HISTORIC CITY NEWS
Historic City News has been published daily since March 2000. Reporting local news for St Augustine and St Johns County Florida, Historic City News is the county's only free press. Our mission is to hold public figures accountable to the public.
City Manager David Birchim reported to Historic City News today that he has immediately promoted Brandon Miller to Director of Information Technology. Miller will spearhead the comprehensive management and operation of the City’s information systems.
As previously reported by Historic City News, the St Johns County Board of County Commissioners recently accepted the written resignation of controversial former County Administrator, Hunter Conrad, together with a separation agreement effective June 29, 2023. Wayne Larson, St Johns County Director of Public Affairs, also announced that an employment agreement with Deputy County Administrator Joy Andrews will establish the terms of her new position as Interim County Administrator while the Board begins a national search to find Conrad’s replacement.
Wayne Larson, St. Johns County Director of Public Affairs, confirmed for Historic City News this afternoon that St Johns County Administrator Hunter Conrad has resigned — despite just being given a $30,000 annual salary bump.
The City of St Augustine, the largest surviving municipal government within St Johns County, has reorganized after the retirement of former City Manager John P Reagan, who turned 61 years old on February 2nd. As Historic City News reporters reviewed the documents associated with the inevitable “deck shuffle” that only happens after someone is removed from the organizational chart at a high level of management — a manager, assistant manager, department head, director, or similar — we find that the new city government looks a lot like the old city government.
The St Johns County Clerk of Court reviewed for the County Commission last week the statutes regarding mental health services under the Baker Act and the Marchman Act. Historic City News reviewed a summary of items also presented during the regular commission meeting, as reported by the St Johns County Civic Roundtable. Clerk Brandon Patty emphasized that his office keeps confidential all personal information concerning recipients of mental health services..
On May 28, 1998, John Patrick Regan, who had been the Senior Environmental Engineer for the City of Gainesville for roughly ten years, was newly hired to fill the position of Utilities Director for the City of St Augustine. After 25 years of service, this Friday, June 2, 2023, will be his last day as City Manager; the position he has held since July 1, 2010. He turned 61 years old on February 2nd.
In a quote attributed to George Orwell in 1984, now suffering the challenges of disputed parentage, it is said that the most effective way to destroy people is to “deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history”. As of last week, whoever can correctly claim those words does so with growing support in the Florida legislature; as Bills are briskly moving forward in both the House and Senate that will provide some degree of protection for historical monuments and memorials in the State.
On Wednesday, March 1, Kim Kendall reported to Historic City News that she has filed to run for the State Representative, District 18 seat which encompasses northern St. Johns County. Kendall is a conservative Republican who puts God, family, and liberty first. Representative Cyndi Stevenson currently holds the seat but reaches her term limit next year.