• The public is losing 50 parking spaces in the Adair (JEA Plaza) parking garage at the end of the month. According to Margaret Flowe, parking services manager for the City, JEA has opted not to renew the lease with the City effective June 30. Those needing to do business at or around City Hall are encouraged to use surrounding lots and the newly opened main library garage.
• The sale of Baymeadows Golf Course to D.R. Horton to the tune of $15 million became final on Feb. 15. However, since then area residents have complained that the property isn’t being maintained and the City is stepping in. A supervisor with Horton assured the City that the property would be mowed by June 6. However, that didn’t happen and Chief of Property Safety Derek Igou said the City has started abatement proceedings. Igou said the City isn’t in the business of mowing private property, but the areas around the clubhouse and maintenance building are especially high and pose a danger to the residents of the area and the City will have those areas mowed and bill Horton for the work.
• At Tuesday’s very serious press conference regarding two missing Jacksonville kids — Mark Degner and Bryan Hayes — something sure was funny. Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Ken Jefferson took a cell phone during the conference and spent most of the call laughing.
• Lots of e-mails to City Hall regarding the proposed Wal-Mart on Atlantic Boulevard and the City Council vote on the definition of the word “node” with most e-mails opposing the store. One Council member, Lynette Self, is sticking to her guns regardless of the outcome of the vote. “I will continue to vote against legislation that changes the definition of a node,” responded Self in an e-mail to Bank of America’s Martha Barrett. “I believe changes would be detrimental to the entire county.”