[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6653310,"mediaKeyId","2484023-0c4e14894975558b2c2bb66c78f5d4cf","parentId",2484023,"title","Commissioners authorize survey and appraisal for potential sale of parcel at Hampton Springs Park amid debate over historic value","audioSeconds",2101,"startMs",4794000,"endMs",6895000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2484023-0c4e14894975558b2c2bb66c78f5d4cf&start=4794&end=6895","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2484023-0c4e14894975558b2c2bb66c78f5d4cf/thumbnail_4794000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6653310/Taylor-County/Florida/Commissioners-authorize-survey-and-appraisal-for-potential-sale-of-parcel-at-Hampton-Springs-Park-amid-debate-over-historic-value","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653310-8f0f624f51c6e3c4805a0a1d4887e1ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186725&Signature=dZmdtAr7beY4yuN3OAFtkKPhVTNIX7Uke~RIcum80cNy0xD69CKWfrC~H2lyL45tIn3l00BkXZUNmL644XSabsfQH7-zcEdEFiXkL~dlsyPUpVaODpb8CN9GtjBfkBn0f00FDsJlztsoGhdK-mLAmJ4fjxnyC4qrkuzV4FAb4r1kQJ7CxVcIaJsufmYfppdwxB0KbImTP2gKnCvKWoP3oMx-ZKfT1FQU7E7P42BqR-hW1OGebL1bq8xLgtLDF-KpOTLgUGH6sxfNmRcQITYJLHz07PPHTKnmsihr8BbODwKN2ADzkEmhX-kVrPJnyJwWswJQEBbdnVIYVjBkc4COdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Taylor County","date","2025-03-04T14:02:17.947Z","article","Taylor County commissioners on Wednesday voted to seek a survey and appraisal and to publish an intent to sell a portion of Hampton Springs Park, prompting extensive debate about historic protections, alternate civic uses and the appropriate stewardship of public property.

County staff said a privately owned business had expressed interest in acquiring 4–8 acres of a wooded tract adjacent to the park’s existing RV area. Staff described the parcel as being “behind the existing RV park” and not including the park’s historic spring, restroom improvements or the trailhead where previous state transportation funds were used. The administrator told the board the county would follow the required competitive processes — survey, appraisal, and advertised bidding — and that an appraisal and survey would cost approximately $5,500.

Board action and legal framework
Commissioner Moody moved and Commissioner Neiman seconded a motion to approve the board’s intent to sell that portion, authorize a survey and an appraisal, and allow staff to prepare an advertisement for bids; the board approved the motion by voice vote. Staff said a budget transfer from reserves would be required to pay for the survey and appraisal and that the county could later require bidders to assume costs or set a minimum price after appraisal.

Concerns about historic restrictions and grant recapture
Several commissioners and members of the public raised concerns about historic preservation and about whether prior grants placed restrictions on alienation of the property. County staff said the entire site has a master site file number from the Bureau of Historic Preservation and that some grants used on the park are more than 10 years old; the Bureau told staff there were no remaining restrictions tied to those historic‑preservation grants. Staff also said they were awaiting clarification from FDOT on whether earlier transportation-enhancement funding carried any recapture requirement. Staff told the board that if the trailhead portion were sold, proceeds up to approximately $700,000 (the amount of some transportation grants) could be required to be applied to the grant-funded improvements; staff said the parcel under discussion was distinct from the trailhead improvements, but they would confirm restrictions before any final conveyance.

Public comments and alternatives
Public commenters urged the board not to sell historic parkland and proposed alternative uses, including a museum or keeping the site largely intact. Supporters of permitting an expansion by the adjacent business argued that selling a small portion could help local economic development and allow an existing nearby business to expand without affecting the core historic area. Several commissioners sought a middle path: authorize a limited parcel survey and appraisal so the board could assess value and potential restrictions before making a final sale decision.

Next steps and protections
Staff recommended that any bidder be required to do due diligence and that development would still be subject to state historic‑preservation review. The board’s motion authorized the survey and appraisal and signaled intent to proceed to solicitation; the board reserved the right to reject any and all bids.

Ending: The board approved the appraisal and survey funding transfer and asked staff to return with appraisal and survey results, FDOT’s response regarding the transportation grants, and a recommended advertisement for bids; commissioners said they would evaluate results with attention to historic preservation and future county use.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Taylor County Board of County Commissioners","oneSentenceSummary","After extended public comment and debate, the board approved a motion to pursue an appraisal and survey and to advertise an intent to sell part of Hampton Springs Park (roughly 4–8 acres were discussed), a step that will be followed by a public solicitation and further review of development restrictions tied to prior grants.","taxTitle","Taylor County, Florida","taxId",28196,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6653317,"Board adopts resolution authorizing chair to sign state grant agreement F0152",189,4645000,4834000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2484023-0c4e14894975558b2c2bb66c78f5d4cf&start=4645&end=4834","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2484023-0c4e14894975558b2c2bb66c78f5d4cf/thumbnail_4645000.jpg","/articles/6653317/Taylor-County/Florida/Board-adopts-resolution-authorizing-chair-to-sign-state-grant-agreement-F0152","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653317-7dbcaba64db2e0ee7ad07c881c2ffd5e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186725&Signature=j33C5bRi3V3DNETb~XPPCoibXkDTYHV~5K862UxdDIYMFhZzpc62-QNkfENIX1V9Evw0-AvOmqjP-18bszlU-V-AQ9cUEfEa0azDEobdsSVTDlVEFtGv-tD~E5RL8fY2yqWoKdbuZUmYyJ1hRMeOExmwh4d6dof2iMrRNXdihRoyTXIIbgZ1GDCbXSPqHgjD-i~ukYebue6xtH5Di5-uz7~5vkKoLJifSanimdgVVWKgZDZAoVdWo1Q65MDOCkZJp-z8UIezwowvn68f22LZuIsmuJNdcI-RY12qNXd9npLEkMyFcUB4~Jr3xWDp74w0bqLAg3VifgqfEDvw~OEb5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Taylor County commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing the chairperson to sign state-funded grant agreement F0152 with the Florida Division of Emergency Management on Wednesday. County staff said the county had already executed the agreement and the state agency requested a formal resolution to complete the file.

County staff introduced the resolution, which the board read by title and approved by motion and second. The action was procedural: staff asked the board to ratify the agreement and authorize the chairperson’s signature for recordkeeping and compliance with the state agency’s requirements.

Why it matters: resolutions authorizing grant agreements are standard administrative steps that permit the county to receive and administer state funds assigned to specific disaster-recovery or emergency-management purposes. Staff said the board had already signed the underlying agreement and that the resolution was being provided at the agency’s request.

Ending: The board approved the resolution by voice vote; staff said the signed documents would be returned to the state to complete the grant file.","The board adopted a resolution authorizing the chairperson to sign state grant agreement F0152 from the Florida Division of Emergency Management; staff said the board had already executed the agreement and the resolution was requested after the fact by the state agency.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6653322,"Board approves demolition and new construction for 11 SHIP‑qualified homes; one homeowner raises concerns about program paperwork",290,3857000,4147000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2484023-0c4e14894975558b2c2bb66c78f5d4cf&start=3857&end=4147","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2484023-0c4e14894975558b2c2bb66c78f5d4cf/thumbnail_3857000.jpg","/articles/6653322/Taylor-County/Florida/Board-approves-demolition-and-new-construction-for-11-SHIPqualified-homes-one-homeowner-raises-concerns-about-program-paperwork","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653322-a0cfa6403b9f11e19f87c7f60a16d5ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186725&Signature=oRINHkUrwj7PXdF1JXxgzuTl~Ki7J1YB2JZ9JGPkPJietTD3SX3qDdW8c~~fdtiUuAn~4q~3wYKcbHptUObT82qewxJXY4w6BagYhwXPtu~oAo~sUN57e3QXzg4yDuMxR5h7ihfT3lVADB4z4~JUt2haFxYIUOzzxTBbWm2YyTuna4yGYOhXNCkuzTIbfBdh8ZCmydKNulooqLfV3rUcbWDI6XT2zLjnVH1~kUSn3Q~8Kj9jrFREF9Wh3agVjlwcBzTrtDu58sOS6g5IbAh1DWbDODFzm~ZR7juKL3a~xpMQYYXSnDxpIxVtxfNFdRo1yQjE6MsxpCInlb2CPR81yA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Taylor County commissioners voted to approve a list of homes to be demolished and rebuilt under a county housing program administered through SHIP/HHRP, and they approved treating one marginally eligible property as a demolition and reconstruction case.

The county’s housing coordinator, Melanie Cox, told the board 11 houses qualified for the county’s demolition-and-new-construction program. The list she presented included Sheila and David Haber; Patricia Brown; Betty Sue Ellison; Kathy Miller; Christina and Robert Tucker; Karen Phelps; Diana Lee; Karen Everett; Linda Kieran; Charlie and Amelia Gray; and Johnny and Brenda Leggett. Cox said 10 of the homes had been determined to be demo-and-new-construction, and the board needed to decide how to handle Karen Everett’s property because the estimated rehab cost exceeded the home’s assessed value.

Cox told the board that rehabbing Everett’s house would cost more than $70,000 while the assessed value was about $63,000. Cox said the county had sufficient grant funding to treat the Everett property as demolition and replacement and recommended doing so; she said the homeowner agreed to the demo.

Board action
A commissioner made a motion to approve the list of homes and to include Karen Everett as a demo-and-replacement; another commissioner seconded the motion. The board approved the motion by voice vote.

Public comment and program complaints
After the approval, two residents who said they are on the waiting list for the housing funds addressed the board. Tabitha Gilliard said she had applied more than a year ago and said the program continuously requested additional documentation. Gilliard said the county or program representatives asked for documentation about a $25,000 SBA loan and had told her the loan might be deducted from the amount the county provides toward a new house. Gilliard called the repeated requests for documentation “working backwards” and said the process lengthened her wait. Another resident, who identified herself on the record, described similar problems with FEMA and program paperwork.

Cox said staff would follow up on the specific cases raised and promised to check the program file and communications. Board members asked county staff to review the documents and respond to the homeowners’ questions about what paperwork was required and why.

What the vote means
The motion authorizes the county to proceed with invitations to bid for demolition and new construction for the approved list and to include the Everett property as demolition-and-rebuild. Cox told the board she expected to return shortly with the next set of qualifying houses that could be moved forward once funding and documentation were complete.

Ending: The board adopted the demolition-and-rebuild plan for the 11 homes and directed staff to answer the homeowners’ paperwork questions and to report back with a schedule for the next group of qualifying homes.","The board approved demolition-and-rebuild plans for 11 homes under a SHIP/HHRP program and voted to treat one borderline case, the Karen Everett property, as demolition and replacement. A resident on the waiting list complained about repeated paperwork requests and a possible deduction for a prior SBA loan.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6653325,"Commissioners press staff on roll-off truck repairs and trash collection after storm debris surge",1165,2242000,3407000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2484023-0c4e14894975558b2c2bb66c78f5d4cf&start=2242&end=3407","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2484023-0c4e14894975558b2c2bb66c78f5d4cf/thumbnail_2242000.jpg","/articles/6653325/Taylor-County/Florida/Commissioners-press-staff-on-roll-off-truck-repairs-and-trash-collection-after-storm-debris-surge","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653325-b79785f757adf77ba03aafb8a33ab1a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186725&Signature=K5gao9Yg3gbTt00m3uP0eIRusBao10QbDHxNc1CJL1XpREXFZT4KnRo4zQIzb9s7szZMXZ55Zro9y0mU0FCzFwAZ0O4PaL8P-BpDiQljC3PuYJeZzdsBEjZ8Yr7t728eZFRUzikMKuZ6jNj19dE57OL4e~zN8DmSJNtU~~XeRhh-XRr7oIg-kZFMkYv6yytGYL2OTnzN~G2zUfLsxO78FVg0-HFS58u3CGIdwcs7vGDcwbeaejx19eWlrkl~J5Cfd49denAm0zyz4isni3Lgw8RD8a3s4udi-IvZ4snLt0i96j6jIEdiMUS1knytwl9i~bXNimUUlg23cKWaD8YbGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Taylor County commissioners and residents pressed county public-works staff about delayed roll-off truck repairs and overflowing debris sites during a lengthy discussion on Wednesday, with staff saying they had purchased a new truck and were working to restore four to five trucks to service.

The item, presented to the board by Commissioner Fenton, focused on the county’s roll-off truck fleet and the operational trial plan to handle high volumes of debris after recent storms. County staff reported they had acquired a new roll-off truck and expected to have it tagged and insured so it could be placed on the road as soon as the board approved the invoice that night. Staff said two trucks were recently repaired and that three or four trucks operational would allow the county to begin catching up with debris volumes; they said full recovery could take about a week and a half.

Public-safety and service concerns
Residents and some commissioners reported multiple operational problems: trucks sitting in shops for weeks waiting on parts, flat tires at the landfill caused by debris and nails, missing electrical components from vehicles after visits to the landfill, and drivers having to work in hazardous conditions. A public commenter advised the county to consider magnets to pick up nails and to contact a local private recycler to help haul loads to reduce backlog. One commissioner urged staff to “send somebody to get the parts” rather than wait in shop queues.

Staff gave three operational explanations for the backlog: high mileage and age of the fleet, long lead times for parts, and a shortage of mechanics. Staff said they had received a mechanic application and were hiring a part-time driver to provide spare capacity. The department said they used two outside repair vendors, and trucks at one vendor had been waiting on parts for up to two weeks.

Contractor Saturdays and possible remedies
Board members discussed whether to continue using a contractor on Saturdays to increase capacity while the county fleet returned to service; staff said contractor Saturday service was available through April 30 and would cost more but help address immediate citizen needs. Commissioners also discussed renting equipment, borrowing trucks from nearby counties, and using private contractors to clear filamentous or heavy construction debris if that would speed recovery.

Other operational notes and next steps
- Staff said they would check on parts locations and report to the board the following day if parts could be picked up sooner.
- Staff said they would verify current driver counts and confirm whether the department manager held a CDL license.
- Commissioners asked to be informed immediately when a truck is taken out of service so they could answer constituent inquiries.

Ending: Staff said they expected to have four trucks operational the next day (including a newly purchased truck) and five once outstanding units returned from repair; commissioners asked for daily status updates until normal service resumed.","Board members questioned county staff about broken roll-off trucks, delayed repairs, driver staffing, contractor Saturdays and tire damage at disposal sites; staff said a new truck was acquired and additional hires and parts retrieval were being pursued.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6653326,"Taylor County commissioners review $3.3 million shortfall and propose cuts to constitutional offices",1860,366000,2226000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2484023-0c4e14894975558b2c2bb66c78f5d4cf&start=366&end=2226","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2484023-0c4e14894975558b2c2bb66c78f5d4cf/thumbnail_366000.jpg","/articles/6653326/Taylor-County/Florida/Taylor-County-commissioners-review-33-million-shortfall-and-propose-cuts-to-constitutional-offices","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653326-8ffa2795d662950ecc9970107b94af76/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186725&Signature=O39LT0UntEz6h3~mTOZt0flRdi1uoyxp-3kicxS1mrCeuKKT5MInoJVr0boj~NoL78AA6E1BYCEuyatAznO8fRmZW0MM7A5-oHzxqiq92Aru7tvCjkIYFAKzhE3wlraP4MkrlWSEJaCPiEvGIgfOoMEfow-R8TVnVdP9HYdRIiDnDES8zLRb4gPrr-QrL9x30FOJRBQwG0~xUsh3RPnzfApc3sI-1Sl90XQI-ERTcakCtLQ86RM2dh5Ar-dW25iK0wTYsRZVheuaK~s34od8hdclg0926nnsS38RuwHXNLTjpVFSKUDVzn4keCkiLQum6U~PWE-LBFpjbtkoyIvnGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Taylor County commissioners on Wednesday reviewed a preliminary plan to close a projected $3.1 million to $3.4 million shortfall in the fiscal year 2025 budget, discussing across-the-board percentage cuts for constitutional officers, constraints on using a 1¢ sales-tax capital fund for operating costs, and potential next steps on health-insurance procurement.

The proposal presented to the board summarized current line-item budgets for several constitutional officers and recommended percentage reductions: a proposed 15% cut to the sheriff’s budget and 10% cuts to the supervisor of elections, tax collector, property appraiser and clerk. The presenter said the sheriff’s current budget stood at $9,253,000 and proposed reductions across offices that were calculated by the presenter into dollar amounts during the discussion.

Why it matters: county leaders said they are seeking options to avoid raising ad valorem taxes while balancing a legally required budget. Commissioners repeatedly emphasized that reserve draws and tax increases would be last resorts, and they asked staff and the county attorney to provide legal guidance and a clearer accounting of offsetting revenue sources before final decisions.

The discussion threaded three persistent practical constraints. First, the 1¢ local-option sales-tax revenue is currently earmarked for capital improvements; converting any portion to operating funds would require legal review. Second, some departmental budgets — notably the sheriff’s — receive reimbursements and pass-through revenues (for example, school resource officer salary reimbursements and dispatch reimbursements), which reduce their net cost to the county but complicate headline comparisons of “approved budget” figures. Third, health-insurance expenses are large and politically sensitive: several commissioners favored re-bidding the county’s plan to seek lower rates rather than shifting more cost to employees.

“The bottom line is we have to balance the budget,” one commissioner said during the meeting. Board members took no final policy vote on cuts during the session but directed staff to deliver follow-up information: a legal opinion on whether the 1¢ sales-tax earmark can be repurposed, an itemized accounting of reimbursements and offsets that lower some departmental net costs, and quotes or proposals to re-bid the county’s health-insurance plan by May so results would be available before final budget adoption.

Budget figures discussed and clarifications
- Sheriff: presenter cited an approved budget of $9,253,000 and proposed a 15% reduction; during debate other commissioners and staff noted the sheriff receives reimbursements (the presenter and another speaker described roughly $565,000 from the school board and additional reimbursements that reduce the sheriff’s net cost). The meeting transcript records both the larger gross figures and the existence of reimbursements; commissioners asked staff to compile the net figures.
- Supervisor of elections: presenter cited a current budget of $7,733,578 and suggested a 10% reduction.
- Tax collector: cited at $413,680 with a recommended 10% reduction.
- Property appraiser: cited at $1,076,081 (spoken as “a million $76.08 15” in the transcript) with a 10% reduction proposed.
- Clerk: cited at about $1,121,664 with 10% proposed.
- The presenter calculated the proposed reductions into a combined total the board would need to find; figures cited during the meeting varied as participants discussed whether to use the 1¢ fund and how reimbursements affect net budgets.

Commissioners repeatedly cautioned against prematurely exhausting county reserves, saying doing so could create multi-year budget pressure if local economic development and new tax receipts do not materialize quickly. Several commissioners urged staff to identify non-personnel reductions first (travel, contracted services) before recommending personnel reductions.

On health insurance and employee impacts
Some commissioners raised concern about increasing employee premiums as a first option. One commissioner asked staff to solicit bids for alternate insurance plans beginning May 1, with a one-month turnaround to present rate comparisons in June, arguing that re-bidding could yield savings without worsening employee participation or long-term loss ratios.

Next steps and direction
The board directed staff to:
- Ask the county attorney for a written opinion on whether the 1¢ capital fund may be reallocated for operating costs and, if so, the legal process required.
- Produce an itemized accounting showing gross departmental budgets and the reimbursements/off-sets that reduce net county cost, particularly for the sheriff’s office.
- Begin a formal insurance bid process (if the board confirms timing) so alternative plan costs are available before the July budget deadline.

No formal vote was taken on cuts during the session; the board scheduled continued budget work sessions in March to receive the requested follow-up information and to discuss concrete reduction scenarios.

Ending: Board members concluded the session stressing the county must present clear options — and their likely service impacts — to the public before making decisions on taxes, reserves or workforce reductions.","County commissioners discussed options to close a projected $3.1–$3.4 million gap in the fiscal 2025 budget, including percentage cuts to constitutional officers’ budgets, use or reallocation of 1¢ sales-tax funds, and options on reserves and insurance procurement.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners authorize survey and appraisal for potential sale of parcel at Hampton Springs Park amid debate over historic value

Board adopts resolution authorizing chair to sign state grant agreement F0152

Board approves demolition and new construction for 11 SHIP‑qualified homes; one homeowner raises concerns about program paperwork

Commissioners press staff on roll-off truck repairs and trash collection after storm debris surge

Taylor County commissioners review $3.3 million shortfall and propose cuts to constitutional offices