Irma wrap up from City Hall

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm

Reporter - News Analyst

September 16, 2017 2:47 p.m.

Fernandina Beach City Manager Dale Martin updated local media with the following report Friday, September15, 2017:

• Nassau County has been included as part of the Presidential Disaster Declaration (DR- 4337) for both Public Assistance (PA) and Individual Assistance (IA). Residents are encouraged to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be eligible for federal assistance. Information regarding registration can be found here.
• Damage to other City facilities is minor and will not impact City operations. The most extensive damage was to ballfield facilities at both the Babe Ruth fields and the Martin Luther King, Jr. ballfields (in both cases, mainly dugouts).
• Other than the N. Fletcher Avenue area, flooding from the hurricane was limited and short-lived.
• Several businesses and homes throughout the City suffered wind, water, and tree damage.
• Garbage and recycling collection has resumed according to scheduled collection cycles.
• Hurricane debris and yard waste collection will begin on Monday, Sep 18. No specific schedule is established for this collection, but the entire City will be cleared. Please note that residents on 14^th Street (south of Atlantic Avenue), Jasmine Street, Lime Street, Sadler Road, and Amelia Parkway (all of which are Nassau County roads) as well as 8^th Street, Atlantic Avenue, and S. Fletcher Avenue (which are State roads) will be part of the County and State debris collection efforts, respectively, not the City’s effort.
• The scheduled Ocean Rescue Beach Clean-up for tomorrow (Saturday, Sep 16) has been cancelled.
• Thank you to Florida Public Utilities (and the additional out-of-state crews) for the effort to restore power to City residents, businesses, and facilities.
• Special thanks to the City staff that worked before, during, and after the hurricane to provide for the safety of City residents and the community.

Additonally, the Municipal Golf Course will resume operations Monday, September 18.  According to Steven Murphy, course general manager, Irma caused no damage to structures, but scores of trees were damaged.  He reported, "The South Course is coming along well.  We should have no problem opening it on Monday.  We will rope off any dangerous areas for safety.  The North Course will be the second to open.  We have all the debris blown into wind rows or into forested areas.  Clean-up should go fairly quickly once we get to it.  The West Course still has standing water on six holes.  It is receding, but slowly.  We watered on Thursday, so that should help the pond levels go down.  The dry areas are already blown into wind rows.  The greens look really good,  fairways look healthy with very minimal salt burn from the ocean water deposited on the course, but the bunkers look like hell."

Despite the storm's impact, a Saturday wedding will be held at the club house.

The City Airport sustained minor damage, except for the McGill Aviation facility.  Damage to the roof of that facility is being assessed.

The City Marina also fared reasonably well, with the major damage caused to the Captain's Lounge, which was flooded with 9 inches of water.