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County presents $820 million infrastructure plan and timelines for 2026 projects
Summary
County staff outlined a $820 million portfolio of capital projects, from courtrooms and a medical examiner facility to parks, road widenings and a new wastewater plant designed to cut nutrient loads; commissioners praised the cross‑departmental delivery approach.
St. Johns County staff gave a broad review of infrastructure work completed in 2025 and priorities for 2026, saying the combined capital program represents roughly $820 million in public and partner investments.
Joy (staff presenter) opened the briefing, emphasizing grant leverage and a strategy to minimize tax impacts. The presentation highlighted 61 capital improvements completed in 2025 and roughly 51 projects moving into construction or completion in 2026, from the public service (permit) center and an annexed emergency operations facility to renovations of court and jail facilities.
Departments walked through site‑specific work: Dan Whitcraft reviewed the CIP oversight functions; Ryan Kane detailed parks investments such as Mill Creek Park, the Solent Calhoun turf field and upcoming Field of Dreams improvements; Greg Caldwell covered major road projects including Longleaf Pines Parkway and signal/intersection upgrades; and Neil Shenkari outlined utilities work and a new advanced wastewater facility anticipated to remove large quantities of nutrients from the Matanzas watershed over the next 20 years.
Neil Shenkari described the new State Road 207 wastewater facility as “state of the art, AI‑ready and automated” and estimated the long‑term nutrient reductions the project will deliver.
Commissioners and members of the public praised the transparent, cross‑department approach and asked clarifying questions about funding sources, project timing and the permit‑center financing; staff said the approach leverages federal and state grants, developer contributions and impact fees to limit taxpayer burden.
The board did not take action on the presentation itself; staff will continue project management and return with contract approvals and GMPs as individual items come forward.
