Commissioners debate Fort White sewer interlocal; authorize procurement piggyback while scheduling follow-up review

Columbia County commissioners spent more than an hour debating whether to formalize a contract to help the Town of Fort White administer a roughly $9.8 million grant (potentially rising to about $12 million) for a sewer plant and related infrastructure, then approved a narrower step to allow Fort White to “piggyback” on county right‑of‑way acquisition contracts and to use county procurement contacts immediately.

The board opened discussion after the town’s request to add the interlocal agreement to the evening agenda. County staff described the proposed agreement as limited administrative support: assembling grant documentation, assisting with procurement so the town’s procurements meet grant rules, and managing right‑of‑way acquisition agents on the town’s behalf. County counsel said the draft emphasized that the county would not perform construction work or operate the sewer plant; the town would…