• The Jacksonville Airport Authority’s fiscal year 2003-04 annual report is out. Revenues are up from 2002-03 and the Authority reports 5.123 million passengers last year.
• Speaking of the Airport Authority, spokesman Michael Stewart has taken a short leave of absence. Community Relations Manager Debbie Jones will fill Stewart’s role for the next month until he gets back.
• The Jacksonville Fire & Rescue Department broke ground Tuesday on new Station 21 on Powers Avenue.
• After a long career with the City of Neptune Beach, police officer Sam Bass is retiring in January. It may be fair to say Bass has written as many speeding tickets as any other officer in this town.
• About a dozen lucky patrons were the recipients of free downtown parking Tuesday morning. Thanks to a glitch in the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce’s parking fee collections machine at its Bay Street lot, just about everyone who was trying to leave was waved out at no cost. The machine was unable to accept any money and we hear it’s not the first time that’s happened there.
• Speaking of the Chamber, Government Affairs Committee Chair Jim McCollum arrived a little late, but he had a good excuse. McCollum, who’s usually on time, witnessed an automobile accident and stayed behind to help out.
• The Library Board of Trustees may be expanding. It may grow from seven to nine members but there’s no word on who might be added.
• Mayor John Peyton kicked off the second year of his Rally Jacksonville early literacy campaign last Saturday. Approximately 530 pre-kindergarteners signed up for the Mayor’s Book Club at five branch library locations around town. Registration continues through December at the Jacksonville Children’s Commission on A. Philip Randolph Boulevard, the Pablo Creek Regional branch and the West Regional Branch on Chaffee Road.
• Speaking of the mayor’s office, a familiar face was milling around Tuesday morning: former Mayor Jake Godbold.
• One more from the Airport Authority. Bob Simpson, the Authority’s man in charge of its three general aviation airports, is on loan to the mayor’s office for six weeks while the City and the Navy sort out the details surrounding the possible return of Cecil Field as a Navy base. And, it’s a bit of a reunion. Simpson and Peyton staffers Susie Wiles and Adam Hollingsworth all worked together years ago under former Mayor Ed Austin when the original Cecil closure talks were taking place. Wiles said the notes from the recent talks virtually mirror the talks from several years ago.