Highlights from the October 28 Board of County Commissioners Meeting

Here are some topics from the last Board of County Commissioners meeting. If you want to know more about what was discussed and decided, you can read the agendas and minutesas they get posted.

You can watch the meeting in full on our Facebook page or website.

County reports progress on strategic plan milestones

Communications Director Laura Christmas presented a third-quarter update on the County Strategic Plan (Year 2).

Highlights:

• Good Governance: Public engagement continues to grow, with nearly 12 million social media views and increases in website traffic and newsletter subscriptions.
• Good Governance Bold Goal: The County is over halfway to its five-year goal of securing $100 million in grant funding.
• Community Health & Safety: County staff installed 197 new AEDs with Narcan. The goal is 250 in five years.
• Infrastructure: Public transportation ridership in 2025 has surpassed 40,000 riders, supporting the 20% growth target.

Commissioners will hold a Strategic Plan Workshop on December 9, 2025, at 10 AM, to review and update strategic plan goals.
Listen to the presentation starting at 39:50 in the meeting recording.

New site selected for public safety training facility

Commissioners approved relocating the planned Clay County Public Safety Training Facility to the County's Outdoor Adventure Park. The change from the original Camp Blanding site will save $671,000, provide better security and accessibility, and allow room for future expansion and equipment staging. Camp Blanding personnel will still have access to the facility as needed.

Watch the presentation and discussion starting at 2:10:32 in the meeting recording.

County establishes Forests and Farms Conservation Lands Trust Fund

Commissioners approved an amendment to Ordinance 2024-48, creating the Forests and Farms Conservation Lands Program Trust Fund, which is a dedicated account for funds supporting the program.

The Board will pursue various funding sources-including bonds, grants, fees, leases, and renewable resource sales-to acquire and manage conservation properties.

View the ordinance attached to the meeting agenda and listen to the discussion starting at 1:31:43 in the recording.

Commissioners approve local board and council appointments

Commissioners reappointed Paula Cloud, Karen Johns, Belinda Johnson, Erin Sayer, and Edward Wallace to the Middleburg/Clay Hill Citizens' Advisory Committee and approved David Hough as a new member. This volunteer committee advises the Board on development matters within the Middleburg/Clay Hill area.

Commissioners expressed appreciation to all who applied to serve the community.

Listen to the discussion at the 2:29:56 mark of the meeting video.