Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Northeast Florida Business Briefs - Jan. 2005

In the News

ALACHUA COUNTY -- Following a lengthy legal battle, county officials agreed to pay Wayne Philpo $25,000 in exchange for his promise not to open an adult video and sex shop at U.S. 441 and I-75.

CLAY COUNTY -- Commissioners have hired an engineering firm to test concrete block homes in a Middleburg subdivision built by Maronda Homes. The developer is being blamed for water leaks that have damaged nearly 70 homes.

COLUMBIA COUNTY -- Two years after becoming the county's first female commissioner, Jennifer Flinn has been elected chairwoman of the commission.

FERNANDINA BEACH -- City officials want to evict the company that sells food and fuel to planes at the municipal airport. The city claims McGill Aviation is behind on more than $68,000 in rent payments.

GAINESVILLE -- Gainesville Regional Utilities won permission to build a coal-burning power plant. City officials say the plant is needed to keep up with growing demand for electricity, which could outstrip the present supply by 2011.

GREEN COVE SPRINGS -- A New York-based dinner cruise line is docking at the Reynolds Park Yacht Center during the winter season. The 200-foot Captain JP II, which can seat 500 for dinner, is booking corporate parties for Super Bowl week.

JACKSONVILLE -- The family that opened the first Burger King restaurant on Beach Boulevard more than 50 years ago has sold its 33 northeast Florida establishments to the chain's Miami-based corporation.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH -- Former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell sold his 14,000-sq.-ft. oceanfront home for a market record $9.5 million. The buyer: Kevin Twomey, president of St. Joe Co.