Commissioners OK clear‑cut plan, table formal award for timber sale at regional shelter site

The Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners on March 4 agreed to change the scope of bid 2025‑09 for timber harvesting at the county regional shelter site from a "thinning" approach to a clear cut and tabled awarding the contract until the next regular meeting.

Public works staff had recommended awarding the contract to North Florida Timber Dealers, Inc. as the highest qualified respondent under the thinning bid. Commissioners and staff discussed whether thinning or clear cutting made more sense given tree condition, hurricane damage and storm risk. Several commissioners and staff said the trees were densely planted, often broken or leaning from past storms, and that thinning could leave many unstable trunks that would later fail.

Commissioner discussion referenced two bidders in the record: North Florida Timber Dealers, Inc. (recommended as the highest qualified respondent for the thinning bid) and Long Branch Land and Timber (the higher bidder on an alternate scope). County staff advised the board that the awarded contract term is set at 120 days and suggested extending the contract period if the board changes the scope so the winning bidder has sufficient time to complete work.

Because the high bidder changed depending on whether the county accepts thinning or clear cutting, the board decided to delay final award to allow staff to prepare a revised contract and to notify contractors of the change in scope. Commissioners gave five‑zero consent that the county should clear cut rather than thin and instructed staff to bring the clear‑cut contract back on the consent agenda at the next regular meeting.

Ending

The board did not sign a contract at the March 4 meeting; staff will prepare a revised agreement reflecting clear cutting and an adjusted performance period and return it for approval at the next regular meeting.