Board reallocates $10.9 million in RESTORE funds for coastal working‑waterfront and oyster restoration

Levy County’s manager presented a requested amendment to the county’s RESTORE Act Spill Impact Component (pot 3) expenditure plan, asking the board to remove two previously listed projects and replace them with a new project that focuses on coastal working‑waterfront development and oyster restoration.

Mary Ellen Harper told commissioners the local RESTORE committee had approved the change and that $10,900,000 in the account could be used for oyster restoration and related initiatives rather than remaining unused. “...there’s new funding available for septic to soar in other areas so that we don’t need to keep that in our restore act plan,” Harper said while outlining the proposed Project 12‑4.

The amendment would remove Project 12‑1 (Wakasasa land acquisition) and Project 12‑3 (a septic‑to‑sewer conversion plan) and add Project 12‑4, described in the packet as a Levy County coastal working‑waterfront, cultural-heritage, economic‑development and reef‑restoration initiative. The manager said the committee supports moving forward with an oyster‑restoration project using the $10.9 million held in that account.

Commissioners discussed the years those funds have been sitting idle and expressed support for moving the project forward; the board then approved the amendment by voice vote. The manager said the decision will allow staff to proceed with planning and procurement for the restoration initiatives described in Project 12‑4.

Next steps listed in the meeting packet include technical planning and coordination with state and local stakeholders; the transcript does not include a detailed timeline for implementation.