Jackson County commissioners approve grants, contracts and routine measures; water-filtration award cleared contingent on references

Jackson County commissioners moved through a packed agenda Wednesday, approving a series of resolutions, contracts, change orders and administrative items. Most items passed on motions with seconds; the transcript shows motions, seconds and approvals though many actions were not recorded with roll-call vote tallies.

Major approvals and actions

- Economic-development resolution: The board adopted a countywide resolution authorizing use of tax‑rebate incentives for economic development, a general policy that the board said allows flexibility when negotiating site-specific deals.

- Project Bristol MOU: The board approved a memorandum of understanding with Project Bristol for a proposed water-bottling operation in Marianna (separately reported).

- Pari-mutuel interlocal agreement: The board approved an interlocal agreement addressing pari-mutuel distributions connected to the Campbellton‑Graceville Hospital district. Staff said the legislature is expected to act to dissolve the district; the county could receive remaining assets after dissolution. County staff noted the county’s share is roughly $57,000 annually from pari-mutuel distributions and that about $260,000 of residual funds remain in a bank account tied to the district.

- Road projects and change orders: The board approved multiple road-related items, including New Hope Road final pay and change order coverage (final amount cited $62,438.17), Poplar Springs Road change order No. 3 (increase of about $55,041), and approval to pursue a number of FDOT grant applications for resurfacing and connector projects across districts.

- Holly Timber Road paving contract: Commissioners approved an FDOT-funded paving contract for Holly Timber Road (contract award cited in the packet at $2,062,870.65) and authorized staff to negotiate small in‑place additions (for example, a short paving apron at a curve) as change orders funded from commissioner discretionary funds if necessary.

- Water-filtration system award (Malloy Plaza): Staff recommended awarding the Malloy Plaza water-filtration system project to the lowest qualified bidder, a firm identified in the bid documents (company listed as from Leesburg). The board approved the award, contingent on staff verifying comparable prior work and references before the county executes the final contract. The bid amount recorded was $578,300; staff noted the project will be funded by utility reserves for the $178,300 shortfall relative to the original $400,000 budget.

- USDA APHIS amendment (animal removal): The board approved Revision No. 2 to the county’s cooperative service agreement with USDA APHIS to increase the total for animal-trapping services; staff said more than 60 animals had been removed to date and that trapping has reduced nightly capture rates.

- County Road 278 (Peacock Bridge) easement and resolution: The board approved an easement to the Florida Department of Transportation to allow the state to construct a replacement bridge on County Road 278 and adopted a related resolution.

- Adebert Convention Center change order: The board approved Revision No. 15, a deduction of $13,438.42 to the Adebert Convention Center contract due to direct purchases and tax savings.

- Charm Road agreement amendment: The board approved an amendment to a Charm Road agreement with Premier Paving to add revised contract provisions necessary for grant reimbursement.

- Endeavor carpentry roof: The board waived competitive-bid thresholds to proceed quickly with a shingle roof replacement for the carpentry building at the Endeavor campus; the low quote was approximately $19,104 and the board authorized staff to pay the cost from Endeavor proceeds (sale of cottages previously authorized).

- Partners for Pets lease & survey: The board tabled final lease approval for a 10-year Partners for Pets lease after asking staff to draft an added clause giving the county a buyout/relocation reimbursement option in case the county needed to re-purpose the site. Separately, commissioners approved a survey proposal from Southeastern Surveying to create a legal description for the parcel to be leased (quote $2,160).

- Appointments and administrative items: The board approved staff recommendations for ranking committees on FEMA hazard-mitigation generator designs and lift-station generators and appointed a municipal alternate to the Appalachia Regional Planning Council.

Votes and contingencies

Several items were approved subject to follow-up work by staff: the Malloy Plaza filtration contract award was contingent on verification of prior comparable work by the low bidder and a final contract to be returned to commissioners; the Partners for Pets lease was tabled so counsel can add relocation/reimbursement language and give the group a chance to respond. The culvert‑installation policy and ordinance (discussed separately) was rescinded and will be the subject of a public hearing on March 11.

The transcript did not record roll-call tallies for most actions; approvals were recorded as motions, seconds and "all in favor" confirmations.