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At our November meeting, two important Resolutions were made by Supervisors. The decision to support the Jacksonville City Council's Resolution Expressing Concern Over Changes to Florida's Surface Water Quality Standards was unanimously voted on by the District. WHEREAS, the federal Clean Water Act requires that states periodically review standards for water quality publicly and adopt changes, as appropriate, and Florida’s current Human Health-Based Water Quality Criteria were last updated in 1992; and
WHEREAS, the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issued new scientific recommendations in 2015 based on national water quality and demographic trends; and WHEREAS, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (“FDEP”) is required to apply the EPA’s guidelines while also accounting for Florida’s specific water chemistry and population through human health-based criteria; and WHEREAS, FDEP has proposed human health criteria for 39 new compounds and has revised criteria for 43 currently regulated compounds. Of the 82 proposed new criteria, numerous chemicals have higher limits resulting from the proposed FDEP methodology compared to the recommended EPA methodology; and WHEREAS, on Tuesday, July 26, 2016, the Commission voted 3-2 to support changes that increase the amount of numerous toxic chemicals in Florida’s waterways; and there are currently two empty seats on the Commission, one representing local government and the other for representatives of the environmental community, resulting in key stakeholder groups from being adequately represented on important statewide regulatory decisions; and WHEREAS, while FDEP has held 13 public meetings since 2012 on this matter, only three public meetings were held after 2013 and none of the meetings were held in Duval County; and WHEREAS, the City of Jacksonville makes recommendations through the formal resolution process; now therefore BE IT RESOLVED The DUVAL SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT is concerned over the proposed changes to the State Human Health-Based Water Quality Criteria and Requests further review of the Criteria by the EPA. We urge the Environmental Protection Agency to provide appropriate public comment period for the proposed standards Health-Based Water Quality Criteria and to thoroughly evaluate the methods used to determine the proposed Human Health-Based Water Quality Criteria to ensure the utmost protection for Florida’s citizens, environment and economy. ![]() WHEREAS, Mr. Fred Benson Miller, Jr. was born on September 5, 1923, grew up in Jacksonville, FL, where he received his early education in the local public schools, and WHEREAS, Mr. Fred Benson Miller, Jr. went on to attend several prestigious colleges and universities to further his education, entered the Army Air Corp and served, with distinction, for his country, and WHEREAS, Mr. Fred Benson Miller, Jr. became the President of the local Dairy Association, in 1959, and eventually assumed the role of a local Dairyman and became an outstanding voice for the Agricultural community, and devoted much of his time to promoting programs that benefited the Agricultural community, and WHEREAS, Mr. Fred Benson Miller, Jr, was very instrumental in the founding and creation of the DUVAL SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, a non-partisan unit of government and, serving as a member for 48 years, the longest serving Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, NOW THERFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE DUVAL SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, that Mr. Fred Benson Miller, Jr. and his contributions are recognized in the hearts and minds of his family, the past and present members of the DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, and the citizens of Duval County, Florida and BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE DUVAL SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT THAT Mr. Fred Benson Miller, Jr.'s work and generous contributions are celebrated, honored & expressly appreciated and BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED BY THE PRESENT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE DUVAL SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT, that a record of this resolution be presented to the family of Mr. Fred Benson Miller, Jr. and a copy placed in the office files of the DUVAL SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT as a permanent record and testament of our gratefulness for his life-long service and contributions. ![]() The fact is, it is difficult to find out about the candidates running for soil and water races. Voters looking to get to know their candidates and make an informed decision are often left with little more that a choice between what name they like best. There are lots of reasons for this including: candidates don't provide information about themselves, cost to have a bio included on the sample ballot, difficulty navigating the Supervisor of Elections website and non-partisan politics). However, we want to help! The Duval Soil and Water Conservation District has 5 voting Supervisor positions who serve at-large to all 918 square miles and ~913,000 people of Duval County with no political affiliation. The seats are numbered, Group 1-5. Every 2 years, a staggered amount of seats are open for re-election. In 2014, Group 1, 3 and 5 were on the ballot. Supervisors Patrick Bennett (1), Shannon Blankinship (3) and Dan Evans Jr. (5) were elected and sworn into office in January 2015. Patrick Bennett just resigned, and his vacated seat was filled through a majority vote of Supervisors by Affiliate Member, Allen Moore (1). In November of 2016, Groups 2 and 4 are on the ballot. The seats are currently held by Brian Allen (2) and Evelyn Coney (4) who are not seeking reelection. On the ballot in Group 2 is Hunter Anderson and James Joseph Morton. On the ballot in Group 4 is Nelson Greene. His seat went unopposed. ![]() Hunter Anderson (2) Website Intro "Hello, my name is Hunter Anderson and I am running to be your next supervisor on the Duval County Soil and Water Conservation District, Group 2. For many of you this is your first time hearing about me. I appreciate you taking the time out of your day to learn about my candidacy. All too often local races like this are brushed under the rug. That usually results in Duval County not getting the local leaders it desperately needs. As we head into the final weeks of this campaign, I've had the privilege to speak with many of you about my vision for the Soil & Water Conservation District. I'll come right out and say it - I do not have 30+ years of experience, and I have never held elected office. This leaves many to wonder why I am running. Often times we are too busy worrying about a candidates' resume that we do not even question whether they have the energy or passion to accomplish their objectives. You see, I believe my youth will benefit the board. I have both the spirit and diligence to make sure things are getting accomplished." Read more. ![]() James Joseph Morton (2) Facebook page James has made a Facebook page where you can find posts about his views, images, and a brief statement about the mission of the District. However, his "About" section has a Warning against anyone redistributing any of his profile information, photos, or content from the page. While we may disagree that any public official has a reasonable expectation of privacy, or that it is fair to expect that candidate statements will not be shared by others, we respect the candidates request. We have requested a candidate statement and image specific for this website, as of October 14, 2016. ![]() Nelson Greene (4) Candidate Statement "Nelson Greene, of DeLand, Florida, has always felt fortunate to grow up surrounded by some of the state’s most beautiful natural landscapes. He never felt as though he was too far from areas like the St. Johns River, New Smyrna Beach, or DeLeon Springs, only naming a few locations that became pillars of his childhood. Nelson moved to Jacksonville in 2005 to attend the University of North Florida, where he later graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Subsequently, Nelson returned to his alma mater, UNF, to attain his Master of Public Administration while working full-time at a local credit union. From the beginning, and throughout that time, Nelson sensed a pronounced fondness, and took great interest in the prosperous municipality and community that is Jacksonville. Nelson currently works for a software company, originated in Jacksonville, which specializes in financial technology. Regardless of the position, Nelson’s career choices have always reflected a consistent undertone of altruism and helping others. In addition to occupational choices, Nelson has always given back to his community through numerous affiliations with local non-profits and professional organizations. He is extremely eager to represent his city through the Soil and Water Conservation District." Our board will not endorse for this position, but we want to help the voters make an informed decision. To have a healthy and functioning Soil and Water Conservation District, a competitive and functioning election process is critical. Thank you for the time, and looking into the candidates.
Allen Moore, Supervisor, Group 1![]() Allen Moore is no stranger to the Duval Soil and Water Conservation District. As an affiliate member for the last few years, Allen has helped train current Supervisors, host the annual speech contest, conduct the soils section of the annual Envirothon, and organize soil workshops and trainings for landowners. Allen has been at almost every District meeting for the last 5 years, and when a vacancy became available in August of 2016, we looked to our Affiliate Members to quickly and seamlessly fill that vacancy. Congrats to Patrick Bennett for taking on an exciting career advancement in Nashville, Tennessee. We are happy to have Allen join us, serving the remainder of Patrick's term, ending in January of 2019. Allen Moore is a product of Madison County, Florida. He is a proud graduate of Florida A & M University with a B.S. Degree in Soil Science. He was employed with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service for over 40 years. During that time Moore served as a Soil Scientist, Soil Conservationist and District Conservationist throughout the State of Florida.
![]() In December of 2015, Supervisors gathered in a conference room with agency leaders from the Florida Forest Service, Florida Department of Health in Duval County, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Duval Agricultural Extension Office, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Duval County Agricultural Council to create a Plan of Work for 2016. One thing was made very clear: collaboration with agency partners is an essential part of our success as a board. The major focus areas identified are:
To learn more about the specific objectives, programs, projects or actions to be taken in each of these major focus areas, read our full Plan of Operations proposal here. We look forward to working through these items in 2016, and moving forward with continued action in 2017. ![]() A dozen high schools and nearly 200 students participated in the 2016 Envirothon hosted by the Duval Soil & Water Conservation District. This national natural resources competition has been hosted locally for more than 23 years, and we are proud to continue the educational legacy. Competing in categories of Aquatic Ecology, Forestry, Wildlife, Land Use and Soils and a Current Environmental Issue, students form teams of 4-6 within their high schools for this local contest. This years current environmental issue reflected a growing concern all over the world: invasive species. High Schools that sent teams include Sandalwood, Bishop Kenney, Atlantic Coast, Darnell-Cookman, Terry Parker, Christ Church, and Frank Peterson. After finishing the day long competition, students from Darnell-Cookman School of the Medical Arts took the Gold with Sandalwood taking Silver and Atlantic Coast with Bronze. Darnell-Cookman then went on to the state competition in central Florida. We are very proud that the team representing Duval County placed 9th overall and won 1st place in the Aquatic Ecology competition. Thank you to our sponsors: Nassau Soil and Water Conservation District Firehouse Subs Jacksonville Farmers Market Tree Hill Nature Center For more information about competing, becoming a sponsor or becoming a part of the March 9, 2017 Envirothon hosted at the UNF Wildlife Sanctuary, email Supervisor Dan Evans, Jr.
![]() At our March meeting, Supervisors took the time to join forces with other conservation agencies in declaring April Water Conservation Month! While it is just a simple statement, taking the time to issue the proclamation shows that the Duval Soil and Water Conservation District is unified behind conservation principles and willing to stand for strong conservation statements. Take a look at the full text of the proclamation below, or view the signed document here. WHEREAS, water is a basic and essential need of every living creature; and WHEREAS, clean and sustainable water resources are vital to Florida’s environment, economy and quality of life; and WHEREAS, more than 90 percent of Florida’s drinking water is supplied by underlying aquifers, and our quality of life and the economy depend upon a reliable, clean and available supply of water and a healthy environment; and WHEREAS, the Duval Soil and Water Conservation District is working with the state of Florida, local governments and water supply utilities to increase awareness about the importance of water conservation and to increase efforts to conserve water; WHEREAS, all water users including residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, institutional, hospitality, private citizens and others can make positive contributions to reduce water use and protect Florida’s water resources; WHEREAS, the Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida are designating April as Florida’s Water Conservation Month to encourage Floridians to conserve the state’s precious water resources; NOW, THEREFORE, the Duval Soil and Water Conservation District hereby proclaims the month of April 2016 as Water Conservation Month. The Duval Soil and Water Conservation District is calling upon each resident, visitor and business to help protect our precious resource by practicing water conservation measures and becoming more aware of the need to conserve water. ![]() Each year the Duval County Soil and Water Conservation District hosts a speech contest for area 6th-12th graders. The winner of the Duval County contest receives a cash prize, plus gets an invite to compete regionally, statewide, and one lucky Florida student will represent the state in the national competition. This year the topic is "Why do we all need Trees?" and speeches are to be no more than 6-8 minutes long. Independent research on this topic works to further educate students in conservation and natural resources, while public speaking provides a host of additional benefits. We hope that you, a friend, a relative or a student you know will consider entering in the 2016 Annual Joe B. Forshee, Jr. Speech Contest for Duval County. Entry Deadline: March 30, 2016. Duval Soil and Water Conservation District "Joe B. Forshee, Jr. Speech Contest" April 6, 2016, 5:30 p.m., City Hall, 117 West Duval Street – Jacksonville, FL To enter, contact Paula Allen, (904) 266-0088 ext. 114, [email protected] Speech Rules & Scorecard, Contest Announcement, Intent to Compete, Share the Poster |
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