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Lake City council approves annexation, brownfields designation and wastewater plant acquisition; adopts school work-based learning MOU
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Summary
The council unanimously adopted an annexation ordinance, designated a parcel as a brownfield, authorized acquisition of the North Florida Mega Industrial Park wastewater treatment plant and approved a memorandum with the school board for work-based learning; votes were unanimous on recorded roll calls.
At its meeting, the Lake City Council voted on several formal items including an annexation ordinance, a brownfields designation, agreement to acquire a wastewater treatment plant from Columbia County, and a work-based learning memorandum with the school board.
Annexation: City Attorney Martin presented ordinance 2026-2367, a petition for voluntary annexation by Elizabeth Steely. With no public comment, Councilmember Carter moved and the council adopted the ordinance on final reading. The recorded roll call showed Councilmembers Carter, Harris, Young, Jernigan and Mayor Noah Walker voting in favor.
Brownfields: City Attorney Martin then read resolution 2026-036 to designate property at 2932 North U.S. Highway 441 (parcel ending 05000-003) as a brownfield area under the Florida Brownfields Redevelopment Act to allow environmental remediation and redevelopment. The council adopted the resolution on vote; roll-call responses recorded the motion's passage.
Wastewater plant acquisition: City Attorney Martin reviewed statutory requirements in Florida Statute 180.301 and the staff memorandum that substantiates the public-interest determination for the acquisition of the North Florida Mega Industrial Park wastewater treatment plant. Councilmember Carter moved to approve resolution 2026-043 and to incorporate the manager’s section 180 analysis; the motion passed on a recorded unanimous vote. Council members praised staff including Steve Brown and wastewater director Cody Pritgen for their work on the interlocal agreement with the county.
Work-based learning MOU: Staff (Billy Joe) described a memorandum of understanding with the Columbia County School Board to provide placements for high school and adult-education students across city departments; the council moved and approved resolution 2026-038 authorizing the mayor to execute the MOU.
Votes at a glance (as recorded on roll call): - Ordinance 2026-2367 (final reading, voluntary annexation): yes 5, no 0 (Councilmembers Carter, Harris, Young, Jernigan, Mayor Walker) - Resolution 2026-036 (brownfields designation, 2932 N US Hwy 441): yes 5, no 0 - Resolution 2026-043 (acquisition of wastewater treatment plant): yes 5, no 0 - Resolution 2026-038 (work-based learning MOU): yes 5, no 0
Next steps: Staff will proceed with actions identified in each adopted resolution, including notifying the Department of Environmental Protection of the brownfields designation and continuing the acquisition process under the terms the county approved earlier.
