Jackson County commissioners approve construction contracts and permits, direct staff on local-bid preference; table driveway ordinance

Jackson County commissioners on Feb. 4 approved a string of contracts, two small exceptions tied to the county's SHIP homeowner-rehab program, and a temporary right-of-way permit for Florida Power & Light's Hollister solar project, while asking staff to return with policy language on local bidding preferences and tabling proposed changes to the county's culvert/driveway ordinance for additional review.

The board's meeting combined routine procurement approvals with several policy discussions that generated sustained debate among commissioners and staff about the county's procurement rules and program limits. Commissioners voted on contract awards for a $428,244 boardwalk project, an annual culvert-pipe contract, interior painting at Great Oaks and a change order for the county jail roof and HVAC work, among other items. They also approved a temporary pipeline/road crossing for FPL to move stormwater on its Hollister solar site.

Why it matters: the votes advance several grant-funded capital projects and remove short-term obstacles to ongoing housing and infrastructure work. The procurement- and program-policy discussion — including a request to revisit a local-bid preference — signals commissioner attention to how county and federal funding rules affect local contractors and small projects.

Most important actions - Two SHIP exceptions: the board approved an exception tied to a rehabilitation project on Proctor Lane that brought the project to the program's $50,000 maximum (additional inspections were the driver). The board also approved a $554 exception for inspection costs on a separate SHIP rehab project. Staff said the extra inspections were required after uncovering additional work needed to bring homes up to code.

- Local-bid preference: Commissioner motioned that staff research and return with a memo to reinstate a local-bid preference where not prohibited by federal or state funding rules; commissioners later asked staff to draft a policy and bring it back for review. County staff advised the board the purchasing policy already contains a 5% local preference in section 4.8 but that federal or state funding sources (including some SHIP awards administered by Florida Housing Finance Corporation) are exempt. Commissioners asked for a clear draft showing where the preference could apply.

- FPL right-of-way use: The board approved a request from Florida Power & Light and its contractor to place a temporary 8-inch PVC pipe under Delwood Cypress Road to pump and move stormwater between basins on FPL-owned parcels while remediation work proceeds. Company representatives and county staff said the pipe and temporary operations would be removed when pumping is complete; the company told commissioners it would repair and recompact the road surface after removal. Engineers present said the first disposal basin holds an estimated 400,000 gallons and an alternate 3-million-gallon basin is available if needed. The board asked for monitoring and a commitment to restore the road.

- Contracts and construction approvals: The board approved several construction-related contracts and change orders, including: - Contract 2425-01: elevated boardwalk construction with Monolith Construction LLC, low bid $428,244 (to be administered and inspected by DHM engineering). - Annual culvert-pipe contract awarded to J and G Culverts Inc. (annual quantities/pricing per bid). - Change Order No. 3 for the jail roof and HVAC replacement project, adding materials and labor to address newly exposed conditions found during demolition; staff said this will be paid from the county match portion of the project and that the overall project cost is increasing (staff did not provide a new single-line total in the discussion but described the project as approaching multiple millions with additional work and equipment replacements). - Interior painting at Great Oaks awarded to Paint King USA LLC, labor quote $12,000 (county to purchase paint materials separately).

- Other board actions: the board approved the SHIP annual report certification (corrections noted and approved by Florida Housing Finance Corporation), granted a film permit for Plum Pictures at Howell Boat Landing (one day, small crew), approved a fee waiver for Jackson County Education Foundation use of Citizens Lodge, approved donating two loads of dirt to DaySpring Christian Academy, accepted a Byrne JAG C award for the sheriff's office ($38,194), confirmed Gardner Bess (Gardner Biz / consultant) engagement to represent county interests before the Florida Public Service Commission on FPL rates (city of Marianna previously signed on), appointed an alternate to the Appalachian Regional Planning Commission representative, and approved a one-year $1-per-year lease of 2.8 acres on Highway 273 to Jason Hatcher with an option to revisit terms at the end of the first term.

Board discussion and dissent Commissioners pressed staff on fairness to local contractors during the SHIP bidding process, asking whether bidders are required to inspect attics, crawl spaces or other concealed areas before bidding and whether change-order controls should be tightened. SHIP staff and program managers said the program uses a pre-bid walk-through and that change orders are typically driven by unknown conditions exposed during demolition (for example, missing roof decking under a metal roof) and by inspections required by the SHIP program inspector (staff said the program inspector charges roughly $200 per inspection). Several commissioners asked staff and the county attorney to explore whether a local preference could be reinstated for county-funded procurements and — if legally allowed — whether a 5% differential should apply for SHIP-sized projects.

On the FPL permit, commissioners asked technical questions about trenching versus jacking under the road, compaction and how the company would guarantee the repair. FPL representatives said the plan is to trench, install the 8-inch PVC casing as a sleeve, run the discharge hose through it, monitor pumping and remove the pipe when the work is done, and to recompact the trench with red clay to match existing surface. Commissioners asked for a bond or written guarantee; FPL said the company will ensure the road is restored and noted it owns both parcels involved.

Tabling and follow-ups The board tabled proposed amendments to the county's corporate-installation/culvert ordinance after discussion about whether the draft changes should apply only to single-family residential driveways or to all property types (commercial, agricultural). Staff recommended clarifying language to limit the county's construction obligation on residential connections while leaving other applicants responsible for full costs; commissioners asked staff to return with revised language.

The board also directed staff to return with a memo on local-bid preference language and to research whether prior policy changes were approved by the board or resulted from purchasing policy updates. Staff later noted that section 4.8 of the purchasing policy currently provides a 5% local preference but exempts Florida Housing Finance Corporation-funded SHIP awards and other state/federal funding sources.

Votes at a glance (selected items) - SHIP exception (Proctor Lane): motion to approve increased award to cover additional work and inspections; outcome: approved (voice vote). - SHIP exception ($554 inspection): motion to approve $554 exception to SHIP maximum award; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Motion directing staff to draft/research reinstating a local-bid preference where not prohibited by law: staff directed to prepare policy memo for board review; outcome: motion carried (voice vote). - FPL right-of-way use permit (temporary 8" pipe across Delwood Cypress Road): motion to approve with monitoring and restoration expectations; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Contract 2425-01 (Monolith Construction) elevated boardwalk: motion to approve contract and authorize signature (bid $428,244); outcome: approved (voice vote). - Annual culvert contract (RFB RB 2425-04) with J and G Culverts Inc.: approved. - Jail roof/HVAC change order No. 3 (interior/exterior roofing/HVAC additions): approved; funding from county match portion of project. - Interior painting at Great Oaks (Paint King USA LLC, labor $12,000): approved. - Purchasing policy update (property-sheet threshold change): approved. - Meeting date change (Feb. 25 moved to alternate date/6 p.m.): approved. - Gardner Bess engagement letter (PSC representation): approved. - Byrne JAG C award (sheriff's office, $38,194): approved. - Highway 273 lease to Jason Hatcher ($1 per year, one-year term with option): approved. - Corporate-installation ordinance amendments: tabled for further staff work.

What the board asked staff to do next - Draft and return with policy language and a memo on local-bid preference options and legal limits. - Return with clarified, targeted language on driveway/culvert ordinance amendments that distinguishes residential single-driveway accommodations from commercial/agricultural applicants. - Provide documentation on procurement/purchasing-policy history related to local preference removal or changes. - Monitor the FPL permit work and receive written commitments on road restoration.

Speakers quoted in this report include only those who appear in the meeting record and who addressed the items above, for example Kim (SHIP program staff), Michelle (county attorney/staff), Travis Clap (Florida Power & Light), Mike Dahl (Black & Veatch), Mr. Long (City Manager, Marianna), Michael Richter (insurance/outsider comment), and multiple county commissioners including Chairman Westwood, Commissioner Donipro, Commissioner Branch and Commissioner Crutchfield. (The meeting transcript contains full turn-by-turn remarks.)

Ending: Commissioners finished the agenda after routine consent approvals, promotion confirmations in administration and scheduling an executive-session mediation briefing requested by the county attorney on pending inverse-condemnation litigation. Staff will return with the draft local-preference memo and clarified ordinance language for the board to consider at a future meeting.