Nassau County Commission

By WENDI ZONGKER

wendi.zongker@mynassausun.com

YULEE — Nassau County Commissioner Mike Boyle on Monday withdrew a proposed resolution to put a referendum to borrow $20 million to purchase land for conservation purposes on November's ballot.

The County Commission was scheduled to vote on the resolution, but Boyle withdrew it before commissioners had the chance, citing a lack of support from the County Commission.

Had the resolution been approved, the referendum would have appeared on the Nov. 4 general election ballot. Nassau residents would have paid back the general obligation bonds over 20 years with an estimated $24-a-year property tax increase.

by WENDI ZONGKER

wendi.zongker@mynassausun.com

YULEE — In an effort to boost the local economy, the Nassau County Commission Friday suspended the collection of impact fees for six months and reduced building permit fees by 50 percent for a year.

Both are effective July 1. The stay does not include impact fees collected for the Nassau County School District, County Coordinator Edward Sealover said.

“It is my belief that we are justified in doing that for a year’s time to hopefully stimulate some additional growth in the area,” County Commissioner Mike Boyle said about reducing permit fees.

By WENDI ZONGKER

wendi.zongker@mynassausun.com

YULEE -- Tom Branan resigned from the Nassau County Commission at tonight's meeting citing his ailing health and May 29 car accident as his reasons.

The resignation was announced at the beginning of the meeting by Commission Chairwoman Marianne Marshall, who read aloud the letter Branan wrote to Gov. Charlie Crist.

"I feel that it is to the best interest of myself, my fellow commissioners and the people of Nassau County," Branan wrote. "This is my third as County Commissioner and I have enjoyed serving the people of Nassau County and the state of Florida, of which I lived all my life."

By Wendi Zongker

wendi.zongker@mynassausun.com

YULEE — Following more than an hour of public opposition to a draft tree ordinance, the Nassau County Commission killed the draft Monday night with promises for countywide discussion.

Section 37.02, largely known as the tree ordinance, was removed from the draft natural resources protection article of the land development code to allow Nassau County officials to schedule a series of community meetings to discuss the ordinance. A second public hearing scheduled for Jan. 28 will focus on the remaining portions of the draft ordinance.