CCUA to hold public rate hearing
MIDDLEBURG – The Clay County Utility Authority will be holding a public rate hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m., at 3176 Old Jennings Road.
CCUA is excited to be starting its 28th year of serving the residents of Clay County. CCUA has only adopted five rate increases in the past ten years to cover the increase of renewal and replacement infrastructure and cover increases in operating costs while promoting water conservation. Even with this year’s proposed rate increases, CCUA will still have the lowest utility rates compared to neighboring communities.
CCUA has proposed the following rate increases:
• 2.6% Increase: (consistent with cost-of-living adjustment), with residential and commercial water base facility charge. residential Tier 1 water usage, commercial water usage (excluding potable irrigation meters), residential and commercial sewer base facility charge and usage and residential and commercial reuse base facility charge and usage.
• 3% Increase: with alternative water supply surcharge.
• Proposed SJRWMD cost recovery charge (funding of Black Creek Water Resource Development Project in Keystone Heights) with existing Customers: $1.09 a month (charge will discontinue after 24 months).

Drainage project to close Pine Ridge Parkway for 7 weeks
MIDDLEBURG – The Clay County Department of Public Works will be conducting a drainage improvement project on Pine Ridge Parkway between Camp Ridge Lane and Foggy Day Drive. The eastbound lanes of Pine Ridge Parkway will be closed for approximately seven weeks. Access will be provided for local traffic only. Follow posted detour.
The proposed work will remove the existing pipeline, new pipeline will be installed, and 1,100 feet of roadway will be reconstructed.
Please direct questions to Road Superintendent Jeff Smith at (904) 334-2514.

County temporarily suspends curbside recycling
GREEN COVE SPRINGS – While the Board of County Commissioners is working to resolve delays in the curbside collection of solid waste in unincorporated Clay County and the City of Keystone Heights, it’s decided to suspend curbside collection of recyclable materials on Aug. 16.
Commissioners were presented with three options at the July 27 Board of County Commissioners Meeting and have determined the best option is to temporarily suspend the residential curbside collection of recyclables and dedicate the limited resources available to the collection of yard waste and garbage.
The suspension of curbside recycling collection services will start on Monday and include all unincorporated areas of Clay County and the City of Keystone Heights. The municipalities of Green Cove Springs, Orange Park and Penney Farms are under different collection progra.m.s and will not be affected by this suspension. The status of collection services will be evaluated monthly to determine the earliest date curbside recycling services can resume. 
In addition to the five established drop-off sites for recycling, there will be five additional temporary sites opening on Monday. There will be no cost to drop of residential recyclables at any of these locations during the temporary suspension.
The drop off locations are listed here: https://www.claycountygov.com/community/garbage-and-recycling
Temporary Drop-off Locations:
• Fleming Island Library, 1895 Town Center Blvd., Fleming Island, open 24 hours.
• Oakleaf Community Park, 3979 Plantation Oaks Blvd, Orange Park, open 24 hours.
• Ronnie Van Zant Park, 2760 Sandridge Road, Green Cove Springs, open 24 hours.
• Sunrise Park, 7933 Sunrise Blvd, Keystone Heights, open 24 hours.
• Walter Odum Park, 450 Parkwood Drive, Orange Park, open 24 hours.
Established Drop-off Sites:
• Clay Hill Environmental Convenience Center, 5869 County Road 218, Middleburg, open Thursday-Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
• Doctor’s Inlet Environmental Convenience Center, 288 Sleepy Hollow Rd, Middleburg, open Thursday-Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
• Keystone Heights Environmental Convenience Center, 5505 CR 214, Keystone Heights, open Thursday-Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
• Long Bay Environmental Convenience Center, 1589 Long Bay Rd, Middleburg, open Thursday-Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
• Rosemary Hill Solid Waste Management Facility, 3545 Rosemary Hill Road, Green Cove Springs, open Monday-Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. 
The solid waste industry is struggling with a labor shortage causing delays in the curbside collection of materials nationwide. Many local governments are considering temporary collection suspensions as a solution to getting caught up on other collection routes during the pandemic labor shortage. 

Law agencies warn: Watch your speed in school zones!

CLAY COUNTY – With classes back in session, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Green Cove Springs and Orange Park police departments want to remind drivers to watch their speed, especially in school zones. For those who forget, all three departments, including this officer with GCSPD, are ready to issue an expensive reminder.