During public comment at the Oct. 15 Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting, Latrice Bell, speaking on behalf of interests associated with the George Crady Bridge fishing pier, urged the commission to press for repair and reopening of the Duval County side of the bridge and asked for investigation into the use of FEMA funds.

Bell said Duval taxpayers have paid about $35,000 a year for maintenance and upkeep of the closed bridge and asserted that FEMA money appropriated after a 2016 storm was rerouted and used for other projects such as a boat ramp on the Nassau side. “That's against the law,” she said, and asked the commission and city officials to determine what happened to the FEMA funds and to restore the Duval side.

The commission then returned to old business and asked Councilmember Mike Gay for an update. Gay reported he had no new information since the last meeting and that state representatives had been asked to pursue possibilities in Tallahassee. “I haven't been able to follow-up with them yet, so I'm kinda, don't have any new updates,” he said, and added he remained committed to finding a resolution for reopening the Duval side.

Why it matters: Bell framed the issue as a long-running local concern about access, public spending and equitable treatment between Duval and Nassau sides of the bridge. The commission acknowledged the complaint, and Gay said he would continue to pursue state-level follow-up and possible solutions with the Department of Environmental Protection and state representatives.

No formal action or vote on this item occurred at the Oct. 15 meeting.