Henry Dean, District 5
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ContactCommissioner Henry Dean Term Expires: 2024 |
News
October 26, 2023 - St. Johns County Approves $58,000 for Continued Support of Vilano Beach Main Street Programs – During the Oct. 17 regular meeting, the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners convened as the St. Johns County Community Redevelopment Agency to approve an agreement with Vilano Beach Main Street, Inc. (VBMS) for $58,000 to continue support of the non-profit organization's dedication to enhancing, promoting, and preserving the historic character of the Vilano Beach Town Center and surrounding areas. Vilano Beach Main Street Support Press Release
October 24, 2023 - St. Johns County Celebrates Start of $1.8 Million Vilano Beach Oceanfront Park Renovation Project with Groundbreaking Ceremony – St. Johns County held a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of the $1.8 million renovation of Vilano Beach Oceanfront Park. Construction is anticipated to be completed in February 2024, and the park will open to the public in Spring 2024, weather permitting. Ceremony Press Release and Photos | Recap Video
October 17, 2023 - St. Johns County Recognizes the 100th Anniversary of Kiwanis of St. Augustine - At the October 17, 2023 St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting, Commissioner Henry Dean presented a proclamation to Richard Hedges, Kiwanis Club Representative, recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Kiwanis of St. Augustine. Kiwanis Club Recognition Press Release and Photo
October 6, 2023 - Youth Leadership St. Johns Learn About County Operations – Earlier this week, local youth participating in the Youth Leadership St. Johns program embarked on a visit to the St. Johns County Commission building. This visit was geared towards providing them with a deeper understanding of the inner workings of their local government. Youth Leadership St. Johns Learn About County Operations Press Release and Photos
Aug. 5 – NBCA Flood Mitigation and Prevention Listen and Learn Meeting – The North Beach Community Alliance (NBCA) will host a community meeting for residents to listen and learn about flood mitigation and prevention. I will be there and invite you to join me.
When: Wednesday, Aug. 16, 6-7 p.m.
Where: Guana Tolomato Matanzas Reserve Vistor Center, 505 Guana River Road, Ponte Vedra Beach
Aug. 3, 2023 – Butler Beach Reach FEMA Dune Enhancement Project Update – I am dedicated to beach restoration and doing everything I can to ensure taxpayers are not footing the bill for these projects. St. Johns County has received $25 million in State funding and $13 million in Federal funding to support the preservation and restoration of our beautiful coastline. I am proud of our Coastal Management team's efforts in moving this forward. As part of the ongoing Butler Beach Reach portion of the FEMA Dune Enhancement Project, St. Johns County continues to maintain public safety by closing vehicle beach access ramps where there is a presence of heavy equipment on the beach. Visit sjcfl.us/coastalprojects for more information.
Aug. 1, 2023 – Proclamation Recognizing St. Johns Housing Partnership’s 25 Years of Service – The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners recognized St. Johns Housing Partnership’s 25 years of service to the community with a proclamation at the regular meeting on Aug. 1, 2023. Proclamation Recognizing St. Johns Housing Partnership 25 Years of Service Press Release | Photo
Aug. 1, 2023 – Floating Structures Ordinance – At the regular meeting on Aug. 1, the Board of County Commissioners approved a floating structure ordinance. In short, these floating structures are not capable of propelling themselves. Some have been using these structures to anchor near our shorelines to conduct business operations and social event activities. These floating structures have become an issue of public safety and health concerns due to the leaking of hazardous materials and the inability to maneuver quickly during emergencies. With input from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Inland Navigation District, we have developed and adopted this ordinance. I am proud that we continue to do everything we can to protect the beauty and safety of our waterways. This ordinance will significantly benefit the areas near Matanzas Inlet and Mickler’s Landing.
Aug. 1, 2023 – County Improves Traffic Safety on CR 210 and Cumberland Park Drive Location – Due to heavy traffic volume during morning and evening hours at the Cumberland Park Drive location on County Road 210, the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution at the regular meeting on Aug. 1 to authorize County staff to engage St. Johns County Sheriff's Office Public Assistance Deputies for traffic control at the intersection of CR 210 and Cumberland Park Drive. Providing traffic control measures on CR 210 to assist with cars exiting and entering Cumberland Park Drive is a matter of public safety. The County will use $100,000 from the Transportation Trust Fund for this enhanced public safety service. The project to widen CR 210 between CE Wilson Road and the existing six-lane portion of CR 210 in the Twin Creeks subdivision includes the installation of a signalized intersection at Cumberland Park Drive/Badger Park Drive and CR 210. A standalone project for traffic signal installation is preparing for bidding. The project's construction is estimated to be completed in nine and 12 months. During this time, the County will work with the Sheriff's Office to provide Public Service Assistants for temporary traffic control at this intersection until the signalized intersection is complete. The widening project is a developer's responsibility that still needs to be fulfilled. The County is pursuing the widening with the anticipation that the developer will reimburse the County for the portion of their required responsibility per the developer agreement, including the costs associated with this temporary traffic control at this intersection.
July 20, 2023 – Orangedale to Mickler Trail Corridor – I am eager to share that the Board wrote a letter to the Florida Greenways and Trails Council respectively requesting the inclusion of the Orangedale to Mickler Trail Corridor in the 2024-2028 Florida Greenways and Trails System Plan. This gorgeous proposed trail would begin at the new First Coast Expressway Bridge, proceed east over I-95 to US 1 before aligning with existing trails in Nocatee, and then continue farther east to State Road A1A. This corridor presents a unique opportunity to expand recreational options and multi-modal connectivity by linking the trail network in Clay County to the coastline of St. Johns County and other trail corridors, such as the St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop. I look forward to sharing more with you soon on this exciting natural asset.
July 1, 2023 – Mochiatsu St. Augustine Location Now Open – It was a pleasure to celebrate the grand opening of Mochiatsu in St. Augustine with franchise owner Linda Zhou. It is always a privilege to celebrate new businesses opening in District 5, especially ones with such hardworking owners like Linda. Mochiatsu is known for its variety of fluffy mochi donuts, Korean hotdogs, and boba tea. The new location is located at 1000-05 S. Ponce DeLeon Blvd., St. Augustine, and open seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mochiatsu Grand Opening Photo
District 5 E-Newsletters
St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners E-Newsletters. Distributed quarterly, the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners E-Newsletters provide insightful information regarding County initiatives, projects, programs, facilities, and special events. Each newsletter contains County-wide information and content specific to the respective District and the County Commissioner elected to represent that area. Please visit the registration page to sign up for the District 5 newsletter or the newsletter of any other district of interest. District 5 newsletter archive.
About Commissioner Dean
Henry Dean, a long-standing St. Johns County resident, began an extensive career in government and politics shortly after receiving his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Iowa in 1970 and his Juris Doctor from Florida State University in 1974. After briefly serving as an environmental aide to Florida Governor Rueben Askew, he served as an attorney for the State Land Planning Agency and then as general counsel for the Florida Department of Natural Resources.
With a keen interest in environmental policy, Henry focused his attention on water quality, and served as the Executive Director of the St. Johns River Water Management District for 17 years. While in this position, he established the first minimum flows and levels in Florida for the Wekiva River System, gave special attention to springs protection, lead efforts to acquire critical buffers to benefit Silver Springs and Silver Glen Springs, and assisted with restoring more than 200,000 acres of marsh along the St. Johns River. Henry also served as the Executive Director of the South Florida Water Management District for four years, and led the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program during this time. Since 2005, he has remained active in conservation efforts as an environmental consultant.
Henry Dean was elected as St. Johns County's District 5 Commissioner in 2016, and re-elected for a second term in 2020. He is a member of the Florida Bar, and served on the Board of Directors for both the Audubon of Florida and the Interstate Council on Water Policy. Henry has four children, and currently lives in St. Augustine Beach with his wife Melanie.
Community Involvement
- Florida Association of Counties Water Policy Committee
- Florida Association of Counties Presidential Advocacy Award
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