Highlights from the November 25 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 are posted.

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

Update on Clay County senior centers and plans for expanded meal services

Commissioners received an update on the current status of Clay County's senior centers. Aging True, which has operated the four centers in Green Cove Springs, Orange Park, Middleburg, and Keystone Heights for the past six years, now serves approximately 250 meals each day to local seniors. The organization continues to collaborate with community partners and is working to expand meal availability Countywide. This effort includes a legislative funding request supported by the County's delegation, as well as the increased use of volunteers to help with meal delivery. For more details on senior services in Clay County, view the discussion beginning at the 6:04 mark of the meeting.

Grants Department delivers high return on investment in FY 2025

Commissioners received an end-of-year update on the Fiscal Year 2025 performance of the grants department, which achieved exceptional results despite recent challenges. Over the year, staff completed 78 grant applications and secured $28,948,132 in funding. In addition to grant activity, the department oversaw sponsorship efforts and generated another $1.55 million in donations to support libraries, parks, community events, and animal services. These efforts demonstrate the County's ongoing commitment to identifying alternative revenue sources that fund operations and capital projects without increasing the tax burden. Learn more about the impressive return on investment the Grants Department delivered at the 24:47 mark of the meeting.

Annual CDBG report highlights community improvements in FY 2025

Commissioners received an update on the Fiscal Year 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and its annual performance report. This year, the County invested $287,172 in eligible projects, including eight neighborhood cleanups, ten home rehabilitations, and three sidewalk improvements. The County will use the remaining funds next fiscal year to complete additional prioritized sidewalk projects. The public comment period ran from November 7-21, and staff hosted an in-person meeting at the Middleburg-Clay Hill Library on November 18. Commissioners approved the final report and will submit it to the Department of Housing and Urban Development by the December deadline. Learn more about the County's continuing work to support residents at the 2:11:26 mark of the meeting.

Board selects contractor for new Substance Use Disorder Recovery Center project

The top three ranked contractors responding to RFQ No. 24/25-127 for Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) services presented their qualifications to the Board for the Substance Use Disorder Recovery Center project. The project will remodel a 300-square-foot retail building into a treatment facility for short- and long-term residents, with staff offices, a lobby, and break rooms. Commissioners selected E. Vaughn Rivers, Inc. to perform the CMAR services, which services will be paid for with funding from Opioid Settlement Funds. Staff will bring an agreement back to the Board for approval at a future meeting. Watch the presentations beginning at the 1:33:26 mark.

Commissioner Kristen Burke named BCC Chair; Commissioner John Sgromolo named Vice-Chair

At the end of November, Commissioners annually select a new BCC Chair and Vice-Chair to lead the Board for the upcoming year. This year, they nominated District 5 Commissioner Dr. Kristen Burke, the current Vice-Chair, to serve as Chair through November 2026. They also selected District 1 Commissioner John Sgromolo as Vice-Chair. Both leaders thanked their fellow Commissioners and expressed that it is an honor to serve Clay County in these roles. Watch the nomination and selection process at the 2:21:13 mark of the meeting.