Columns

Strategic Communication Plan

Guest Columnist
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
If we’re not telling our story, someone else is. Poor communication, late communication, lack of communication and inaccurate communication all create conflicts and problems that most often could have been addressed with effective communication.

The marina: Subsidize or sell?

Guest Columnist
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Ten years ago, when former Commissioner Pat Gass asked when the marina would be self-supporting, then Marina Manager Joe Springer quickly replied, “Never.” I now believe Joe Springer.

Behind the scenes at the district

Guest Columnist
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
As I saw in business, you require strong executives, managers, operators and salespeople, but sometimes that is not enough. You also need what I call the “behind the scenes” people to be a successful organization.
Mud bank or wetland?

Mud bank or wetland?

Mud bank or wetland?

News Staff
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
City citizens who have read the Waterfront Plan I provided to the city back in 2017 know that I have presented a well-reasoned case for the relocation of the city’s bulkheads to create more usable land on the city’s waterfront. Downtown needs more green space west of Front Street.

The people make it colorful

News Staff
Thursday, January 26, 2023
In some places, meandering around a high-end olive oil shop for too long would cause suspicion. On Amelia Island, this means it’s time to be offered a free sample.

It’s another nauseating case of big government

Guest Columnist
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Fernandina Beach’s eclectic restaurants skillfully wine and dine customers, while dodging a clothesline of bureaucratic hurdles and hassles. Other small businesses like shops, stores, offices, etc. endure similar harassment here.

Adam Smith and the ethics of capitalism

Guest Columnist
Thursday, January 26, 2023
1776 was a busy year. Besides our own country’s nascent beginnings, in that year,the Scottish economist and moral philosopher Adam Smith published "An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations," the first book to lay out the framework for a national capitalistic economic system.

Senior director off to the wild blue yonder

Guest Columnist
Thursday, January 26, 2023
Next week, the city will lose one of its most professional and personable senior directors. Nathan Coyle, airport director, will be leaving the city to pursue a different professional opportunity. He will be greatly missed for many reasons.
Brett’s at the bottom and the boat ramp at the top. The state's submerged lands lease is shown at the location of the breakwater and west and outside the city’s owned submerged lands under the marina. If the marina was located in “sovereign waters of the state of Florida,” it would also be shown as under the state lease as opposed to being shown as “not included.” Submitted photo.

Brett’s at the bottom and the boat ramp at the top. The state's submerged lands lease is shown at the location of the breakwater and west and outside the city’s owned submerged lands under the marina. If the marina was located in “sovereign waters of the state of Florida,” it would also be shown as under the state lease as opposed to being shown as “not included.” Submitted photo.

Misinformation guides city decision-making

Guest Columnist
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
I read with interest Commissioner Ross's viewpoint in last week's News-Leader titled "Waterfront opinion differs." He states "after careful scrutiny, the relocated bulkheads would have required the filling of 3.5 acres of sovereign waters of the state of Florida.