SPECIAL MEETING
LEVY COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
November 9, 1999
The Special Meeting of the Board of Levy County Commissioners was held on November 9, 1999 at 9:00 a.m. in the Levy County Board of County Commissioners’ meeting room, with the following Commissioners present:
Chairman Frank Davis
Vice Chairman Wilbur Dean
Comm. Don Foley
Comm. Lilly Rooks
Comm. Sammy Yearty
Also present were:
County Attorney Gregory V. Beauchamp
County Administrator William C. Cobb
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m..
COUNTY LAND
Mr. Greg Beauchamp said the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has submitted a deed for property contiguous to the road right of way that was previously conveyed for the Boogie Ridge Marine Laboratory in Cedar Key for execution. Mr. Beauchamp said the deed is to clarify ownership by the Department of Environmental Protection for the land conveyed by the Department of Transportation and the county. Comm. Rooks moved to approve the signing of the deed by the Chairman. Comm. Foley seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
SHIP
Mr. Beauchamp presented a Satisfaction of Mortgage for the mortgage deed executed by Earl Rogers for a SHIP loan. Comm. Dean moved to approve the Satisfaction of Mortgage and authorize the Chairman to sign to document. Comm. Foley seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENT
Mr. Beauchamp presented the contract with Municipal Code Corporation for the codification of county ordinances for the Chairman’s signature. Mr. Beauchamp said the contract was approved on November 2, 1999 and the contract has been signed by Municipal Code Corporation.
RECREATION
Comm. Yearty said there is an opportunity to purchase the Devil’s Hammock land consisting of approximately 7,400 acres by the county through a grant with Florida Communities Trust Preservation and the application requires information on proposed land management for submission with the initial contract to begin Phase I. Comm. Yearty said the purchase of the Devil’s Hammock land would preserve the watershed for the Wacassassa basin.
Comm. Dean said the purchase would allow for an area to be preserved for future generations to enjoy a natural area possibly utilizing natural reforestation of the land and believes the property could be managed by the county. Comm. Dean said people like to have a wooded area to drive around in and a majority of the heavily wooded areas are now closed to the public due to hunting clubs or management practices of timber companies.
Chairman Davis said concerns need to be addressed on land management , what state requirements would be and the cost to manage the land.
Mr. Billy Cobb said he recommended the county be the lead agency for the purchase of the land and obtain assistance from state agencies such as Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC) and the Division of Forestry (DOF) for preparing a land management plan.
Mr. Neal Eicholz, Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC) biologist, said the community trust would be concerned on the management of the property. Mr. Eicholz said the FWC works in conjunction with other agencies and private owners on the management of lands and funding is handled various ways.
Ms. Krista Kelly said the Florida Communities Trust Preservation have requested a contingent management plan to accompany the contract reflecting the proposed use of the land considering preservation, reforestation, recreational and environmental issues. Ms. Kelly said a deadline is pending on November 12, 1999 to submit the initial contract agreement to allow a closing on the land on November 30, 1999 otherwise the project would be delayed until the governing board of the Florida Community Trusts convenes next year.
Mr. Anthony Drew, County Agent, said wildlife inventories and continued monitoring of specifies would be necessary and probably necessitate hiring a consultant to prepare annual reports as part of the management process
Comm. Yearty said he is concerned the owners of the property are continuing to harvest timber and is there a cut off date to stop cutting timber and if the appraisals address the land that has had timber cut.
Mr. Eicholz said a conceptual management plan should be acceptable with the application to process the first phase of the purchase.
Mr. Ernie Ashe, Division of Forestry, said they would be unable to estimate the cost of managing the property and normally funds for land acquisitions allow for management but it can be expensive and extensive. Mr. Ashe said the Division of Forestry would provide some technical assistance but they do not want the management of the property.
Mr. Herb Heesch, Division of Forestry, said the area was a valuable resource but it was necessary to know the inventory of the pines which had been cut, road improvement costs and potential revenue to determine management costs.
Mr. Terry DeMott, Suwannee River Management District, said the management plan would be an outline and not a complete management plan to be provided at the closing on the land.
Mr. Ron Grant inquired if there was knowledge of what the effects the purchase of the land would have on the county in the future.
Chairman Davis advised the financial costs to manage the property are unknown currently but believes the State will work with the county in management of the property.
Comm. Dean moved to proceed with the project to purchase the Devil’s Hammock property from funding received from Florida Communities Trust Preservation. Comm. Rooks seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
Comm. Dean moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the contract to proceed with the purchase for the initial phase. Comm. Rooks seconded and the MOTION CARRIED.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS THE MEETING ADJOURNED.
Frank Davis, Board Chairman
ATTEST:
Douglas M. McKoy, Clerk of Court