Nassau County issues call for action - Urgent notice regarding Senate Bill 324

February 21, 2018 3:48 p.m.

Editor's Note: Today, we received three phone calls and several emails from individuals who are requesting information from the Fernandina Observer on the controversy between the Nassau County Board of Commissioners and Raydient, a real estate subsidiary of Rayonier, Inc., regarding alleged promises made to the the BOCC prior to approving a development of 24,000 acres known as the East Nassau Community Planning Area (ENCPA). The County believes Raydient is trying to renege on its promise that "growth would pay for growth inside the development." Raydient is now lobbying the state to support a bill that would allow them to break their promise and force county taxpayers to pay for development growth with in the ENCPA.

The Fernandina Observer has not reported on this disagreement, prior to posting the information provided below by the "Nassau County Insider." Before we cover a story, we want to know the story. There is still work to do before we can begin to separate the wheat from the chaff. We will however, report on the outcome of a Senate Committee vote scheduled for tomorrow.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

This week, all five County Commissioners and various County staff are in Tallahassee meeting with Legislators in an effort to ensure that the cost of growth does not fall on the backs of taxpayers. There is proposed legislation which if passed, could cost the County millions of dollars... dollars which developers should have to pay in order to mitigate impacts on local government and provide public facilities needed to support their developments. The County is urging all citizens to contact their senators immediately to OPPOSE SENATE BILL 324 unless amendments are made to protect Nassau County!

Below are some key points you should know:

Raydient (Rayonier) is developing a 24,000 acre master-planned development known as the East Nassau Community Planning Area (ENCPA).

The State, with support of the Board of County Commissioners, approved a Stewardship District for the ENCPA which would be the funding mechanism to build public facilities such as roads, parks, recreation, etc.

Raydient no longer wants to honor its promises to the County and has stopped communicating, including refusal to attend two (2) public Board of County Commissioner meetings held for the purpose of discussing the public private partnership and funding concerns.

Instead, Raydient has been lobbying the State to approve Senate Bill 324 and companion bill, House Bill 697. If approved, funding for tens of millions of dollars to build public facilities could fall on the County tax payers rather than the agreement that growth would pay for growth inside the development and not burden citizens ouside of the ENCPA

The County Commissioners were made aware of the bill last week and all 5 Commissioners are in Tallahassee lobbying the amendments to protect the taxpayers

Senate Bill (SB 324) is being heard tomorrow in Senate Appropriations. Oppose Senate Bill 324 unless amendments are made to protect Nassau County!

Who to Contact:

Rob Bradley, Senate Appropriation Chair, at (850) 487-5005 or via email at Bradley.Rob@flsenate.gov AND

Dana Young, Senator and Bill Sponsor, at (850) 487-5018 or via email at Young.Dana@flsenate.gov

PLEASE CONTACT THEM IMMEDIATELY AND DEMAND THAT SENATE BILL 324 NOT BE APPROVED UNLESS AMENDMENTS ARE MADE TO PROTECT NASSAU COUNTY!!