4/30/18 @ 8:25 a.m.

​Flood insurance is available to everyone, regardless of whether you rent, own or have a business, and is available even if you are not in a mapped floodplain. Flood insurance is not included in your property insurance policy. For more information, visit www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program.

-Sabrina Robertson.
​ County Manager's Office

4/27/18 @ 3:40 p.m. - Did you know that the County Extension features a month-by-month gardening schedule on their website? These checklists include information caring for trees, grass, flowers, lawns, fruit, vegetables and more! It also provides information on when to plant certain flowers and vegetables to increase their chances of survival. Pictured above are zinnias and okra, both of which are recommended for planting in May.

Click here for May's checklist. To see what other helpful tips the County Extension Office has to offer, please visit their website.

If you have any questions, please call the County Extension Office at (904) 530-6351 or email Director, Rebecca Jordi at rljordi@ufl.edu.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

4/27/18 @ 11:05 a.m. -

Visit the Nassau County Department of Planning & Economic Opportunity staff
at the upcoming Isle of 8 Flags Shrimp Festival

Stop at their booth to experience an interactive Flood Simulation Model that imitates flood dangers and flood prevention methods and to obtain information on flood safety. These activities garner the County points in the National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System (CRS), a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities. A high rating results in discounted flood insurance premium rates for citizens.

County and City CRS staff are scheduling presentations with the Flood Simulation Model in local fifth grade classrooms, with a goal to reach more citizens throughout the year.

A similar flood simulation modeling device was recently borrowed from the Florida Floodplain Manager’s Association (FFMA) and then shared with students at the Atlantic Recreation Center and Yulee Elementary 5th Grade. Due to the excellent educational program, dubbed the “Traveling Floodplain,” representatives from Nassau County and the City of Fernandina Beach were asked to present at the recent statewide FFMA conference.

For additional information or questions regarding floodplain management and relevant educational tools, please contact the Nassau County CRS coordinator Sue Ann Alleger at salleger@nassaucountyfl.com or (904) 530-6322.

-Sue Ann Alleger
 Department of Planning & Economic Opportunity
 

 

4/27/18 @ 8:50 a.m. - This is just a reminder that the Annual Hazardous Waste Recycling Event will take place tomorrow.

Date: Saturday, April 28, 2018
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., or until the truck is full (whichever comes first)
Location: Home Depot Parking Lot, State Road 200, Yulee

This is a FREE service for all Nassau County residents. Types of items that will be collected include:

• Pesticides, insecticides, and fertilizers
• Paints and paint thinners
• Oil filters, used oil, and lubricants
• Pool chemicals
• Fluorescent lamps
• Electronics
• Batteries
• Household cleaners
• Corrosives
• Propane tanks
• Aerosol cans
• Used cooking oil
• Medications

Please see the attached flyer for more details.

If you have any questions, please contact Nassau County Solid Waste at (904) 530-6700 or Keep Nassau Beautiful at (904) 261-0165.


-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

4/26/18 @ 4:15 p.m. - On Saturday, April 14th, Nassau County hosted the 5th Annual Government Day event which featured softball games played by County employees, service vehicles, a kids zone with a bounce house and jumbo slide, concessions, and a dunk tank.

To begin the event, State Representative Cord Byrd welcomed everyone and provided information on the activities that would take place throughout the day. Next, Senator Aaron Bean recognized all Elected Officials that were in attendance and announced all the sponsors for the event:

• Artistic Face Painters
• Celebration Party Rental
• CBC National Bank
• Coastal Pizza
• Colonial Life
• Commissioner Justin Taylor
• Dave's Custom Wood Works
• Elaine Bowen - Owner of E-Clips & Company Salon
• Florida Public Utilities
• Harden & Associates
• Hilliard ACE Hardware
• Jan Vann
• Nassau Open MRI
• OMNI Amelia Island Plantation
• Pineland Bank
• RPM Lumber
• Shannon Barniak Smith Team of Coldwell Banker: The Amelia Group
• Shucker's Oyster Bar
• Starbuck's of Fernandina Beach
• Synovus Bank
• The Bailey Group
• The Jumbo Shrimp
• The Residence Inn
• The Ritz Carlton
• Treemendous BBQ
• Willie Jewell's

Following the opening announcements, Judge Steve Fahlgren led the teams in prayer. Commissioner Justin Taylor lead the pledge and Gracie Conn sang the National Anthem while members of Fire Rescue Local 3101 presented the United States and State of Florida flags.

Representative Cord Byrd threw the first pitch to kick-off the softball games. Each team played for a charity: The Katie Ride for Life (blue team), the United Way of Northeast Florida (the green team), the James Page Scholarship Fund (yellow team), and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (red team). The Red and Green Teams played on the Girls Senior Field with Red winning 6-2, while the Yellow and Blue Teams played on the Boys Major Field with Blue winning 15-13. The Red and Blue Teams both played in the Championship Game and the Blue Team won 10-1. Congratulations to Team Katie Ride!

Throughout the day, various Elected Officials and County employees appeared in a dunk tank provided by the Nassau County School Board. Thank you to State Representative Cord Byrd, Commissioner Justin Taylor, Planning Director Taco Pope, and Firefighter/Paramedic Brian Sloan for being good sports and allowing us to dunk them. This was a big hit for both the kids and the grown ups!

Overall, the event raised $4,470 which will be split evenly between the four charities. During the last 5 years, the County has raised just over $11,000 for this event.

A big thank you to all of our volunteers and to all of our sponsors. We could not have done this without each of you. We look forward to continuing this event and have already begun discussions about how to make next year's event bigger and better.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

4/26/18 @ 2:30 p.m. - Senior Legal Assistant, Joyce Bradley, was recognized by the Board of County Commissioners at their special meeting this morning for her upcoming retirement after thirty-six outstanding years of service.

Joyce began her employment with Nassau County on August 3, 1981 as the Secretary and Executive Assistant/Board Administrative Supervisor for the Clerk of Courts. She joined the County Attorney's Office on March 26, 2007 as the Senior Executive Legal Assistant.

Joyce has earned the respect and gratitude of her fellow employees and the citizens she has served. Several people in attendance approached the podium to share stories about Joyce and to commend her on a job well done, including former County Commissioners, Jimmy L. Higginbotham and Junior Boatright, Judge Robert Foster, the Sheriff's General Counsel, Bobby Lippelman, Tax Collector, John Drew, and several other County employees, both present and former.

It was clear to see that everyone in attendance has a great appreciation for Joyce and all that she has done for the County. The Board presented Joyce with a Resolution honoring her on her retirement and designating today as "Joyce Bradley Day".

During her thirty-six years, Joyce performed all her duties in a responsible and conscientious manner, and has provided incredible service to the citizens. She will be greatly missed by everyone in Nassau County.

Joyce, congratulations on your retirement. We wish you many years of health and happiness in the years to come!

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

4/26/18 @ 1:30 p.m. - Below is lane closure information for the week of April 28 through May 5, 2018. NOTE: THIS INCLUDES DAYTIME LANE CLOSURES ON SATURDAY, APRIL 28TH, to the westbound right lane of State Road 200 at Blackrock Road and David Hallman Parkway.

SUBJECT: LANE CLOSURE INFORMATION 
Job Description:  SR-200 Reconstruction (W of Rubin Rd. to E of CR 107 Scott Rd.)
Financial Project Number:  210712-4-52-01 & 210712-4-56-01
Federal Aid Project Number:  4881064P
Contract Number:  T2579
County - Section Number:  Nassau - 74060

 
SPECIFIC LOCATION OF THE CLOSURE:
 
Daytime:      

• SR 200 WB Right Lane at Blackrock Road; Saturday, 04/28/18; 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• SR 200 WB Right Lane at David Hallman Parkway; Saturday, 04/28/18; 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM

 
Nighttime:   None at this time
 
REASON FOR THE CLOSURE (Type of Construction Maintenance Activity):
Cold Patch Removal/Limerock Placement
 
PROJECT ENGINEER OR CONTACT PERSON AND TELEPHONE NUMBER:
ETM                                        
Carrie Smithheart, PA              
Office: (904) 265-3170          
Cell: (904) 509-9007

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office          
 

 

4/24/18 @ 1:30 p.m. - Please see the below information posted on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission's website regarding nesting waterbirds.

Posted April 19, 2018
It’s nesting season for Florida’s waterbirds, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Audubon Florida are reminding beachgoers and boaters to give these birds and their young space to help keep them safe.  

“This is a critical time of year for nesting birds and their young,” said Craig Faulhaber, avian conservation coordinator for the FWC. “By taking a few simple steps, people can enjoy a day at the beach or on the water without disturbing nesting birds and their chicks, which increases the birds’ chances of survival.”

Shorebirds and seabirds build shallow nests out of sand and shells on beaches in spring and summer, and eggs and chicks are difficult to see. Wading birds, such as herons and egrets, as well as pelicans, are also nesting now on islands around the state. Both types of birds can be easily disturbed if people approach too closely. Such disturbance can cause birds to abandon their nesting sites, exposing eggs and chicks to predators, sun exposure and other harm.

Shorebird nests, eggs and chicks are well-camouflaged and can easily be missed and even stepped on unless people know to look out for them. The snowy plover, least tern, black skimmer, American oystercatcher and Wilson’s plover are several of Florida’s beach-nesting bird species facing conservation challenges. Wading birds and pelicans typically nest in mangroves and on tree islands. Reddish egrets, tricolored herons and roseate spoonbills have also experienced declines.

“Florida’s coasts took a beating from Hurricane Irma in 2017,” said Julie Wraithmell, interim executive director for Audubon Florida. “We can’t control impacts to nesting sites from weather, but we can protect them from human disturbance. This year it is more important than ever.”
The FWC has established Critical Wildlife Areas to protect congregations of one or more species of wildlife from human disturbance during critical life activities such as nesting, feeding or migration.
People can help keep nesting birds safe by keeping their distance from CWAs and other areas where birds are nesting or raising young. In addition to observing the marked-off areas around CWAs, people can also help by following a few simple steps while enjoying the beach this season:

• Keep your distance from birds, on the beach or on the water. If birds become agitated or leave their nests, you are too close. A general rule is to stay at least 300 feet from a nest. Birds calling out loudly and dive-bombing are signals for you to back off.
• Respect posted areas. Avoid posted nesting sites and use designated walkways when possible.
• Never intentionally force birds to fly or run. This causes them to use energy needed for nesting, and eggs and chicks may be left vulnerable to the sun’s heat or predators. Teach children not to chase shorebirds and seabirds, and kindly ask fellow beachgoers to do the same. Shorebirds and seabirds outside of posted areas may be feeding or resting and need to do so without disturbance.
• It is best to not take pets to the beach, but if you do, keep them leashed and avoid shorebird and seabird nesting areas. (State parks, national parks and CWAs do not allow pets.)
• Keep the beach clean and do not feed wildlife. Food scraps attract predators, such as raccoons and crows, which can prey on shorebird eggs and chicks. Litter on beaches can entangle birds and other wildlife.
• Spread the word. If you see people disturbing nesting birds, gently let them know how their actions may hurt the birds’ survival. If they continue to disturb nesting birds, report it to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922), #FWC or *FWC on a cellphone or by texting Tip@MyFWC.com. You may also report nests that are not posted to our Wildlife Alert Program.
  

For more information, go to MyFWC.com/Shorebirds and download the “Share the Beach with Beach-Nesting Birds” brochure. Or go to the Florida Shorebird Alliance website at FLShorebirdAlliance.org to learn more about how to participate in shorebird and seabird conservation efforts.

For more information about Florida’s CWAs, visit MyFWC.com/CWA.
To learn how you can volunteer your time to protect nesting coastal birds, visit ­­ and scroll over the “Conservation” tab at the top, then click on “Coastal Conservation” and “Coastal Bird Stewardship,” or you may­­ email FLConservation@Audubon.org.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

4/22/18 @ 12:30 p.m.- Today, thousands of people across the world will participate in recycling and clean up events in honor of Earth Day which is held each year on April 22nd. This year's theme focuses on ending plastic pollution. Single-use plastics such as bottles, straws, utensils and plastic bags are causing a serious threat to our environment because they are not biodegradable and can last for thousands of years. Though some plastics get recycled, tons of plastic items are ending up in landfills and waterways.

Residents are urged to reduce their use of plastic and to focus on ways we can help protect the environment. Many of the local garbage haulers provide free recycling for their customers, however it's important that we each become familiar with what types of items can be thrown into their recycling bins. In the example below, we are taught that pizza boxes are not to be thrown in with other recyclable items because the contaminants from one used pizza box is enough to cause the entire load to have to go to the landfill. And though plastic bags are recyclable, they cannot be mixed in with other recyclables because one bag can cause sorting machinery to shut down for hours. Most grocery stores provide recycling bins made specifically for plastic bags and other items such as styrofoam.

For more information on recycling and recycling locations, please visit Keep Nassau Beautiful's website. Also, don't forget that next Saturday, April 28th, is the annual hazardous waste recycling event at Home Depot. Items that should never be thrown in the landfill such as electronics, paints, and oils will be collected. Please click here for details.

-Sabrina Robertson
​ County Manager's Office

4/20/18 @ 12:00 p.m. - Below is lane closure information for the week of April 21 through April 27, 2018. NOTE: THERE ARE NO DAYTIME LANE CLOSURES SCHEDULED AT THIS TIME.

SUBJECT: LANE CLOSURE INFORMATION 
Job Description:  SR-200 Reconstruction (W of Rubin Rd. to E of CR 107 Scott Rd.)
Financial Project Number:  210712-4-52-01 & 210712-4-56-01
Federal Aid Project Number:  4881064P
Contract Number:  T2579
County - Section Number:  Nassau - 74060
 
SPECIFIC LOCATION OF THE CLOSURE:
 
Daytime:  None at this time
 
Nighttime
 

• SR 200 WB Right Lane at Oneil-Scott Rd; Sunday, 04/22/18; 9:00 PM – 6:00 AM
• SR 200 WB Right Lane at Barnwell Road; Monday, 04/23/18; 9:00 PM – 6:00 AM
• SR 200 WB Right Lane at Blackrock Road; Tuesday, 04/24/18 & Wednesday, 04/25/18; 9:00 PM – 6:00 AM
• SR 200 WB Right Lane at Nassau Place Rd; Thursday, 04/26/18; 9:00 PM – 6:00 AM
• SR 200 WB Right Lane at David Hallman Pkwy; Friday, 04/27/18; 9:00 PM – 6:00 AM

 
REASON FOR THE CLOSURE (Type of Construction Maintenance Activity):
Asphalt Paving
 
PROJECT ENGINEER OR CONTACT PERSON AND TELEPHONE NUMBER:
ETM                                        
Carrie Smithheart, PA              
Office: (904) 265-3170          
Cell: (904) 509-9007          
 
-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office