John Blanchard

The Board meeting included presentations from new county personnel and the Baker County COAD team. Key actions involved the approval of a change order for the Station 50 project, the awarding of the RFP for the Shoals Park FEMA project, and a change order for the Boat Ramp FEMA project. The Board also held discussions regarding New River Solid Waste tipping fees, the status of several ongoing infrastructure and appropriation projects, and the scheduling of an audit presentation. During the public hearing, the Board approved several ordinances related to small-scale land use amendments, rezoning requests, and an update to the property rights element in the comprehensive plan.

The board conducted a regular session where they addressed several key business items. Key topics included approving new award limits for the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program and passing the Local Housing Assistance Plan (LHAP) resolution. The board discussed the upcoming community resource fair and the public engagement charrette for the comprehensive plan update. They also approved several funding agreements for railroad crossing improvements funded by the Florida Department of Transportation. Furthermore, the board reviewed and established new rental fees for the Agricultural Center Auditorium and authorized the scope for a comprehensive financial audit.

The agenda for the Regular Session included approval of the agenda and consent agenda items, which covered minutes from previous meetings (February 3, 2026, and February 9, 2026), expense reports, and contract extensions for services including FEMA assistance and library renovation. New Business items featured presentations on vulnerability assessment results, grant acceptances for AEDs and Lifepaks, updates on the CDBG Program, awarding design/engineering for CR229S, adoption of an LMS resolution, an emergency management update concerning Turner Cemetery Bridge, approval of a Watershed Planning Grant application, and discussion of an OPEB Proposal (Actuary Report). Prior business involved discussions on the operational audit action items, pending business report, and the grant application and acceptance policy.

The agenda for the Regular Session included general items such as the invocation, approval of the agenda, elected officials, and public comment. Consent agenda items covered approvals for previous minutes (excluding December 2, 2025), expense reports, camp host agreements for Shoals Park, a proclamation for CRNA Week 2026, an amendment to the Plant AS Inducement & Development Agreement, E911 grant acceptance, a letter of support for First Coast Crime Stoppers, renewal of a fire protection MOA, declaration of surplus property for BCFR, and approval of a purchase for a Fire Pump for Brush Truck 70. New Business included recognition of Baker Co COAD, approval of Change Order #2 for 2nd Story Completion, award of RFP 2025-14 for the Shoals Park FEMA Project, approval of Change Order #1 for the Boat Ramp FEMA Project, and discussion of New River Solid Waste Tipping Fees. Prior Business included status updates on the Pending Business Report, Expense Reports Over $5,000, American Rescue Plan Phases 1 & 2, and the FY 23/24 Audit Update. The Public Hearing section involved first readings and second readings for several Ordinances related to Small Scale Land Use, Rezoning, and the Property Rights Element.

The agenda includes discussion and potential action on items such as the National Parks Service's Rivers, Trails and Conservation program, approval of a purchase for Otter Run Subdivision roadway piping, a resolution regarding an FDOT Supplemental Agreement for CR229N, approval of a purchase for a BCFR Service Truck, amendments to contracts for the Boat Ramp project (Phases 1 and 2), approval of a contract for a State of FL Appropriation Pumper Truck, and the FY 25/26 Liaison List. The agenda also includes a public hearing for items such as ordinance 2025-36 rezoning, special exception, variance, and subdivision development preliminary & final review.