In Bear Run a developer wanted to build multi unit dwellings. The citizens organized, made flyers, sent letters, met with the developer and county officials and the developer canceled the project. If you played a part i this please tell us this awesome story.
When construction was a problem on blanding blvd citizens complained in writing to the commissioners that Moody roads speed limit was too slow and agitated drivers which could be a safety issue. Over ten thousand dollars of the county budget was spent to hire an engineer to decide. The engineer decided the speed limit should be 45 MPH. The citizens organized, made flyers, sent letters, met with county commissioners, attended meetings at the local schools and attended the commissioners meetings and the votes. The speed limit was set at 30 MPH. After the road construction was completed on blanding the complaints dwindled. Moody road has many schools, churches and day care centers. It is a collector road. If you took part in this protective action please do tell.
Clay county is gorgeous and full of classic beautiful trees and abundant waterways because of what have we have left alone not what we have developed. The air is clean because there are so many trees and no polluting factories. The schools are great because the administration, teachers and students are great. The streets are clean because the fine citizens are clean and the fine county workers are cleaning up after the ones who are not.
The prices are fair and living is good because the people are fair and the people are good. The people of clay county are good. They may be older or newer. From here or not from here. Stationed here or not stationed here. We have beautiful black men and women. We have beautiful white men and women. We have rich black and rich white men and rich black and rich white women and rich black and white children who hope that being rich won't make a friend not want to be there friend.
We have struggling black and struggling white men and women and struggling children who hope that struggling won't make a friend not want to be there friend. The people of clay county are friends. They are strong, beautiful and generous people with big warm hearts and open arms, struggling or not. Some of our ancient forest hold people of American Indian heritage and there relatives are buried in these forest under giant oak trees. We have an abundance of wildlife.
Clay citizens are independent thinkers and speakers and they ado not hesitate to organize for the common good. Be it functional or political.
Our fine county has been a resort getaway for the ultimate rich like the Palmolive and Johnson and Johnson families and the Duponts in earlier days. Ask anyone at the Club Continental. It had it's own bottling company and made those cool little coke bottles. It has very deep water and this allows ships and vessels of huge proportions to dock with us. Clay county it's worth fighting for and you do. Tell us about it. We love it too.
I moved to the Middleburg area in the early '80's and have loved every day of it. All 3 of my kids have attended Clay County public schools and I was constantly impressed with the committment of both parents and teachers to the schools. Clay County has a unique family atmosphere that can be felt throughout the county. Schools, churches, government and citizens all work together to make this county a special place to live.
I want to thank Sheriff Beesler and his department for being highly visible and taking a strong stand against crime in Clay County. Keeping crime out of our community is a key to making Clay County a special place to raise a family.
I also agree with the idea that active citizens can, and do, make a difference. It is so easy to sit back and complain about things, but fortunately there are citizens groups, community associations, etc that are active in putting their 2-cents worth to work. The Fleming Island Advisory Group is one such group that has had an impact on how the Fleming Island area has developed. Other Planning & Zoning districts have the same opportunity for a Citizens Advisory Commission, but only one other district's CAC is active (2 out of 5). This is the perfect way for citizens to have a voice in how their area is developed.
Some people may not realize that Clay County is named for Henry Clay, a 19th century politician from Kentucky who served in both the US House & US Senate. He was known as a great communicator and an effective statesman. To me, the epitaph on his grave is still relevant today, and advice we should all try to follow: "I know no North - no South - no East - no West." Simple but powerful.
Long live Clay County.