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Community briefs 3/16/17

Clay Today
Posted 3/15/17

Update on the Lake Asbury Master Plan

PENNEY FARMS – The J.C. Penney Scenic Highway organization will host a discussion about the status of the Lake Asbury Master Plan, this coming Sunday, March …

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Community briefs 3/16/17


Posted

Update on the Lake Asbury Master Plan

PENNEY FARMS – The J.C. Penney Scenic Highway organization will host a discussion about the status of the Lake Asbury Master Plan, this coming Sunday, March 19 at 7 p.m. The program will be held in Barrows Hall, 4385 Wilbank Ave., in Penney Farms. Ed. Lehman, planner with the Clay County Planning Department, will give an update and answer questions.

The plan was presented in part, as a way to avoid urban sprawl in areas close to the projected First Coast Expressway. All interested in this informative program are invited to attend. For more details call Cathie Parrot at (904) 529-9078.

Clay Electric trustees approve record $8 million Capital Credits refund

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – Clay Electric Cooperative’s board of trustees declared a record $8 million Capital Credits refund for members who received service from 1988 through 2015.

Capital Credits reflect the cooperative’s not-for-profit and member-owned status and represent each member’s pro-rata share of any margins left over at the end of the year after all expenses are paid. Capital Credits are a unique benefit of being served by an electric cooperative. Investor-owned electric utilities send their margins (profits) to stockholders, and municipally-owned utilities return their profits to city coffers for use in road-paving or similar projects.

Before Clay Electric’s nine-member board of trustees decided whether a refund could be made, it carefully considered a variety of data and economic conditions. Following this review, the board decided it was prudent to refund $8 million to entitled members and former members. This year’s refund will be the 43rd consecutive time that the cooperative has refunded Capital Credits.

Current members of the co-op who are entitled to a refund will receive a credit on their March bills. The number of Capital Credits bill credits scheduled for this year is approximately 132,600. The average amount of a bill credit this year is $28.40.

For those entitled to a refund but who no longer receive service from Clay, a refund check will be mailed around the middle of the month. The co-op is scheduled to mail approximately 62,000 refund checks to this group. The minimum amount to be refunded by check is $10. The average check amount this year is $45.34.

Former members of the cooperative who receive a refund check should cash their check within 90 days. If the check is not cashed and remains unclaimed after 90 days, a $1 maintenance fee will be assessed each month against the Capital Credits refund.

The cooperative utilizes these margins to help lower its borrowing expenses and operational costs before returning the money to entitled members and former members.

If a member or former member of the cooperative has any questions about Capital Credits, they should contact their district office.

Have some fun, help a veteran

ORANGE PARK – Cheers on Park Avenue is hosting its Third Annual Car Show Supporting K9s For Warriors.

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday April 30 at its location at 1138 Park Avenue in Orange Park.

There will be a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle, raffles for prizes and a verbal auction to raise funds for those that have served in the U.S. military.

The event is free to the public and car entries are $10 for pre-registration and $15 on the day of the event with $5 going to K9s For Warriors and on the day of the vent, the donation goes to $10. K9s For Warriors pairs soldiers with a therapy dog to help with each soldier’s individual needs. The nonprofit also brings awareness to the high suicide rate of soldiers.

Cheers would like the community to come out and make this year’s event the largest ever.

For more information, call Abby at Cheers at (904) 269-4855.

TPO elects 2017 officers and committee chairs

JACKSONVILLE – The North Florida TPO Board has re-elected its executive team through December 2017. Jacksonville City Council Member Doyle Carter will continue as chairman, Clay County Commissioner Diane Hutchings continues as vice chairman and Nassau County Commissioner Danny Leeper will continue as treasurer.

In addition, two TPO committees have elected their leadership for 2017. Phong Nguyen, St. Johns Planning Dept., was elected chairman succeeding Scott Herring, Nassau County Engineering Dept. Ed Lehman, Clay County Planning Dept., was elected vice chairman. The Citizens Advisory Committee elected Jim Hill, representing the Duval Southeast CPAC, as chairman succeeding Duval County citizen Vickie Breedlove. Richard Darby, long time CAC member, former CAC chairman and Clay County citizen, has been elected vice chairman succeeding Jim Hill.

The TCC is comprised of primarily planners and engineers representing various local governments within the TPO boundary who evaluate the technical sufficiency, accuracy and viability of proposed plans. The CAC is a volunteer body of residents and business people who review transportation plans from a community perspective.

The North Florida TPO is the independent regional transportation planning agency for Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties. The agency leads our region's efforts in planning, funding and mobilizing resources to develop and maintain our transportation system.

Baker County seeking vendors, musicians for Dog Days of Baker Festival

MACCLENNY – Clay County entrepreneurs have a chance to sign up to become a vendor at a new festival in Macclenny.

The Baker County Board of Commissioners is sponsoring the inaugural Dog Days of Baker Festival on April 8, 2017 at the Baker County Fairgrounds.

The festival offers food, crafts, merchandise, and miscellaneous all with a doggy theme. Time is running out to reserve a vendor booth. Restaurants, food trucks, nonprofits, and businesses are welcome.

Spaces are still available for the entertainment line-up. The festival organizer, Kennie Downing, Baker County Manager, is seeking live musicians of various genres to entertain the crowd during the festival. If interested, call the Baker County Administrative offices at (904) 259-3613 or apply online at: www.bakercountyfl.org/dog days

The festival celebrates Baker County’s love of kids, families, and dogs by offering a fund-raising event to help create new recreation programs for youth in Baker County and new equipment for the Baker County Animal Control Department. Contests for humans and their dogs will highlight the day.