May 5, 2025 Wakulla County BOCC Meeting: Laptop Disposal Haze, County Attorney Power Grab, and Opportunity Park’s Cloud of Uncertainty

Wakulla County’s BOCC is prepping for its May 5, 2025, meeting, and the agenda’s public—kudos for transparency . But as taxpayers gear up, questions swirl: Why are county laptops being handed to a contractor with zero purchase info? Why’s an unelected County Attorney steering a broken board? With $8.99M in grants, $8M for Opportunity Park’s job push, and roads dumped by Golden Construction, the fiscal fog is thick. Social media buzzes with gripes about developers skating and county oversight slipping. Opportunity Park’s $8M needs a business plan like they’re using taxpayer funds… oh wait! From housing bids to a growth-critical airport, here’s a taxpayer’s preview of Wakulla’s budget dance, tagged with agenda numbers. Hit the May 5 meeting, speak at the airport hearing, and demand answers!

Awards and Presentations: Financial Report Delayed

The FY 2023/2024 Annual Financial Report, set for review, was tabled to a future meeting, no reason given. This stalls insight into Wakulla’s fiscal health, a transparency stumble with $8M in grants and unbudgeted costs on the table. BOCC, explain the delay and post the report ASAP.

Item #9: Opportunity Park’s $8M Grant, Lease Blackout

Opportunity Park’s snagging $8M of the $8.99M in grants [Item #9]: $4.5M (Rural Infrastructure Fund) and $3.5M (Florida Job Growth Grant Fund) to build two county-owned manufacturing buildings for Project Boomer (Residential Elevators, 200 jobs) and Project Safety (body armor contractor, 100 jobs), aiming for 300 jobs by 2030. The JGGF’s reimbursement basis means Wakulla fronts the cash, repaid only if jobs hit—high stakes, but the agenda’s tight-lipped on lease details. Taxpayers deserve a business plan like they’re pitching the We the People Bank: market data, revenue, 1.25x debt coverage. Why not make the BOCC demand it? Questions linger:

• Lease rates? What are we looking at? NG Wade’s 15-year leases are standard, but county lease amounts are blank. When will we break even? What’s your projection?

• Upkeep costs? Who pays for electric, gas, water, sewage—county, NG Wade, tenants? Clarity in business transactions is important.

• Contracts? No public lease drafts—You’re using our money but we can’t see the goods?

• Match? Absolutely and it’s TBD—that’s not scary.

• Jobs? 300 by 2030, but what if tenants miss? (clawback impact?)

• Plan B? If tenants flop, who’s out?

BOCCR, demand this venture is pitched like a loan for the Bank of We the People: show lease drafts, upfront cash plans, and projected return on investment (ROI). This is elementary level business sense that appears foreign to the board. (Side note: a business major wrote this).

Item #3: Laptops Trashed, No Trail

Three Dell laptops (WC6392, WC6792, WC7605) from Animal Services and Administration are headed for disposal [Item #3], no cost, no year, make, model, or purchase price listed, which is required for tracking since they’re county assets. The documentation says “trash/destruction,” but the method lists “Inspired Technologies,” the BOCC’s IT contractor. So, we’re just handing them to a contractor? Think for a second they won’t be refurbished—we were born at night but not last night. This consent item’s opacity screams asset management failure. Why no auction or recycling? Is a tech refresh coming? BOCC, post purchase records, disposal details, and IT plans—clear this up.

Item #13: Animal Control Board—Rushed Fix, Attorney’s Power

Waiving the county’s 14-day volunteer recruitment policy (AR 1.03) for three Animal Control Appeals Board members [Item #13]—due to a 21-day dangerous dog appeal deadline—lays bare a broken system. Two seats are vacant, terms lapsed since 2023. Worse, the unelected County Attorney’s Office is steering future membership options, wielding big influence over a public process. AR 1.03 mandates ads in the newspaper, website, and Comcast Channel for fair selection, yet urgency trumped process. Social media’s fed up with sloppy oversight, and this reeks of centralized control. Attorney's role should be grilled.

Item #4: SHIP Housing’s $656K, Bids Don’t Add Up

The BOCC’s set to approve $656,820 [Item #4] from the $759,546 SHIP program (2023–2025) for six low-income homes, no county match. J.G. Parker Enterprises ($154,900, 211 Sanders Cemetery Road) and Jerry Walters Construction ($501,350, five homes) won:

• 49 Mt. Zion Road: $82,195 (rehab).

• 69 Shawnee Trail: $53,095 (rehab).

• 36 Comanche Trail: $63,095 (rehab).

• 95 Woodland Road: $153,545 (demolition/reconstruction).

• 3 JR Milton Road: $149,895 (demolition/reconstruction). Bids swing from $53,000 to $154,900, but no specs (size, condition) or criteria explain why. ITB 2025-04 got four bids, one non-responsive, yet the only backup is a handwritten spreadsheet with no details on the property or improvements needed. For the new homes, is there any info to make taxpayers feel warm and fuzzy about building someone a house on our dime? Maybe Wakulla Reports needs a deep dive on this? Coming attractions?

Item #7: Golden Construction Roads—Free, Future Burden

Golden Construction’s turning over Brookes Drive and Stone Way [Item #7] in the Preserve at Wakulla Station Subdivision, post-bond and 50% buildout, per Section 7-42(5)(a). No upfront cost, but maintenance—likely $5,000–$20,000/year—isn’t budgeted. Social media’s livid about developers sucking the infrastructure baby bottle, and the agenda’s mum on inspections or future phases. So now we finance their sewer then maintain their roads. I thought development was “good.” Smells like higher taxes to care for all this extra infrastructure and maintenance.

Item #10: Sheriff’s Generator—$250K Lifeline

A $250,000 HMGP grant [Item #10] for a Sheriff’s Office Work Camp generator (15 Oak St.), with a $62,500 county match, is a post-Hurricane Debby must, tied to Biden’s 2024 declaration. The Work Camp, with no backup power, supports EOC staff (showers, laundry). The $187,500 federal share covers purchase and installation, but maintenance and fuel tanks aren’t planned. A distinct and justified need, but we’ll be paying for it long haul.

Item #6: FDOR Child Support—$8K Boost

The FDOR contract [Item #6] could net $8,000 over five years ($1,600/year) for the Sheriff’s Office to serve process/writs. No summons data, but it’s a consent-item win as long as cost doesn't outweigh reimbursement.

Item #12: Firehouse Subs Grant—$43K Health Win

A $43,450 Firehouse Subs grant [Item #12] funds 11 bunker gear sets ($3,950/set, Honeywell), no match, due October 31, 2025. It’s a health saver for firefighters. Future gear needs loom, but this is a solid grab. BOCC, plan the next round.

Item #11: Airport Land—$12K Security

A $12,000 purchase [Item #11] secures the Wakulla County Airport, vital for the county’s growth spurt with a public hearing included.

Item #5: Medical Director Services—On Hold

The Medical Director contract [Item #5] was tabled, likely for EMS. No cost or reason given.

Item #8: Code Enforcement Board—On Hold

The Code Enforcement Board appointments [Item #8] were tabled. No details.

Wakulla’s BOCC gives a transparent peek at the May 5, 2025, agenda, but laptop disposal haze, the County Attorney’s board power grab, and Opportunity Park’s lease gaps need grilling. SHIP’s bids, Golden Construction’s roads, and a delayed financial report raise flags. Social media’s right: oversight’s spotty, and taxpayers pay for developer freebies.