8/31/20 @ 2:45 p.m. - On Saturday, August 15, 2020, two presentations were held regarding the Nassau County Conservation Land Acquisition and Management (CLAM) Program. Approximately one dozen residents attended each presentation as Mr. Marc Hudson with the North Florida Land Trust provided information on the design of the Program.
 
The presentations were broken up into two parts. The first part described the creation of the CLAM Committee. The Committee will consist of five members selected by the public whose role will be to review and prioritize properties for conservation lands acquisition, oversee acquisitions, and ensure that the properties are managed sustainably and with appropriate recreational opportunities for the public. Members of the public will be able to nominate lands to be considered for conservation and provide public comment on each part of the process.
 
During the second part of the presentations, Mr. Hudson described the CLAM Resource Ranking Tool the County will use to assess, rank and compare different conservation properties. The tool was developed by environmental and planning professionals along with more than 300 Nassau County citizens. The CLAM tool evaluates potential acquisition properties in light of community priorities including water issues (water quality, flooding, sea level rise), species and habitat protection, and outdoor recreation/quality of life. The tool will ensure the County secures the most locally valued conservation lands.
 
To view the presentation from August 15, 2020, please visit the Department of Planning & Economic Opportunity’s website at https://www.nassaucountyfl.com/933/Conservation-Lands.
 
The Conservation Land Acquisition and Management Plan will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners for consideration and/or approval before the end of the calendar year.
*********************************************************************************************************
Should you have any questions, please contact the Department of Planning & Economic Opportunity at (904) 530-6300.
 

8/31/20 @ 10:45 a.m. - The Nassau County Property Appraiser is hosting informational events to allow residents to ask questions about their Truth in Millage (TRIM) statements reflecting proposed taxes for 2020.

Saturday, September 5th and Saturday, September 12th, 9am-1pm

TWO LOCATIONS:

• Historic Courthouse - 416 Centre Street, Fernandina Beach
  
• Callahan County Building- 45401 Mickler Street, Callahan, FL 32011

If you have any questions, please contact the Property Appraiser's Office at (904) 491-7300.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

8/31/20 @ 8:15 a.m. - We are proud to announce that several Nassau County Extension Agents are being recognized for their outstanding programs and contributions to their communities.

The below individuals have been invited to present their programs at the 2020 Extension Professional Association of Florida (EPAF) Annual Conference:

Abstract Presentations:
Justina Dacey
Demonstration Living Shorelines: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Ted Karsch
4-H Teach Me in 3: An Innovative Approach to Traditional 4-H programs

Kelsey Irvine
Flying Lead Changes During COVID-19: Continuation of 4-H Equine Programming in the Virtual Space

Poster Presentation:
Ted Karsch
4-H Teach me in 3

The following individuals will be presented with awards:

Florida Association of County Agriculture Agenda (FACA)
Becky Jordi
Category: Bound Book. Zoe's Mission.

Florida Association of Extension 4-H Agents (FAE4-HA)
1 team award and 2 individual awards.

Kelsey Irvine
Team: Excellence in Teamwork Area North 4-H Show Committee: Alisha Hutchinson, Amanda Pittman, Beth Moore, Genevieve Mendoza, Geralyn Sachs, Jessica Cooper, Kelsey Irvine, Nicole Crawson, Stephanie Conner, Derby Sale, and Savanna Turner 

Individual Awards: Excellence in Volunteerism and Service Award (both State and National Winner)

Florida Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (FEAFCS)

Meg McApline
Team: Food Safety: Team Laurie Osgood, Katherine Allen, Jill Breslawski, Nancy Gal, Jennifer Hagen, Wendy Lynch, Meg McAlpine, Ada MedinaSolorzano, Amy Mullins, Gabriella Murza, Natasha Parks, Maria Rometo, Julianne Shoup, Virgilia Zabala, and Kendra Zamojski 
 
Congratulations to all our Extension agents on their achievements! We are so happy to have such amazing agents representing our County.

-Sabrina Robertson
 County Manager's Office

8/30/20 @ 1:00 p.m.

Are you a small business owner in Nassau County who has been negatively impacted by COVID-19? Then you could be eligible for up to $10,000 from Nassau CARES’ Small Business Assistance Grant Program. Nassau County’s second round of Small Business Assistance Grants ends August 31, 2020, so don’t delay!

Visit the CARES Website to download an application. CARES representatives will be available from 8am-5pm tomorrow to answer any questions you may have. Call 904-530-6800 or email cares@nassaucountyfl.com.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

8/29/20 @ 11:40 a.m. - The Nassau County Library System will open for library visits beginning Monday, August 31st by appointment. Please read the below announcement carefully and contact the Library directly with any questions.

From Library Director Dawn Bostwick:

Notice to our patrons:
As information surrounding COVID-19 continues to develop, we hope everyone is taking care as needed.  The health and safety of our patrons and our staff are important.  We are following guidelines as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Nassau County Public Library System will open for Library Visits beginning August 31st; at the Fernandina Beach, Callahan and Hilliard Branch Libraries.  Please make your appointment online or call to reserve your visit.  Library visits are for one hour. New safety measures are in place for Library Visits and for Passport Application Processing:
 
Fernandina Beach Branch
Library Visits: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Thursday 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Curbside continues: Mon-Fri 10:00 an-6:00 pm
Curbside Phone (FB Only): 904-574-3586
 
Callahan Branch
Library Visits: Mon, Wed, Thurs, & Fri 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Tuesday 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Curbside continues: Mon-Fri 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
 
Hilliard Branch
Library Visits: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Thursday 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Curbside continues: Mon-Fri 10:00 an-6:00 pm
 
Bryceville Branch
Curbside Pickup Service ONLY
Mon-Thurs: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Closed daily from 12:30-1:00 pm
 
Yulee Branch
Curbside Pickup Service ONLY
Mon-Thurs: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Closed daily from 12:30-1:00 pm
 
Passport Application Processing Continues
Processing is by APPOINTMENT ONLY
For appointment use our online calendar or call 904-530-6508

Want to know what new books are in?  Try one of our reading lists.  Choose from 25 different genre lists!  The lists are sent once each month, at the beginning of the month.
 
Love the New York Times Best Sellers?  Why not sign up for the latest list!  Arrives in your inbox every Tuesday.

Sign up on the Library website at nassaureads.com, click on NEWS, then click on SUBSCRIBE HERE.

8/28/20 @ 5:15 p.m. - The Nassau County Department of Health provided the below information to address concerns that more than 40% of today's new COVID-19 cases are associated with clusters in congregated living settings.

What FDOH Nassau CHD is doing to investigate and mitigate spread in congregate settings:
 

• DOH-Nassau has been working with all local county congregate living facilities to provide infection control guidance, education on appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), testing assistance, and support in caring for their residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• DOH-Nassau recommends that during a local COVID-19 outbreak, long-term care facilities and other congregate living facilities take proactive steps to prevent introduction of this illness into the facility, including restricting visitors and limiting contact between staff and residents.
• DOH–Nassau will continue this support role for facilities with cases of COVID-19 using guidance from the CDC for Shared or Congregate Housing https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/shared-congregate-house/guidance-shared-congregate-housing.html

 
Current status: Information on number of cases in Long Term Care Facilities is available on the FDOH COVID19 website (https://floridahealthcovid19.gov)
 
As a reminder, we remain under a State Declaration of Public Health emergency and all Nassau residents and visitors should follow guidance from FDOH and CDC https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html on how to limit spreading infection, especially to most vulnerable.
 
DOH reminds all Nassau residents to protect the vulnerable by avoiding the Three Cs: Closed Spaces, Crowded Places and Close-Contact Settings and by wearing a mask in public:

• Closed Spaces. Avoid closed spaces with poor ventilation that could allow contagious droplets to linger in the air.
• Crowded Places. Avoid crowded places with many people nearby; the greater the number of individuals in an area, the greater the chances of COVID-19 spreading from person-to-person.
• Close-Contact Settings. Avoid close-range conversations and stay at least six-feet from others.

 
Everyone plays a part in lowering the impact within our communities, homes, workplaces and gathering spaces.
 
Taking every day preventative actions helps to impede the spread of respiratory diseases such as COVID-19. Preventative actions include:

• Washing your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoiding close contact with people who are sick.
• Staying home when you are sick. This message cannot be emphasized enough.
• Employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home and not come to work until they are free of fever (100.4° F or greater using an oral thermometer), signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants). Employees should notify their supervisor and stay home if they are sick.

 
 
Thank you,
 

8/28/20 @ 1:30 p.m.

Are you a small business owner in Nassau County who has been negatively impacted by COVID-19? Then you could be eligible for up to $10,000 from Nassau CARES’ Small Business Assistance Grant Program.

Nassau County’s second round of Small Business Assistance Grants ends August 31, 2020, so don’t delay! 

Visit the CARES Website for additional information about the program or to download an application. You can also call (904) 530-6800 or email cares@nassaucountyfl.com.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Office

8/28/20 @ 10:00 a.m.

On Wednesday, August 26, 2020, Thad Crowe accepted the position of Director of Planning & Economic Opportunity. Mr. Crowe was hired by Nassau County in May 2020 as a Senior Planner and was asked to serve as the Interim PEO Director in July 2020.

Mr. Crowe's education includes a Bachelors Degree in Geography from the University of Georgia and a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from Georgia Tech. He holds certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners.

Mr. Crowe's work experience includes 33 years of public and private sector planning positions throughout North Florida and South Georgia. He has extensive experience in the development of zoning codes and comprehensive plans, pedestrian and bicycle paths, development review, and historic preservation. He is the recipient of multiple awards including the George W. Simons, Jr. Memorial Award for lifetime achievement, received from the Florida Planning and Zoning Association in 2013.

County Manager, Mike Mullin, stated "We are happy that Thad has accepted this position. Even though Thad has only been with us a short time, he has become a valuable member of our team. His knowledge and experience made him a great candidate for the position and I am certain he has the skills needed to lead the Planning Department effectively.” 

Congratulations Thad! We wish you many years of success as Nassau County's Planning Director.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Office

8/27/20 @ 11:10 a.m.

Nassau County’s second round of Small Business Assistance Grants ends August 31, 2020, so don’t delay! www.nassaucountyfl.com/1039/Nassau-CARES

If you need assistance, please contact the CARES Office at (904) 530-6800 or email cares@nassaucountyfl.com.
 
-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

8/26/20 @ 4:45 p.m. - At today's special meeting, Health Director, Dr. Eugenia Seidel, provided an update on COVID-19 which included case counts, current hospitalizations and COVID related deaths. She indicated that the positivity rate in Nassau County is declining and she attributed it to all mitigation factors taking place including physical distancing, hand sanitizing, and wearing masks. She is urging residents to continue use of masks in close settings where social distancing isn't possible. 

The Board discussed the current Executive Order mandating masks at indoor business establishments which was set to expire today. After some discussion, it was determined that the Board would extend the mask mandate an additional 30 days. As a result, the Board approved Executive Order No. 22, extending the mandate through September 25, 2020.

Several Commissioners acknowledged that they have been contacted by residents on both sides of this issue. While it certainly wasn't an easy decision, they ultimately believe that the health and safety of residents is a priority. They also stated that they will be working with the Health Department and Emergency Management to establish criteria for lifting the mandate.

We encourage all residents to listen to this discussion and perhaps gain a better understanding on how they arrived at the decision to extend the mandate an additional 30 days. The meeting can be found here.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer