CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK P I A Fernandina vs. Yulee Pirate kickers N G S E Hilliard vs. West Nassau in tourney I 2 PAGE 1B PAGE 3B D E 75¢ FRIDAY, January 30, 2009 /18 PAGES, 2 SECTIONS • www.fbnewsleader.com More turmoil roils New phone numbers save county money RYAN SMITH Animal Services News-Leader New county numbers Human Resources: . .491-7322 Several Nassau County depart- Growth Management: .491-7328 SIÂN PERRY was unable to fax or e-mail those to the ments now have new telephone num- Code Enforcement: . .491-7326 News-Leader News-Leader. The newspaper has bers. The change comes as a result of Engineering Dept.: . .491-7330 made a public records request for the changing from AT&T to an in-house Chris Barnes is out and Mimi documents, including any showing phone service, said Technical Services Vitale is in as the new interim director Vitale’s experience running county Director Mark Johnson. which is a total of about 16 lines we of Nassau County Animal Services, animal control facilities. “We’re moving off of the AT&T sys- were able to cancel because we’re put- said Sheriff Tommy Seagraves, who Two employees have quit since tem and going onto our own system. ting them on the county’s voice-over- took control of the agency last April. Vitale took over – adoption coordina- It’s a huge cost-saving measure. It basi- IP-system.” Seagraves said Vitale is a certified tor Susan Perry and animal control cally upgrades performance at lesser The plan to switch numbers was animal control officer and has “a cost,” Johnson said. “We actually whole list of qualifications,” but said he ANIMAL Continued on 3A Seagraves Vitale moved about 50 telephone numbers, COUNTY Continued on 3A City to explore privatizing marina GALE JAMEYSON/FOR THE NEWS-LEADER Dense fog hangs over the city marina on the Amelia River waterfront Tuesday, looking south from the deck at Brett’s Waterway Café. City won’t return federal marina grant Cruise ship terminal worth ANGELA DAUGHTRY $400 million, study says News-Leader ‘It’s like the Three Stooges’ half-wit In spite of some bad memories Community Newspapers ation have filed a lawsuit to block ships from two decades ago, Fernandina cousins are trying to run a marina.’ from using the village. Beach Commissioners agreed MAYOR BRUCE MALCOLM An economic study sponsored by If a cruise terminal were not to be Wednesday to look into the possibil- the University of North Florida deter- approved for Mayport, it is possible ity of leasing the city marina to a pri- mined that a cruise terminal at that Jaxport could consider Amelia vate operator. Mayport fishing village would have Island, where some Fernandina Beach Commissioners also agreed, in within a corporation and they paid the marina does not have, said Lott, more than a $400 million impact on the city officials have encouraged the general, that it would be a mistake to themselves ... and what was left over, are dry boat storage and boat/engine local economy in its first six years. prospect. give back a grant that the city we got a percentage of that.” maintenance and repair. After receiving the report at a meet- Jacksonville Councilman Art received in 2006 to make improve- “(The marina operators) went in “Without those revenue sources,” ing Monday, Jaxport’s board author- Graham, who represents much of the ments for transient boaters. The with very big plans,” Sapp said, “I said Lott, “it’s going to be extremely ized staff to solicit quotes for the county’s beaches on the county board, Waterfronts Florida Partnership think some of them lost interest in it. difficult for the marina to really ever design and construction of a cruise said a vote on the zoning decision will recently suggested the city should Finally, the commission said ‘we want generate enough income to recover terminal in the Mayport area. not be this week. He also said that he take another look at the BigP grant the marina back’ and it cost a lot of its debt service.” His suggestion was According to port officials, the deci- believes that a workable arrangement and its requirements, but according taxpayer money.” for the city to “set some parameters, sion to move ahead will allow the is possible, but “what we have cur- to Patricia Harrell of the Florida Fish Wednesday’s workshop started look at scenarios and put together a board to refine initial estimates to let rently on the table won’t work.” I think & Wildlife Commission, which admin- with a comprehensive financial analy- business case analysis.” the board know exactly how much it that this going to a legal battle will isters the grant, the city would have sis of the city marina operation by Lott also said it would be “finan- will cost to build a cruise terminal. drag this out and probably kill it,” to pay back $800,000. Dave Lott, who put together the study cially foolish” to turn away the BigP Port board members will still have Graham said Tuesday. Commissioner Ron Sapp remind- from marina management sources grant, which was awarded to the city to vote on whether or not to proceed At the Jaxport meeting, three ed that the city’s leasing the marina and the city finance department. Lott in 2006, and is meant to help the city with actual design and construction PowerPoint presentations detailed the to a private operator in the 1980s had explained that, although the marina marina attract visiting boaters. at a future board meeting. cruise ship industry and economic been a disaster for the city. “(The city has done a good job of containing “We’ve already accepted just That vote could be contingent on impacts. The presentations included marina) was losing $18,000 to $20,000 operating expenses, fuel sales and under $800,000, which would have the Jacksonville City Council approv- information on a new terminal; the a year,” he said. “We looked at leasing dockage fees have been flat since to be turned back over,” said Lott. ing rezoning of property in Mayport. cruise market outlook and potential in it out. We essentially looked at one around 2003. In addition, Mayport residents and group. ... They created a corporation And two major sources of revenue MARINA Continued on 4A others opposed to the cruise ship oper- CRUISE Continued on 4A CLOSING THE SHUTTER Church for arts Nassau County native Bill Zetterower shoots film for First Coast News, TV Channel 12 in Jacksonville. Zetterower, 61, has retired from study suggested the station, where he began in 1975 and ulti- mately became chief photographer, managing a staff of a dozen. Zetterower has won an Emmy, ANGELA DAUGHTRY the Unsung Hero award from Gannett Corp., News-Leader and was the honoree of the 2008 Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. More than 200 guests The Fernandina Beach Arts Council has called for an addi- attended a retirement party Saturday, including tional study of the former First Baptist Church downtown as local TV personalities Jeannie Blalock, Donna a performing arts center. Deegan, Tim Deegan, Deanna Fene, Phil Amato, The former sanctuary at Fifth and Alachua streets is Steve Smith, Patty Crosby and Angela Spears. being considered for a multi-function space for special events The event was emceed by Dan Hicken, and in the city. Its purchase could be part of a plan that includes there were video congratulations from Matt moving City Hall to the downtown post office and con- Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Kerry Sanders and struction of a new library. Lester Holt of NBC News. A special dedicated According to an e-mail from staff coordinator Scott service award was given by Nassau County Mikelson to recreation director Nan Voit, the city arts coun- Sheriff Tommy Seagraves. Zetterower said he cil needs $2,000 for architectural consultant Surber, Barber, plans to slow down and enjoy life with his wife Choate & Hertlein to make floor plan sketches for the proj- of 41 years, Kathleen, their children and eight ect. It was also suggested that the architectural firm use a grandchildren. SUBMITTED ARTS Continued on 3A News-Leader INDEX 154th year. No. 9 CLASSIFIEDS .............................. 3B OBITUARIES ........................................... 2A Copyright, 2009 CROSSWORD ............................ 2B OUT AND ABOUT ................. 2B The News-Leader EDITORIAL .................................. 7A SERVICE DIRECTORY ...................... 3B Fernandina Beach, FL FISHING ..................................... 12A SPORTS .................................................... 10A Printed on 100% recycled LEISURE ........................................................ 1B SUDOKU .................................................... 2B www.fbnewsleader.com newsprint with soy based ink. CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 2A FRIDAY, January 30, 2009 NEWS News-Leader LOOKING BACK WEEKLY UPDATE OBITUARIES 50 YEARS AGO Fund purchase list. Meeting canceled ing Cynthia Johnson of JALA Margery Church in Fernandina Beach. January 25, 1984 at (904) 356-8371, ext. 307, or He leaves behind, a daugh- The Nassau County Plan- Sue Powell of the Nassau Huston Freas ter, Drudella M. Calhoun, The Blue Seas restaurant ning and Zoning Board meet- County Clerk of Courts office Margery Huston Freas of Fernandina Beach, a son, was robbed for the fifth time, 10 YEARS AGO ing scheduled for Feb. 3 at 7 at 548-4551. Amelia Island, formerly of Luther McHenry Jr., with losses set at $350. p.m. has been cancelled. The AARP meeting York and Felton, Pa., died Jacksonville, one brother, January 29, 1959 The family of Mary Lee Planning Board was set to peacefully on Jan 26, 2009 from Richard McHenry and his Jones, who lived at the old consider two amendments to The East Nassau County injuries sustained in an auto- wife, Sherry, Tampa, one sis- 25 YEARS AGO Harrison Plantation in the the Future Land Use Plan: 319 Chapter #4608 of AARP will mobile accident.