Full Breakdown: What’s Really on the June 15 Wakulla BOCC Agenda? A Closer Look

On Monday, June 15 at 6:00 p.m., the Wakulla County Board of County Commissioners will hold its regular public meeting. The agenda is packed with infrastructure projects, grant applications, contract awards, and one potentially major policy decision regarding data centers.

While many items appear routine, several raise questions about transparency, vendor concentration, environmental protection, and how the county manages growth and public resources. Here’s a clear breakdown of everything on the agenda, along with a skeptical look at the items that deserve extra scrutiny.

Quick Overview of the Full Agenda

Consent Agenda (Mostly Routine)

• Approval of previous meeting minutes and payment of bills/vouchers.

• Small E911 grant ($7,847) for maintenance of emergency recording equipment.

• Award of construction contract for a new St. Marks Fire Rescue Facility.

• Award of Mashes Sands Pier replacement construction contract.

• Multiple grant amendments for solid waste, wastewater upgrades at Otter Creek, and emergency generators.

• Extension of the EMS billing contract.

• Two resolutions to apply for grants for firefighter safety equipment (SBCA - Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus and thermal cameras).

General Business

• Two requests for reductions of existing code enforcement liens.

• Resolution to apply for a historic preservation grant for a marker at Panacea Mineral Springs.

• Acceptance of the county’s Full Cost Allocation Plan (a required financial document -more below).

Planning & Zoning

• A zoning change request related to Gulf Specimen Marine Lab (primarily to address sign/wayfinding issues).

Commissioner Items

• Re-appointments to a regional workforce board.

• Item 23: Request to draft an ordinance prohibiting data centers in Wakulla County.

On the surface, this looks like a standard meeting focused on infrastructure and grant chasing. However, a closer examination reveals a few areas worth watching carefully.

The Standout Item: Data Centers (Item 23)

Commissioner Russell is asking the Board to direct staff to draft an ordinance banning the permitting, construction, and operation of data centers in Wakulla County. An alternative option is a temporary 12-month moratorium while impacts are studied.

This is the highest-stakes item on the agenda. Data centers consume enormous amounts of water and electricity. Given Wakulla’s sensitive karst geology and ongoing concerns about springs and groundwater, a strong protective policy makes sense on paper. At the very least, a pause to understand the financial, environmental, and people impacts is waranted.

The staff recommendation leans toward moving forward with a permanent ban and scheduling public hearings. Whether the Board delivers real protection or eventually weakens the language under pressure will be telling.

Vendor Concentration: The Dewberry Pattern

Two items on this agenda continue a noticeable trend:

• Item 6 (Lake Ellen Septic to Sewer professional services): Only two proposals were received. Dewberry Engineers, Inc. was ranked highest with 235 out of 240 points and is recommended for contract negotiations (Cost TBD – negotiations pending). The other respondent, North Florida Professional Services, scored 218.

• Item 8 (Mashes Sands Pier CEI/oversight services): Dewberry Engineers, Inc. was selected for a $72,290 contract after an RFQ process.

More significantly, Dewberry also served as the Engineer of Record on the Mashes Sands Pier project and recommended the construction contractor that is being awarded the multi-million-dollar contract in Item 7.

While it is not unusual for engineering firms to play multiple roles on large projects, Dewberry is receiving a substantial share of professional services work in Wakulla and has done so over an extended period of time. When the same firm is repeatedly selected for planning, design, oversight, and is in a position to recommend contractors, it is reasonable for citizens to ask whether there is adequate competition and whether the county is getting the best value across the board.

Major Contract Awards – Construction Projects

Item 5: St. Marks Fire Rescue Facility Construction

The Board is being asked to award the construction contract for the new fire rescue facility. Five responsive lump sum bids were received. The lowest responsive bidder was Estes Home & Construction, LLC at $1,923,867.29. Other bids received:

• JM Phelps: $1,925,552.00

• Riley Palmer Construction Co.: $1,949,000.00

• Gamble & Assoc. Construction: $1,950,000.00

• Scorpio: $2,318,007.00

Both staff and the Engineer of Record, CRA Architects, recommend awarding the contract to Estes Home & Construction, LLC.

Important note for taxpayers: This project is funded by a state grant on a reimbursement basis. If construction costs run over the available grant funding, the county will either need to secure additional grant money or use its own funds to cover the difference.

Item 7: Mashes Sands Pier Replacement (Construction)

The Board is being asked to award the construction contract for the replacement of the Mashes Sands Pier. Three responsive bids were received. The lowest responsive bidder was RJ Gorman, LLC at $3,455,162.97.Other bids received:

• ECSC, LLC: $3,594,929.43

• H.G. Harders & Son, Inc.: $3,737,442.00

Dewberry Engineers, Inc. (Engineer of Record) recommended awarding the contract to RJ Gorman, LLC.

Important note for taxpayers: Like many large infrastructure projects, this one is funded by FEMA on a reimbursement basis. Cost overruns would require either more grant funding or local taxpayer dollars to cover the shortfall.

Code Enforcement Lien Reductions (Items 15 & 16)

The Board will consider two requests to reduce existing code enforcement liens. These items can sometimes raise eyebrows because they involve forgiving fines.

However, the county has a defined process: property owners must prove they have corrected the violations, and the county recovers its hard costs plus 20%. These are not automatic reductions.

Other Items Worth Noting

• Infrastructure Projects: The new fire station and pier replacement represent real investments in public safety and recreation. Both are largely grant-funded, which is positive. However, the pier project has taken years to reach this stage, and continued strong oversight will be important.

• Firefighter Equipment Grants (Items 10 & 17): The county is applying for the same equipment through two different grant programs (Est. total project cost $156,195). Staff correctly notes they will only accept the no-match grant if both are awarded, a fiscally responsible approach.

• Wastewater and Environmental Grants: Several items continue the county’s push to upgrade sewer systems and wastewater treatment. These projects are generally aligned with long-term water quality goals. Notable amounts include an additional $1,000,000 for Otter Creek upgrades (new total $7.009 million) and a $8,618.49 increase to the solid waste grant (new total $102,368.49).

• Historic Marker at Panacea Mineral Springs (Item 18): A small but positive item seeking grant funding for a historical marker at the recently donated springs property (County match: $1,572.50).

• Full Cost Allocation Plan – FCAP (Item 19): The Board is being asked to accept the Full Cost Allocation Plan (FCAP) prepared by Maximus US Services, Inc. for $9,500.

For the average citizen, here’s what a FCAP actually is:
Every county receives money from different sources. Some is derived from property taxes (General Fund), and some from grants, fees, or special funds (like utilities or solid waste). Many of these funds share the same overhead costs, such as county administration, human resources, finance, and legal services.

A Full Cost Allocation Plan (FCAP) is a detailed document that calculates how much of those shared overhead costs should be fairly charged to each fund or department. It helps the county properly track and recover indirect costs.

This type of plan is required if a local government wants to use federal grant money to help pay for shared administrative costs. It is governed by federal rules (called the Uniform Guidance). Without an approved FCAP, the county could be limited in how much of its overhead it can charge to federal grants. Accepting this plan does not automatically mean the county will start charging more to different funds, it simply gives the county the official tool to do so accurately and defensibly if it chooses. It is a technical but important financial management document.

The Bigger Picture

Wakulla County continues to face the classic tension between growth and protection of its natural resources. The data center item offers the Board an opportunity to take a clear stand. At the same time, the repeated selection of the same engineering firm for multiple roles raises questions about competition and diversification of professional services.

Residents have expressed concerns in the past about development near sensitive water resources and about how public input is handled. When citizens raise legitimate questions whether about privacy technology, water protection, or how contracts are awarded, they deserve thoughtful responses rather than dismissal.

What Should You Watch For on June 15?

• Will the data center discussion result in strong protective language, or will it be softened?

• How will the Board address the concentration of work with one engineering firm?

• Will the code enforcement lien reductions be clearly explained on the record?

• Most importantly, will public comment be welcomed and taken seriously?

Don’t forget: Immediately after the regular Board meeting on June 15, the Board will hold its first budget meeting for Fiscal Year 2026-2027. This is an important opportunity for citizens to hear early discussions about how your tax dollars will be spent in the coming year.

The June 15 meeting is open to the public. If you care about how your tax dollars are spent, how development is managed, and how the county protects its water resources, this is a good meeting to attend.

The more citizens pay attention, the harder it is for important issues to slip through without proper scrutiny. Stay sharp, Wakulla!

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