NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. — The beaches will not be reopening in Nassau county.
County leaders decided they need more time to plan before they decide to reopen their beaches over safety concerns.
Jerry Dingman told Action News Jax he misses walking around Fernandina Beach barefoot.
Ever since the beaches closed on March 22 in Nassau County, he’s been forced to just view the sandy beaches from a distance.
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“To sit here and look at this and not be able to go out there its frustrating. Very frustrating,” Dingman said.
During a meeting Friday, Nassau County commissioners said they would not be reopening the beaches because they need to discuss public safety, such as having lifeguards out on the beach and law enforcement to make sure people are practicing social distancing.
Commissioners called Duval’s response to opening the beaches a “knee-jerk” reaction.
Nassau County Emergency Management said they never even got an advanced notice from Mayor Lenny Curry that their beaches would open up again, even with restrictions.
“Again, it was a surprise for us that Duval went into the direction that they did last night,” Greg Foster, director of emergency management with Nassau County said.
Foster said he wanted to monitor what happens over the weekend at Jacksonville, Atlantic and Neptune beaches.
“Is Duval going to find that people are still not adhering to the rules? And in turn wind up then shutting down the beaches within the next couple of days?” Foster said.
For now, locals like Dingman said they’re just going to have to wait a bit little longer until they can dip their toes in the sand again.
"Hopefully we’ll get the beach open," he said.
County leaders plan to meet once more on Monday to discuss when to reopen the beaches.
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