The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners will undergo changes with newly elected Chair Krista Joseph leading the way. She has announced updates to the meeting agenda to improve efficiency and public participation. According to the St. Johns County, the changes include moving general public comments to the beginning of meetings and involving more veterans in leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
Chair Joseph affirmed that the Veterans Council of St. Johns County will continue its involvement with Lt. Col. Bill Dudley leading the group. Additionally, more veterans and county staff members will now have the opportunity to lead the pledge. The Board of County Commissioners also reinstated the practice of taking public comments at the start of meetings, a change that had been suspended due to the pandemic. As Chair Joseph noted, "It’s been four years since residents could give their public comments early and then get on with their day." The Board of County Commissioners meets on the first and third Tuesdays each month at 9 a.m., with a full calendar available on the county's website.
Chair Joseph announced that public safety and legislative updates will no longer be included at the beginning of Board of County Commissioner meetings. These updates will instead be shared through press releases and social media, managed by the Office of Public Affairs, which also broadcasts live meetings with video-on-demand services, including agenda time stamps. This change aims to improve efficiency. "BOCC meetings can last eight hours or longer, and the reason for eliminating these updates from the agenda is to get to business faster," she explained. Urgent updates will still be prioritized at the start of the agenda if needed. Chair Joseph encouraged residents to share their input and attend the meetings, as stated by the St. Johns County.
