FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Thad Crowe       
Director, PEO Department
(904) 530-6300
tcrowe@nassaucountyfl.com
 
APPLICATIONS AFFECTING 5456 FIRST COAST HWY. (SUMMER BEACH PARCEL D-1) ARE WITHDRAWN
 
Nassau County, Florida, November 23, 2020 - On November 23, 2020, the County's planning staff were informed by the applicants of Application Nos. NOPC20-002 and FD20-008 were withdrawing the items from consideration at the December 1, 2020 Planning & Zoning Board Meeting and the December 14 Board of County Commissioners meeting.
 
NOPC20-002 was a proposed resolution amending the Development Order for the Summer Beach DRI; providing for a maximum of 7,000 square feet of commercial and office space and 24 multifamily residential units on Parcel D-1 (5456 First Coast Hwy.).
(Note: at present, Resolution 2007-105 allows for up to 25,000 square feet of commercial and office space and 16 residential units on this site).
The amendment would also have adjusted minimum setbacks and included a statement that the buffer along the southern boundary line must meet current County standards for separation of incompatible uses and shown on the Final Development Plan.
 
FD20-008 was a proposed final development plan for Parcel D-1, allowing for 4,500 square feet of commercial and office space and 24 multifamily residential units at this location.
 
Both items were withdrawn from consideration by the applicants on Monday, November 23, 2020.
 
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.
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact:
Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
(904) 530-6010
srobertson@nassaucountyfl.com
 
Beware of Marketing Ploy Related to Water Testing
 
Nassau County, Florida, November 23, 2020 – The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office has received reports from residents indicating that water testing kits have been left in or near their mailboxes. Some of these residents have expressed that they felt they were required to complete and return them.
 
Please be advised that Nassau County Government has not distributed these tests. This appears to be a marketing ploy from private water treatment suppliers who hope to sell water purifying kits to homeowners.  
 
It’s important to note that all water service providers are mandated by the Safe Water Drinking Act to publish a Drinking Water Quality Report annually on their websites. To review those reports, you would need to visit the website of the water utility that services your address or contact them by phone and request that they send you a copy.
 
Property owners who utilize a well can visit the Florida Department of Health’s website at www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/private-well-testing to learn more about well water quality. If you are concerned that you have an issue, you can also contact your local Nassau County Health Department’s Environmental Health Division at (904) 875-6100.
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact:
Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
(904) 530-6010
srobertson@nassaucountyfl.com
 
Groundbreaking Ceremony for Pages Dairy Road Widening & Resurfacing Project
 
Nassau County, Florida, October 30, 2020 – On Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at 11:30 a.m., the Board of County Commissioners will host a groundbreaking ceremony in celebration of the upcoming improvements to Pages Dairy Road between Chester Rd. and Felmor Rd.
 
The County secured grant funding totaling $1.25 from the Florida Department of Transportation to assist with construction costs. The State officially added the project to their 5-Year Work Program in March of 2015 for funding to become available to the County in 2020. The total project cost is $4.7 million, leaving the County’s portion of $3.4 million.
 
The roadway design is complete and a contract for Construction Engineering Inspection Services has been secured. In order to remain eligible for State funding, the County must move forward with construction in order to meet the State’s December 2021 deadline.
 
Concerns have been expressed about this project taking place while the State Road 200 project is still underway. Fortunately, the State recently notified the County that the work on State Road 200 will be completed before the end of 2020. The Pages Dairy work will begin in mid-late November, so there will only be a few weeks where the two projects will overlap. Also, please be advised that the contractor for the Pages Dairy Rd. Project will not permitted to have lane or road closures during peak hours. This type of work will be limited to the hours of 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
 
District Three County Commissioner, Pat Edwards, stated, “I am grateful to the State for providing grant funding to assist the County with much needed improvements to this segment of road. The County and residents have been anxious to have this work completed and I am happy to see it finally come to fruition”.
 
County Engineer, Robert Companion, added, “As the only east-west corridor to State Road 200, the improvements to Pages Dairy Road are necessary to ensure this major collector road serves citizens well in the future. The improvements include wider vehicle lanes, bike lanes, and right and left turn lanes onto Felmor Rd. from Pages Dairy”.  
 
The Groundbreaking Ceremony will be held in front of the Harbor Shores Apostolic Church located at 86674 Pages Dairy Rd. The public is welcome to attend. Reverend James Beale has graciously given permission for the public to utilize their lot for parking during the event. 
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If you have any questions regarding, please contact the Engineering Services at (904) 530-6225.
 
 
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact:
Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
(904) 530-6010
srobertson@nassaucountyfl.com
 
Groundbreaking Ceremony for Crawford Road Paving Project
 
Nassau County, Florida, October 28, 2020 – On Monday, November 2, 2020 at 11:30 a.m., the Board of County Commissioners will host a groundbreaking ceremony in celebration of the upcoming Crawford Road Project. This project consists of paving a new 6.5 mile-long, two lane road, connecting County Road 121 with the existing paved portion of Crawford Road, just west of US 301.
 
The Board entered into an agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation in March 2014 for Small County Outreach Program (SCOP) grant funding to assist with project costs. The project was added to the State’s Five-Year Work Program in 2014, however the agreement was later amended to provide additional State funding and extend the project timeline. The total cost of the project is $7.9 million, however $5.7 million is being provided by FDOT, leaving the County’s portion at $2.2 million.
 
It is anticipated that the project will be complete by the end of August 2021.
 
District Four County Commissioner, Thomas Ford, stated, “Paving this segment of Crawford Road will increase mobility on the west side of the County. I am very excited to see work begin on this project and look forward to its completion”.
 
County Engineer, Robert Companion, added, “The paving and improvements to Crawford Rd. will provide citizens with a connection from State Road 200 (US 301) to County Road 121, while also providing the infrastructure needed for the future of the Crawford Diamond area”.  
 
The Groundbreaking Ceremony will be held on the corner County Road 121 and Crawford Road. The public is invited to attend.
 
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If you have any questions regarding, please contact Engineering Services at (904) 530-6225.
 
 
 

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

Commissioners Aaron Bell and Thomas Ford Earn Advanced County Commissioner Designation
 
The Institute for County Government (ICG) presented Nassau County Commissioners Aaron Bell and Thomas Ford with the Advanced County Commissioner (ACC) designation following completion of a comprehensive study program developed by ICG.
 
Commissioner Bell stated, “I highly recommend the Advanced County Commissioner Program to any Commissioner wishing to expand their knowledge and maximize their leadership skills. I personally feel the information learned will make me a better advocate for the citizens I represent”.
 
Commissioner Ford added, “The ACC Program provided an opportunity for me to hear about issues other counties are facing and learn from their experiences. The complexity and the diverse subjects have given me invaluable knowledge”.  
 
Launched in 2006, the Advanced County Commissioner (ACC) education program is an advanced leadership program designed for graduates of the Certified County Commissioners (CCC) program.
 
The course content focuses on leadership with an emphasis on the future of Florida. Participants are tasked with preparing for the future by thinking and acting anew and asserting skillful leadership in times of daunting challenges and rapid change.
 
“Through this program, veteran commissioners from across Florida are able to work collaboratively on the state’s most pressing challenges,” said the Institute for County Government’s Executive Director, Eric Poole. “Those that choose to participate are further prepared to meet the unique demands of a public servant.”
 
The ACC program is organized as a series of three seminars, with 27 total hours of course work. Participating commissioners must commit to fully participate in all three seminars in order to graduate.
 
The University of Florida/IFAS Extension sponsors ICG’s educational programs. For more information about ICG or the ACC program and courses, visit ICG’s website at https://flicg.org/.
 
For more than 85 years, the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) has represented the diverse interests of Florida’s counties, emphasizing the importance of protecting home rule – the concept that government closest to the people governs best. The Florida Association of Counties helps counties effectively serve and represent Floridians by strengthening and preserving county home rule through advocacy, education and collaboration.
 
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If you have any questions about the Advanced County Commissioner Program, please contact Jennifer Laxner with the Florida Association of Counties at (224) 216-3744.

Nassau County is excited to announce that the Solid Waste Department will begin accepting cardboard for recycling at the Bailey Rd and Goodbread Rd recycling locations, beginning on October 1, 2020. Previously, the only County owned recycling facility that accepted cardboard was the Convenience and Recycling Center located qt 46026 Landfill Rd. in Callahan.

For all cardboard recycling centers, please note that the cardboard must be broken down and free of any packing material or styrofoam. The cardboard should then be placed in the bin labeled for cardboard. Plastics, glass, aluminum, office paper and newspaper can also be recycled at those locations in the Single Stream Recycle Bins.

If you have any questions regarding recycling at one of these locations, please contact Becky Diden at  904-530-6700 or visit the Nassau County Solid Waste website.

-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.
 
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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.
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If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Human Resources at (904) 530-6075.
 
 
 

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