Leon County directs staff to explore public uses for stalled Woodville aquaculture site after residents call it an eyesore

The Leon County Commission voted 5–2 on June 10 to direct the county administrator to return with options for public uses — including a stormwater pond — and to inquire whether the property owner would consider selling a stalled aquaculture site in Woodville.

The motion, moved by Commissioner Caban and seconded by Commissioner Cummings, followed a staff status report and public comments from neighbors who said the site has become a long-term eyesore and possible safety hazard next to J. Lewis Hall Senior Park.

The county administrator presented the item as “a status report on the Woodville aquaculture facility,” and noted staff had prepared analysis and would answer commissioners’ questions. Resident Verna Brock told the commission the site has been “nothing but an eyesore to the community,” describing dumped concrete blocks and calling the property a “dumping ground.” Brock said the location is the entryway to a park, community center and library and urged the county to “do everything in your power to rectify this eyesore.”

Commissioner Caban said he supports agriculture but worried the site’s condition and halted construction — he said work stopped in 2022 — made the property unsafe for the adjacent senior park. Caban moved the motion “to direct the county administrator to bring back an agenda item that explores the feasibility of different potential uses that serve a public purpose on the site, to include a stormwater pond for potential flood mitigation, and to inquire with the owner of the property to determine if there is an interest in a potential sale.”

County staff and the county attorney briefed commissioners on the enforcement framework. County Attorney Chastity said code enforcement in Leon County is complaint-driven and noted that a certificate for the aquaculture operation would expire this month; she said a roughly 6-acre portion where the aquaculture certificate had been issued does not have agricultural land classification protections and that “we do have enforcement authority at this time.” The attorney added that code enforcement actions follow the independent Code Enforcement Board and, if a public health or safety nuisance is found, the matter could move to a nuisance abatement process that allows the county to remediate and place a lien for costs.

Several commissioners said they preferred starting with the code-enforcement process before pursuing property acquisition. Commissioner O'Keefe said he was “glad to hear that we expect a complaint to come in, and that there's a process for it,” and that he could not support buying the property before trying enforcement. Commissioner Proctor pushed for the county to engage directly with the owner and said elected officials can file complaints in their individual capacities (the county attorney confirmed complaints cannot be anonymous and must include the complainant’s name).

Commissioner Minor characterized the site as a potential life-safety issue because of its proximity to the park and said a child could be injured on unstable materials. Commissioner Cummings described the motion as appropriately exploratory and “informative” for the board. Commissioner Cabana said the motion would allow staff to quickly determine whether public uses exist and whether the owner was willing to sell; if not, staff would return with further options.

The motion passed 5–2 with Commissioners O'Keefe and Proctor recorded in opposition. Staff said they would proceed with a county-initiated complaint to begin the code-enforcement review in parallel with the new inquiry into public uses or purchase.

Why this matters: The site sits adjacent to the county’s largest park in the unincorporated area, and commissioners cited safety and stewardship concerns. The directive opens two parallel tracks: (1) standard complaint-driven code enforcement and (2) an exploratory staff review of whether the county could repurpose the parcel for a public function or negotiate a sale with the owner.

What’s next: Staff will return with an agenda item reporting the results of the owner inquiry and feasibility of public uses. The county attorney said parts of the property could soon be subject to code enforcement once formal complaints are filed.