Commissioners adopt strategic-plan updates and approve CIP/budget adjustments; TPO priorities set
Summary
The Clay County commissioners approved changes to the county strategic plan (new KPIs and targets), adopted transportation project priorities (Chesapeake Oaks moved into top six) and approved ordinance and resolutions amending the capital improvement plan and FY25–26 budget during the Jan. 27 meeting.
At their Jan. 27 meeting, the Clay County Board of County Commissioners approved several items affecting planning, transportation and the county budget.
Strategic plan update: Troy Nagel presented changes requested at the prior workshop and asked the board to adopt the revisions. The update adds specific KPIs and clarifies targets: new tracking of inpatient counts in county facilities, a goal to reduce premature deaths countywide by 5 percent (a public-health target framed as an aspirational metric tied to services), employee-retention metrics focused on first-year retention, and expanded KPIs for bulk pickups, average completion times and dollars raised by partnerships and sponsorships. The board moved to adopt the updated strategic plan and voted to approve it on the record.
Transportation priorities: Richard Smith, the county engineer, presented the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) priority list. The Chesapeake Oaks project was moved up into Clay County’s top six priorities (making it part of the TPO's top 25 regionally). Smith cited a recent developer estimate of approximately $40,156,000 for a two‑lane alignment (including design and inspections) after wetlands and crossings were analyzed; earlier, larger estimates ranging up to roughly $85–100 million had circulated. Commissioners discussed County Road 218 as a continuing deficiency and questioned priority placement versus actual funding for state-eligible projects. The board voted to approve the TPO priority list as presented.
Budget and CIP adjustments: Reg Kanner, budget manager, explained budget amendments that reallocate funds for County Road 220, bonded road projects and shift funding streams; the adjustments also introduce operating budget items tied to FEMA/SAFER grants for parks repairs and disaster preparedness. The board opened the required public hearing, recorded no public comment, and approved the ordinance amending the capital improvement portion of the Clay County CIP, a companion resolution amending the non-capital-improvement element, and a resolution amending the FY25–26 budget. Motions were moved, seconded and approved on the record.
Mobility fee ordinance: Staff (Beth Carson) said the mobility-fee study is in final review and requested continuation to Feb. 24 after a stakeholders meeting. The board opened and closed the public hearing with no speakers and voted to continue the item to Feb. 24.
What was next: Commissioners discussed upcoming budget workshops (first scheduled for Feb. 5) and signaled ongoing work on strategic-plan tracking and website publication of KPI dashboards. Several items passed unanimously; the transcript records motions and 'ayes' but does not include individual roll-call tallies for each commissioner in the public text.
Votes at a glance: strategic plan update (approved); TPO priority list (approved; Chesapeake Oaks moved to top six); ordinance amending CIP (approved); resolution amending non-CIP element (approved); FY25–26 budget amendment (approved); mobility-fee item (continued to Feb. 24).
