• Former Jacksonville Bar Association president Jim Mosely no longer speaks on the JBA’s behalf, but he told Mayor John Peyton that most members of the local legal community were behind the mayor’s plans to start over work on the Duval County Courthouse. “I am speaking from a personal standpoint, ” he said in a letter, “but feel that you need to know that many in the legal community appreciate the hard work and courage of you and your staff.”
• Library board chair Steve Rosenbloom told City communication chief Susie Wiles that it’s time to figure out how much the City will pay its new library director. A national recruiter has told the City that it might have to offer as much as $130,000 per year. The previous director made $116,000.
• Mike Weinstein is the speaker at the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association luncheon Wednesday. It begins at noon at River City Brewing Co.
• The Jacksonville Historical Society is hosting an archeological dig Saturday, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the site of the new Duval County Courthouse. On Nov. 18, the JHS will hold a program to discuss items found at the site.
• Prominent local businessman James Barker asked Mayor Peyton to consider using some of his business and political clout to find a new location for The Palms fish camp. The City is closing the landmark Heckscher Drive restaurant, citing late rent payments and dirty conditions. Barker suggested a location at State Road 13 and Race Track Road.
• National Football League commissioner Paul Tagliabue told Mayor Peyton the league would work with the City to bring off Peyton’s Reading Super Bowl. The competition rewards students with prizes for reading books.
• For those who were wondering, the manatee in front of Berkman Plaza is a Romulon, from the “Star Trek” television program.
• That fence going up across from Alltel Stadium on the Arlington Expressway is part of the perimeter for the Super Bowl.
• It may not have been a very good weekend for any Florida-based football team, but City Council member Suzanne Jenkins said she’s trying to see the bright side. “It wasn’t good for Gator fans, but it was good for the economy downtown. A good turnout like that will probably ensure we get to keep the game here for good while longer.”
• The City Council’s Finance Committee debated legislation Monday that would establish a special election to replace the supervisor of elections, but it wasn’t the proposed dates or qualifying periods that sparked the most discussion. Council members who decide to run must resign, though that resignation doesn’t take affect until mid-April. They can, however, choose to leave immediately and devote all of their energy to their campaign. Committee members, including Lad Daniels and Michael Corrigan didn’t like the idea of a district going unrepresented for as long as six months. “That just doesn’t seem right,” said Corrigan. “I’m surprised we don’t have a better way of handling something like that.”