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Water Authority backs letters of support for two conservation acquisitions after presentations
Summary
The board voted to recommend letters of support for two county acquisition candidates — the 500-acre Hurley property (headwaters of the Harris Chain) and the 354-acre Blandford site — and discussed appraisal, funding and next steps for conveyance and restoration.
At two agenda items trustees considered staff and partner presentations about potential county land acquisitions and authorized letters of support.
Hurley property: Carl Salafrio (Barge Design) presented a roughly 500‑acre site near the headwaters of the Harris Chain of Lakes. He described existing agricultural uses (sod farming), two peat-mined lakes created historically and an estimated annual load of approximately 2,000 pounds of total phosphorus from the Jones Avenue source area. The board moved to approve a letter of support for pursuing the opportunity; one trustee recused from votes involving property where they had a lease/financial interest. The motion passed (roll-call/tally noted at the meeting as a board majority).
Blandford property: Melissa Hill, senior project manager for Trust for Public Land, presented the Blandford nomination for the county’s Public Lands Acquisition and Trails Acquisition Advisory Committee. The 354‑acre site includes approximately 232 upland acres and 122 acres of wetlands, over 11,500 feet of frontage across multiple lakes, and aligns with the Upper Ocklawaha Basin Management Action Plan. Trustees discussed appraisal logistics and potential bargain-sale negotiations; the board moved and approved a letter of support to accompany the county nomination.
Why it matters: trustees framed both properties as opportunities to secure floodplain function, increase public recreation and produce water-quality benefits (wetlands and potential stormwater treatment). Staff emphasized that any county acquisition will require formal county appraisals, potential bargain-sale negotiation, and participation by matching grant sources and the Board of County Commissioners for final acquisition authority.
What happens next: staff will provide appraisal and due-diligence updates and work with the county acquisition process and partner organizations to identify matching funds and potential management approaches. Trustees asked staff to seek appraisal documents for review and to coordinate with county attorneys on title and negotiation details.
Votes and recusals: the meeting record shows trustees approved letters of support for the Hurley and Blandford projects; one trustee explicitly recused from votes tied to a leased property interest and will file required forms.
