GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Although the Florida Legislature does not convene until March 5, it’s never too early to approach elected officials with requests for funding and priorities.

State Sen. Robert Bradley(R-Fleming Island) and State Representatives Bobby Payne(R-Palatka) and Travis Cummings(R-Orange Park) greeted a packed commission meeting room for the annual Clay County Legislative Delegation meeting Dec. 18.

First up was County Commissioner Mike Cella, who mostly mentioned improvements to roads like County Road 220 or County Road 223 and new buildings for the Department of Health, Clay County Animal Control and training facility as top of the county’s list for state funding assistance.

“As you can tell it’s mostly roads and infrastructure to get our citizens from one place to another,” Cella said.

Green Cove Springs Mayor Connie Butler requested a patrol boat, funding for improvements to the Augusta Savage Library and Savage Community Center. She also updated officials on the progress on the $600,000 in state funds earmarked for Spring Park pier improvements. The total cost of those projects would cost about $1.3 million.

For Keystone Heights, city officials, airport staff and National Guard Lt. Col Frank Zenko, adding a National Guard Armory at Keystone Airpark and building the infrastructure for a business park at the airport topped their list. City Manager Scott Kornegay said the airpark was a major draw,

“We believe this airport is key to economic development in the southwest portion of this county,” Kornegay said. “We’ve had interest in that area, but when they find out there’s no water, sewer of hi-speed internet, they lose interest, so we have to focus on that.”

Zenko said a potential aviation-centric National Guard facility would cost about $26 million and be about 116,000 square feet on 50 acres. Though there were issues with utilities, Zenko said the facility would ease operation in transporting supplies and personnel across the state.

“In effect, this is a new mission for this area and an exciting one,” Bradley commented.

Agencies like ElderSource, Clay Behavioral Health, Building Abilities of Special Children and Adults and others requested state funding to cover and bolster services and give employees raises.

Groups like the Sierra Club and the St. Johns Riverkeeper asked officials to fight for legislation to clean up the St. Johns River. Mothers Against Drunk Driving representative David Campbell asked officials to push for ignition interlock for all DUI offenders and environmental attorney Carrie McClain asked for expediency in crafting legislature legalizing the production of hemp.

American Civil Liberties Union regional organizer Kimberly Simon fielded questions from the officials about Amendment 4, which restores voting rights to about 1.5 million former felons statewide.

Bradley, who said he supported the amendment, questioned criticism of Governor-elect Ron DeSantis’ position on the amendment and quizzed Simon on the implementation for ex-felons with restitution orders, probation and court orders.

“I just want to make sure everybody acknowledges that (language) is unclear,” Bradley said. “I have sympathy with people who are asking, ‘What does this mean?’”

Simon said she had been waiting on advisement from the governor.

Elected in 2012, Bradley is in the final two years and will serve his second year as Senate Appropriations Committee Chair. Cummings, a former Orange Park Town Council member and Clay County Commissioner, is the incoming House Appropriations Committee chair. He won reelection in 2018 for a final two-year term. Payne is entering his third year in Tallahassee after an election win. He represents a southern portion of Clay County, Putnam and portions of Bradford County.