Columbia County clears path to sell North Florida Mega Industrial Park wastewater plant to Lake City after heated public hearing

The Columbia County Board of County Commissioners voted to proceed toward closing an agreement to transfer the North Florida Mega Industrial Park (NFMIP) wastewater treatment plant to the City of Lake City, following a long public hearing in which regional utility authorities, Florida Gateway College and county residents urged more study.

County counsel opened the hearing by reciting the ten factors required under Florida Statutes section 125.3401 — including the utility’s income and expense statements, physical condition of facilities, and impacts on customers. The statute frames the board’s task: evaluate reasonableness, alternatives and risk before approving a sale of public utility assets.

Why it matters: The plant sits at the center of the county’s industrial-site strategy. Selling it would transfer operational control — and potentially future influence over who is served and what incentives are offered — from the county to the City of Lake City, a change that speakers warned could affect long-term ad valorem revenue and economic development strategy.

Voices at the hearing: Shannon Roberts of the North Florida Water Utility Authority told commissioners the sale “would allow the county to shed operational control, but would also create the opportunity for Lake City to create a monopoly of utility control for the industrial park and the eastern part of the county,” and asked the board to defer and include the authority in negotiations. President Barrett of Florida Gateway College said the transfer would affect sewage lines running through the college campus and asked the board to slow the process to review infrastructure risks.

City and county officials said the deal reflected practical operational realities. City representatives and county staff said Lake City stepped in to operate and stabilize the plant under an interlocal agreement and that the city has the technical capacity to run it. A city official framed the proposal as a way for the county to exit the utility business while keeping the facility operational.

Commissioners pressed both sides on the trade-offs. Commissioner Ford asked, “Why are we looking at this? I mean, I would just like to hear why this is a good idea and why we should vote for this,” voicing concern that the county would cede long-term control for short-term cash. County staff explained the sale would transfer outstanding capital liabilities (roughly $19 million were noted as remaining needs) and that the county’s existing contract with Lake City is a temporary, proof-of-concept arrangement.

Outcome and next steps: A motion to proceed toward a closing toward the 29th — consistent with the agreement’s timetable — passed on a roll-call-style voice vote after debate. Multiple commissioners asked staff to negotiate explicit safeguards and recommended scheduling a public workshop that includes the City of Lake City, the North Florida Water Utility Authority, the college and other stakeholders to iron out revenue-sharing, customer-incentive and service-governance questions before final execution.

What remains unresolved: Several members of the public argued key city-provided documents were posted late and were not ADA-compliant, a procedural objection that several commissioners said should be addressed when the parties return with proposed contract language. Legal, operational and revenue-sharing safeguards remain to be negotiated and documented before a final conveyance is executed.