Get in the Room — and Stop the Insanity of More Taxpayer Lawsuits

Tomorrow night, several citizens will stand before the Fernandina Beach City Commission and say what so many taxpayers are already thinking: enough is enough.

Once again, our City is spending your money on another lawsuit — this time against RYAM/Rayonier, the very company that helped build Fernandina Beach’s economy and continues to support our workforce, schools, and community programs.

This latest dispute stems from a Bert Harris Act claim, filed after the City denied the mill’s project that would have helped it meet modern sustainability standards required by the EPA. Instead of sitting down to discuss a path forward, City leadership chose to dig in and fight — hiring lawyers and racking up bills that taxpayers will ultimately have to pay.

Let’s clear something up:

This is not a corporate villain coming to destroy our coastal paradise.
RYAM and Rayonier are community partners — employers, sponsors, and major contributors to our local tax base. Their presence helps make Fernandina Beach the beautiful, thriving, and family-friendly city people want to move to.

So ask yourself:

Do we really believe that Rayonier wants to destroy the very town their employees live in and their company depends on? Really?

Meanwhile, residents are tired.
Tired of lawsuits draining our budget.
Tired of special interests spinning “boogeyman” stories to stir up fear.
Tired of leaders who refuse to lead — who won’t simply sit down and talk.

What we need now is leadership, not litigation.
Common sense, not courtrooms.
And a serious end to the insanity of suing the very businesses that keep our city strong.

Imagine what could happen if the City stopped fighting and started collaborating — if leadership invited RYAM to the table to discuss solutions that help both the City and its residents. Maybe a partnership that improves our waterfront, strengthens infrastructure, or lightens the tax burden on hardworking citizens.

That’s what leadership looks like.

It’s time to get in the room, find common ground, and protect the people footing the bill — the taxpayers of Fernandina Beach.

Take Action

Watch the City Commission meeting Tuesday evening or record it for later.
Let your voice be heard. Email your commissioners (see email addresses here) or show up at the meeting and demand fiscal responsibility and open dialogue.
Tell them: Stop wasting our money. Start working together.

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Reconsideration of the Westside Regional Park Investment

Petition to the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners

Subject: Reconsideration of the Westside Regional Park Investment

Dear Commissioners,

We, the undersigned residents of Nassau County, respectfully submit this petition regarding the allocation of public funds toward the development of the Westside Regional Park.

It would surprise many to learn that 82.7% of all Nassau County Ad Valorem taxes are paid by properties located east of Interstate 95. Yet, the County has programmed $22.86 million into the Westside Regional Park, located 20 miles west of Interstate 95 — a location largely inaccessible to the majority of residents who are funding it.

This project spans over 100 acres with an estimated construction cost of $21 million. Although the land was purchased in 2007 for $1.09 million, it has taken 17 years to bring forward a plan, raising additional concerns about the project's long-term viability and true priority.

Over 67% of Nassau County’s population lives in the easternmost zip codes of 32034 and 32097, areas where residents would have to travel up to 35 miles to access the park. Research shows that individuals living more than 10 miles away from a park are unlikely to use it regularly, if at all.

In short: the taxpayers bearing the largest burden for this project are the least likely to benefit from it.

Given these facts, we have serious concerns about whether the Westside Regional Park is the most responsible and equitable use of taxpayer dollars.

We respectfully request the following:

A full public reassessment of the Westside Regional Park's location, accessibility, and return on investment.
Consideration of alternative investments in parks and recreation facilities that are more geographically equitable and accessible to the majority of Nassau County taxpayers.
Greater transparency and opportunity for public input regarding major capital projects moving forward.

We urge you to pause further expenditures on this project until a thorough and transparent review is conducted.

It is time for Nassau County to ensure that public funds are invested fairly, wisely, and in ways that serve the entire community — not just a select portion of it.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

We look forward to your leadership and stewardship of our county’s future.

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