11/30/21 @ 12:00 p.m. - State Representative, Cord Byrd, issued the attached Press Release today announcing that the Nassau County Legislative Delegation will hold a meeting on Monday, December 13, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. in the Commission Chambers located at 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097.

The purpose of this delegation meeting is to introduce a City of Fernandina Beach local bill and to take public input. Interested citizens wishing to be placed on the agenda for the Monday, December 13th meeting are asked to contact Representative Byrd's Office by the close of business on Thursday, December 9th.

All materials or handouts for this meeting should be received by Representative Byrd's Office no later than Thursday, December 9th. Information can be mailed to 421 Third Street North, Jacksonville, FL 32250 or emailed to Katherine Woodby at katherine.woodby@myfloridahouse.gov.

In accordance with the ADA and Chapter 286.26, Florida Statutes, persons in need of special accommodations to participate in the meeting, including agendas, interpreters or assisted listening devices, should contact Representative Byrd’s Office no later than December 9, 2021.

For additional information, contact Katherine Woodby, Legislative Aide for Representative Cord Byrd, at (904) 242-3495 or email Katherine.woodby@myfloridahouse.gov.

All Nassau County Legislative Delegation meetings are open to the public.

11/29/21 @ 11:30 a.m. - We trust that everyone had a great Thanksgiving Holiday! Now that Thanksgiving has passed, we are ready to focus on our upcoming "Breakfast With Santa". We will have additional announcements in the coming weeks, however we wanted to take this opportunity to remind our residents about this exciting new event being brought to you by Nassau County Parks & Recreation.

As previously indicated, the event will take place on Saturday, December 18th from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. and will feature a free pancake breakfast and pictures with Santa. Children wishing to participate in the gift exchange should bring one wrapped gift.

WHAT: Breakfast With Santa
WHEN: Saturday, December 18, 2021 from 9am-11am
WHERE: Callahan Multi-Use Facility, 543350 US Highway 1, Callahan, FL 32011

If you have any questions, please contact Parks & Recreation Director, Jay Robertson, at (904) 530-6120 or via email at jrobertson@nassaucountyfl.com. 

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

11/29/21 @ 8:30 a.m. - In case you missed it! Crawford Road was finally completed and opened to through traffic on Wednesday, November 24th. The Ribbon Cutting was held on November 10th, but unfortunately, the contractor had a few items to finish and we were unable to open it the day of the Ribbon Cutting as originally planned.

Several residents have inquired about the speed limit still being posted at 40mph. Please be advised that in order for a speed limit to be changed, a speed study/traffic count must be completed in accordance with Florida Statutes, Chapter 316.187. Nassau County Engineering Services will conduct the study within the next few weeks and the speed limit will be adjusted as allowed by the Florida Department of Transportation.

If you have any questions, please contact Engineering Services at (904) 530-6225 or email rcompanion@nassaucountyfl.com.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

11/24/21 @ 10:00 a.m. - In 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau conducted the decennial census which is designed to count every resident in the country. This is done every ten years to capture changes to the local population and adjust district boundaries to ensure all residents across the Country are equally represented. The census data collection is also used to determine the number of seats each State has in the U.S. House of Representatives and directly affects how trillions of U.S. dollars are distributed to local governments to fund hospitals, schools, and roads.
 
After each decennial census, the County Commission is redraw district boundaries to reflect changes in the local population, to ensure all residents across the County are equitably represented. Civic engagement and public participation were integral in properly executing this critical public duty.

On October 15, 2021, Nassau County launched a redistricting webpage which allowed Nassau County residents to learn more about about the redistricting process, locate community meetings, and review the Preliminary Electoral Redistricting Report. The page also included three, interactive maps which reflected how electoral districts could be redrawn.

On October 26, 2021, Community Meetings were held in Callahan and Fernandina Beach. An additional Community Meeting was held on in Yulee on October 28, 2021. The Board of County Commissioners and School Board then held a Joint Meeting on November 3, 2021, at which a consultant provided an overview of the redistricting process and a review of the three district maps under consideration. Together, the group determined that Option 3 was the best option.

The Board of County Commissioners then held a Special Meeting on November 8, 2021 and voted to set the public hearing for December 13, 2021 to adopt Option 3. An outline of Option 3 is shown below however a full, interactive map can be located here. This interactive version allows the user to zoom in and see specific address, streets, etc. to find out which district seat will represent them for the next 10 years.

If you have any questions, please call (904) 530-6019 and leave a message, or send an email to contact@nassaucountyfl.com.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

11/23/21 @ 10:45 a.m. - We are pleased to share with you the Annual Report for Fiscal Year 20/21. This report highlights activities and achievements from October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021. It also includes goals each department has designated for FY 21/22.

If you have any questions, please contact Public Information Officer, Sabrina Robertson, at (904) 530-6010 or via e-mail at srobertson@nassaucountyfl.com.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

11/19/21 @ 3:00 p.m. - Below are photos for the week of November 12 - November 19, 2021.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

11/17/21 @ 1:10 p.m. - Visit the Fernandina Beach Library Branch to view an exhibit that captured 2020, a year like no other. Photos were submitted by the community to document our local reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic. They also celebrate our resiliency and flexibility in the face of great changes.

The exhibit will be on display through January 29, 2021.

If you have any questions, please call (904) 530-6500.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

11/16/21 @ 4:15 p.m. - The Nassau County Sheriff's Office is hosting "Nassau Night Out" on Friday, December 10th from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Hilliard Winn Dixie. This event allows residents to meet members of the Sheriff's Office and enhances the relationship law enforcement personnel has with the community. Crime prevention information will be provided. Other appearances include Skittles the Clown, the Instrument Zoo, Nassau County Animal Services, and more!

If you have any questions, please contact the Sheriff's Office at (904) 548-4069 or email aaspicer@nassauso.com.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

In recent weeks, the County has received questions related to the repair of County Road 121 from the Duval County Line to State Road 2/Crawford Road. Recognizing the critical nature of County Road 121, the Board, in collaboration with the Nassau County Legislative Delegation, secured $9 million in State appropriations to resurface the road from the Duval County line to State Road 2. (see June 4, 2021 Press Release)
 
In preparation for requesting State funding for resurfacing of CR121, in January 2021, the Board of County Commissioners conducted traffic counts along County Road 121 at three locations: north of County Road 108; south of Stokes Road; and south of SR 2 (north of Stokes Road). The traffic counts captured both the number vehicles and types of vehicles that use the roadway. Next, the Board of County Commissioners assessed the structural integrity of the road’s subbase, the supporting material under the asphalt surface, by taking a series of core samples from the roadway.  
 
Based on the analysis, it was determined there are some areas of CR121 where the structural integrity of the subbase is sufficient to support heavy traffic and will only require resurfacing at a cost between $160,000 to $220,000 per mile. However, there are other areas of CR121 where a full reconstruction of the road, including the subbase, will be required at a cost of $620,000 per mile. Based the available data, the cost estimate is roughly $500,000 per mile, or $9,000,000, to complete the approximately 16 mile segment from the Duval County Line to SR2/Crawford Road, factoring in cost for design and contingency.  
 
Project design is anticipated to begin in the late summer/early fall of 2022.  The design portion of this project will include a deeper evaluation of the roadway’s structural integrity and identification of the best option for addressing the deficiencies found segment by segment (resurfacing, full reconstruction, etc.).  Construction is anticipated to begin early 2023 and will take six to nine months to complete. Based on the anticipated timeline, the segment from Duval County Line to SR2/Crawford Road, should be complete by the end of 2023.   
 
Given the approximately two-year process to complete repairing the southern half of the CR121 corridor, Nassau County Public Works and Road Department has an interim plan to address the 16 mile segment of County Road 121.  Commencing after Thanksgiving, Road Department staff will work diligently to repair potholes in this segment of the corridor by  removing loose asphalt and debris; recompacting the base; filling the holes with tackifier, a compound that increases stickiness; filling the holes with a new asphalt mix; and then tamping it into place, packing it tightly before leveling it to the surrounding road. The Road Department will also use a grader to remove the accumulation of soil along portions of the roadway’s shoulders to allow rain water to drain away more quickly from the paved surface.
 
In addition to the above, on October 20, 2021, the Board of County Commissioners awarded bids to three vendors to provide roadside mowing across the County. With the new mowing contracts in place, there will be an increase in the number of times the roadside will be cut each year which will allow Road Department staff to dedicate the necessary time on drainage and road maintenance matters.
 
Related to the above, on August 22, 2021, the Board of County Commissioners adopted a 22-year Pavement Management Plan valued at $85 million dollars which prioritized roadways for treatment, based on current conditions. Segments of County Road 121 were identified as a top priority. In addition to the $9 million secured in the 2021 for the southern segment of CR121, the Board of County Commissioners is currently working with the Nassau Legislative Delegation to petition the State Legislature for an additional $9 million to resurface the northern segment of County Road 121 from State Road 2 to US 1.
 
If you have any questions, please contact the Nassau County Road Department at (904) 530-6175.

11/15/21 @ 9:30 a.m. - Below are public meetings taking place this week:

Development Review Committee
Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.
Commission Chambers, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097

Planning & Zoning Board
Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 6:00 p.m.
Commission Chambers, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097

Board of County Commissioners
Wednesday, November 17, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.
Commission Chambers, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097

Essential Housing Advisory Committee
Wednesday, November 17, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.
Commission Chambers, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097

CLAM Committee
Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.
Commission Chambers, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097

Conditional Use & Variance Board
Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 6:30 p.m.
Commission Chambers, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097

Agendas can be located on our website.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer