New Zion’s Chamber Music 8 Week WEEKEND 150th concert EVENTS Beginner Course PAGE 1B PAGE 1B Safe, Fun Starts $ 9/28 - 7pm 119 & 9/29 - 10am Online and Live $1.00 Classes Available www.cyoga-amelia.com 904•613•6345 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 / 14 PAGES, 2 SECTIONS • fbnewsleader.com Pope replaces Mullin as Nassau County manager JOHN SCHAFFNER ager. The evaluations were presented performance of every county department bananas over the treatment of animals. Special to the News-Leader during the morning meeting of the com- head, with personal notes about each. Tim makes sure problems do not hap- mission. For instance, he said of the Engineering pen. It is a tough, tough job.” Mullin Wednesday was the day for officially Commissioner Pat Edwards thanked Department’s Robert Companion, “He said new Planning Director Thad Crowe changing the guard in the Nassau County Mullin for his service in the dual roles, approaches things calmly … works tire- “knows how development needs to be Manager’s Office as the Board of County criticizing candidates who recently lessly. He developed Engineering into controlled.” And, he praised Emergency Commissioners officially approved a con- ran for the commission who attacked a fantastic department. He developed Management Director Greg Foster say- tract hiring Assistant County Manager Mullin and claimed he ran the commis- engineers who are specialists so we ing, “You know when he comes to you Taco Pope to replace Michael Mullin, sion’s actions. “He agreed to volunteer don’t have to constantly hire outside and says we have to have something, you who had been serving the dual roles of to assume the manager’s position. ... He consultants.” can take it to the bank.” county attorney and county manager. has handled both jobs admirably, doing Pope Mullin Of Office of Management and Budget Those were not the only accolades Pope’s contract, which became effec- both jobs day in and day out,” Edwards Director Megan Diehl, Mullin said, “She Mullin gave out. He said Public Works tive Wednesday, is for three years at an stated. “We owe him a debt of gratitude.” has great training … is smart and knows now has an order tracking system that is annual salary of $166,502. “The best manager is the guy who to be informed and know that depart- how to serve the county and the 88,000 unequalled. The Building Department’s Mullin, who will continue in the posi- disappears for 30 days and things contin- ment heads are doing their jobs. We have people out there. She makes sure that if Keith Ellis “is great with people. I tion of county attorney, received high ue to run smoothly,” Mullin said during a been extremely fortunate. Without these a widget is asked for, that it is absolutely don’t get complaints about the Building marks from the five commissioners in period he was given to speak. “The man- department heads, the county doesn’t needed.” Department.” He praised the Library their annual evaluations of his work as ager does not act in a vacuum. He relies work.” Of Tim McGuire, director of Animal both county attorney and county man- on the department heads. ... You need Mullin then spent time praising the Control, Mullin stated, “Citizens go POPE Continued on 4A More plans made School district lays off for city waterfront teachers, paraprofessionals JULIA ROBERTS hydro-defense planks, and oyster bags News-Leader with mats. JULIA ROBERTS Nassau County Schools Work on the concept began last year, News-Leader Superintendent Dr. Kathy Plans to develop the Amelia River and includes input from the public and Burns said teachers who have waterfront in Fernandina Beach have commission. The resiliency project The Nassau County School District been laid off due to funding come and gone for years. Earlier this comes with a hefty price tag – $16 to $19 laid off 27 teachers and 10 paraprofes- cuts based on a loss of enroll- year, the Fernandina Beach City million, which Holesko said is down from sionals as a result of decreased enroll- ment in the district might be Commission said that project is its num- an original estimate of $20 to $25 million. ment in the district leading to a loss of eligible for some unfilled posi- ber-one priority and engaged Passero That number will increase, however, as funding from the Florida Department tions in the district. “We are Associates to develop a plan to make the Brett’s Waterway Café, a city-owned of Education. providing all that information waterfront resilient against flooding and restaurant on the waterfront, was added Enrollment is down 1,132 from the for them,” Burns said. “These Marquis Latimer + Holbeck to design a to the project. projected number of students, accord- are difficult days with a lot of park for the area. Holesko explained the plan for the ing to a count conducted by the district challenges ahead of us. This In two presentations at the commis- 1.1-mile stretch of riverfront has nine on Friday, Sept. 4. It is unclear where is not anything different than sion’s Sept. 15 meeting, Fernandina segments from the Rayonier Advanced the students are, although the district a lot of districts around us are Beach city commissioners heard from Materials plant to the Port of Fernandina, says it has reached out to each student. facing.” both firms, each giving details of their each with its own method of protecting Homeschooling numbers are up, JULIA ROBERTS/NEWS-LEADER plans for the waterfront. land from water. Segment 1 starts at the and some have enrolled in other dis- Andrew Holesko, vice president RYAM property and continues to parking tricts and in Florida Virtual, an online budget, cuts would be made. any number of the above, we demand at Passero Associates, presented the lot D. It will include a retaining wall or program that is not connected to the After that workshop, both the all the above suggestions are docu- study of how best to make the water- berm along the east side of South Front district. NTA and Nassau Educational Support mented in the first or second phase of front resilient to flooding. The objectives Street and a hydro-defense plank system Earlier this month, the district Personnel Association, which repre- the district’s plan before any impact to are to eliminate or reduce flooding and at the roadway. Segment 2 is parking lots announced the reduction in funding sents district personnel other than instructional or support employees,” the impact and cost of storm events, to C and D, and will have a retaining wall, based on $7,775 per student allotted teachers, sent a letter to Schools the letter reads. reduce insurance premiums, to improve an earthen berm, an elevated walkway, to the district by the FDOE. It totals Superintendent Dr. Kathy Burns and At the School Board’s Sept. 10 ecological function, and reduce erosion an enhanced living shoreline and a small more than $8 million. At a subsequent the Nassau County School Board with meeting, Burns referred to the letter, and sedimentation going into the river. section of composite bulkhead at the boat bargaining session with the Nassau a list of 32 cost-saving measures the saying, “The letter I received was ‘we Shoreline protection systems would ramp. A grant from the Florida Inland Teachers Association, Assistant unions wanted the district to consider demand.’ Everybody talks about col- include retaining walls, living shore- Navigation District could pay for some Superintendent Mark Durham said before cutting employees. laboration but that word is not a col- lines, composite bulkheads, secant pile that since the largest expenditure is “While we know the district may walls, earthen berms with stabilization, WATERFRONT Continued on 3A for personnel, at 85% of the district’s have already vetted or implemented LAYOFFS Continued on 3A Once again, Kreger questions city purchasing JULIA ROBERTS being the only company that responded senting vote. ing from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief News-Leader to an invitation to bid. He said the city City Attorney Tammi Bach said the and Economic Security (CARES) Act. does do business with Ferguson, but that purchase is “completely legal” but that Martin said the county has provided the Fernandina Beach Vice Mayor Len it costs 23.3% less to get them directly the information provided by Mandrick, city with a sub-recipient agreement that Kreger has again questioned whether from Sensus, “a significant amount of if included in the purchasing process, will be on the agenda for approval at the the city follows its own purchasing poli- money.” “would have been helpful.” She said next City Commission meeting. cies. The issue this time is the process “Bidding doesn’t necessarily get you she would work with the city’s Finance After the agreement is approved, it followed to buy some water meters. the best price,” Mandrick said. “In my Department to shape the city’s purchas- funds that are received by the county can The $210,860 purchase was awarded opinion, going this route (with Sensus) is ing policy to address concerns. pass through to the city. Those funds will to Sensus Services via a “sole source” the most cost effective and timely way to The City Commission discussed how reimburse the city for the money con- contract, meaning it was made without get these meters. Ferguson doesn’t right the coronavirus pandemic is affecting the tributed to local non-profits, $250,000, going through a bidding process because now have these meters; they have to go city. Commissioner Mike Lednovich since the pandemic began. Sensus, the city says, is the sole com- to Sensus the way we do, so why involve gave the latest numbers from the Florida The commission approved an pany that can supply the product.