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Politics

Hurricane-Ravaged North Florida Beach Wins $36.8 Million for Renourishment

August 4, 2018 - 1:45pm
Vilano Beach
Vilano Beach

The U.S Army Corps of Engineers will invest $36.8 million in a Vilano Beach renourishment project, Rep. John Rutherford, R-Florida, announced late this week. The St. John's County beach was one of the state's hardest hit during recent hurricanes.

The Corps will also invest $2 million each in Duval and Nassau counties to firm up the coastal landscape against future storms.

Hurricane Irma on Sept. 11, 2017 was especially destructive in the region, blowing through the Beaches communities, leaving disaster in its wake. Damage included downed trees and power lines, flooding and severe structural damage -- including total loss -- to homes and businesses, particularly along Vilano Beach.

U.S. Rep. John Rutherford
U.S. Rep. John Rutherford

"Hurricanes Matthew and Irma hammered Northeast Florida's coastal communities, causing severe flooding and erosion, so I am pleased to see the Army Corps invest in making Northeast Florida more resilient," Rutherford said in a written statement. "These funds will allow for rebuilding and recovery for Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties, strengthening our communities in the face of future storms."

As reported by News4Jax, Congress provided funding for the Corps initiatives in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, which was signed into law Feb. 9, according to the release from Rutherford's office. "The funds are part of the UsACE Long-Term Disaster Recovery Investment Program and will be used to construct flood and storm damage reduction projects."

Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. Twitter: @NancyLBSmith

Comments

The U.S Army Corps of Engineers will invest $36.8 million in a Vilano Beach renourishment project while they are dumping toxic algae into the Caloosahatchee River and destroying southwest FL beaches. What happened to renourishment of the Everglades?

Contact an outfit called BullSugar. They have a proven track record of diverting funds from worthy causes to better causes. Hope this helps. Jim

I sure hope that "private" beaches that are off limits to the general public are not included in this project. Membership has privileges, yes, but it also has costs that should not be the taxpayers burden.

A ridiculous waste of taxpayers' monies!

"Renourish the beaches", "Renourish the kids", "Renourish schools (and everyone in them)" "Renourish the ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS", "Renourish the Tax Coffers", WHEN WILL ALL THIS COSTLY, 'MEDIA DRIVEN' "RENOURISHMENT" BE OVER ?!?!? {We're "in the hands" of pettifogging politicians and their "media handmaidens" all across this Nation,........... VOTE CAREFULLY FOLKS !

Well now if the local government in charge of implementation of the beach re-nourishment is conservative/Republican chances are good the money will go to it's intended use. However on the other hand if the local government is of the leftist/liberal/Democratic variety we all know graft/corruption will run rampant and local politically connected companies will be hired who will divert approximately 50 to 67.8325% of the money back to the elected officials in one sort of scheme or the other. You know 'Ole Claude is right!!!

That's just plain stupid, Claude. Surely you are better than this.

I am glad that Rep. Rutherford was successful in obtaining the funding needed for this beach restoration project. Florida's Congressional Delegation must support these projects as needed throughout Florida. It is important not just for tourism but to help mitigate the effects of climate change. This is a bipartisan issue.

"Entitlements for Counties"......WHAT NEXT ?!?

Ditto Katie Edwards, the public should now have an easement to all of the areas of "renourishment". Document the renourishment. Focus on the clause structure of any Jacksonville ACOE contracts awarded involving this project.

according to Katie Edwards, the sponsor of the bill which closed some beaches to the public; if a beach has under gonen renourishment it can no long be closed to the public. Some one should create a map of all the FL beaches that have had taxpayers pay to re-build the beach so we know which ones are public again.

Comments are now closed.

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