A volunteer lifeguard nonprofit is suing the city of Jacksonville Beach, claiming the city is breaching its contract to protect beaches on Sundays and holidays.
Jacksonville Beach says it no longer needs the Volunteer Life Saving Corps due to a federal ruling against city employees also acting as unpaid volunteers.
Instead, Jacksonville Beach Ocean Rescue, which protects the beach with professional guards Monday through Saturday, will take over Sundays and holidays as well.
The Volunteer Corps says this violates a 10-year contract the city signed with the group in 2016. Negotiations between the two parties ended last week, with Jacksonville Beach officials changing the locks on the building the volunteer group used as its headquarters, which sits on city-owned land.
The group filed its lawsuit Thursday. It's asking a judge to make the beach town honor the contract through 2026. The city wants the agreement to be officially terminated this December.
