working Group consisting of Mike Mullin, County Manager/County Attorney; Taco Pope, Assistant County Manager; Doug Podiak, Public Works Director; Gil Langley, Executive Director of the Tourist Development Council; Butch Osborne, Director of Operations for the Sheriff’s Office; Mac Morriss, Ex-Officio Member; and Lowell Hall, Ex-Officio Member.
 
The group was directed to review current beach related Ordinances and use of the beach and to make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners as to any updates or amendments that need to be made. A total of twelve (12) meetings have been held to date.
 
At the Beach Community Working Group Meeting held on August 15, 2019, a Subcommittee consisting of County Manager/County Attorney, Mike Mullin; Assistant County Manager, Taco Pope; Public Works Director, Doug Podiak; and Office of Management & Budget Director, Megan Diehl, was formed to review ADA issues related to beach camping and to discuss costs related to beach operations and management of camping permits.
 
Two meetings of the Subcommittee have been scheduled as follows:

• Wednesday, September 4, 2019 at 9:00 a.m.
• Monday, September 9, 2019 at 1:00 p.m.

 
The Subcommittee will discuss their findings at upcoming Beach Community Working Group Meetings which have been scheduled for:

• Monday, September 16, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• Thursday, September 19, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

 
Please note that the previously scheduled Beach Community Working Group meeting for Thursday, August 22, 2019 has been cancelled.
 
Meetings of the Subcommittee and the Beach Community Working Group will be held in the Commission Chambers located at 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097. All meetings are open to the public.
 
 
 

8/7/19 @ 10:15 a.m.

The FWC Gopher Tortoise Conservation Program will be conducting a Recipient Site and Habitat Management Incentive Workshop at Huguenot Memorial Park in Jacksonville, FL on Monday, August 12 from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. The workshop will consist of a short, 30-minute presentation, followed by a tour of the park. The goal of these workshops is to encourage participation in gopher tortoise conservation at the local level by providing information on opportunities to generate revenue through gopher tortoise recipient sites. In addition, the FWC will discuss financial incentives available to local governments and private landowners for habitat management.
 
The presentation will include information on recipient site permitting options, minimum acceptable habitat criteria, and the financial benefits of establishing a gopher tortoise recipient site. Following the presentation, attendees will tour the park to discuss habitat management history and incentive programs for habitat management which can be utilized to meet the minimum habitat criteria required to establish a gopher tortoise recipient site. Attendees will also have the opportunity to see the inside of a gopher tortoise burrow, as we will be scoping burrows we find along the way with a burrow camera.
 
Registration for this workshop is free. If you are interested in attending, please register for the workshop by Friday, August 9th, 2019.
 
To register for the workshop, please click on the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gopher-tortoise-recipient-site-and-habitat-management-incentive-workshop-tickets-66600549035. Please feel free to pass this information along to those who may be interested in attending.


 

8/1/19 @ 9:45 a.m. - On Saturday, July 20th, Nassau County Solid Waste held their annual Tire Waste Amnesty Event in which Nassau County residents could dispose of up to 12 tires at no charge. A total of 611 tires were collected during the four hour event. 

A big thank you to all the employees and volunteers who worked during the event, as well as to the residents who participated. We commend each of you for doing your part to dispose of these tires properly and reducing their environmental impact. 

-Sabrina Robertson
​ County Manager's Office

7/17/19 @ 9:40 a.m. - The Board of County Commissioners had a very special visitor at their Board Meeting today! Smokey Bear dropped by in celebration of his 75th Birthday which also marks the 75th anniversary of his wildfire prevention campaign, the longest running public service campaign in US history.

They presented Smokey and members of the Florida Forest Service with the following proclamation:

WHEREAS, on August 9, 2019, Smokey Bear will celebrate his 75th birthday, which also marks his wildfire prevention campaign as the longest running public service campaign in U.S. History; and

WHEREAS, Smokey’s message is as relevant today as it was in 1944 as more people are living closer to natural resources – so, no retirement for Smokey!; and

WHEREAS, the mission of the Florida Forest Service is to protect Florida and its people from the dangers of wildfire and manage the forest resources through a stewardship ethic to assure they are available for future generations; and

WHEREAS, in the last five years, Florida Forest Service Wildland Firefighters have responded to over 228 wildfires in Nassau County that burned 1,670 acres, and in many instances, threatened communities and adjoining infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, the Florida Forest Service is actively engaged in promoting and conducting prescribed burns and other wildfire mitigation practices to reduce the size and intensity of a wildfire that may threaten communities and other infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, in the last five years, the Florida Forest Service has mechanically treated 384 acres of forest brush, installed 64 miles of fire lines, and provided 3,133 burn authorizations to local ranchers, tree farmers, and land managers in Nassau County to maintain and restore natural ecosystems and reduce the wildfire hazard.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED this 17th day of July, 2019, by the Board of County Commissioners of Nassau County, Florida, that:

1. The Board hereby congratulates Smokey Bear on his 75th birthday celebration.
2. The Board hereby commends Smokey Bear for his continuous efforts in reminding citizens to be careful when using fire in natural areas.
3. The Board hereby expresses their gratitude to the men and women of the Florida Forest Service for their partnership with Nassau County and Smokey Bear in wildfire prevention and mitigation.

-Sabrina Robertson
County Manager's Office

Pictured: Chairman Justin Taylor, Forest Ranger Tim Steed, Smokey Bear, and Jacksonville District Manager of the Florida Forest Service, Jennifer Hart

6/11/19 @ 9:00 a.m. - Nassau County will be hosting their Annual Waste Tire Amnesty Day on Saturday, July 20th at the Nassau County Convenience Recycle Center in Callahan.

This free event allows Nassau County residents to dispose of up to twelve (12) tires per household, with proof of residency. Tires are limited to car and light truck tires only and must be off the rim and free of debris. No commercial loads will be accepted.

The event begins at 8:30 a.m. and will remain open until 12:00 p.m., or until the truck is full (whichever comes first).

If you have any questions, please contact Nassau County Solid Waste at (904) 530-6702 or email bdiden@nassaucountyfl.com.




-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

5/23/19 @ 8:15 a.m. - Keep Nassau Beautiful, Kayak Amelia and the Amelia Island Beach and Marine Life Conservancy are sponsoring a beach cleanup on Tuesday, May 28th from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Anyone interested in helping clean the beach and shoreline should meet at one of these beach access points: Main Beach, Seaside Park, Peters Point or American Beach. Buckets/totes, trash bags, and trash grabbers will be provided, however you may wish to bring your own gloves, hats, sunglasses, sunblock, water, etc. 

For more information, contact Keep Nassau Beautiful at (904) 261-0165. You may also pre-register through Keep Nassau Beautiful's FaceBook page. 

-Sabrina Robertson
​ County Manager's Office

4/30/19 @ 2:00 p.m. -

Friendly reminder from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission:
May marks the beginning of sea turtle nesting season on many of Florida’s sandy beaches. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is asking beachfront property owners and beach visitors to help nesting turtles and hatchlings by turning off or shielding lights that are visible from the beach at night.

 “Making an effort to keep our beaches dark at night is one of the most important things you can do to help sea turtles.” said Robbin Trindell, head of the FWC sea turtle management program. “Even small artificial lights from a house, a flashlight or a cellphone camera can confuse female sea turtles and their hatchlings and cause them to wander off course.”

Sea turtle nesting is starting now on beaches along the Gulf coast, including the Florida Panhandle, as well as the state’s northeast Atlantic coast and from Miami-Dade County south to the Keys. Nesting began earlier in March along Florida’s southeast Atlantic coast from Brevard County south to Broward County.
Florida is a critically important destination for nesting sea turtles. More loggerhead turtles nest here than anywhere else in the continental United States, with 91,451 loggerhead nests counted statewide during the 2018 nesting season. Leatherback and green sea turtles also nest in significant numbers in Florida.

What are the basics of being sea turtle-friendly?

• It’s a sea turtle night, turn off the light – After sundown, turn off any lights not necessary for human safety. Use long wavelength amber LED lamps for lights that must stay lit and shield lights so they are not visible from the beach. Remember to close shades or curtains.
• Sea turtles get lost in the light – On the beach at night, don’t take flash photos or use bright cellphones or flashlights.
• Sea turtles are protected and must be respected – Stay back and give sea turtles space if you see one on the beach at night. Don’t touch a nesting turtle because it may leave the beach without nesting if disturbed. Remember, it is illegal to harm or disturb nesting sea turtles, their nests, eggs or hatchlings.
• Clear the way at the end of the day – Beach furniture, canopies, boats and toys left behind on the sand can become obstacles that block nesting and hatchling turtles. Fill in any holes dug in the sand.
• Keep your distance from nests and hatchlings – Do not handle hatchlings crawling toward the water. Any interference or disturbance by people, such as getting too close or taking flash photos, increases the chances the hatchlings will get confused, go in the wrong direction and not reach the ocean quickly. That makes them vulnerable to dehydration, exhaustion and predators. As with all wildlife, watching from a distance is best.
  

Buildings and other structures along the beach that need lights for human safety can be lit with long wavelength amber LED bulbs in a downward-directed, well-shielded fixture that is not visible from the beach. The FWC tests lights submitted by manufacturers to see if they meet our “Keep it long (wavelength), Keep it low (lumens and mounting height) and Keep it shielded” requirement. Approved fixtures are less likely to impact nesting or hatchling sea turtles. The agency maintains a list of these certified wildlife-friendly fixtures so property owners along Florida’s coastlines can easily find options that work for human and sea turtle safety. The list is available at MyFWC.com/Conservation by clicking on “How You Can Conserve,” “Wildlife Lighting” and then “Certified.”

The FWC works to conserve Florida sea turtles, including coordinating nesting beach survey programs around the state. People can help by reporting sick, injured, entangled or dead sea turtles to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline: 1-888-404-3922, #FWC or *FWC on a cellphone or text Tip@MyFWC.com.

Learn more about Florida’s sea turtles at MyFWC.com/SeaTurtle.

4/25/19 @ 9:15 a.m. - On Saturday, March 30, 2019, the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners and the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department hosted a Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Event in which residents were able to properly dispose of items that shouldn't be tossed in the trash. Examples included paint, paint thinners, aerosol cans, batteries, fluorescent lights, oils and lubricants, and pesticides.

A total of 181 households participated in the event with a total of 30,849 pounds (15.424 tons) of materials collected. The largest amount of hazardous material collected was paint with 18,281 pounds of latex paint and 4,526 pounds of old based paint collected. The second largest hazardous material collected was used oils and other lubricants weighing a total of 6,050 pounds. For a complete listing of materials collected, please view the attached Summary of Results issued by the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department.

Also, here's a link from a FaceBook video created by Keep Nassau Beautiful.

A big thank you to all of the volunteers that made this event possible, as well as to the residents of Nassau County for doing your part to keep hazardous materials out of the landfill.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office