Columbia County commissioners approve leases, grants and program amendments; set floodplain adoption hearing

Columbia County commissioners approved several leases, grant agreements and program amendments and set an adoption hearing for a revised floodplain ordinance during their meeting. The board took votes on multiple items listed on the agenda and passed motions by voice vote.

The actions included approval of a special-permit application for a laser light show at the Lake City racetrack; acceptance of a Suwannee River Water Management District grant to repair erosion at Trump’s Island boardwalk dock with a county match; approval of a ground lease with Cox Communications for a 0.25-acre terminal site; an amendment to the county's SHIP (State Housing Initiatives Partnership) allocation to add an owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program with a $40,000 maximum; approval of a subrecipient administration agreement with the Suwannee River Economic Council to administer the SHIP program; application to the Florida Department of State Division of Historical Resources for a $50,000 abandoned African‑American cemetery grant; and the appointment requested to the Tourist Development Council. The board also set an adoption hearing for the county's updated floodplain ordinance for February 20 and indicated it plans to schedule a hearing on a campgrounds ordinance at a later meeting.

"This is for a laser light show to be held the weekend of January 11th at the Lake City racetrack," said Mister Gooden, opening the public hearing on the special permit. No members of the public spoke for or against the permit before commissioners closed the hearing and approved the application.

Joel (staff) asked the board to set the adoption hearing for the updated floodplain ordinance on February 20, noting the county's continued participation in the National Flood Insurance Program and that an outside expert audited the update. The board approved setting the hearing to allow time for consultant review and required public notice.

Mister Kirby described a grant for erosion repairs at Trump’s Island: "The grant is for $212,900 via the Suwannee River Water Management. It will require a match, $25,200, but that can be funded via your vessel fees, so this is not a budget impact." The board voted to approve the memorandum of cost-share agreement to accept the grant and proceed with the repair project.

On the Cox Communications item, staff said the company sought to lease roughly 0.25 acres at the county-owned property near County Road 18 and the fire station for a fiber-optic terminal hub. Terms presented were $30,000 per year with a 3.3 percent annual increase, a 10-year initial term and four 5-year renewal options. The board approved the ground lease.

The board also approved amendments to the county SHIP allocation to add an owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program with a $40,000 maximum per unit and a five-year dissolving lien, and then approved an amended subrecipient administration agreement with the Suwannee River Economic Council to administer the SHIP program.

Commissioners authorized staff to apply for a $50,000 grant from the Florida Department of State Division of Historical Resources to document and clear the Union burial grounds (an abandoned African‑American cemetery) using ground-penetrating radar, signage and vegetation removal; staff said there is no local match requirement for that grant.

Procedural motions such as adoption of the agenda, approval of the consent agenda and other routine actions were carried by voice vote during the meeting.

Ending: The approvals clear the way for the county to accept state and regional grant funding, update housing program rules and pursue the proposed Cox lease; the board's scheduled February hearing will provide a public opportunity to review the proposed floodplain ordinance prior to final adoption.