Taylor County commissioners approve two small road abandonments in Steinhatchee

Taylor County commissioners on June 17 held public hearings and approved two separate resolutions to vacate and abandon small sections of roadway in Steinhatchee.

The first resolution described and vacated a 0.14‑acre parcel located in Section 25, Township 9 South, Range 9 East — described in the packet as the portion of Fletcher Lane between Lots 4 and 5 of Block 23 of the Steinhatchee subdivision. The resolution states the board determined the closure “will not deprive any person of a reasonable means of ingress and egress” and that the county “renounces and disclaims any right ... in and to” the described parcel. The resolution stated the action will take effect when the adopted resolution and proof of publication are filed with the clerk of the circuit court.

A petitioner and several members of the public spoke in favor of the first closure, citing public‑use and local parking benefits for nearby businesses and a pharmacy rebuilt after storm damage. The petitioner told the board the closure would create roughly eight or nine parking spaces to help adjacent businesses.

After public comment, Commissioner Fige (motion) and a second were recorded. The clerk conducted a roll‑call vote; commissioners present voted to adopt the resolution (recorded roll call in the transcript showed unanimous “yes” responses from the commissioners present). The board recorded that the parcel is small (0.14 acre) and will be placed on the tax roll in the adjacent owner’s name after recording.

The second resolution concerned a separate closure described as a portion of the public alley (Eighth Street East Alley) in Block 61 of the Town of Steinhatchee plat (Section 25, Township 9 South, Range 9 East). The described parcel measured approximately 20 feet by 250 feet (about 0.11 acre). Public comment urged the board to show maps and visuals at the hearing; staff said a map was included in the posted packet and that the alleyway had been used for years but now would provide formal parking access for adjacent properties.

The petitioner for the alley closure told the board he owned the adjacent parcels on both sides and that the closure would formalize a parking area and reduce county maintenance. County staff and the county attorney explained the statutory process: when a county closes an alley or road as described in the resolution, title typically vests in adjacent property owners (the county does not “sell” the property but abandons county interest, and recorded deeds and proof of publication govern the process). The board noted this is a small remnant (0.11 acre) and that adjacent owner objections, if any, would be weighed in the public hearing process.

Commissioners moved, seconded and adopted the second resolution by roll call (all commissioners present voting “yes” in the recorded roll calls), with the resolution to take effect upon recordation with the clerk of the circuit court.

Both abandonments were presented as noticed public hearings; letters to adjoining landowners were included in the packet. Staff said the abandonments would go to the adjacent owners on the tax roll once recorded. No appeals or formal objections were sustained at the meeting.

The board completed both actions during the meeting and directed staff to record the adopted resolutions and associated proof of publication with the clerk of court.