GREEN COVE SPRINGS – A public hearing and vote on the Town of Orange Park’s application for an extension of ambulance service and a final public hearing and vote to consider the adoption of CPA 2022-22 were forefront issues during an over five-hour Clay County Board of County Commissioners’ Meeting on Tuesday night.

Orange Park town manager Sarah Campbell had a long and productive discussion with county fire chief Lorin Mock, town mayor Randy Anderson and county commissioners, the board decided to move a vote to March 14 for further discussion.

During talks, both parties expressed a whole-hearted interest in creating a compromise to continue bringing the best possible rescue services to the town and county.

“There’s some things that the Town would obviously be giving up, and we’d be giving up, I think that’s what works best as a compromise. Certainly, it’s a signal of wanting to move forward and try to figure out the best for both entities and at the same time, keep our citizens’ safety in mind. I think it’s a good place to start,” said Commissioner Mike Cella.

Cella said concerns for the budget still exist, but the town and the county agreement has worked well.

The town runs 45% of its calls outside the town limits, so the county benefits from decreased response times. Campbell said if the agreement were to end, the county would incur new expenses, such as staffing additional rescue personnel.

Mock said that the potential agreement could allow Orange Park and the county to work together to provide a better benefit of service for everyone in the area where there are holes in service such as northern Fleming Island.

Then, the public hearing and later vote were held to amend the future land map to change the future land use designation for a waterfront 5.42-acre property on Black Creek at 3255 Manatee Point Road from BF-PCN (Brannan Field Primary Conservation Network) to BF PCN (Brannan Field Master Planned Community).

The owner wants to build a dwelling on the property.

Despite concern for the environment and wetlands and the rights of the property owner were examined at length, the motion passed, 5-0.