Post by Chuck McCue on May 10, 2022 18:51:33 GMT -5
"VLSC - LATEST & DEVELOPING NEWS
CITY OF JAX BEACH EXPLORES QUICK DEED FOR # 2 OCEANFRONT PROPERTY
City of Jacksonville Beach (CoJB) City Manager + Elected Officials consulted with the Duval County Property Appraiser’s office two weeks ago regarding a strategy intended to accelerate their takeover of the # 2 Oceanfront Property & Volunteer Life Saving Corps (VLSC) Station, the base of VLSC Ocean Rescue Operations. Contending the American Red Cross (ARC) had ceased “performing life-saving services” (the specific requirement of the ARC to maintain ownership of the property per the 1946 “Deed on-file”), in the 2015 timeframe, the City of Jacksonville Beach expected to exploit a “reversion clause” therein & trigger a transfer of ownership of the property to the CoJB, upon filing of a “Quick Deed”. According to the Duval County Property Appraiser’s office, if this mechanism were successful, the VLSC (not the ARC) would be on the hook for “back-taxes” on the property well in excess of $100,000 (dating back to 2015), as the VLSC was not a qualified “tax-exempt” entity for that period and purpose. To date the City of Jacksonville Beach has not filed for a new deed under this scenario. We surmise such an action would have serious political & public relations consequences and/or simply an ill-advised strategy from a legal perspective, not likely to succeed.
AMERICAN RED CROSS COMMUNICATION TO CITY OF JACKSONVILLE BEACH
Ten (10) days ago the American Red Cross (ARC) sent an official communication to the City of Jacksonville Beach (CoJB) City Manager + Elected Officials requesting the City Manager STOP THE LOCKOUT of the VLSC from their base of Lifesaving & Ocean Rescue Operations for the last 111 years – and identifying the VLSC as their designated service provider for the purpose of “performing life-saving services” and thus, continuance of uninterrupted ownership of the property & VLSC Station.
THE VLSC & COMMUNITY WANT OUR STATION BACK
VOLUNTEER LIFE SAVING CORPS (VLSC) – RECENT ACTIONS
1. VLSC Legal Team has filed a “Freedom of Information Act” request with the United States Department of Labor (DOL) for provision of all information & communications regarding the 2021 investigation which spurred the current controversy and CoJB responses: including approximately $250,000 in backpay to Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue (JBOR) lifeguards who were also “engaged in Volunteering” with the VLSC on Sundays & Holidays for the prior two (2) years. After several months and numerous VLSC requests for these documents, the CoJB provided no documentation and forced this action by the VLSC.
2. VLSC Legal Team has filed a “Sunshine Law” request for all City of Jacksonville Beach communications including but not limited to: any and all communications from, to & between CoJB officials, staff, and/or other parties regarding or mentioning the current issue
#SaveTheVLSC
#SaveTheCorps"