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BOCC awards two CDBG home replacement contracts and approves Project Newton severance agreement
Summary
The board awarded two Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) demolition and replacement home contracts to Jeff White Construction and approved a severance agreement and related administrative items for Project Newton; residents raised transparency questions about Project Newton contract access and average wages.
Suwannee County commissioners on March 17 approved awards for two housing replacement contracts funded by a CDBG housing rehabilitation grant and approved a severance agreement tied to Project Newton.
David Fox of Fred Fox Enterprise presented the bids and recommended awarding two separate contracts for demolition and construction of replacement concrete‑block homes. The low qualified bidder for both addresses was Jeff White Construction; the board approved each award and authorized the chairman to sign the site‑specific environmental review documents contingent on Florida Commerce and environmental releases. Board members noted the award amounts exceeded an older program estimate of $115,000 per house; Fox asked the board to proceed acknowledging the higher costs.
Separately, county counsel described a severance agreement for Project Newton the board had received after the agenda was posted; the agreement severs the county’s asserted rights to claim title over certain personal property should a bank foreclose. Counsel called it a formality to satisfy the project's lender and the board approved it unanimously.
During public comment earlier in the meeting, a resident raised concerns that Project Newton contract or agreement details were not available to the public, noting the agenda packet showed projected average wages and net new positions but not a public copy of the agreement. Commissioners acknowledged the request to provide redacted copies when appropriate.
