[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6120981,"mediaKeyId","2704653-cd31cbdda9165779d5600fd521cd5954","parentId",2704653,"title","Suwannee County commissioners approve consent items, FEMA reimbursement, weapons lights and roadside mowing contract (votes at a glance)","audioSeconds",4348,"startMs",69000,"endMs",4417000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2704653-cd31cbdda9165779d5600fd521cd5954&start=69&end=4417","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2704653-cd31cbdda9165779d5600fd521cd5954/thumbnail_69000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6120981/Suwannee-County/Florida/Suwannee-County-commissioners-approve-consent-items-FEMA-reimbursement-weapons-lights-and-roadside-mowing-contract-votes-at-a-glance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120981-5c2117b2e142c1c7dd02945f5cff4334/orig.mp4?Expires=1771084352&Signature=MUyNQIv9FzMxmyRtfCVaQYL-wxPXbqgPRNr-gbGfMCBogL4uhJg5BT79Syw7ox6RJ4WvPxIfPTnUVO1SARmfh8JxEbLCvS8Ajxf9OF91G-S60iTMbwHS9ySb9zO0Js5pDgh0uxIvd5SlCDm~AdXyQIsmoa~YbAcu3am8dnWtlSHckvN1MXQY5wVsUi7Sd1A6BV5QNEz6NVsyI~nZtyp-J52QWxslIZDB29jP7JQpck7u744fdR9dYFRJASMnHXyDbIoI4o692dSjvPQyi4BQ0GJG~bkNSHbuVxVtKmnU7eKQLHyMaar8ECUCSk-0UASYMxFOO07Bf3NUC4MAF4J-gQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Suwannee County","date","2025-03-19T14:11:54Z","article","Suwannee County commissioners on March 18 approved a series of routine and policy items by voice vote, most unanimously (5‑0). Key actions approved included minutes and consent items, FEMA reimbursement agreements for tornado response, purchase of weapon‑mounted lights from the law enforcement trust fund, award of a roadside mowing and litter‑pickup contract, acceptance of a school‑district deed for the county pool, and creation of a new assistant administrator position.

Minutes and consent: The board approved the March 4, 2025 meeting minutes and the remainder of the consent agenda after pulling items 3, 10 and 11 for discussion (items 2, 4, 5 and others were approved by voice vote). Motion carried 5‑0.

FEMA reimbursement: The board authorized the chairman to sign an additional FEMA grant agreement to secure reimbursement for tornado damages (motion by Commissioner Hale, second by Commissioner Perkins). The board noted these are routine agreements required to secure federal reimbursements after declared disasters; vote was 5‑0.

Law enforcement trust fund purchase: The board authorized use of law enforcement trust fund monies (fine and forfeiture funds) to purchase weapon‑mounted lights for the sheriff’s office, amount $9,563.20. Sheriff’s staff said the lights would allow deputies to mount lights on pistols and rifles so officers do not have to choose between weapons in low‑light incidents. The board asked in the future that staff include multiple vendor bids in the packet; the motion carried 5‑0.

Roadside mowing and litter pickup: The board awarded bid 2025‑08 to Silver Star Landscape LLC for roadside mowing and litter pickup, pending county attorney review, with the contractor scheduled to begin April 1 after a kickoff meeting. Commissioners said the county will retain some equipment for non‑paved areas and certain needs; motion carried 5‑0.

County pool deed: The school district offered to deed the county pool to the county so the recreation department — which operates the pool — and the county can align title with current operations. County Attorney Adam Morrison explained that operational arrangements would not materially change but the title would move to the entity that uses and maintains the pool; the board authorized acceptance of the deed (motion by Commissioner Perkins, second by Commissioner Mobley) by a 5‑0 vote.

Assistant administrator position: County Administrator Greg Scott requested permission to create and advertise an assistant administrator position to help manage projects and provide coverage during upcoming medical leave. The board approved the creation of the position and authorized recruitment to begin, with the administrator saying the funding will come from existing budget lines; motion carried 5‑0.

Other procedural notes: The board approved a motion authorizing execution of routine change orders and grant documents when required to secure reimbursements and keep projects on schedule; where specific amounts or vendors were not included in the packet, the board requested fuller procurement documentation in future packets.

Votes listed below reflect motions and recorded outcomes where the transcript or agenda provided details; items with limited discussion were approved as described above.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 18, 2025 Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Suwannee County commissioners on March 18 approved a series of routine and policy items by voice vote, most unanimously (5‑0).","taxTitle","Suwannee County, Florida","taxId",28195,"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},6120986,"Commissioners approve $20,072 change order after dispute over fire‑hydrant specs",532,951000,1483000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2704653-cd31cbdda9165779d5600fd521cd5954&start=951&end=1483","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2704653-cd31cbdda9165779d5600fd521cd5954/thumbnail_951000.jpg","/articles/6120986/Suwannee-County/Florida/Commissioners-approve-20072-change-order-after-dispute-over-firehydrant-specs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120986-fd5da527e18e5eb92ae19195f88a1879/orig.mp4?Expires=1771084352&Signature=B2y3NILlSLgxq9oh~k6YpROm~E6n~CUXpPEi5qpnjqkihYRrG2rZt7uiHucOgz~nVEUEPkyPs~HBlt~Xh11yrae0BDLLAxYrLGoa~W~DxQDDg9TAcgy-CXFT~AND4vID5MLqykx3iVgdlwy7kT1kDbiwTb5eva7gNjBgaLvs0kB7vwres69FVWm6KfyGm2EFAp~xSZDF~6KVJ0YQCbjt3KmkEf9IWkat0HjKt~3cEQ4jl0YoaYE-B-gNnDPypfUPQ2hNOb06S06r7ndJTKrAxIAYjdihlTEsQLSFT1AMOjxtOFSNxIldlBvF2EBU8ukKxmkA46fdJEpiDG9H6-4R3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Suwannee County commissioners on March 18 unanimously approved change order number 1 with Musick Construction Inc. to replace installed fire hydrants and extend the construction timeline by 28 days, increasing the project cost by $20,072.31 to be paid from existing grant funds.

Commissioner White led questions about how the wrong hydrants were installed and whether bid documents or the engineer should have specified the county’s standard hydrant. County Administrator Greg Scott and staff told the board that bid specifications referenced “Suwannee County specifications” but did not list the specific hydrant model, and that engineers generally must avoid specifying brands in bids. The county said it will add explicit specifications to future bid documents.

Staff said options for the already‑installed hydrants include finding another agency or water utility that uses the same model and could accept a swap or sale, returning unused inventory to the manufacturer, or uninstalling and replacing installed units if necessary. The county noted potential additional costs to stock varied repair kits versus replacing hydrants.

Commissioner White moved to approve the change order; Commissioner Perkins seconded. The board voted 5‑0 to approve the $20,072.31 change order with Musick Construction Inc., charged to grant funds, and asked staff to report back on attempts to sell or swap the installed hydrants and whether the engineer will assume any responsibility for associated losses.

Musick Construction Inc., North Park Professional Services (engineer) and Suwannee County were named in the discussion; staff said some of the issue resulted from a lack of specificity in the bid package and that the county will prepare more detailed specifications going forward.","Suwannee County approved Change Order No. 1 with Musick Construction Inc. to replace fire hydrants and extend the construction timeline 28 days. Commissioners debated specification oversight and who bears responsibility for the $20,072.31 increase; motion passed 5‑0.",{"_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},6120989,"Suwannee County gives MATCO 120 days to build private spur or face trespass",910,2673000,3583000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2704653-cd31cbdda9165779d5600fd521cd5954&start=2673&end=3583","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2704653-cd31cbdda9165779d5600fd521cd5954/thumbnail_2673000.jpg","/articles/6120989/Suwannee-County/Florida/Suwannee-County-gives-MATCO-120-days-to-build-private-spur-or-face-trespass","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6120989-d106498d8f0f9339365cd072ad57fcda/orig.mp4?Expires=1771084352&Signature=O-wFfScuTeaIfgVo7uhdc212az8Py-Vcw~QuEgfJkzrEUo6iYjwEuXda-lkgfsjrvjJzd2NVqbkqQdoJyltLzyYX~jrDbXL1a0KAFYrtdbiJemAIVSRMHWN8bOGiWBtUHab2qdV5~38KMl3lRsVVjg~BA1SxQSr7QsiMZhzM81hf7Tu-R5SoBqZwGWLyB2S2uWXRgkmnVAMuDkjtLj4Y4JLko41Azv~xvwF0Ku7ytN6opkKjQaYcpRhA11tg~xjRpj2wBmToKjWl2BXxFwm5ec9-sqn~ieXkEv6s4aQgrcuL41Vrv7~qdjEJRP9yspLyFTvDM070~Cuex4OEDceRIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Suwannee County Attorney Adam Morrison told the Board of County Commissioners on March 18 that MATCO Industries has used the county rail spur at the Catalyst site for roughly a decade without building its own off‑spur as the county expected, and the company must act or be trespassed.

“Build your spur. Get off of ours,” the chairman said during a heated exchange after Morrison described repeated delays and a previous cleanup expense the county paid after an incident at MATCO’s operation.

The memorandum of understanding the county signed with MATCO in January 2024 required MATCO to construct track off the county spur so the county rail could be used for ingress and egress rather than long‑term parking. Morrison said MATCO has repeatedly promised construction but has not delivered. He read an email from MATCO CEO Matt Ferber saying materials and plans exist and that work would start “within a month,” but Morrison and several commissioners said written promises and phone calls were no longer sufficient.

Commissioners debated timelines and remedies. Morrison recommended sending a 120‑day notice requiring MATCO to complete the off‑spur work or face trespass from the county rail spur, and he proposed a 90‑day check‑in at which MATCO could request limited extra time if substantial progress existed. The board also asked the county attorney to negotiate a hold‑harmless/use agreement that would require MATCO to accept liability for future incidents on the spur as a condition of any temporary continued use.

Commissioner Perkins moved to authorize the county attorney to send the 120‑day no‑trespass warning and to negotiate a hold‑harmless/use agreement; Commissioner Hale seconded. The motion carried 5‑0. Morrison said the notice would be calendared with a 90‑day review and that trespass would be enforced if MATCO failed to meet the deadline.

Commissioners said the county has been patient and cited potential interest from other businesses, including a sawmill that has indicated it wants rail service; commissioners said they want the spur available for future users rather than having one company occupy it rent‑free.

Morrison told the board the railroad told him that, if MATCO worked full bore, the work would take three to six months to complete. Commissioners said they would consider additional remedies if MATCO did not make demonstrable progress during the 120‑day period.","The county authorized its attorney to send MATCO a 120-day notice to build its own rail spur off the county-owned Catalyst spur and negotiate a hold‑harmless agreement; commissioners also scheduled a 90‑day check‑in. Motion carried 5-0.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Suwannee County commissioners approve consent items, FEMA reimbursement, weapons lights and roadside mowing contract (votes at a glance)

Commissioners approve $20,072 change order after dispute over fire‑hydrant specs

Suwannee County gives MATCO 120 days to build private spur or face trespass