Here are some topics from the last Board of County Commissioners meeting. If you want to know more about what was discussed and decided, you can read the agendas and minutes as they get posted. You can watch the meeting in full on our Facebook page or website.
Recognizing our young Pop Warner championship athletes
Commissioners recognized the Fleming Island Dreadnaughts Football Team for their 2024 national championship win and the Fleming Island Dreadnaughts Cheerleading Team for their 2023 national championship win at the Pop Warner Superbowl in Orlando, Florida. The Fleming Island Dreadnaughts FIYSA Football Team 11U, led by Coach Michael Kenny, generated a 13-0 perfect season exemplifying their process over outcome philosophy, which ultimately led them to victory in the 2024 Pop Warner Football National Championship. The 2023 National Championship Mitey Mite CORE Cheerleading Team, led by coaches Lindsey Zybrick and Katie Wright, was the first cheer team in program history to compete for the FIYSA Fleming Island Dreadnaughts, beating out seven teams and receiving the winning score of 92.4 percent. Commissioners congratulated these incredible young athletes, their coaching staff, and all those who have supported them along their path to this tremendous achievement. Watch the recognition at the 15:37 time stamp.
Recognizing Flood Awareness Week, March 3-9, 2025
Commissioners declared March 3-9 as Flood Awareness Week in Clay County. Clay County has experienced severe weather in the form of extreme rainfall or tropical system events resulting in flooding that caused damage and flood losses to homes and buildings on multiple occasions. The risk to lives and property can be mitigated through education about the location of flood zones in our County, how to take flood protection measures, and the availability of flood insurance. Residents are encouraged to read the declaration attached to the February 25 BCC agenda, to take the time to prepare their homes and families for any natural disasters that could impact our community, and to sign up for emergency notifications at Alert.ClayCountyGov.com. You can listen to the discussion at the 25:12-minute mark.
Serving our County on citizen advisory committees (CAC)
Commissioners discussed appointments to the Lake Asbury/Penney Farms, Fleming Island, and Middleburg-Clay Hill Citizen Advisory Committees. Commissioners approved applications for reappointments from Mike Clemons, Matthew Hansknecht, Chad Weeks, and Anthony Simmons to fill the four open seats on the Lake Asbury/Penney Farms CAC. On the Fleming Island CAC, Commissioners approved applications from Ann Tabor, Nicholas Male, and Eden Jordan for reappointment and welcomed new members Mitchell Askelson, Camile Arensdorf, Janine Hogan, and Sheri Chase to the committee. There are four remaining vacant seats on this committee. Commissioners also approved the appointment of Edward Wallace to serve on the Middleburg-Clay Hill CAC. Citizen advisory committees meet regularly to discuss important issues that impact their areas and make recommendations to the BCC. CAC participation is an opportunity for residents to get involved in their communities and share their voices about the future of our County. Anyone wishing to join a citizen advisory committee is encouraged to apply on our committee vacancy website. Listen to the discussions on these appointments starting at 2:13:56 time stamp.
Working to preserve a beloved historic schoolhouse
During the Commissioners’ Comments section of the BCC meeting, Commission Chair Betsy Condon shared information about the history of the Middleburg Colored School (MCS) in honor of Black History Month. In 1897, Black students met in a rented building near the turpentine living quarters in Middleburg. Ten years later, the Clay County School Board authorized building a new schoolhouse and MCS became the first Middleburg area school for Black children serving at least four generations of local students. Clay resident Maude Burroughs Jackson was born in 1942 and attended the MCS with her eight brothers and sisters. The school was relocated to where fire station 14 sits today and was slated for demolition until Maude Burroughs Jackson led the effort to preserve the schoolhouse in partnership with the BCC. It sits today at Hunter-Douglas Park near the Hilltop community and is considered a structure of historical significance. The Clay County Historic Preservation Board is working to obtain a historic State Marker for the schoolhouse. Our Grants department secured funding to complete a structural assessment of the building. The next step would be to secure funding to make improvements so future Clay County generations can learn about and appreciate our history. You can listen to the discussion at the 2:39:45 time stamp.
