CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK P I A Altering Getting along N G S E Nassauville with a bear I PAGE 7A 2 PAGE 4A D E 75¢ FRIDAY, July 31, 2009 /20 PAGES, 2 SECTIONS • fbnewsleader.com COLORFUL GUARD IN YULEE Union rips fire chief RYAN SMITH News-Leader The president of the Nassau County firefighters union has leveled allega- tions of endangerment and abusive conduct at Fire Chief Chuck Cooper. In a July 17 letter to County Coordinator Ed Sealover, Nassau County Fire Rescue Professionals Local 3101 President Matthew Waggoner alleged that Cooper’s actions at a number of structure fires have caused concern for firefighters’ safety. Waggoner also charged Cooper with “a consistent pattern Cooper of abusive language used toward subor- dinate employees.” Sealover is investigating the alle- gations. Cooper has denied them. HEATHER A. PERRY/NEWS-LEADER Waggoner alleged that Cooper’s The Yulee High School Hornets color guard gathers Wednesday for summer band camp at the music room. Proudly displaying their color- ful silks are, first row from left, Natalie Watt, Jessica Flynn, Kamre Rothwell and Savannah DeMasi; second row, Samantha Peavey, Katie FIRE Continued on 3A Dampler, Suzie Lamb, Bridgett Cook and Vanna Adams; and last row, Katie Pelfrey, Kala Truman and Chelsea Ward. No bid for 2 companies bid for right County OKs tennis job to operate city’s marina impact fees ANGELA DAUGHTRY year of marina ly, daily and commercial. The com- for roads by coach News-Leader management pany also suggests a 10 percent could be more increase in monthly dockage rates, RYAN SMITH Two companies have submitted than $800,000 after and elimination of weekly rates. Rates News-Leader ANGELA DAUGHTRY bids to the city in response to a Westrec’s expens- for daily/transient and commercial News-Leader request for proposals for manage- es. That number boats would remain constant. The Nassau County Commission ment of the city marina. provides for a 6 Other improvements include a has approved the use of $2.8 million in The city has received two bids for Vinings Marine Group of Atlanta percent manage- new, expanded retail store. impact fees for road improvements the job that has belonged to tennis and Westrec Marinas, based in ment fee from Westrec’s management plan throughout the county. The proposed coach Lanny Kalpin for the last four Encino, Calif., each submitted pro- Langshaw dockage, lease would also incorporate the new mari- improvement projects, for the most years. Kalpin was not one of the bid- posals. income and fuel na welcome center as a resource for part, involve adding turn lanes. Roads ders. Those proposals are being evalu- sales, plus 50 per- ecotourism programs to highlight up for improvement include 14th Street, Kalpin was informed earlier this ated by a city-appointed marina/lease cent of retail revenue that will go to the area’s natural beauty and US 301, Lem Turner Road and Chester month that the city, rather than renew- RFQ (request for qualifications) com- Westrec. The company also esti- resources. Fuel and retail prices Road. ing his contract, would put his job out mittee that comprises City Manager mates $1.2 million in dockage fees would also be kept down by Impact fees, which are charged to for bid. Several dozen of Kalpin’s sup- Michael Czymbor, Marina Director and nearly $50,000 in mooring rev- Westrec’s connections in the marina builders for new construction, are used porters protested publicly against the Coleman Langshaw, Finance enues will come in the first year. industry and “network purchasing to fund local projects such as roads city’s surprising and sudden move that Director Patti Clifford, Dave Lott of Westrec also estimates marina power.” A new retail store would and parks. However, Florida statute could mean the end of the popular the Waterfronts Florida Partnership revenues will increase every year, “entice transient boaters, cruisers requires the fees be spent only on new coach’s lessons at Central Park. Committee and Bill Flynn of Friends and that the city’s share of revenues and tourists to the waterfront,” and growth – a nebulous definition that has Kalpin, who said of the Library. Purchasing Director will be more than $1 million by the additional services such as bike made justifying fee expenditures diffi- the job was put out to Deni Murray also attends the meet- fifth year. rentals would further attract cus- cult in the past. Nassau County cur- bid after he asked for ings, but is not on the committee. Westrec’s management plan tomers, according to Westrec’s plan. rently has about $10 million in unspent city health insurance, Westrec’s proposal estimates the includes dividing available dockage impact fees. However, county ordi- declined to comment city’s yearly revenues during its first space into three categories: month- MARINA Continued on 3A nance stipulates that the fees must be further. used within six years or else refunded However, City upon request. Manager Michael The county historically has had trou- Czymbor said at a ble finding projects that qualified for Czymbor July 21 city commis- impact fee funding. At the county com- sion meeting that he Police seek man in sexual battery, mission’s July 13 meeting, however, was “disappointed, County Attorney David Hallman shocked and surprised” that Kalpin did praised Interim Engineering Services not submit a bid proposal for the tennis Director Jonathan Page for pushing pro job. knife assault on teenaged girl fee proposals through since taking over Kalpin, who has been the city’s ten- after the resignation of county engi- nis coach since 2005, signed his latest MICHAEL PARNELL neer Douglas Seaman in February. contract in December 2008 to use the News-Leader “Jonathan and (administrative assis- city’s Central Park tennis courts for The assailant was described as a “very tant) Denise (Swan) have done a fan- lessons and tournaments. The contract Fernandina Beach Police were searching Thursday skinny” white male, age 40-50 with “a tastic job,” Hallman said. “They’ve states that Kalpin was to pay the city 20 night for a man that sexually assaulted a teenaged girl taken a project that’s languished for percent of the gross revenue. Kalpin and cut her with a knife in her townhome off Sadler Road. scruffy reddish-brown and gray beard five or six years and, in the short time said the city’s share amounted to about Police Chief Jim Hurley said the attack occurred and nearly shoulder-length hair.” Jonathan’s been the interim engineer- $15,000 a year. Thursday afternoon after the girl had been jogging in her ing services director, totally turned it There is no expiration date or time neighborhood. around.” limit on Kalpin’s 2008 contract. Home alone, she was confronted by the intruder Police used a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office tracking “I’ve been pushing for this since According to Kalpin, users of his tennis there, he said. She was sexually assaulted and cut dur- dog to seek the man. They chased one man partly fitting I’ve been elected,” commission Chair program pay the city directly, and the ing the battery, he said. the description in Egans Creek Greenway and stopped Barry Holloway said. “... There’s a big city then gives Kalpin 80 percent of the It was believed the girl suffered minor knife wounds, him for questioning, but no arrests had been made elephant sitting in the room called proceeds. but she was still being treated at Shands Jacksonville Thursday afternoon. impact fees, and we’re finally starting According to City Clerk Mary Thursday afternoon. Fernandina Beach Police detectives are asking the to take a bite out of the issue.” Mercer, Kalpin’s contract was put out The assailant was described as a “very skinny” white public for help in their attempt to identify the suspect. Clerk of Court John Crawford said to bid because his venture generates at male, age 40-50 with “a scruffy reddish-brown and gray If anyone observed a suspicious person or vehicles on he was happy to see viable impact fee least $15,000 a year. The other two city beard and nearly shoulder-length hair. He was last seen Thursday afternoon in the Sadler Road area or north of projects finally in the works. “The wearing a dirty yellow Polo shirt and khaki shorts to the there along Egans Creek Greenway, they should contact TENNIS Continued on 3A knees,” Hurley said in a press statement about 5 p.m. police at 277-7342. FEES Continued on 3A News-Leader INDEX LEISURE ........................................................ 1B SEA TURTLE NESTING SEASON 155th year. No. 61 CLASSIFIEDS .............................. 3B OBITUARIES ........................................... 2A 2009 Nests: 79 2008 Nests: 805 Copyright, 2009 CROSSWORD ............................ 2B OUT AND ABOUT ................. 2B 2 lost due to recent storms The News-Leader EDITORIAL .................................. 7A SERVICE DIRECTORY ...................... 3B Please turn off or redirect lights shining Fernandina Beach, FL FISHING ..................................... 14A SPORTS .................................................... 12A directly on the beach. For a detailed count Printed on 100% recycled HOMES ..................................................... 10A SUDOKU .................................................... 2B newsprint with soy based ink. see www.ameliaislandseaturtlewatch.com . CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK 2A FRIDAY, July 31, 2009 NEWS News-Leader LOOKING BACK Start calculating now for retirement 50 YEARS AGO began voting on a contract JASON ALDERMAN • Social Security’s estimate retirement needs (www.practi- proposal