Recyclable collects suspended in Clay County by COVID-19
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Collection of curbside recyclables in Clay County were temporarily suspended on Tuesday, July 21, due to staffing shortages caused by impacts from COVID-19 with Clay County’s contracted waste hauler Advanced Disposal Services.
The temporary suspension will be in effect through July 31, at which time staffing shortages will be reevaluated. Customers will be notified if the suspension must be extended after July 31. Advanced Disposal Services will resume the collection of curbside recyclables as soon as possible.
Options available to customers during this temporary suspension include:
• Save and store recyclable containers until curbside collection resumes.
Rinse and flatten plastic bottles and aluminum cans to save space in bins. These items may be stored in a 40-gallon or smaller sized container and will be collected in that container once service resumes.
• Bring your recyclables to the Recycling Center at the Rosemary Hill Solid Waste Management Facility in Green Cove Springs, or any of the four Environmental Convenience Centers in the County. See locations and hours here: https://www.claycountygov.com/departments/environmental-services.
There will be no charge to drop off recyclables.
Please be sure to secure loose items with a tarp that is strapped to the vehicle or trailer.
• Customers that are not able to store or transport recyclables, may place containerized recyclables curbside on their regular garbage collection day, as a last resort.

Lions Club, Culver’s join forced to collect school supplies
MIDDLEBURG – The Middleburg Black Creek Lions Club is partnering with Culver's of Middleburg to collect school supplies for the students of Clay County.
The school supplies will be distributed through the Middleburg United Methodist Church Food Bridge which serves hundreds of families each Thursday.
Donated supplies may be dropped off at Culver's, 1767 Blanding Blvd. or at the Middleburg United Methodist located at 3925 Main St. in Middleburg.
The Lions Motto is ‘WE SERVE!’
For information about the Lions Club contact Ed Dickson (904) 254-7891.

SJRWMD approves budget that reduces millage rates for taxpayers
PALATKA – The St. Johns River Water Management District’s Governing Board approved a tentative budget that reduces the millage rate for taxpayers for the eighth consecutive year on Tuesday, July 14, while continuing to provide significant funds for programs and projects to ensure sustainable water resources, increase water conservation, enhance water supply and improve water quality in priority water bodies.
“We are pleased to keep District taxes low while making certain we continue to fulfill our missions of ensuring sustainable water supplies and protecting water quality,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle.
The tentative 0.2287 millage rate would result in nearly $90.8 million in revenue toward a total $242 million budget for fiscal year 2020‒2021, which begins Oct. 1, 2020. The budget is also funded through state, federal and other district sources (including timber sales, cattle leases, interest earnings, and permit fees).
The tentative millage rate, equal to the rolled back rate, adopted by the board is approximately 5.3 percent less than the current year’s tax rate.
Under a 0.2287 millage rate – 22.87 cents for every $1,000 of assessed property value – the owner of a $200,000 house with a $50,000 homestead exemption would pay $34.31 in the coming year in property taxes to the district.
Public hearings will be held at 5:05 p.m. Sept. 8 and 22. Final budget adoption will occur at the Sept. 22 Governing Board meeting.

Alternative water supply, water conservation cost-share open until Aug. 7
PALATKA – Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature have approved $40 million in funding for fiscal year 2020-21 for development of water supply and water resource development projects. The St. Johns River Water Management District is inviting local governments and other entities to submit their regional alternative water supply and water conservation projects within its 18-county service area for funding consideration.
AWS projects and water conservation programs identified in the Central Florida Water Initiative, North Florida Regional Water Supply Partnership, Central Springs/East Coast Water Supply Planning regions and approved minimum flows and levels (MFL) recovery and prevention strategies can pursue up to 50 percent cost-share funding by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
The district is coordinating the submittal review process, which closes Aug. 7 at 4 p.m. Visit www.sjrwmd.com/localgovernments/funding/aws-and-water-conservation-cost-share-opportunity/ for details.
Eligible projects for consideration will be construction-ready AWS projects or ready-to-implement water conservation technology programs.
Projects may:
• Provide regional benefits, including water conservation and water resource development projects
• Benefit water bodies with adopted MFLs, particularly those that are in recovery or prevention
• Provide dual benefits to water supply and water quality
• Include complementary efforts, such as AWS projects that also provide flood protection, or recreational benefits
Other factors include cost effectiveness and return on investment, that is, the amount of funding the state grant will leverage by district and/or local cooperators, while recognizing the funding limitations of economically disadvantaged community programs.
Contact the district at 2021AWS@sjrwmd.com for more information.