County Celebrates $15.1 Million Developer-Funded Longleaf Pine Parkway Widening

On Dec. 19, St. Johns County held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Longleaf Pine Parkway widening project. This $15.1 million project widened over four miles of roadway from Roberts Road to Veterans Parkway and included a new traffic signal at Shetland Drive. This project was entirely paid for by developer funding and was completed before the planned development was added to the area. This marks a major step forward in holding developers in St. Johns County accountable. The County’s Office of Public Affairs produced a video to recap the occasion.

Board of County Commissioners Approves $2.18M for Diamond of Dreams

At its Dec. 3 regular meeting, the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) unanimously approved two motions that authorized the use of $2,187,252 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and a funding assistance agreement for the St. Johns County Police Athletic League (PAL) Diamond of Dreams project. It is an all-inclusive, specially designed baseball/multipurpose field and playground for children of all abilities planned for southwest St. Johns County. A presentation on the funding and the project was made before the approval by the BOCC.

County to Host Annual State Legislative Delegation Public Hearing on Jan. 10

St. Johns County will host its annual State Legislative Delegation public hearing on Friday, Jan. 10, from 9 a.m. to noon in the St. Johns County Auditorium, located at 500 San Sebastian View, St. Augustine. This annual hearing provides an opportunity for local residents and officials to request legislation or state funding and to share their opinions on matters of state concern ahead of the 2025 Regular Legislative Session. The meeting is open to the public.

State Representatives Tour District 23 Medical Examiner’s Office to Assess Regional Needs

On Dec. 6, St. Johns County hosted a media tour featuring Florida House Representatives Sam Greco and Kim Kendall, along with Danielle Curbow, Legislative Aid for Florida Senator Tom Leek. Representatives for the State Attorney’s Office, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, and Putnam County Sheriff’s Office were also in attendance. The tour highlighted the vital work and pressing needs of the District 23 Medical Examiner’s Office, which serves St. Johns, Putnam, and Flagler counties. The District 23 Medical Examiner’s Office is requesting State appropriations for the design and engineering of a new facility built to meet the needs of the region. The St. Johns County Office of Public Affairs captured the tour on video.

Commissioner

Christian Whitehurst

District 1 News

Commissioner

Sarah Arnold

District 2 News

Commissioner

Clay Murphy

Vice Chair

District 3 News

Commissioner

Krista Joseph

Chair

District 4 News

Commissioner

Ann Taylor

District 5 News

Public Library System Announces St. Johns Reads 2025

The St. Johns County Public Library System (SJCPLS) invites the public to participate in its 21st annual “One Book, One Community” reading celebration, St. Johns Reads. This event, focused on creating a shared conversation on a selected novel, will feature various programs based on “Klara and the Sun” by Kazuo Ishiguro.

County to Accept Applications for Beach Toll Attendants in January 2025

St. Johns County Beach Services will begin accepting beach toll attendant applications from Jan. 8-10 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Those interested in this seasonal position are encouraged to visit the St. Johns County Beach Services Office at 901 Pope Road to obtain and complete an application from Jan. 8-10. For more information, please email jwalker@sjcfl.us or call 904-209-0383.

County to Keep World Golf Village IMAX Theater Open

St. Johns County is soliciting operators to keep the IMAX Theater at World Golf Village open. This process was announced to refute inaccurate information posted on the theater’s social media about being closed to the public.

"We have always been and remain committed to keeping the IMAX theater open for as long as we are able to," County Administrator Joy Andrews said. "It is a great attraction for our residents and a critical source of entertainment for citizens and visitors of St. Johns County. We recently informed the current operators of the theater that we are soliciting a new operator, as the current operator intends to cease operations. The County owns the theater, and we are dedicated to keeping the theater open."

Evolve Magazine Features County Administrator Joy Andrews in their “Women in Business” Issue

Joy Andrews became the County Administrator in 2023 and has been with St. Johns County for 18 years. She was recently featured in Evolve Magazine for its "Women in Business" issue.

In her role, Andrews oversees the County’s daily operations and ensures that the government provides effective, responsive, and transparent services to residents and businesses.

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