The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce held its annual Legislative Update Breakfast on Friday, May 17, at Hyatt Place St. Augustine/Vilano Beach featuring elected officials from various levels of government.
Speakers included St. Johns County Commissioner Sarah Arnold; St. Augustine Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline; St. Augustine Beach Mayor Dylan Rumrell; Craft Talbot, legislative aide to state Sen. Travis Hutson; and Shorty Robbins, legislative aide to state Rep. Cyndi Stevenson.
For the most part, the speakers addressed the acquisition of various funds over the past year for essential projects either already under way or anticipated in the near future.
St. Johns County has been awarded more than $53 million in state and federal appropriations for critical infrastructure projects. Here’s a look at some of these:
New medical examiner’s office — The region has been awarded $11.7 million by the state for fiscal year 2025 to fully fund the construction of a new 10,960-square-foot facility. It is expected to improve efficiency.
Widening State Road 16 — The existing two-lane stretch from International Golf Parkway to the Interstate 95 interchange will be widened to a four-lane, divided highway. Construction of bike lanes, sidewalks and medians are included in the project. The county has been awarded $4 million in federal funding for fiscal year 2024 and $7.5 million in state funds for fiscal year 2025.
County Road 2209, phase 2 construction — A segment of this planned north-south corridor is expected to help provide traffic relief to I-95 and U.S. 1. A state appropriation of $10 million for fiscal year 2025 will fund the segment from International Golf Parkway to S.R. 16.
Regional fire training center — This new facility will offer training for fire suppression, urban search and rescue, HazMat response and EMS. A unified command center will provide coordinated response to large incidents on I-95. The project was awarded $7.5 million in state funds for fiscal 2025.
Central public safety station — This station will mean faster emergency response times for the county’s interior. The project was awarded $7.5 million in state funds for fiscal year 2025.
South Ponte Vedra Beach dune restoration — The state has awarded $4.75 million for fiscal year 2025 to help match federal funds to counter beach erosion south of the Guana Reserve.
Lincolnville Museum — A $225,000 state appropriation for fiscal year 2025 will fund exterior security enhancements, as well as sound domes and Braille to improve accessibility to the museum’s exhibits.
Historic Vilano Beach Street improvements — A $125,000 state appropriation for fiscal year 2025 will match county funds to revitalize the Art Deco community and foster economic development. The project includes resurfacing, new hardscape, irrigation systems, electrical access points and pedestrian enhancements.
Arnold announced that the county is the top-ranked contender for the state’s proposed Black History Museum.
Sikes-Kline won smiles from attendees when she announced that a carousel would be restored to Davenport Park. The popular carousel that had occupied that spot for 25 years was removed in September 2019 and moved to Port Charlotte.
