During a very narrowly focused, almost scripted meeting this afternoon, on a unanimous vote by the St Augustine Beach commissioners, Chief Richard Hedges was placed on administrative leave, with pay, while an independent law enforcement investigation is conducted into his administration of the agency.
Although Historic City News cannot report a final action by the city commission tonight on the disposition of the 1949 landmark bayfront miniature golf course, commissioners did take note of what the mayor described as the only “hot button” issue; based on a show of hands of audience members attending to comment.
Historic City News received word that former Planning and Zoning Board member Deltra L. Long has announced that she will compete in the race for St Augustine City Commission, Seat 1 — the seat currently held by Errol D Jones.
Members of the St Augustine City Commission will hear from the public during their regular meeting Monday night regarding whether they feel the carpet golf course on the bayfront should be kept, the property repurposed, or if it should be replaced with green space.
When St Johns County Supervisor of Elections, Vicky Oakes, told Historic City News that Monday was the last day for candidates in federal, statewide, multi-county, county, district and special district contests to submit voter petitions in lieu of paying qualifying fees, she did so knowing that her work is just starting.
Without a doubt, the City of St Augustine has a continuing interest in revitalization of the Colonial Spanish Quarter Museum; a collection of properties on the north end of St George Street that were once managed by the city’s Department of Heritage Tourism and then closed because of continuing financial losses to the tune of $250,000 a year.
Historic City News reporters were on hand this morning when Chairman Allen L Lastinger, Jr called to order the third meeting of the Board of Directors of University of Florida Historic St Augustine, Inc in the Sala de Montiano room of the Government House Museum.
Two candidates have qualified for the office of State Attorney for the 7th Judicial Circuit which includes St Augustine and St Johns County, Putnam, Flagler and Volusia counties; and, they will face each other as opponents for the first time in a candidate forum on Monday May 14.
