Levy County directs staff to study options to terminate or acquire Forestry Camp lease after concerns about upkeep and costs

The Levy County Board of County Commissioners instructed staff to work with the interim county attorney to explore options regarding the county's lease of the Forestry Camp, including possible termination or acquisition.

County manager Mary Ellen Harper said the current lease is open-ended and staff needs to meet with the state to clarify the condition of buildings compared to when the county received them. She asked whether the board wanted staff to investigate terminating the lease; commissioners moved to expand that scope to include acquisition. Harper said staff would return with options and cost estimates.

Commissioners discussed site size (about 40 acres), that the county is currently using less than a quarter of the acreage, and that some buildings have received repairs while others still need significant work. A staff member summarized building components: several dormitories, a cafeteria, offices, visitor area, and multiple outbuildings; roofs, gable ends and the fire-suppression pump were cited as pressing maintenance costs.

One commissioner noted the site's package water and sewer system is a county asset that could be useful for future expansion. Another urged caution about terminating the lease without first pursuing acquisition discussions, saying the county could miss an opportunity to secure a valuable site. Staff said some repairs might be eligible for FEMA funding; estimates for maintenance and potential acquisition will be brought back to the board for decision.

The board's direction was procedural: staff should research termination and acquisition options, assemble cost estimates for relocation or renovation, and return with recommendations and any funding scenarios; no final action to terminate or acquire occurred at the meeting.