Category: Government

Today, Historic City News learned that Senator Travis Hutson has filed a bill that he says will better prepare high school students to evaluate the viability of their potential career paths.  The bill, SB-1578, directs the Department of Education to provide “career landscape” information about various jobs through local high school guidance counselors.

At last night’s meeting of the St Augustine Beach City Commission, the City Attorney swore in Margaret England to serve as Mayor and Maggie Kostka to serve as Vice Mayor, according to a report received by Historic City News from Communications Coordinator, Cindy Walker, this morning.

All departments of the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners, St. Johns County Administrative offices, St. Johns County libraries, the Pet Center, the Property Appraiser’s Office, the Tax Collector’s Office, and the Supervisor of Elections’ Office will be closed Tuesday, December 24, and Wednesday, December 25, in observance of the Christmas holiday.

St Johns County commissioners currently are paid $76,094 each year plus benefits, more than most of the constituents that they represent.  Historic City News editor Michael Gold has been told many times that if a county commissioner really does their job, they are probably underpaid.  After all, the commission just approved a $195,000 salary for…

Visit full text article “Republican Merrill Roland will challenge Henry Dean for Seat 5” »

Earlier today, Monday December 16, 2019, Historic City News was informed by Governor Ron Desantis’ staff that St Johns County Republican Party chairman, Brandon Joel Patty, has been appointed Clerk of Court and Comptroller, filling the unexpired term of Hunter S Conrad, who’s term would have ended November 2020.

In their own inimitable way, city management in St Augustine has found another distraction from the urgent needs of residents, business owners, and the community, to waste time chasing an election procedure change; apparently aimed at limiting competition among candidates for the city’s five commission seats.  In a recent companion proposal, the commission voted not…

Visit full text article “City voters will decide if commissioners have to meet residence requirement” »

Pending legislation could allow unsavory bar owners to essentially become “nationwide liquor stores”, if a new craft distillery bill (HB 583) becomes law, Wine and Spirits Distributors of Florida president Scott Ashley, testified before the Business & Professions Subcommittee last Wednesday.

Although they lost their case in Federal Court, the St Johns County School District appeared at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta today, arguing that they should not be ordered to allow students to use the bathroom that matches their gender identity.