City loses Atlantic Avenue fence battle to School Board

By Susan Hardee Steger

February 28, 2018 3:18 p.m.

During a joint meeting of Fernandina Beach City Commission and the Nassau County School Board held March 28, 2017, commissioners asked members of the Nassau County School Board to remove an unsightly chain linked fence located on school property north of Central Park. It appears the city lost the battle since the unsightly chain linked fence has recently been replaced by another unsightly but new chain linked fence.

New fencing on Atlantic Avenue. Photo courtesy of Ed Boner

According to a previous report by Suanne Z. Thamm, reporter-news analyst, "City Commissioner Roy Smith asked the NCSB to remove the chain-link fence along the Atlantic Avenue side of the School Board Administration complex in Fernandina Beach. He said that many people have complained about the unsightliness of this fence on what is considered Fernandina Beach’s most visible street. Smith said that the fence appears to have no purpose because there is an ungated entrance on the east side of the Atlantic Avenue span."