Nassau County commissioners approve multiple contracts and budget actions, direct legal review of powered parachutes on county beaches

NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. — The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners on April 14 approved a series of design, construction, demolition and equipment contracts, carried forward fiscal-year funds and made several property acknowledgements, and asked the county attorney to research legal and safety issues surrounding powered paragliders operating over public beaches.

The board approved the items unanimously (4–0) following staff presentations and short deliberations. Major approved contracts include a $3.4 million design contract for County Road 121 phases 2–5, a not-to-exceed $975,000 work authorization for culvert repair and replacement, a piggyback demolition-services contract with a $1.5 million not-to-exceed cap, and a $737,964 contract for two new rescue vehicles for the county fire/rescue fleet. The board also approved budget closeout and carry-forward items as part of the fiscal-year wrap-up and several property acquisitions and conveyances related to planning-area implementation agreements.

The board discussed a complaint from a resident about recurring flights of a powered paraglider directly in front of beachfront property. Commissioner Martin asked the county attorney to research the operation — including licensing, public-safety and nuisance questions — and return with possible legal implications or options. “I’m not asking to regulate it,” Commissioner Martin said during his remarks. “I’m asking, let’s look into it.” Assistant County Attorney Beth Moore agreed the matter should be continued for staff review and said she would research the issues raised by the commissioners.

Votes at a glance

- Tab F — Design contract for County Road 121 (phases 2–5), $3,400,000 (design, including survey/geotech). Motion: approve (mover: Commissioner Farmer; second: Commissioner Martin). Vote: 4–0, approved.

- Tab H — Authorize chairman to sign contract CM3815, Work Authorization No. 07 (Jax Utilities Management) for culvert repair/replacement, not to exceed $975,000. Motion: approve (mover not specified in transcript for this motion). Vote: 4–0, approved.

- Tab J — Authorize chairman to sign contract CM3880 (Elevate Partners LLC) piggyback demolition-services contract (Saint Johns County piggyback), not to exceed $1,500,000. Motion: approve (mover: Commissioner Martin; second: Commissioner Farmer). Vote: 4–0, approved. County staff clarified the $1.5 million is a contract cap mirroring Saint Johns County; any specific work authorization would be project-based and budgeted separately.

- Tab K — Authorize chairman to sign CM3832 (ProShot Concrete) piggyback for bridge maintenance/repairs, not to exceed $500,000. Motion: approve (mover: Commissioner Martin; second: Commissioner Farmer). Vote: 4–0, approved.

- Tab L — Authorize chairman to sign CM83886 with 10-8 Fire & Safety LLC for two new rescue vehicles, not to exceed $737,964. Motion: approve (mover: Commissioner Martin; second: Commissioner Farmer). Vote: 4–0, approved.

- Tab P — Sheriff’s business: authorize $3,000 from the Sheriff’s Prevention Trust Fund to donate $1,000 each to West Nassau High School, Yulee High School and Hilliard Middle-Senior School for graduation transportation. Motion: approve (mover: Commissioner Martin; second: Commissioner Farmer). Vote: 4–0, approved.

- Tab Q — Sheriff’s business: remove available funds from equitable sharing treasury fund (approximately $301,629) and send them to the Department of Justice Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section to partially satisfy a federal clawback tied to a deputy’s criminal conviction. Motion: approve (mover: Commissioner Farmer; second: Commissioner Martin). Vote: 4–0, approved. County staff said the remainder (approximately $200,000) will be covered from the sheriff’s operational savings in the sheriff’s budget.

- Tab R and Tab AA — Finance packages and associated budget transfers and resolutions to close out fiscal year 2023–24 and recognize carry-forwards for 2024–25. The board approved both the non-legislative package (Tab R) and the legislative package requiring a public hearing (Tab AA). Motion: approve (mover: Commissioner Martin; second: Commissioner Farmer). Vote: 4–0, approved.

- Tab S — Additional SHIP funding for repair or replacement of a septic system on the Mason rehabilitation project; authorize county manager to execute documents. Motion: approve (mover: Commissioner Farmer; second: Commissioner Martin). Vote: 4–0, approved.

- Tab T — Authorize chairman to sign impact-fee uses justification form and related transfer to reimburse the developer for the Tributary Fire Station per impact-fee credit agreement (CSD-23-0212); initial reimbursement payment described as $585,000. Motion: approve (mover: Commissioner Farmer; second: Commissioner Martin). Vote: 4–0, approved.

- Tab U — Approve first amendment to contract CM3810 to correct the recorded value of the East Nassau Mobility Improvement reservation agreement from an outdated number to $2,048,128.27 (housekeeping). Motion: approve (mover: Commissioner Martin; second: Commissioner Farmer). Vote: 4–0, approved.

- Property acknowledgements and continuances: the board acknowledged county acquisition of property at 43124 Ice Hollow Trail (per CM3772) and PDP-4 Community Park (per CM3847, donation from Wildlight LLC); both items were accepted. The board continued a purchase-and-sale agreement with Kyle M. Twenter to June 9, 2025 (Tab X). Motions: approve/continue. Votes: 4–0, approved/continued.

What commissioners said and next steps

County staff emphasized that many of the approved contracts are budgeted and part of ongoing programs (road design and reconstruction staging, bridge maintenance, fire-rescue fleet replacement, and contractor assistance for culverts and demolition). On the sheriff’s equitable-sharing item staff explained federal clawback procedures tied to a deputy convicted of unrelated crimes and noted the county will cover the remaining repayment from operational savings in the sheriff’s budget.

On the powered-paraglider concern, Commissioner Martin said residents reported repeated flights that lasted multiple hours in front of a beachfront home and raised safety, noise and environmental questions. The board asked Assistant County Attorney Beth Moore to research the legal and public-safety implications, including whether state or federal aviation licensing applies and what local public-safety or nuisance options may exist. Moore acknowledged she would investigate and report back to the board.

Several other routine items were approved by unanimous vote, including consent items and proclamations presented at the start of the meeting.

County staff will return with details on any requested legal analysis and with standard contracting and procurement follow-up for the approved projects.