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CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK P A G Hornets thump Matanzas, 28-6, are 3-0 E PAGE 1B 2 75¢ WEDNESDAY, September 23, 2009 / 28 PAGES, 2 SECTIONS • fbnewsleader.com Where has the wildlife gone? So, OK, just use the fees there RYAN SMITH News-Leader Nassau County could lose author- ity to spend about $100,000 collect- ed in impact fees for city transpor- tation projects, but city and county commissioners have had trouble agreeing on how the money should be used. The city still wants action on a 14th Street widening project, but the coun- ty favors improvements at Sadler Road and Citrona Drive to get the money spent sooner. Debate over the use of transporta- tion impact fees dominated a large part of the discussion at Monday’s meeting of the Amelia Island Joint Local Planning Agency – Fernandina Beach and Nassau County commis- sioners. On the agenda Monday night were three proposed projects: lengthening the turn lane at the intersection of Sadler and Citrona, intersection FEES Continued on 3A Getting older by the minute ANGELA DAUGHTRY News-Leader Almost a year ago, then city com- missioners voted to give the county $150,000 over the course of three years to redevelop a county-owned North 14th Street property for a new Council on Aging facility. The trouble is, the current group of city commissioners has not been able to agree on why the money was pledged in the first place – to help pay for demolition, to help find grants or to guarantee a deed restriction that the property would be used only for “the PHOTOS BY DON LAY/FOR THE NEWS-LEADER public good.” Egans Creek Greenway is home to butterflies, young night herons and red dragonflies, from top on left, and anhingas, alligators and rac- The problem was finally addressed coons, from top on right, among other wildlife. at a Joint Local Planning Agency meet- ing between the city and county Monday, but not before the city almost withdrew its pledge of $150,000. On the deserted south end of Egans Creek Greenway At first, County Attorney David Hallman suggested a “restrictive or years now, Don Lay has been e-mail- it together.” being quiet and observing. We saw an anhinga covenant equal to a lease period of 30 ing me his nature photos with stunning And so we did. Cameras in that saw us too and rang its bell-like alarm call years.” But City Commissioner Eric close up shots of birds and butterflies, hand one dawn we met at before realizing we were not going to bother it. Childers noted that, originally, the deed FF dawns and sunsets and everything natu- Jasmine and headed south into We stopped and photographed some unusual restriction was to be not less than 75 ral in between. It was his dawn photos, I’ve got to the Greenway. I expected mos- flowers in a few different locations. But the usual years or more than 90 years. admit, which got my own legs walking down the quitoes and wore long pants and suspects, the alligators that Don often photo- “I want it to be for public purpose beach to see this spectacle myself. a long-sleeved shirt, with lots of graphs, were not showing their snouts that day. longer than I’m alive,” Childers added. Lately I’ve gotten intrigued about the photos DEET on the few parts of me No otters, no raccoons, no snakes, only that one But, said Hallman, “(the city’s) pri- Don has taken in the south end of the Egans that remained exposed. Don, anhinga, oh well, on just one exploration you mary interest is that the property stays Creek Greenway. Alligators, young black- also an experienced naturalist, never expect to see the highlights. with the public use. This does not tie crowned night herons, water moccasins, otters, WILD was similarly garbed. But there were also very few butterflies – we the Council on Aging to this property butterflies, he’s photographed lots of interesting WAYS Lucky thing. Entering the only saw one, even though the butterfly-attract- ... this is a restriction on (the county) wildlife along this stretch. Time, at last, for me to trail along the creek we were ing Spanish needle flowers were in full bloom. board (if they want to) sell the property see it for myself! attacked by swarms of hungry And even though there was plenty of blooming at some time in the future. ... It’s say- Sadly, it feels unsafe for a lone woman to enter Pat mosquitoes, but we didn’t let bee-attracting honeysuckle, where were the ing the county can’t sell the property the deserted stretch of the Greenway south of Foster-Turley this daunt us. Where there are bees? without city permission.” Jasmine Road at sunup, the only time in summer mosquitoes there are butter- Then we heard sounds of a vehicle approach- “I agree that the Council on Aging I venture forth. It’s just too isolated, too many flies, and walking sticks and scarab beetles and ing us down the trail. A mosquito control truck is the right tenant for the property,” possible human encounters of the worst kind, far all the rest of the biodiverse insect kingdom wait- spouting out a fog of chemicals was heading our said County Commissioner Danny from help. But Don had an idea. “It’s been ages ing for us to photograph. way. The driver kindly turned off his fogger Leeper. “But are we benefiting the tax- since I’ve walked this section of the Greenway. As we ventured down the trail the mosquito Why don’t we meet up one morning and explore population diminished and we concentrated on WILD Continued on 3A AGING Continued on 3A News-Leader AROUND TOWN .................... 6B FISHING/TIDES....................... 4B SEA TURTLE NESTING SEASON 155th year. No. 76 BUSINESS ................................... 5A OBITUARIES ........................................... 4A 2009 Nests: 89 Hatchlings: 5738 Copyright, 2009 CLASSIFIEDS ............................ 12B PEOPLE AND PLACES ........... 8B 2 nests lost due to storms The News-Leader COURT REPORT .................. 13A POLICE REPORT .................. 12A Please turn off or redirect lights shining Fernandina Beach, FL CROSSWORD/SUDOKU...... 8B SERVICE DIRECTORY ...................... 8B directly on the beach. For a detailed count Printed on 100% recycled EDITORIAL .................................. 7A SPORTS ........................................................ 1B newsprint with soy based ink. see www.ameliaislandseaturtlewatch.com . CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 2A WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2009 NEWS News-Leader Fernandina Beach Golf Club 2800 Bill Melton Road Fernandina Beach, FL (904)277-7370 www.fernandinabeachgolfclub.com OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Best Membership Rates On The Island! 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It needs to be torn fees that is statutory. When you’re chatted a bit and I found out It’s not helping the peo- that the chemical he was ple whose backyards abut down. That is your responsibili- trying to figure out whether using spraying was Permethrin. the Greenway. From what ty. We wanted to work with impact fees is legal, it involves Well, it did the job on I’ve heard this Greenway mosquitoes, that’s for sure. spraying has only made you. I don’t think the city should looking at dozens, if not hun- Walking in the area that had their own mosquito prob- tear down the building.’ dreds, of legal opinions.’ just been sprayed, where lems worse as the normally just an hour before we had site-associated mosquitoes MAYOR SUSAN STEGER COUNTY ATTORNEY DAVID HALLMAN been inundated with mosqui- flee the spray and head to toes, the air was mosquito- their backyards instead. Don free. And butterfly-free. And and I, and hopefully most needs to be torn down.