Commissioners approve vacation of Jersey Lane after Mosaic petition; CenturyLink utility conditions noted

The Hardee County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to approve Resolution 2026-03 on Jan. 15, granting a petition from Mosaic to vacate roughly 0.57 mile of Jersey Lane.

Tara Holton, project coordinator and right-of-way agent, said the vacation was requested to deter trespassing and illegal dumping on Mosaic-owned adjacent properties and that Mosaic is the sole owner of adjacent parcels. Holton told the board that utilities had no objection but that CenturyLink asked the county to reserve rights for existing facilities in the vacated right-of-way until the cables are relocated or terminated.

A commissioner raised concerns about the county creating liability for utility facilities; the county attorney advised against the county assuming relocation or maintenance obligations and clarified the legal distinction between right-of-way easement and underlying land ownership: "We do not own it. We have a right of way. So we do not own the underlying land... We just have right of way." The attorney said vacating removes the public easement when there is no longer a public need, but does not permit the county to sell underlying property.

Commissioners discussed the potential mine-footprint effect of the vacation (one commissioner noted the vacation could increase a mining footprint by about 15 acres by removing road setbacks) and confirmed the legal description in the packet covers "all of Jersey Lane south of State Road 64." The board moved, seconded and approved the resolution by unanimous voice vote.

The resolution passed with conditions reflected in the staff packet; staff said a formal recorded resolution with the legal description would follow.