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A groundbreaking ceremony was held at 4 p.m. on Friday, January 6, to celebrate the start of the construction phase of the Council on Aging of Nassau County’s relocation project.
Digging in for the Groundbreaking Photo,(Left to Right): Susan Stegar, COA Advisory Council member; Greg Frick, COA Transportation Manager; Steve Kelley, Chairman of the Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board and County Commissioner Danny Leeper, County Commissioner Walter Boatright, Chairman of the County Commission, Philip Worth, James Bennett FDOT Distract 2 Management Fran Shea, COA Board of Directors President; Tom Moss, COA Executive Director; Tom Henderson, Campaign Committee member; Allen Lennon, Capital Campaign Chairman of COA Board of Directors; Alrlene Filkof, City of Fernandina Beach Mayor; Tom Silverio, COA Board Member Emeritus; and Bill Hardy, ElderSource.
Auld & White Construction Company recently completed all the site prep work and Bush Construction Company is in place to begin building The Transportation Center. A Dispatch Center, Driver Room (an area for training, and utilization between trips for safety breaks), and staff offices will be housed at The Transportation Center. The site will include functional exterior areas for cleaning and maintaining the fleet, with a locked vehicle storage area plus camera surveillance for improved security. The Transportation Center will also allow the COA to improve working conditions of their employees and provide better service to their clients. Construction is expected to be completed in April.
FDOT (L to R) Greg Frick, COA Transportation Manager poses with James Bennett and Philip Worth (FDOT District 2 Management) and COA Executive Director Tom Moss, after the ceremony.
In attendance were Philip Worth and James Bennett, representing FDOT who funded a major portion of the project along with representatives from both the County and City governments, who also provided funding. These individuals joined with members of the COA Board of Directors, and other friends and donors to COA, to turn the first shovelfuls of dirt to signify the official start of construction. Light refreshments were served following the ceremony at the existing Senior Center for all those who attended the ceremony, including government officials, donors, volunteers and COA staff.
City of Fernandina Beach Mayor Arlene Filkoff shares a good word with COAExecutive Director Tom Moss.
While The Transportation Center is fully funded, the COA’s greatest challenge lies ahead as they continue their efforts to raise funds to complete the new senior center building, deemed The Life Center, to replace the existing building across the street from Baptist Hospital Nassau. COA’s goal is to begin construction of The Life Center as soon as possible after the completion of the Transportation Center. Through donations and pledges, we are well on our way towards having the funding we need. The COA will continue to reach out to the local community seeking individuals and businesses looking for their support, while also actively seeking grants from government organization and foundations that support senior projects.
With everyone’s help, this dream can become a reality. Any and all donations will allow the COA to significantly increase and improve services provided to today’s seniors and generations of seniors to come. If you would like to be part of the of this worthwhile project please contact Susan Lee, Community Relations Director at slee@coanassau.com or 904.261.0701 x120.
The Council on Aging is a 501-c-3 non-profit agency. We cheerfully deliver critical services to Nassau County seniors in five categories including Meals on Wheels, COA Transportation, In-Home Care, and Adult Day Health Care, while operating two senior recreation centers. We are partially funded by government grants and donations from private individuals.
More information is available on our website www.coanassau.com.
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