Nassau County commissioners approve multiple contracts, tax distributions and development plans

Nassau County commissioners on July 14 approved a series of contracts, resolutions and development plans, voting unanimously on most items and recording one abstention on a tourism sponsorship. Major actions included a $202,140 construction engineering and inspection contract for an intersection improvement on U.S. 301 at Crawford Road; authorization of $250,000 in tourist development tax funding for Fernandina Beach Main Street programs; updated local option fuel tax distribution percentages; preliminary MSBU and beach renourishment rate resolutions; and approval of two final development plans for the Tributary planned unit development.

The board approved the work authorization No. 04 to contract CM3481 with DRMP Incorporated for construction engineering and inspection services tied to capital improvement project 0166, for intersection improvements at U.S. 301 and Crawford Road in the amount of $202,140. The board also approved an extension of an agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation to keep state grant funding in place for that project.

The board approved a resolution authorizing the use of tourist development tax revenues to sponsor Fernandina Beach Main Street programs and projects from July 14, 2025, through Jan. 31, 2026, and authorized the chairman to sign contract CM3935 for $250,000. One commissioner recorded an abstention and the tally was recorded as 3–0 on that item.

Other votes included: prohibiting through-truck traffic on South 15th Street from Park Avenue to Nectarine Street (signage to read “no through trucks” and “local deliveries only”); closing and abandoning an unnamed, unimproved right-of-way north of Richard Drive in Fernandina Beach; adopting the local option fuel tax distribution percentages based on the audited five-year historical transportation expenditures; approving beach renourishment MSBU preliminary rate resolutions; approving an interlocal agreement with the Town of Hilliard to use the town’s code enforcement special magistrate services; and setting a budget workshop on July 28 at 2:30 p.m. to discuss the 2025–26 tentative budget.

The board also conducted two quasi-judicial hearings and approved final development plans for units within the Tributary planned unit development. FD24-003 (Unit 12) and FD24-004 (Unit 17) were each found consistent with the approved preliminary development plan and related conditions and were approved on motions noting competent and substantial evidence in the record.

Votes were typically made by individual commissioners and recorded by the clerk. Most motions passed unanimously (4–0) except the tourism sponsorship resolution, which passed with one abstention (recorded as a 3–0 pass).