Green Cove Springs to name police building after fallen chief

The city council voted to name its police building after former Chief Derick Asdot during the council’s September 20 meeting.

Former Mayor Mitch Timberlake brought the matter to the council. He said Asdot made a huge impact on the city. Timberlake added that he was acting on behalf of former Mayors Bob Page, Pam Lewis, Felicia Hampshire and Van Royal, all of whom he said supported the idea.

Asdot joined the Green Cove Springs department in 2002 as a patrolman, following a six-year career in the U.S. Army, a four-year stint with the Florida National Guard at Camp Blanding and three years with the Duval County School Board Police Department.

He advanced through the department as a sergeant, lieutenant and assistant chief, taking over the leadership position in 2017.

On September 28, 2021, Asdot died from complications resulting from COVID-19.

In other news from the Sept. 20 meeting of the city council:

Moves to ban cigarettes in city parks

City Attorney L.J. Arnold III told the council that the Florida Legislature recently gave counties and cities more authority to regulate smoking on beaches and parks.

He added that state statute prohibits local jurisdictions from banning unfiltered cigars.

The council passed the first reading of a smoking ban within city parks, exempting electronic cigarettes, also known as vapes, from the prohibition.  

Mayor Matt Johnson, Vice mayor Connie Butler and Steven Kelley voted for the measure. Thomas Smith and Ed Gaw voted “no.”

Appointed members to Community Redevelopment Area Board

The council appointed former Mayors Mitch Timberlake and Van Royal to a five-member community redevelopment area board.

Clay County commissioners will appoint two more members, and the four appointees will select a fifth member jointly.

The city’s redevelopment area is an approximately 60-block area along Orange and Palmetto Streets between Governors Creek and Ferris Street. The district also includes blocks straddling Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Spring and Walnut Streets.

Under Florida law, local governments can create community redevelopment areas when conditions like substandard or inadequate structures, a shortage of affordable housing, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient roadways, and inadequate parking are present.

Local tax revenues are then earmarked for the redevelopment area.

Police chief thanks volunteers

Police Chief John Guzman thanked volunteers Renae DeVine and Bob Page.

Guzman said DeVine has provided professional-grade photography to the department during events like its Christmas events, golf tournament, Riverfest, Chief Derrick Asdot’s funeral, cadet camping and most recently its casino fundraiser.

“Many of your photos have been shared with the community through our social media accounts and are appreciated by our agency members and our citizens alike,” Guzman told DeVine.

Guzman also thanked former Mayor Bob Page for his volunteering with the department’s marine patrol and with the department’s accreditation process.“For more than nine years now, Mr. Page has donated his time, talents and knowledge for the betterment of the city’s police department,” the chief said.