County to investigate purchase of several beachfront and bayfront parcels; commissioners give staff authority to negotiate

County Administrator briefed commissioners on multiple privately offered parcels near public parks and beach accesses and asked direction on whether staff should pursue negotiations and appraisals. Properties presented included: - A 1.3‑acre bayfront lot at 1140 Nellie Drive adjacent to Kellogg Park; asking price $2,250,000; - Three contiguous parcels (0.52, 1.28 and 0.26 acres) between Cessna Park and West Wilson Drive, offered collectively (listed asking prices: $750,000; $1,000,007.50; and $200,000 respectively); - A parcel at 4499 W County Road 38 (formerly a wider gulf-to-38 assemblage) with a recent offer at $650,000 for a 75-foot wide lot; and - Two small parcels adjacent to the Fort Panic beach access (0.157 acres at $350,000 and 0.103 acres at $250,000) that are not buildable but could expand parking and add 16–18 spaces at one lot according to staff. Administrator Sunday and staff explained a range of funding sources and county constraints, noting some waterfront parcels donated to the county (including the Kellogg donation) are considered part of the nature-center system and would not count against a 10% cap on beach-park expenditures tied to some funding pools. Commissioners asked staff to pursue negotiations and, where appropriate, place the parcels under contract while appraisals and due diligence proceed. The board authorized staff to enter contract talks, bring parcels back to the board for ratification and proceed with appraisals; commissioners expressed interest in prioritizing “most bang for the buck” acquisitions that expand public access without exhausting a single funding bucket. Ending: Staff will return with appraisal results and recommended priorities; the board retained final approval authority for any purchase or appraisal-driven negotiation.