BOAT RAMP & BULKHEAD RENOVATION:

The renovation was halted by Paula Johnson, US Army Corp of Engineers due to not having a permit from the USACE to repair the bulkheads and boat ramp.  Paula Johnson and Robert Halbert / Colonel Brandon L. Bowman issued a “Cease and Desist” order on August 29, 2024.  On September 4, 2024, HWSD signed a tolling agreement with USACE at the direction of our General Counsel, Wayne Flowers.

HWSD immediately hired a USACE and FDEP permitting consultant, Connie Webel-Watson, to file for the permit.  On September 23, 2024, Ms. Webel-Watson filed for the permit with all forms and drawings necessary to have the permit  issued.  Since that time, the permit has been waiting approval by Ms. Johnson, which is the only person that can approve the permit.  Ms. Johnson is the sole employee with the USACE that is in enforcement for five counties, and the USACE internal policies dictate only enforcement can issue the permit.  Ms. Webel-Watson, Stanley Pipes, Wayne Flowers, and members of the HWSD Board have requested updates from Ms. Johnson without any progress.

From October, 2024 through March, 2025, Ms. Johnson reviewed the permit application.

In March, HWSD solicited assistance from John Rutherford’s office, United States Representative, FL District 05 to contact the USACE and move the permit application forward.  Congressman Rutherford assigned one of his staff members to contact the USACE and resolve the permit approval. 

On April 7, 2025, Ms. Johnson published a public notice for permit application (SAJ-1986-21097(SP-PRJ) requesting comments from the general public in the area, which ended on April 28, 2025.  Per an exchange of emails from our consultant and Ms. Johnson, there were no adverse comments sent to Ms. Johnson. 

On May 12, 2025, Ms. Johnson requested comments from the US Wildlife and Fisheries (FWS) on the potential impact to endangered species from the renovation, halting issue of the permit until after the FWS responds.

On May 30, 2025, Christopher Miller with Congressman Rutherford's office met onsite at the boat ramp to review the project. Mr. Miller committed to oversee the progress on the permit.  Mr. Miller is also an At-Large City Councilman for District 5 in Jacksonville.

On June 10, 2025, the FDEP and the USACE presented permitting requirements and procedures at the Board's monthly meeting.

On July 1, the FWS inquired how many people would have access to the boat ramp, which HWSD responded "up to 235 parcels from the immediate neighborhood."

In August, Paula Johnson, USACE, contacted Chrissy Sellers with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) (Compliance Assurance) and demanded to know why HWSD did not have a permit for the Boat Ramp.  Paula Johnson claimed since there are 960 square feet of fixed and floating docks used for the boat ramp operations the FDEP is required to issue a permit, which erroneously includes the boat lift docks.  On August 13, HWSD retained Connie Webel to file for the FDEP permit.

On August 24, Connie Webel filed for the permit with the FDEP.

On August 25, Congressman John Rutherford and Councilman Christopher Miller met onsite at the Boat Ramp to discuss next steps.  Congressman Rutherford committed to write and to personally contact the USACE to discuss the delay in issuing the permit.

The USACE has received the approval letter from the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS).  Paula Johnson rquested Water Quality Certification (WQC) and the Costal Zone Consistency Concurrence (CZCC) from the FDEP.  Both the WQC and CZCC must be complete prior to issuing the permit.

As soon as there is an update from Congressman Rutherford’s office or the USACE, HWSD will publish an update.