Daily Record Financial News &
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016
Vol. 104, No. 018 • oNe SectioN
35¢ www.jaxdailyrecord.com
Recognition a long time coming Jacksonville man among OSS operatives to be honored by Congress By Mark Basch Contributing Writer More than 70 years after the clandestine operations of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) helped the U.S. and its allies win World War II, the surviving members of the spy organization are finally getting their due from the U.S. government. And Marvin Edwards thinks it’s about time. Edwards, well known in Jack-
Edwards
Symphony is in tune with city’s fee bump
sonville as a local gadfly and a financial consultant, said he was informed Congress passed a bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the surviving OSS members, who now number less than 100. The OSS, a predecessor to the Central Intelligence Agency, was formed in 1942 and played a key role in the war effort. As far as Edwards is concerned, the medal is long overdue. “This is very late after the acts
took place,” he said. “It’s just a final recognition by Congress — the French were ahead of the curve — to give this award to surviving members,” he said. Edwards actually received France’s highest honor, the French Legion of Honor, three years ago in recognition of his service in that country’s fight for freedom during the war. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award
given by Congress, but officers of the OSS came from all branches of the military. Edwards was a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Forces, the forerunner to the U.S. Air Force, while he served in the OSS. Although it took a long time to go through the process, the Office of Strategic Services Congressional Gold Medal Act had bipartisan support before final passage by the U.S. House last week. EDWARDS CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Group may fundraise to split cost of improvements There is newfound harmony between the city and Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. Days after the orchestra’s president shared concerns over the city’s push to increase ticket fees on publicly owned entertainment venues, there’s been an understanding that could lead to the bill being voted on Tuesday. That legislation, submitted by City Council member Bill Gulliford, in part will increase ticket fees at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, Veterans Memorial Arena, EverBank Field and Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts. The latter has been home to the symphony since 2001, with the city and organization reaching a five-year extension this summer. Gulliford’s bill bumps ticket fees for the arts center, arena and non-Jacksonville Jaguars games at EverBank from $1 to $2.50 and the baseball stadium from 50 cents to $2.50. Events at the new amphitheater will have a $2.50 fee. The fee for Jaguars tickets remains $3.25. Money raised would go toward capital maintenance and improvement on those public Massey buildings. Robert Massey, symphony president and CEO, was apprehensive when he spoke to a council committee on Monday. It’d impact the bottom line if the symphony continued to absorb the costs or hurt attendance if it was passed on to customers, he said. After a Tuesday meeting involving symphony board members and leadership along with city officials, Massey said everyone is on the same page. “Nobody wants to do anything that would cause financial penalty to the symphony or patrons,” he said Wednesday. One idea Massey pitched in a letter to council members was for the symphony to SYMPHONY
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Special to the Daily Record
By David Chapman, Staff Writer
Daily’s Place taking shape near EverBank Field Work is underway at the Daily’s Place complex, which features an amphitheater and flex-field. The facility is part of $90 million in improvements at EverBank Field that are being paid for by the city, through the bed tax, and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
AutoPoint looking at Prominence for center Utah-based AutoPoint is considering Jacksonville for an operations or related center that appears to need space for more than 100 employees. The city is reviewing a permit for Emerald C’s Development Inc. to build-out almost 16,000 square feet of space at the Prominence office park in Baymeadows. AutoPoint, which provides customerretention technology to auto dealership service departments, is posting job openings. Its listings Wednesday included at least six titles for full-time jobs in Jacksonville, including director of strategy, database architect, data analyst and senior QA engineer.
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AutoPoint already has an operation in nearby Deerwood Center at 8505 Baycenter Road, although company representatives did not return several telephone calls to explain the size of the workforce or the specific functions there. It formerly operated as DMEautomotive. At Prominence, the renovation cost is
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shown at almost $463,000 for offices, conference rooms, team rooms, a break room and more elements. Plans indicate the offices and work areas would seat at least 120 people. Plans filed with the permits list the address as the top floor at 8375 Dix Ellis Trail, a four-level structure formerly known as the Hamilton Building. The architect is Campbell + Van Dusen Design Studios LLC of Orlando. AutoPoint develops technology for auto service providers to enhance motorist and customer retention. Its four key operating areas are titling, marketing, engagement and service delivery. MATHIS CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
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