Council adopts resolution to conclude land-use dispute with Lakeshore Hospital Authority; Harris recuses

Lake City’s council voted to adopt Resolution 2025-166 on Dec. 1, 2025, a measure the city described as the culmination of a Chapter 164 conflict-resolution process with the Lakeshore Hospital Authority. City Attorney Martin told the council the resolution transmits a letter from the city’s land‑use administrator (Scott Thomason) and would resolve outstanding land‑use disputes if the Lakeshore board and Meridian Behavioral Health Services follow through on their agreement.

Martin summarized the background: earlier this year the Lakeshore board invoked chapter 164 of Florida Statutes to initiate a formal dispute process with the city concerning land-use and permitted uses on the hospital property. The city and Lakeshore staff met, and Lakeshore later agreed to certain restrictions; Lakeshore and Meridian proposed to include the city’s requested conditions in the Meridian–Lakeshore conveyance agreement. Adoption of the resolution, Martin said, would allow the city to transmit the land‑use letter administratively and consider the Chapter 164 process complete from the city’s perspective, contingent on the anticipated execution of the Meridian–Lakeshore agreement.

Public comment included questions and objections. Barbara Limley asked whether a provision in Exhibit B (section 2a) — phrased to cover primary care, federally qualified health center services and contracting — was added by the city; Martin said that language was added by the city to make the restriction apply to Meridian and to any contractor they might hire, preventing circumvention. Another commenter, Stu Lelberg of the Columbia County Observer, objected to an addendum that was added to the packet the afternoon of the meeting and raised allegations about the hospital’s condition (roof leaks, mold, closed rooms), urging the council to have more information before acting. City staff responded that the substantial parts of the proposal had been distributed previously and that the late addition was a limited reimbursement addendum with no material bearing on the city’s land‑use concerns.

Councilman Carter moved to adopt the resolution. Councilwoman Harris, who said she is employed by Meridian, withdrew her second and formally recused herself from the vote on advice from the city attorney; another member seconded. The roll call recorded votes of yes from Councilman Carter, Miss Young, Councilman Jernigan and Mayor Noah Walker; Harris was recused. The resolution passed with four affirmative votes and one recusal.

Martin said that if adopted by the Lakeshore board next week, the Chapter 164 process would be resolved and Meridian and Lakeshore could complete their conveyance incorporating the city’s conditions. The city will transmit its land‑use letter administratively as described in the resolution.

The meeting record shows substantive public concern about a late exhibit and the physical condition of the hospital; council approved the resolution while a recusal and public objections were recorded.