Jay

Morris

Chair/District 4

Board of County Commissioners

  P: 904.209.0304   

C: 904.814.9403

[email protected] 

____________________ 

Board of County Commissioners

Planning and

Zoning Agency 

November 10

 West Augustine

Steering Committee

November 10

Tourist Development Council

November 17

Planning and

Zoning Agency

All meeting dates are subject to change. Please visit www.sjcfl.us for current meeting information. 

Upcoming

Events

General Election

November 4

Vilano Beach Main Street

450th Commemoration

Invite a friend or neighbor to register for the St. Johns County E-Newsletters.

Voter turnout for St. Johns County's primary election in August was only 16 percent. Sadly 84 percent of registered voters did not vote! If you don't vote, you get the government you deserve.

The 2014 General Election is Tuesday, November 4, and the polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Visit the Supervisor of Elections webpage to identify your precinct, view a precinct map, or review your sample ballot. In addition, early voting is available through November 1. Please exercise your right to vote and ensure your voice is heard in this important election.

Sincerely,

District 4

St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners 

The 2015 St. Johns County Legislative Action Plan was unanimously approved by the Board of County Commissioners in September. A focused list of priorities for which the County requests financial assistance and other support from our State and Federal delegation members, the Legislative action plan historically includes topics related to Florida Statutes, transportation, water quality, unfunded mandates, and a variety of other subjects. In addition, the Board included items related to preserving local revenue options, ensuring the Veterans Affairs Clinic is responsive to the health care needs of St. Johns County veterans, and clarifying the definition of the Waters of the United States to preserve local control. The plan will be presented to St. Johns County's state representatives for consideration prior to the next legislative session at the annual Legislative Delegation meeting in December. In addition, the Board identified the County's top three legislative priorities and for submission to the Northeast Florida Regional Council to consider on a regional basis.

The Anastasia Mosquito Control District is an independent special district established in 1948 by a voter referendum for the purpose of promoting public health by controlling mosquitoes. It is a separate taxing authority directed by a board of five elected Commissioners. The Anastasia Mosquito Control District cannot issue debt and must accumulate cash reserves to pay for its public facilities. The District's Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a millage rate increase that was nearly double the previous rate in September. Most mosquito control operations in Florida are managed by their respective County, however, the state of Florida transferred oversight responsibility for independent special districts, such as the Anastasia Mosquito Control District, from the County to the State level in 2010. As a result, St. Johns County no longer has oversight authority related to the Anastasia Mosquito Control District. St. Johns County residents and business owners who have questions or concerns related to the management of the Anastasia Mosquito Control District are encouraged to visit the district's website at www.amcdsjc.org or call the district directly at 904.471.3107. 

St. Johns County is currently accepting applications for the following volunteer Board and Committee vacancies. Please call 904.209.0300 for more information or to obtain an application. The deadline for application submission is October 31, 2014.

• Architectural Review Committee
• Contractors Review Board
• Health & Human Services Advisory Council
• Mid-Anastasia Island Design Review Board
• North Coastal Corridor Overlay District Design Review Board
• Northwest Communication Tower Advisory Board
• South Anastasia Design Review Board
• West Augustine Nuisance Abatement Board

St. Johns County is pleased to announce its partnership with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to house one of the State Agricultural Response Team (SART) Mini Mobile Animal Response Equipment (MARE) Units. The Unit is an enclosed trailer that contains bowls, animal crates, and a canopy shelter. This resource will be instrumental in assisting Animal Control with establishing pet friendly sheltering operations during an emergency. It will also be vital when responding to animal hoarding and cruelty situations. The Mini-MARE Unit is designed to be a regional asset and we believe it will prove to be an invaluable part of assisting animals during times of need in the Northeast Florida region. For more information, contact Paul Studivant at 904.669.0112.

The St. Johns County Fire

Rescue Honor Guard and Fire Rescue Chief Carl Shank attended the Florida Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service in October to remember those firefighters who are no longer with us. During the ceremony, held at the Florida State Fire College in Ocala, St. Johns County Fire Rescue Captain, Kenny Krulish, was added to the memorial wall. He began working with St. Johns County Fire Rescue in 1988 and was considered a mentor to many other firefighters and paramedics during his tenure of more than 24 years with the department. Captain Krulish was a trainer, developed firefighter classes, implemented new programs, secured grants for the department, and most recently served as the Captain of Station 15.

The St. Johns County Recreation and Parks Youth Basketball League season runs from December through February. Registration ends November 1. Participants can register at Collier Blocker Puryear Park Center, Ketterlinus Gym, Solomon Calhoun Center, or drop off/mail forms to our main office, 2175 Mizell Road. To complete registration, all participants must fill out a registration form, provide a copy of their birth certificate, and pay a $30 registration. Practices are determined by the coaches and will be held at Ketterlinus Gym, the Solomon Calhoun Center, or any of our outdoor facilities between the hours of 5:30 and 8:00 p.m. Practices can be once or twice a week, and league rules require that you attend one practice to receive the minimum playing time. For more information, contact Brian James at 904.209.0365 or [email protected] / Jamie Baccari at 904.209.0377 or [email protected].

Age groups:                       

• 7-8 Year Old (co-ed) League: This is a developmental league. The first 25 registrants will be accepted, and try-outs are not required. Practices will be held once a week with scrimmages on Saturdays. Lowered goals will be used in the scrimmages.
• Boys Division: Ages 9-10, Ages 11-12, and Ages 13-14. Players on high school basketball teams (freshman, junior varsity, or varsity) are not eligible to participate in this program.
• Girls Division: Ages 9-11 and Ages 12-14. Players on high school basketball teams (freshman, junior varsity, or varsity) are not eligible to participate in this program.

League Try-outs Quick Facts:

• All new players or players moving up in age division must attend try-outs on November 1 at the Ketterlinus Gym. Times will be posted online and attached to registration forms.
• All participants make a team, even if they do not attend the scheduled try-out time.
• The league cannot guarantee that a child will be placed with a specific coach or player, for transportation purposes, unless they are siblings in the same age division.
• If a player wishes to change teams in their division, they must attend try-outs again.
• If a child is moving up in age division they must try-out again. (Determined by the child's age as of January 1, 2015)

St. Johns County and the Stetson Kennedy Foundation will dedicate the Stetson Kennedy home and museum as a National Literary Landmark from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on November 16 at Beluthahatchee Park, 1523 State Road 13. In 2004, Kennedy's home was designated a National Literary Landmark by the American Library Association as the site where Kennedy's friend Woody Guthrie wrote his autobiography Seeds of Man. Beluthahatchee is now a landmark in Kennedy's name, as well as, the only National Literary Landmark honoring two writers.

The dedication of the National Literary Landmark plaque, the opening of Kennedy's home to the public, and the dedication of the Gerald and Edith Kennedy Hart House will be held from 12 - 4 p.m., with a short ceremony at 1 p.m. Visitors will see the virtual tour of the cottage, portions of the film The Soul of a People, and footage from the upcoming documentary on Kennedy's life. Beluthahatchee Park is located approximately 1.5 miles south of Julington Creek on the east side of State Road 13. Parking and shuttle service to the park will be available from the Bartram Trail Library and Alpine Grove Park from 11:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

The St. Johns County Public Library System (SJCPLS) now offers new media services that will allow patrons/library cardholders to access thousands of movies, television shows, songs, audio books, and electronic magazines from any internet-enabled device through a partnership with hoopla and Zinio for Libraries.

SJCPLS cardholders can download hoopla, a free mobile app, onto their device, or visit hoopladigital.com to begin enjoying thousands of titles from major Hollywood studios, record companies, and publishers. All are available to borrow for instant streaming or download. Cardholders will also have unlimited access to several digital magazines through Zinio for Libraries. Among the many popular titles available through Zinio are Men's Health; Cosmopolitan; Better Homes and Gardens; Food Network; Newsweek; Car and Driver; Seventeen; Surfer; The Family Handyman; Rolling Stone; Martha Stewart Living, and many more. For more information, please contact Angelina G. P. Gervasi at 904.827.6925.