November 2004.pdfcity of atlantic beach newsletter
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VOL.3 NO.11NOVEMBER 2004
Mayor’s letter
(continued from back)
On a happier note I was
most pleased to congratulate
Alex Sherrer, our Code
Enforcement Officer, on his
selection as our Employee of
the Year. Of all his attributes,
perhaps the most significant is
his ability to work with the
public, discuss code violations,
and bring about resolution in
the vast majority of cases
without the need for Code
Board or litigation actions.
Congratulations, Alex — you
do super work and offer a
role model for a “Service
Mentality” for all employees.
––John S. Meserve, mayor
Christmas Toy
Donation Drive
Drop off toys at the Fire
Station on the corner of
Seminole Road and Plaza
beginning November 22nd.
Giving Tree
The Christmas tree at the
Adele Grage Cultural Center
will have ornaments to pick
with information on Atlantic
Beach children to donate a
gift from their wish list starting
November 29th.
Songwriter's Concerts
November 7th and December
5th at the Adele Grage
Cultural Center in the theater
from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Free public event. Come
and listen to your neighbors
perform their original songs.
Town Center Tree
Lighting Ceremony
Saturday, December 4th at
the end of Atlantic Blvd. near
the beach. Free children's
craft activities, Dawson's
Annual Holiday Food Drive,
Balloon Art & Face Painting,
Refreshments, and Live
Entertainment.
Bike Parade 3:00 p.m.
Navy Band Southeast's
"Brass Quintet" 4:30 p.m.
Santa Claus Arrival 6:00 p.m.
Tree Lighting 6:30 p.m.
For more information on
events, please call Parks &
Recreation at 247-5828
904-247-5800
www.coab.us
CITY APPOINTS NEW CLERK
On October 11th, Donna Bussey officially assumed the position of City Clerk following
appointment by the City Commission, replacing former City Clerk Maureen King, who
retired at the end of August. Donna brings 13 years of experience with the City of Atlantic
Beach to her new position, having previously worked within the Finance Department, City
Clerk’s Office, City Manager’s Office and Human Resources Department. Donna’s
knowledge of City procedures and the excellent working relationship she has built with City
staff and the public will ensure a smooth and efficient transition within the Clerk’s office.
THANKSGIVING – A TIME TO
APPRECIATE OUR VALUABLE
RESOURCES
One of those valuable resources is water.
Using low-flow or water-saving devices is
one way to make sure we have water for
our future.
If the fixtures in your house are not low-flow
or water-saving devices, use these figures
from the Southwest Florida Water
Management District to estimate the amount
of water used daily in your household:
• Toilet flush = 6 gallons
• Shower = 7 gallons per minute
• Bath = 28 gallons
• Automatic dishwasher cycle = 15 gallons
• Washing machine cycle = 55 gallons
• Washing dishes by hand = 20 gallons
For more information, check out the
water management district’s websites—
www.sjrwmd.com and
www.floridaswater.com.
Remember – No watering between
10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
FLOOD HAZARD MAPS NOW
AVAILABLE
As a public service, the City of Atlantic
Beach can provide the following information
upon request:
•Whether a property is in or out of the
Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) as
shown on the current Flood Insurance
Rate Map (FIRM) of the City.
•Additional flood insurance data for a site,
such as the FIRM zone on the FIRM.
•Flood insurance purchase requirements
that can help people who need a
mortgage or loan for the property
in SFHA.
If you would like to make an inquiry, please
tell us the street address and, if available,
the subdivision, lot and block number. We
are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday
through Friday. Call us at 247-5826 or
drop by the Department of Building and
Zoning in City Hall. Anyone in the office
can provide the needed information. There
is no charge for this service.
ABET PRESENTS
PRIZE-WINNING ORIGINAL,
“THE GENERAL,” NOV. 5-20
The Atlantic Beach Experimental
Theatre presents an original script
by Tom Hickman in its premiere
performance, “The General,” opening
Friday, Nov. 5, and playing each
Thursday through Saturday at 8:00 p.m.,
and two Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m.
on Nov. 7 and 14. Under the direction
of ABET Artistic Director, Carson Merry
Baillie, the play gives us a glimpse of
the man behind the legend of General
Sherman, and is set in the South at the
home of his former love while at West
Point, during the Civil War. ABET is
located in the Adele Grage Cultural
Center, 716 Ocean Blvd., corner of 7th,
in Atlantic Beach. Reservations are
recommended due to limited seating
and group rates are available for parties
of 20 or more. For more information
call 249-7177.
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Presort Standard
US Postage Paid
Jacksonville FL
Permit No. 1645
City of Atlantic Beach
800 Seminole Road
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
John S. Meserve
MAYOR
Richard M. Beaver
MAYOR PRO TEM
J. Dezmond
Waters, III
COMMISSIONER
Sylvia Simmons
COMMISSIONER
Paul B. Parsons
COMMISSIONER
James Hanson
CITY MANAGER
Alan Jensen
CITY ATTORNEY
Donna Bussey
CITY CLERK
LETTER
FROM THE MAYOR
November Calendar
SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT
45
7
6
89 1110
13
12
14
13
1817
21
20
22 25
19
26
30
* “The General”
8:00 pm
* “The General”
8:00 pm
* “The General”
8:00 pm
*Tree Conservation
Board Meeting
7:00 pm
**Pension Board of
Trustees Quarterly
Meeting 6:00 pm
* “The General”
8:00 pm
* “The General”
8:00 pm
Code Enforcement
Board Meeting
7:00 pm
Election Day
*Cultural Arts &
Recreation Advisory
Committee Meeting
7:00 pm
* “The General”
8:00 pm
* “The General”
8:00 pm
* “The General”
8:00 pm
*Songwriters’
Concert
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
* “The General”
2:00 pm
City Commission
Meeting 7:15 pm
15
City Commission
Meeting 7:15 pm
Thanksgiving Holiday
City Offices Closed
City Holiday
City Offices Closed
28
John S. Meserve
Mayor
2
* “The General”
2:00 pm
Meetings are held in the Commission
Chambers unless otherwise indicated
*These events will be held at Adele Grage
Cultural Center, 716 Ocean Blvd.
** These events will be held in the Conference
Room at City Hall, 800 Seminole Road.
272423
16
*Atlantic Beach Public
Arts Commission
7:00 pm
Community
Development Board
Meeting 7:00 pm
29
Well — so far we have dodged major damage
from hurricanes this season. We certainly
learned some valuable lessons, however
from Charley and Jeanne, particularly in
communications and recovery. I want to
commend the Staff so much for their ability to
keep essential city services, i.e., fire and police
support, water and sewer service going through the blowing
winds, and particularly fast and efficient clean up. Extended
power outages got our attention and we recently had a very
frank discussion with Jim Dickenson, CEO of Jacksonville
Electric Authority, and his staff to discuss better ways to
ensure more efficient power restoration in any future weather
challenges. He agreed to complete an end-for-end assessment
of how well the electrical grid is being maintained in Atlantic
Beach, how we can communicate with maintenance crews
when they are working in our city, and how we can assist those
crews with local knowledge of power
outages and directions. He committed to
report back to the Staff and Commission
on those issues. We will ensure that
those issues are addressed.
(LETTER CONTINUED IN CURRENTS SECTION INSIDE)
CDBG FUNDS AVAILABLE TO ASSIST
WITH SEWER HOOK-UPS
The City will soon begin work on this year’s projects
to be funded by its annual allocation of Community
Development Block Grant funds. In March of this
year, the City Commission approved several
projects intended to improve neighborhoods and to
provide assistance to income eligible residents with
urgent home repair needs. CDBG funds will be
used to assist in the development of the new Veteran’s
Memorial Park, specifically the construction of
basketball courts, and $30,000 will be used to assist
with emergency housing repairs. The City will also
use a substantial portion of this year’s funds to assist
low and moderate income homeowners with the
conversion from septic tanks to central sewer
where the City’s mandatory connection requirement
will apply.
Assistance is first provided to those homeowners
with the most urgent needs where no other form of
help is available, and grant recipients must meet all
eligibility requirements. Applications for these programs
may be obtained at City Hall or by calling 247-5826.
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