Baker County - Board of County Commissioners

06/12/2026

06/11/2026

🎉 New Playground Equipment Installed at St. Mary Shoals Park! 🎉
Baker County is excited to announce the installation of brand-new playground equipment at St. Mary Shoals OHV Park, located at 9316 Odis Yarborough Road, Glen St. Mary, Florida.
This addition is part of the County’s ongoing commitment to improving our parks and recreational facilities for families and visitors to enjoy. Over the last few years, Baker County has focused on upgrading at least one county park each year, providing much-needed new playground equipment that enhances the experience for our residents and guests.
We are incredibly grateful to see another park improvement come to life and look forward to sharing even more exciting park upgrades in the coming weeks!
A special shout-out goes to Kayla Riggs from County Administration, who graciously volunteered to give the new playground a "test run" and confirmed that it's ready for fun! 😊
Thank you to everyone who helps make these improvements possible as we continue investing in the quality of life for Baker County families.
📍 St. Mary Shoals Park (OHV Side)
9316 Odis Yarborough Road
Glen St. Mary, FL

06/09/2026

We are excited to announce our Summer Reading Program this year! Come "Unearth A Story" with us on Tuesdays at 10AM at the Baker County Fair Grounds. We have a lot of great programs in store and are excited to share them with you!🦖🦕🦴⛏️

06/09/2026

🔥 BURN BAN LIFTED, EFFECTIVE JUNE 9, 2026
Following recent rainfall and improved local conditions, the Baker County burn ban has been lifted effective June 9, 2026.
As outdoor burning resumes, residents are encouraged to practice safe burning habits:
Fire Safety Reminders
• Check weather conditions before burning.
• Never leave a fire unattended.
• Keep a water source or fire extinguisher nearby.
• Clear vegetation and combustible materials from around the burn area.
• Fully extinguish fires before leaving the area.
• Follow all Florida Forest Service burn authorization requirements, when applicable.
• Call 911 immediately if a fire escapes.

The open burning of household trash, garbage, plastics, treated wood, construction debris, or other solid waste is prohibited. Residents are encouraged to utilize approved waste disposal and collection services for the proper handling of these materials.

Thank you to our residents for their patience, cooperation, and commitment to protecting Baker County throughout this drought. Your efforts helped reduce wildfire risk and keep our community safe. 🔥🌧️

06/08/2026

🚨 LET’S CLEAR THE AIR: DATA CENTERS
There has been community conversation about data centers recently, so we want to address it directly.
As of today, Baker County has not received any applications for a data center.
The Baker County Board of County Commissioners also wants to be clear: the BOCC strongly opposes data centers in Baker County and would work against any future application to the fullest legal extent possible.
We understand the concerns surrounding large-scale data center developments, including impacts to land use, infrastructure, utilities, natural resources, and the rural character of our community.
Baker County’s priority is protecting the quality of life, values, and future of our residents.
No application has been submitted. No project has been approved. And the Board’s position is clear.
Baker County is not the place for a data center!

06/07/2026

ALERT
There is a FAKE POST claiming that the burn ban has been lifted. THE BURN BAN IS STILL IN EFFECT!

06/03/2026

‼️‼️UPDATE‼️‼️ Most recent update from our contractor is that construction will start within 3-6 months!

🚤 WHAT'S GOING ON???
The Boat Ramp Update You've Been Asking For
We hear you. One of the most common questions we receive is:
"What's going on with the boat ramp?"
Here's the story.
In 2024, the boat ramp was completely reconstructed using grant funding through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Unfortunately, just 11 days after construction was completed, Hurricane Debby caused significant damage to the facility.
Since then, Baker County has been working through FEMA's recovery process to rebuild the ramp. As part of that effort, the decision was made to relocate the ramp approximately 250 feet north to a more suitable location. This new location is expected to better withstand high-water events and help reduce future damage caused by changing water flows in the cove.
A question we often hear is:
"Why can't the County just fix the existing ramp?"
The answer is simple: FEMA has directed that no repairs can be made to the current ramp while the reconstruction project is underway. The existing facility must remain closed and untouched until the federal process is complete.
So where are we now?
✅ Construction Project awarded to Nordic/AMI in July 2025
✅ Design and engineering underway
✅ Permitting process actively moving forward
⏳ Awaiting final permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
🚧 Construction begins once permits are approved
We know it feels like this project has taken a long time. Trust us, we want to see the ramp reopened too. Unfortunately, federally funded projects involve a significant amount of engineering, environmental review, and permitting before construction can begin.
The good news is that the project remains on schedule, and we expect permitting to be completed within the coming months.
Our goal is simple: provide Baker County residents with a safer, improved boat ramp while utilizing FEMA funding and minimizing costs to local taxpayers.
Thank you for your patience as we work through the process. We'll continue to keep you updated along the way.

06/03/2026