The Taylor County Board of County Commissioners approved a request from the Steinhatchee Chamber of Commerce to use overflow county-owned parking near the Steinhatchee boat ramp for staging RVs and festival vendor vehicles during an upcoming festival, county staff and Chamber representatives said.

Mark Griffin, identified as the chamber president, told commissioners the Chamber needs additional paved space because Hurricane Helene damaged restroom facilities near the boat ramp and room rentals and vendor space are limited. The Chamber's plan would place porta-potties and dumpsters on site and stage vendors and RVs in the overflow area across the road from the ramp, Griffin said.

Commissioners and staff discussed preserving a designated area for voters and leaving the main ramp parking by the boat ramp available for boaters. Staff said the county would require a certificate of insurance listing the county as additionally insured. Commissioners also discussed whether generators would be permitted; staff said primitive camping with generators would be allowed in the overflow staging area, and the Chamber would provide trash removal and porta-potty service.

County staff said the overflow area could accommodate roughly 30 to 40 staging sites and that the use would be licensed only for the event; charges discussed were intended to cover porta-potty and dumpster costs rather than create profit. The board moved to approve the Chamber's request with conditions; the motion was made and seconded on the record and then approved by the board.