STATE LAND PURCHASE

by Teresa Eubanks, CLJNews.com

BRISTOL – A proposal for the state to buy 12,439 acres in Liberty County to preserve habitat to allow endangered gopher tortoises, snapping turtles, eastern indigo snakes and Florida pine snakes to thrive could result in creating a new endangered species – the Liberty County landowner.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet will meet Tuesday, Jan. 17  to consider several issues, which – until around 3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16  – included a decision on whether the state should purchase the large tract owned by the Fernandina Beach-based company Tupelo AG LLC. The site is located south SR 20, behind White Springs.

If approved, the state would pay $18.09 million for the property.  The land would be purchased through the Florida Forever conservation program and managed for recreational and educational activities by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Currently, 59.5 percent of the 835.6 square miles that make up Liberty County is owned by the state or federal government.  That purchase of the Tupelo site would mean government-owned property would comprise 61.82 percent of the county’s land.   

County commissioners and residents are concerned over the impact such a sale would have on taxes, timber growth and local businesses as well as the limitations it would pose for young adults raised here who wish to find a home to start their own families.

Tupelo AG LLC purchased the property in Sept. 2018 and is currently leasing it out to hunting groups.

As of Monday afternoon, it was not clear if the agenda item would be considered at a later date.

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At least three Liberty County Commissioners – Jim Johnson, Scottie Phillips and Hannah Causseaux, along with Clerk of Court Daniel Stanley, Sheriff Buddy Money and School Superintendent Kyle Peddie – were planning to attend Tuesday’s cabinet meeting in Tallahassee to argue against the sale.

“My goal is just for Liberty County to be present and make sure the Cabinet understands the impact on counties like ours,” Causseaux said before learning the issue had been scratched from tomorrow’s agenda.  “This will take property off the tax rolls and will leave a negative economic impact on the county,” she said.

In past years, the county commission has passed two resolutions asking the state and federal government to stop buying land in Liberty County.  

Sales to state and federal agencies impact communities and family ties.  “There are not a whole lot of options for younger generations that want to build a home and raise their family here,” Causseaux said.   

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If the state does eventually take ownership of the property,  it will be devastating for the area’s forest product industry, according to Liberty County Chamber of Commerce Director Johnny Eubanks.  “Taking more land out of production will have a drastic effect on the regrowth of timber here and ultimately cause forest manufacturing to relocate in areas with less government restrictions,” he said.

“This would be taking our tax dollars and working against us,” said longtime local realtor Travis Sykes of United Country Real Estate. “We need things done in this county but taking tax revenue away will make it hard,” he said.  “Ultimately, it means the millage rate will go up. We’ll have to tax those who have been here a while since we won’t be able to get new people in here.”

He said that the county has the smallest population density in the state.  “He gets at least one call a day from someone wanting to move to Florida,” he said, noting that the lower cost for homes as well as the rural setting attracts potential buyers.  But less land will send prices up and options down, making it hard for newcomers to find their place the sun here while limiting options for those who grew up in Liberty County.

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