3/31/22 @ 10:15 a.m.

PRESS RELEASE

We are pleased to announce that County Manager, Taco Pope, and the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners have been jointly named as Partner of the Year by the North Florida Land Trust for the Conservation Land Acquisition and Management (CLAM) Plan adopted on January 25, 2021. The CLAM was created to provide guidance in the selection of lands to be acquired by the County and set aside for conservation.

Mr. Pope and the Board were recognized at the North Florida Land Trust’s Annual Meeting on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. North Florida Land Trust President, Jim McCarthy, stated, “Nassau County is being recognized for leading the effort in adopting the strategic Conservation Land Acquisition and Management Plan for Nassau County and for preparing for a local land conservation referendum to the voters in November 2022. The process they are following is exemplary in that they are planning for conservation in a rapidly growing county utilizing a commitment to transparency, equity, fiduciary responsibility and scientific integrity. Due to Nassau County’s efforts, they are preserving as much land as possible for wildlife habitat, environmental sustainability, and community resilience”.

According to Mr. McCarthy, to be considered for the title of Partner of the Year, an agency must advance the North Florida Land Trust’s mission in preserving and enhancing the quality of life by protecting North Florida’s irreplaceable natural environment.
 
County Manager, Taco Pope, stated, “Adopting the CLAM was a monumental step forward for Nassau County. We’ve had great partners to help us get to this point. With the support of the North Florida Land Trust Board of Directors and staff, we were able to successfully create a program that will guide the County in identifying properties for conservation, planning for acquisition of those properties, and ensuring that the properties are managed sustainably and with appropriate recreational opportunities for the public. We appreciate the guidance they provided us and are honored to have been selected as Partner of the Year”.

To view the adopted CLAM Program, please visit our website.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

3/31/22 @ 9:40 a.m.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) invites Florida residents and visitors to go freshwater fishing April 2 - April 3, 2022 during license-free freshwater fishing days.

License-free freshwater fishing days provide an excellent opportunity for individuals to try fishing without needing to purchase a license first. During these two days, the fishing license requirement is waived for recreational anglers, including residents and non-residents. All other rules related to seasons, bag and size limits still apply. Click here to learn more.

For additional information on fresh water fishing, visit the FWC Freshwater Fishing Webpage.

If you have any questions, contact Michelle Kerr of the FWC at (850) 510-4776 or via e-mail at Michelle.Kerr@MyFWC.com.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

3/31/22 @ 8:15 a.m. - This edition of our Nassau Now series features information about the Waste Tire Amnesty Day Event scheduled for Saturday, April 9, 2022.

If you have any questions, please contact Nassau County Solid Waste at (904) 530-6700.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

3/30/22 @ 4:45 p.m. - At the Board of County Commissioners held on Monday, March 28, 2022, the Board approved Resolution No. 2022-026 proclaiming the month of April 2022 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

This month is observed nationally to call attention to the prevalence of sexual violence and its widespread impacts, while promoting responses that lead to positive culture change. Sexual violence affects hundreds of thousands of Americans year. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN),someone is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds in America. Sadly, only 25 of every 1,000 rapists will end up in prison.

The theme of this year's Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign in Nassau County is "Healing: Past, Present and Future". This theme focuses on transgenerational trauma, recognizing that traumatic experiences, including those stemming from sexual violence, can have effects that get passed down through generations, and that sexual violence and its effect through generations is a public health issue.

Nassau County's Victim Advocate with the Women's Center of Jacksonville, Lori Armstrong, stated, "Sexual violence can have a lasting impact, not only for survivors but also for their families. It is natural to want to move past trauma but unless the survivor is able to manage the symptoms of trauma in a healthy manner, they can become stuck in a cycle of unhealthy coping habits and self blame which can be passed on to their loved ones. This cycle is known as generational trauma. For survivors seeking resources to break this cycle, the WCJ is here to help".

To learn more about the Women's Center of Jacksonville, please visit their website.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

3/30/22 @ 2:25 p.m.

Are you a vendor who is interested in working with Nassau County? If so, we urge you to visit our website and sign up as a vendor to be notified of future bid opportunities.
 
The Board of County Commissioners utilizes PlanetBids, a procurement and electronic bidding system to promote competition, provide better service and convenience to vendors, and increase transparency in the procurement and bidding process. It also helps the County to quickly identify local vendors, as well as minority, woman and veteran-owned businesses.
 
To sign up, visit: https://pbsystem.planetbids.com/portal/49083/portal-home.
 
Follow these easy steps:

1. Click on New Vendor Registration and complete the 3 fields
2. Check your email and select verify to complete the vendor registration form

 
Below is a step-by-step graphic for your information.

You will automatically receive bid alert emails based on your category code selections.

If you need any assistance along the way, click the headset image on the top of the screen for FAQ’s and support.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Procurement Director, Lanaee Gilmore, at (904) 530-6040 or via e-mail at lgilmore@nassaucountyfl.com.
 
-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

3/29/22 @ 9:15 a.m. - On Monday, March 28, 2022, the Board of County Commissioners hosted a Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Westside Regional Park. This 107 acre property will serve as a regional destination delivering recreation, leisure, social interaction, and educational opportunities for the entire spectrum of the public. It's overall conceptual plan and features were derived from community input which revealed that residents want a variety of recreational facilities and programs that include more than youth athletics. The data collected was used to create a conceptual plan which was shared with the public at a community meeting in March 2021 and formally adopted by the Board of County Commissioners in May 2021.

Yesterday's event began with a welcome message by Vice-Chairman, Jeff Gray. He stated, "The County purchased this property with the dream of providing regional recreation opportunities for Nassau County residents. This park will be unlike anything Nassau County has ever seen and will serve the residents for many years to come".

District Four County Commissioner, Thomas Ford, also spoke, stating, "This park will feature basic amenities such as pavilions, picnic tables and playgrounds. However, it will also feature unique amenities such as walking trails, a managed forest, a recreational fishing pond, outdoor fitness and exercise opportunities, green/event space, multi-use and tournament fields, and the County's first ampitheatre". He further added, "No matter where you live in Nassau County, you will now be able to experience a first-class park with a short drive".

Other speakers at the event included Parks & Recreation Director, Jay Robertson, and Shawn Bliss with Prosser, Inc., the engineering firm overseeing construction of the project. Both shared information about the wonderful recreational opportunities the park will bring to the area, as well as their excitement to be involved in the efforts to bring these amenities to our residents. District Five Commissioner, Klynt Farmer, also spoke briefly, stating that, "I'm excited to see that we're going to bring something to the west side of the County that will benefit many, many generations".

Following the presentations, the Commissioners participated in the ceremonial "breaking of the ground".

We appreciate everyone that came out yesterday to celebrate with us. For those that were unable to attend, the presentation was recorded and can be found on our YouTube Channel (see link below).

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

Following the

3/28/22 @ 9:30 a.m.- Below are public meetings scheduled for this week:

Board of County Commissioners
Monday, March 28, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.
Commission Chambers, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097

Development Review Committee
Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 9:00 a.m.
Commission Chambers, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097

Agendas can be located on our website.

As a reminder, the Board of County Commissioners is also hosting a Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Westside Regional Park on Monday, March 28, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. The event will take place at the site's entrance on U.S. 1, directly across from Mizell Tract Road. The public is invited to attend.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

3/25/22 @ 9:00 p.m. - Below are pictures for the week of March 18 - March 25, 2022.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

3/25/22 @ 3:00 p.m. - Attached is the February 2022 edition of the Board of County Commissioner's newsletter. This monthly publication features a variety of information related to projects and activities for departments under the Board of County Commissioners. It also includes information about road projects, special events, adopted policies and procedures, budget discussions, and more!

Topics in this edition includes:

• Members appointed to the Nassau County-Amelia Island Tree Ordinance Commission
• Update on American Beach Water & Sewer efforts
• New Library Exhibit: The Art of Fishing
• Update on Nyro the German Shepherd
• Kitten Season and felines available for adoption
• Westside Regional Park Groundbreaking announcement
• Blackrock Community Park

If you have any questions, please contact the County Manager's Office at (904) 530-6010 or email srobertson@nassaucountyfl.com.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

3/24/22 @ 2:15 p.m. - Next week, Nassau County Engineering Services will host a community meeting regarding the William Burgess Boulevard extension. This project will extend the existing William Burgess Blvd. across U.S. 17, connecting to Theresa Road and Miner Road, and will include construction of a multi-use path to provide a safe route for pedestrians. This is being done in an effort to improve mobility in the area, reduce congestion at the middle and high school on Miner Road and allow for another east/west road parallel to State Road 200. 

The Community Meeting will provide residents with the opportunity to hear details from Engineering staff and the Engineering Design Team and to ask questions. Visual concepts of the extension project and anticipated timelines will also be shared at the meeting.

The meeting will take place on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. in the Commission Chambers located at 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097.

If you have any questions, please contact Engineering Services at (904) 530-6225.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer