Three residents used the council’s citizens’ participation period to raise neighborhood and veterans’ issues.

Peggy Alexander said she has an outstanding lawsuit related to a “brains problem” since 1997 and sought reimbursement; she also asked the council to revisit persistent pothole and drainage issues on the 800 block of Howard Street and requested consideration of curb installation to address standing water. Alexander said the city had previously worked on a drain behind the property and she planned to provide the council with a copy of her lawsuit and receipts.

Mary Lewis, who said she moved to Jacksonville full time in 2023 and lives on County Road 3135 at Lake Jacksonville, told the council she understood a small circle of land near her home may be slated for auction and development. She said the small parcel is surrounded by nine houses and that adding a building in that center circle would make the area “extremely congested,” potentially lowering surrounding property values and future tax revenues; she provided a letter to the council and said she emailed a copy as well.

Kenneth Smalley, representing the American Legion post, asked the council whether city programs exist to assist veterans and said the post seeks sponsors to send local youth to Boys State and Girls State programs and to support a $1,000 scholarship the post awards. Smalley left contact cards and invited council follow-up.

The mayor instructed staff to accept copies of documents and noted staff will follow up; the items were citizen requests and did not generate formal council action at the meeting.