7/18/24 @ 5:15 p.m. 
 
The Board of County Commissioners has a Workshop scheduled for Monday, July 22, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. for a presentation and discussion of the tentative budget for the 24/25 Fiscal Year which begins on October 1, 2024. The meeting will take place in the County’s Commission Chambers located at 96135 Nassau Place,
Yulee, FL 32097.
 
The public is welcome to attend the meeting. Can’t attend in person? No problem! You can follow along from home at https://www.nassauclerk.com/watch-meetings/. Videos are also available following the conclusion of the meeting so you can watch anytime at your convenience.
 
-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

7/18/24 @ 4:45 p.m. - On Wednesday, July 17, 2024, the Board of County Commissioners approved Proclamation No. 2024-028 designating the week of July 27 - August 4, 2024 as "Gullah/Geechee Nation Appreciation Week."

This is an annual celebration of the living legacy of Gullah/Geechee history, heritage and culture. The Gullah/Geechees have an extensive history in Nassau County that includes both the enslavement and self-determination of the GUllah/Geechee people through the history of Amelia Island, Old Town, Yulee, Nassauville, Franklintown, and American Beach. 

To learn more about the Gullah/Geechees, please click here. 

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

7/17/24 @ 2:00 p.m.

Please be advised that the Chester Road & Pages Dairy Road Intersection Improvements Project will begin on August 1, 2024. This project will include widening and resurfacing of Chester Road from David Hallman Parkway to Courtney Isles Way, construction of turn lanes, addition of bike lanes, utility improvements, drainage improvements, and a new traffic signal at Chester and Pages Dairy. This project will greatly improve the safety of the roadway for both motorists and pedestrians.
 
The bid was awarded to Reeves Construction Company on June 13, 2024, in the amount of $7.5 million. The project will take approximately 465 days and is anticipated to be completed in November 2025.
 
Board of County Commissioner Chairman John Martin stated, “The Board recognized the need for this improvement and added it to the County’s Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan in 2017. Large capital improvement projects such as this require years of planning and coordination. From land surveys to drafting of site plans, from executing contracts for design, engineering services and then construction, it is a very tedious process. This particular project also included extensive coordination and issuance of permits from First Coast Railroad, property acquisitions and easement rights along Chester Road, and a temporary construction easement. We are excited that all necessary steps have taken place for this project to begin and look forward to this much needed traffic improvement being completed”.
 
Should you have any questions about this project, please reach out to Capital Projects Management Director Raymond Albury at (904) 530-6225 or via e-mail at [email protected].
 
We look forward to celebrating with the community at a Ribbon Cutting Event next year.

-Sabrina Robertson
​ Public Information Officer
 

7/17/24 @ 12:00 p.m. - On Friday, July 12, 2024, approximately 100 people attended our Outdoor Movie Night at Peters Point to see the 1978 classic "Grease". This event included classic cars by Amelia Cruizers, movie trivia and a Grease costume contest.

Congratulations to Rosie Cains on winning the costume contest and to team Ella and Kenzie on winning the movie trivia. 

A big thank you to the Amelia Cruizers for sharing your vehicles with the community and to everyone who came to support the event. We hope that you had a great time! Stay tuned for information about our next Outdoor Movie Night which will take place in August. 

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

It’s Turtle Talk Tuesday and today we’re going to share a fun fact about sea turtles!

Did you know that the temperature of a sea turtle’s developing eggs determines whether or not the offspring will be male or female? In most species, gender is determined during the fertilization process, however the sex of most turtles, alligators and crocodiles is determined after fertilization. This is called temperature-dependent sex determination.

Research shows that if it turtles eggs incubate below 81.86°F, the hatchling will be male.  If the eggs incubate above 88.8°F, the offspring will be female. Temperatures that fall somewhere between will produce a mix of male and female, baby turtles.

To learn more, visit NOAA's website. 

​
-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

7/16/24 @ 8:45 a.m. - 33 local community organizations, including the Nassau County Department of Health, have partnered to bring the 2024 Bounce Back to School Event. It takes place on Saturday, July 20th from 9am-1pm at the Peck Center Gymnasium located at 510 S. 10th Street, Fernandina Beach. 

This event will include health screenings, school physicals, TDAP vaccines, vision screenings, and free school supplies. The overall purpose is to support families and promote a home and family environment that helps students flourish. 

There is no cost to participate, however the ECG heart screenings do require advanced registration. Sign up by scanning the QR Code or by visiting www.whoweplayfor.org. 

If you have any questions, please contact Barb Baptist with the Nassau County Department of Health at (904) 753-1258 or via email at [email protected]. 

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
 
Contact: Kelly White, (904) 616-8754, [email protected] or
Sabrina Robertson, Nassau County PIO, (904) 530-6010, [email protected]
 
Nassau County’s Atlantic to Okefenokee Conservation Corridor Approved as Florida Forever Project
Nassau County and the North Florida Land Trust worked together to get the conservation corridor accepted on the Florida Forever Priority List

The Atlantic to Okefenokee Conservation Corridor, more than 55,000 acres of potential conservation land known as the A2O, has been granted a significant approval. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC) has approved the A2O for inclusion on the Florida Forever Project List. Nassau County and North Florida Land Trust (NFLT), long-time partners in conservation, worked together on the proposal to ARC to consider adding the critical corridor to the priority list.
 
The A2O stretches from the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge to the west, with 55,864 acres that NFLT and Nassau County hope to preserve. The corridor incorporates the John M. Bethea State Forest, Osceola Wildlife Management Area, and the Osceola State Forest complex. The St. Marys River also unifies it at its northern boundary. The river is ecologically, recreationally, and historically significant and a critical habitat for the Atlantic sturgeon, a federally listed endangered species.
 
“This is a big deal for conservation, and one of the largest expansions of the Florida Forever list that we have seen,” said Allison DeFoor, President and CEO of NFLT. “Making it to this list brings us just a step closer to preserving property and saving some of real Florida for our grandchildren and generations beyond. We are grateful for the inclusion on the Florida Forever priority list and are hopeful the Governor and Cabinet will approve funding for acquisitions within this significant conservation corridor.”
 
“This is a huge accomplishment for Nassau County and our residents, who deeply value nature and conservation,” said Brandy Carvalho, Director of Strategic Advancement & Economic Resources for Nassau County. “Augmenting our already robust Conservation Land Acquisition and Management program, the A2O is another innovative approach the Nassau County BOCC has initiated to protect vulnerable and valuable land in Nassau County for generations to come.”
 
The A2O completes a 90,000-acre conservation corridor in the southern watershed along 80 miles of the St. Marys River, more than doubling the acres of existing conservation lands near its boundaries. The conservation corridor includes more than 1,200 acres that the State has already identified as necessary additions to Ralph E. Simmons State Forest and Ft. Clinch Preserve State Park.
 
The A2O includes many extremely important lands for Florida’s ecosystems, including underrepresented natural communities, natural floodplains, priority aquifer recharge lands, fragile coastal resources, and rare species priority areas. Nearly 12,000 acres in the A2O are listed as priorities for Nassau County’s Conservation Land Acquisition and Management program, also known as CLAM. NFLT worked with Nassau County to identify, rank, and assess conservation lands for acquisition and management. Nassau County is the 9th fastest growing Florida County and faces the threat of development on these ecologically significant lands.
 
In addition to its environmental significance, the A2O corridor also holds historical importance. The land once served as settlements for American Indian nations like the Timucuans, Uchees, and Muskogees, as well as the Gullah Geechee nation. The A2O and St. Marys were important residential, foraging, and fishing areas for the populations, and the northern boundary of the river was part of the St. Marys River Paddling Trail. The A2O also has sites used in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the American Civil War.
 
The next step will be approval by the ARC Board of Trustees before the acquisition of properties or conservation easements within the A2O appears before the Governor and Cabinet for funding approval, most likely next year.
 
Nassau County and NFLT will continue to work together to implement the A2O project.
 
About North Florida Land Trust
North Florida Land Trust is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the quality of life by protecting North Florida's irreplaceable natural environment. Founded in 1999, NFLT has preserved tens of thousands of acres of land through the donation or purchase of land as well as conservation easements.  NFLT is funded largely by private and corporate contributions and works closely with willing landowners and public agencies at all levels of government, not-for-profit partners, and foundations. For more information, visit nflt.org.
 

7/15/24 @ 9:15 a.m.

Below are public meetings scheduled for this week. Agendas can be found on our website. 

Development Review Committee
Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. 
Commission Chambers, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097

Planning & Zoning Board
Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. 
Commission Chambers, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097

Board of County Commissioners 
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. 
Commission Chambers, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097

Affordable Housing Advisory Committee
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. 
Commission Chambers, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

7/15/24 @ 9:00 a.m. - In May 2017, the Board adopted a resolution creating the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee to review affordable housing and strategize on ways to bring more affordable housing to our community.

At this time, Nassau County is seeking two individuals to fill vacancies on the Affordable Housing Advisory Board. Florida Statutes, Chapter 420.9076, mandates that the committee be comprised of at least eight, but no more than eleven members.

Below are background/criteria recommended to be considered for appointment:

• A citizen who is actively engaged in the banking or mortgage industry with a connection to affordable housing
• A citizen who is a representative of those areas of labor actively engaged in home building in connection with affordable housing
• A citizen who represents employers within the jurisdiction
• A citizen who is actively engaged as a real estate professional in connection with affordable housing.

If you meet any of the above criteria and are interested in serving, please email your resume to Joshua Macbeth at [email protected] by the close of business on Friday, August 16, 2024.

AHAC meets on the third Wednesday of every month at 4:00 p.m. in the Commission Chambers located at 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097. These are volunteer positions therefore, members do not receive any compensation for their time and/or service.

If you have any questions, please contact the Planning Department at (904) 530-6320.

-Sabrina Robertson
​ Public Information Officer

7/12/24 @ 3:00 p.m. - Below are pictures from the week of July 5 - July 12, 2024. 

-Sabrina Robertson
​ Public Information Officer

7/12/24 @ 1:30 p.m. - The Nassau County Parks & Recreation Open Space Master Plan adopted on January 25, 2021, established a set of standards (known as the Nassau Package) to bring all existing parks to a minimum standard. Basic facilities and amenities identified included: playgrounds, drinking fountains, restrooms, shade structures, benches, multipurpose lawns and courts, preserved nature areas, pavilions and more. 

As part of this initiative, playgrounds were added to the Bryceville and Hilliard Ballparks within the last 12 months. We are excited to announce that this week, the Parks Department has begun installing shade structures at the Yulee Ballpark. Callahan and Hilliard will follow in the coming weeks. 

If you have any questions, please contact Parks & Recreation at (904) 530-6120.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

ed/12/24 @ 8:45 a.m. - In September 2020, the County secured RoadBotics, an enterprise firm specializing in road and infrastructure assessments, to conduct an unbiassed survey of all the County's existing 437 miles of paved roads and to provide feedback on current conditions. The information gathered was used to develop a robust, Pavement Management Plan that guides the County in preventative maintenance.

The Board adopted the new Pavement Management Plan on August 22, 2021, utilizing a 22-year cycle for ranking, prioritizing, and budgeting purposes. Prior to adoption of the Pavement Management Plan, roadways could only be resurfaced every 86 years.  However since adoption of the Pavement Management Plan in 2021, 176 roads have been resurfaced. 

Upon adoption of the Pavement Management Plan, County Manager Taco Pope stated, "This Plan not only improves quality of life by having the roads resurfaced more frequently, the County benefits from a fiscal sustainability standpoint as well. One of the biggest problems jurisdictions face is the inability to maintain their infrastructure. You all (the Board) should be very proud that you have a proactive approach to pavement management. Nassau County is moving in a very positive direction”. 

Below is a short video that explains the process for ranking roads and getting dirt roads prepped and ready for paving. It also includes a testimonial from a resident on Coopers Neck Road explaining how newly chip sealed roads in his neighborhood have positively benefitted the community. Thank you for watching to see all the hard work by men and women of the Road Department and celebrating the progress of the Board of County Commissioner's Pavement Management Plan. 

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact:
Sabrina Robertson
Public Information Officer
(904) 530-6010
[email protected]
 
COMMISSIONERS HUPPMANN AND FARMER ACHIEVE ADVANCED COUNTY COMMISSIONER LEVEL I DESIGNATION
 
Nassau County, Florida, July 11, 2024 -  Commissioners A.M. “Hupp” Huppmann and Klynt Farmer were both presented with the Advanced County Commissioner Level I (ACC I) designation from the Institute for County Government (ICG) at an award ceremony held at the Florida Association of Counties (FAC) Annual Conference and Educational Exhibition in Orange County, Florida. 
 
The ACC I designation is the first level of leadership achievement in the Advanced County Commissioner Program offered by ICG and signifies the completion of 27 hours of coursework.
 
“The ACC courses help prepare a commissioner for the complex challenges they will face during their time in office,” stated Eric Poole, Executive Director of ICG. “By striving to earn this designation and completing the coursework involved, they exemplify great leadership and a commitment to bettering their community.”  
 
Upon completing the program, Commissioner Huppmann stated, “I found the ACC I program to be greatly beneficial. It provided us with an opportunity to meet with representatives from around the State and share information on issues of mutual concern. It also provided invaluable knowledge that will guide me in serving Nassau County to the best of my abilities. I greatly appreciate ICG for making this great program available.”
 
Commissioner Klynt Farmer added, “Receiving the ACCI designation is an honor and a testament to my commitment to serving the residents of Nassau County. The program’s comprehensive curriculum has equipment me with invaluable skills to tackle the complex challenges our community faces.”
 
 The ACC I education program was launched in 2006 and commissioners must fully commit to the coursework to graduate from the program. Participants are challenged to act, think and lead during times of uncertainty and adversity.  Alongside Commissioner Huppmann, twelve commissioners earned the ACC I designation at the award ceremony.
 
ACC I is made possible through a continuing partnership with the University of Florida/IFAS Extension.
 
To learn more about ICG and the ACC I designation, please visit www.flicg.org.   
 

MEDIA INFO: Britney Guertin
Hayworth Public Relations
(386) 677-7000 x 4
[email protected]
 
Amelia Island Voted No. 2 “Best Island” by Travel + Leisure Magazine
Amelia Island Makes “World’s Best” List for Sixth Consecutive Year
 
AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. (July 11, 2024) – Located just off the northeastern coast of Florida, Amelia Island has been voted No. 2 among the “Best Islands in the Continental United States” by readers of
Travel + Leisure magazine, one of the most popular travel publications in the world. This is the sixth consecutive year Amelia Island has made the magazine’s “World’s Best Awards” list, now in its 29th year. Amelia Island’s No. 2 ranking puts the destination in excellent company, including the Golden Isles, Georgia (No. 1), Mackinac Island, Michigan, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, and the Florida Keys. To see a complete list of the World’s Best Islands, visit TravelAndLeisure.com.

“Being voted into the No. 2 spot is a great honor and a testament to the incredible beauty, diverse offerings, and genuine hospitality that really set Amelia Island apart,” said Gil Langley, President of the Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The discerning readers of Travel + Leisure also recognize and appreciate the amazing, hard-working locals and industry partners who welcome our visitors and help make Amelia Island one of the world’s best vacation destinations.”

The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, one of the island’s top-rated resorts, was also recognized by the readers of Travel + Leisure, being voted No. 6 among the “Best Resorts in Florida.” To read the list of Florida’s Best Resorts, visit  TravelAndLeisure.com.
​
The World’s Best Awards is a travel awards program run by Travel + Leisure and based on an annual reader survey. The prestigious annual awards honor the top travel destinations, hotels, and companies worldwide. The winners will appear in an upcoming issue of Travel + Leisure magazine and have been released on TravelAndLeisure.com.
 
About Amelia Island
Northeast Florida’s coastal treasure, Amelia Island is a barrier island rich in colorful history and breath-taking natural beauty.  Amelia Island offers long, beautiful beaches, abundant wildlife, and pristine waters.  Upscale resorts with world-class spas, championship golf and exclusive dining blend effortlessly with a captivating collection of bed and breakfast inns and historic districts.  The island is home to Fernandina Beach, once a vibrant Victorian seaport village, and now a charming downtown district of eclectic shops, attractions and eateries.  Forget the everyday getaway; come make memories on Amelia Island.  For visitor information and online planning, visit AmeliaIsland.com.

Photo Credit: Deremer Studios

7/10/24 @ 1:15 p.m. - Over the past year, Nassau County and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) have conducted a study on public transportation and gathered input from the community through a series of surveys, open houses and appearances at local events. The purpose of the study was to analyze existing conditions and the changing landscape of the County, in order to develop a plan to enhance transit service within the County, as well as exploring connections to neighboring transportation providers in the region. The outcome of the study will be a set of short-term and long-term recommendations for transportation investments and strategies. 

A presentation regarding the preliminary results and recommendations is available for review on JTA's website. Please watch the video presentation and provide feedback right there on the website. You can remain anonymous. Your feedback will help shape the future or our transit system. The deadline to respond is Friday, July 26th.  

If you have any questions, please contact Jeremy Norsworthy, Program Manager for the JTA, at (904) 632-5544 or via e-mail at [email protected]. 

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer