Nassau County commissioners approve watershed grant applications, $195,000 for Hilliard water expansion and housing plan change

The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to submit two Florida Department of Emergency Management Watershed Planning Program grant applications, approved $195,000 in county support for the Town of Hilliard's water system expansion request, and amended the county's local housing assistance plan to allow down-payment assistance tied to nonprofit new-construction homes.

County staff told commissioners the watershed-planning grants would fund master plans for the Nassau River Basin and the St. Marys River Basin and could award up to $400,000 per grant, with a 25% match that staff said could be covered by existing Resilient Florida grant funds. "What you have before you for items g and h are requests for you to consider allowing us to submit application for these 2 grants," staff member Cabana said. "If granted, for lack of a better term, it would be basically free money to map out our riverine systems." Commissioner Matthew Gray called the effort "a great initiative" and said improved riverine data could help the county's Community Rating System score and reduce flood insurance costs for residents.

In a separate action, commissioners approved directing the county's lobbying firm to pursue a legislative appropriation for the Town of Hilliard's water-main expansion along U.S. Highway 1 and to use $195,000 that was carried over in the county budget as the local match. County Manager Pope said the funding was carried forward from last year's budget. Commissioner Gray moved the measure, and Commissioner Farmer seconded; the board voted 5-0 to approve it.

The board also approved a technical modification to the county's Local Housing Assistance Plan to allow down-payment-assistance payments to buyers of homes built by Habitat for Humanity and similar nonprofit builders using county SHIP funds. Housing staff said the change will let SHIP down-payment assistance be applied directly to those buyers to lower their monthly payments and make nonprofit construction projects easier to finance. Commissioners discussed a recent regional merger involving the local Habitat chapter and Habitjacks and heard staff say local SHIP funds would remain restricted to Nassau County projects.

Other procedural actions included cancelling the board's March 19, 2025 meeting because many commissioners will be attending Legislative Day in Tallahassee. All motions noted below passed unanimously, 5-0.

Votes at a glance

- Tab G: Approve submission of Florida Department of Emergency Management Watershed Planning Program grant application for a Nassau River Basin Watershed Master Plan. Motion by Commissioner Gray; second by Commissioner Martin. Vote: Commissioners McCullough, Gray, Farmer, Martin and Chair Huffman — yes (5-0). Staff said the grant could award up to $400,000 with a 25% match covered by existing Resilient Florida funds.

- Tab H: Approve submission of Florida Department of Emergency Management Watershed Planning Program grant application for the St. Marys River Basin Watershed Master Plan. Motion by Commissioner Martin; second by Commissioner Farmer. Vote: McCullough, Gray, Farmer, Martin, Huffman — yes (5-0).

- Tab I: Support Town of Hilliard legislative appropriation request for expansion of the town's public water system, including county funding support of $195,000 carried over from last year's budget. Motion by Commissioner Gray; second by Commissioner Farmer. Vote: McCullough, Gray, Farmer, Martin, Huffman — yes (5-0). County Manager Pope asked the board to direct the county's lobbying firm to pursue the request with the Nassau delegation in Tallahassee.

- Tab J: Approve modifications to the Local Housing Assistance Plan to permit down-payment assistance (without rehabilitation) for purchasers of nonprofit-built homes (for example, Habitat for Humanity). Motion by Commissioner Farmer; second by Commissioner Martin. Vote: McCullough, Gray, Farmer, Martin, Huffman — yes (5-0). Staff said the change permits SHIP funds to be applied as down-payment assistance to buyers of Habitat homes, reducing the primary loan amount for those buyers.

- Tab K (expansion item): Cancel the March 19, 2025 Board of County Commissioners meeting due to Legislative Day in Tallahassee. Motion by Commissioner Martin; second by Commissioner Gray. Vote: McCullough, Gray, Farmer, Martin, Huffman — yes (5-0).

Context and significance

County staff and a public speaker said the watershed master plans would fill gaps in riverine topography and hydrology data that the county currently lacks, complementing coastal flood data the county already maintains. Margaret Kirkland of Conserve Nassau urged the board to collect "in-depth data" on topography and hydrology and to incorporate future rainfall projections into planning. Commissioner Gray noted the county currently has a Class 7 rating under the National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System and said improved mapping could help lower insurance rates for Nassau residents.

On housing, staff explained a recent merger between the local Habitat chapter and Habitjacks offers broader resources for construction, and commissioners asked staff to confirm that locally restricted SHIP funds would remain dedicated to Nassau County projects. Staff responded that the SHIP funds participating in the change are restricted to Nassau County.

Public comment and pets

Officer Crystal Raulerson of NCAS brought a two-and-a-half-year-old dog named Jack to the meeting for a brief presentation; commissioners and residents praised the dog's temperament. Public commenter Jacqueline Osborne, speaking during general comment, said the shelter currently houses 50 dogs with 82 in foster and 26 cats with 11 in foster and urged residents to spay and neuter pets.

What's next

Staff will submit the two watershed-planning grant applications and report back to the board if either award is made. The county's lobbying firm will be asked to press the Hilliard appropriation with the Nassau delegation in Tallahassee. The housing-plan change takes effect as a modification to the Local Housing Assistance Plan; staff said it will be implemented through existing SHIP processes and county-administered funds.