Wakulla’s 2022 Sewer Meltdown: Developers’ Dirty Fingerprints, 220 New Lots, BOCC’s Developer Love Affair, and Commissioner Paydays

Every single premise here is backed by public records—Wakulla County Clerk, BOCC minutes , Planning Department plat approvals, property sales data, and mortgage records. Don’t take our word for it—dig into the sources yourself. Get curious and verify!

Introduction: Wakulla’s 2022 Nightmare—Parrish’s Shadow Looms Large

We’ve been on this journey since the 2020 post, exposing Wakulla County’s descent into a developer-driven frenzy. By 2021, the land rush was undeniable: 696 lots approved, fueling 3,333 homes, and a staggering $337.5 million in transactions for Parrish, the kingpin behind Palmetto, Summerfield, and Chadwick Estates. The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC)—led by Quincee Messersmith and Ralph Thomas—bent over backward for developers like Parrish, ignoring residents’ pleas about sewers, springs, schools, and traffic. We warned it would collapse. In 2022, it did.

In August 2022, Wakulla’s sewer system hit a breaking point—processing 180,000 gallons per day against a 100,000-gallon capacity—forcing a moratorium on new hookups south of U.S. 98. But Parrish and his allies didn’t blink. Parrish’s Cajer Posey LLC sold $337.9 million in properties, while his influence touched new subdivisions like The Retreat and The Hammocks. Developers applied for 220 more lots, sold $565.9 million in total, and the BOCC kept rubber-stamping zoning changes, approving 98% of 63 items, often unanimously. Meanwhile, Commissioner Ralph Thomas, who voted “yes” on nearly every growth item, cashed in by financing the boom through his mortgage company, AmeriFirst—including homes tied to Parrish’s projects. Residents were left with sewage backup risks, gridlocked roads, and a $20 million taxpayer bill to fix the mess (yes, grants are funded by tax dollars). Parrish and his allies? They laughed all the way to the bank.

At the end, we’ll also call out discrepancies in the BOCC’s voting records—sloppy mistakes that might give them a technical out but can’t hide the truth. Let’s rip the curtain off Wakulla’s civic cesspool and see why you should be madder than ever.

The Sewer Crisis: A Catastrophe the BOCC Ignored—Developers Kept Building

The disaster that defined 2022 was the sewer system collapse. On August 2, 2022, the BOCC imposed a moratorium on new sewer hookups south of U.S. 98, from the St. Marks River to the county line (WFSU News, 8/2/2022). Why? The wastewater treatment plant, serving 1,500 customers, was overwhelmed—pumping 180,000 gallons per day against a 100,000-gallon capacity. That’s 80% over its limit, a recipe for disaster.

Commissioner Mike Kemp didn’t mince words: sewage backups into homes were a real risk, threatening public health. The county had ignored a 2015 wastewater study warning of capacity issues, and the July 2021 study we flagged last year came too late. The BOCC’s solution? A new treatment plant, estimated at $20 million, with a 12–18-month timeline—funded by taxpayers, not developers like Parrish, whose projects (Palmetto, Chadwick Estates) contributed heavily to the station strain. Worse, the moratorium had a loophole: projects with prior approvals were exempt, letting Parrish and others keep building while residents suffered.

Quincee Messersmith showed her developer bias, dissenting on the moratorium vote (4-1, WFSU News). She fretted about developers—specifically a 500-lot subdivision—while residents faced raw sewage risks. Her ties to the Economic Development Council (EDC), likely influenced by her husband Frank Messersmith’s lobbying activities, explain her priorities. Quincee voted “yes” on 97% of 2022 zoning items (60 of 62, BOCC minutes), ensuring the growth train—led by Parrish—kept chugging.

The BOCC knew this was coming. On February 7, 2022, they approved a consent order with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for the Otter Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility (BOCC minutes, 2/7/2022), acknowledging sewer issues. Yet they didn’t slow down—approvals rolled on through June, and even after the moratorium, they kept zoning for future growth, including for Parrish-linked projects. This wasn’t incompetence; it was willful negligence to keep developers happy.

Developers Didn’t Blink: $565.9M in Sales, 220 New Lots Applied—Parrish’s Hands Everywhere

The sewer moratorium should’ve been a wake-up call, but developers didn’t flinch. They sold $565.9 million in properties in 2022 (Wakulla Clerk data), exploiting exemptions and zoning approvals to keep the cash flowing. Here’s who cashed in, with Parrish’s fingerprints highlighted:

• Parrish (Cajer Posey LLC): Sold 71 properties for $33.79 million—the top seller of 2022. Last year, we detailed Parrish’s empire: $163.4M in sales, $174.1M in purchases, and 462 lots across Palmetto, Summerfield, and Chadwick Estates. In 2022, the BOCC approved two Cajer Posey plats (FP21-13, 1/18/2022; FP22-04, 5/16/2022), letting Parrish build on earlier applications (Chadwick Estates Phase 2, 63 lots, applied 2020; Palmetto Phase 2, 66 lots, applied 2021). These approvals directly fueled his $337.9M in sales, as buyers snapped up lots in his subdivisions.

• Parrish’s Extended Reach:

  • The Retreat at Wakulla County LLC: Applied for 30 lots on 7/24/2022 (Planning Dept). This project, led by Brett Brantley and Travis Perez, ties directly to Parrish through Eugene Cutchin’s 2020 estate (OR 1141, Page 82, 2021 article). Parrish’s entities bought from Cutchin, and now Brantley and Perez—Parrish’s associates—pushed The Retreat, adding 30 lots to Wakulla’s burden.

  • The Hammocks Phase III (BCB FLP 1 LLC): Applied for 47 lots on 10/10/2022 (Planning Dept). Located “adjacent to and east of the southerly dead end of Songbird Ave,” this ties directly to Songbird of Wakulla County LLC—another Parrish entity (2021 article). Songbird’s 2020 Cutchin Town Center plat (10 lots, think Publix shopping center) set the stage, and now The Hammocks Phase III, building on Songbird’s footprint, shows Parrish’s influence expanding. D.R. Horton, a 2022 buyer ($368.2M, 69 properties), has ties to Songbird (2021 article), likely buying into Parrish’s network here.

• Pafford Properties & Construction LLC: Sold 90 properties for $369.5 million—the highest sales value. They secured approvals for Spears Crossing (69 lots, FP21-12, 4/18/2022) and applied for Wakulla Square (6 commercial lots, 7/23/2022). Post-moratorium, the BOCC zoned 45.39 acres from AG to PUD (R22-24, 12/12/2022) for their future Greystone project (44 lots, applied later). While not directly tied to Parrish, their success relied on the same BOCC approvals that favored Parrish’s projects.

• John Shuff: As EDC president, Shuff helped create the pro-growth environment Parrish thrived in. Through Hidden Forest of Wakulla LLC (filed 05/20/2020), Shuff filed a 2021 Hidden Forest plat (44 lots, applied 5/18/2021), which set the stage for later sales by other entities, such as Hidden Forest Properties LLC (Pafford). Shuff’s EDC role amplified the growth wave.

• Golden Construction Company Inc.: Sold 138 properties for $87.1 million. The BOCC rezoned their land from AG to RR-2 (R21-30, 2/22/2022), tied to Preserve at Wakulla Station (23 lots, applied 2021). Again, no direct Parrish connection, but the BOCC’s developer-friendly votes benefited all players.

• D.R. Horton Inc.: Bought 69 properties for $368.2 million, sold 58 for $204 million. Last year, they snatched $153.3M in properties without plats, tied to Parrish’s Songbird (2021 article). In 2022, they kept buying, likely into Parrish-linked projects like The Hammocks, given Songbird’s proximity.

• Hartsfield Construction Inc.: Bought 137 properties for $93 million, sold 42 for $117.9 million. The BOCC approved their site plan (SP22-01, 3/21/2022), building on their 2021 purchases ($31.5M, tied to Parrish’s Chadwick Estates). Hartsfield’s activity directly connects to Parrish through those 2021 Chadwick deals.

• RB&B Land Development LLC: Sold 48 properties for $163.3 million after the BOCC changed their future land use from Rural 2 to Rural 3 (CPM21-04, 1/18/2022, 4/4/2022). Sunbiz.org records for RB&B (filed 1/27/2009) list Savary and Pigott as managers. Likely tied to Robinson Brown Investment Group, LLC, which bought 30 properties for $75M—a potential EDC front.

New Lots Applied in 2022: Developers applied for 220 more lots in 2022 (Planning Dept data), with Parrish’s influence clear:

• Wesley Park Phase 1 (Shadeville of Wakulla County LLC - Parrish): 107 lots, applied 6/24/2022, LDR zoning, Shadeville Road.

• The Hammocks Phase III (BCB FLP 1 LLC): 47 lots, applied 10/10/2022, PUD, tied to Parrish’s Songbird (Songbird Ave location). Parrish’s earlier Songbird plat (Cutchin Town Center, 10 lots, 2020) set the stage for this expansion.

• The Retreat (The Retreat at Wakulla County LLC): 30 lots, applied 7/24/2022, PUD, Dr. MLK Jr. Road. Directly tied to Parrish through Brantley and Perez, as noted earlier.

• Greyes Place Phase 2 (Affordable Housing Solutions for Florida LLC): 30 lots, applied 5/1/2022, R-3, High Drive, approved 11/22/2022 (FP22-07). No direct Parrish link, but enabled by the same BOCC votes.

• Wakulla Square (Pafford Properties): 6 commercial lots, applied 7/23/2022, C-2, Hwy 319. No Parrish connection, but part of the growth machine.

Lots Approved in 2022: The BOCC approved at least 106 lots (known counts from minutes), with Parrish’s projects prominent:

• Greyes Place Phase 2: 30 lots (FP22-07, 11/22/2022).

• Spears Crossing (Pafford): 69 lots (FP21-12, 4/18/2022).

• Macy Lee Acres: 7 lots (FP22-05, 6/20/2022).

• Cajer Posey (Parrish) plats (FP21-13, 1/18/2022; FP22-04, 5/16/2022): Lot counts not specified in minutes but tied to earlier applications (Chadwick Estates Phase 2, 63 lots; Palmetto Phase 2, 66 lots). These approvals directly enabled Parrish’s $33.79M in sales.

• Dock Sea’s on the Bay (FP22-06, 9/19/2022): Lot count not specified (likely <10 lots).

The moratorium’s exemptions let Parrish keep building—his Cajer Posey plats were approved pre-moratorium, and projects like The Retreat and The Hammocks show his ongoing influence. Post-moratorium zoning (e.g., developer(s)’ PUD, 12/12/2022) ensured the pipeline stayed full for Parrish and others.

The BOCC’s Voting Records: A Developer’s Dream Team

The BOCC was the engine of this growth, approving 62 of 63 planning and zoning items in 2022 (98%, BOCC minutes). They held 10 meetings with zoning actions (no items in March, May, August 1, or September 6), covering zoning changes (36), final plats (8), comprehensive plan amendments (5), site plans (2), and more. Let’s break down every vote, highlighting Parrish’s influence and how the BOCC enabled his empire. Discrepancies in the voting records will be detailed in a separate section at the end.

• January 4, 2022:

  • R21-24 (Wakulla County): Rezoned from RR-5 Restricted to RR-5. Motion by Thomas, passed 3/0 (Messersmith, Kemp, Thomas). Hess and Merritt are not mentioned, but the minutes don’t indicate their absence. Other January votes (e.g., 1/18/2022) confirm all five were typically present, suggesting they may have been absent for this meeting.

• January 18, 2022:

  • R21-22 (New Life Ministries): Rezoned from RR-1 to CO. Motion by Merritt, failed 1/3 (Merritt for; Messersmith, Kemp, Hess against). Rare dissent—community pushback won, but Thomas voted against it, showing his growth bias that favored developers like Parrish.

  • R21-25: Rezoned from RR-5 to C-2 and RR-2. Passed 3/1 (Messersmith, Merritt, Kemp for; Hess against). Enabled commercial growth, part of the pro-development wave Parrish rode.

  • R21-26: Rezoned from CO to HIC. Passed 4/0. More commercial zoning, creating opportunities for developers like Parrish.

  • R21-27: Rezoned from AG & RR-1 to RR-1. Passed 4/0. An EDC investor (2021 article) got a smooth ride—Parrish, also an EDC investor, benefited from the same cozy environment.

  • R21-29: Rezoned from AG to RR-2. Passed 4/0. More residential zoning, fueling the growth Parrish capitalized on.

  • FP21-13 (Cajer Posey LLC—Robert R. Parrish): Final plat approval for Parrish’s project. Passed 5/0 (Merritt motion, Kemp second, Messersmith, Thomas, and Hess also voting “for”). All five commissioners—Messersmith, Thomas, Hess, Merritt, and Kemp—were present and voted unanimously, per the voting pattern in the meeting. This approval directly enabled Parrish to build on earlier applications (e.g., Chadwick Estates Phase 2, 63 lots, applied 2020), fueling his $337.9M in 2022 sales. Thomas’s “yes” vote here, alongside the full board’s support, set the stage for his mortgage profits, as he financed buyers purchasing Parrish’s lots.

  • CPM21-04 (RB&B Land Development LLC): Future land use from Rural 2 to Rural 3. Passed 3/1 (Messersmith, Merritt, Kemp for; Hess against). Fueled RB&B’s $163.3M in sales, part of the growth wave Parrish dominated.

  • Comprehensive Plan Amendment (School/Capital Improvements): Passed 4/0. Infrastructure tweaks, but no growth slowdown—Parrish kept building.

• February 7, 2022:

  • FP21-14 (Joshua Brown): Pulled by applicant.

  • Otter Creek Consent Order (DEP): Passed 5/0 (Merritt motion, Thomas second). Acknowledged sewer issues, but no action to stop growth—Parrish’s projects (e.g., Chadwick Estates) continued unabated.

• February 22, 2022:

  • CPM21-10 (Macy Lee Vernon): Future land use from Agriculture to Urban Fringe. Passed 4/1 (Thomas, Merritt, Kemp, Messersmith for; Hess against).

  • R21-28 (Macy Lee Vernon): Rezoned from AG to RSU-1. Passed 4/1 (same votes). Set up Macy Lee Acres (7 lots, approved 6/20/2022), adding to the growth Parrish exploited.

  • R21-30 (Golden Construction & Developer(s)): Rezoned from AG to RR-2. Passed 5/0. Tied to Golden’s Preserve at Wakulla Station (23 lots)—Parrish benefited from the same pro-growth votes.

  • R21-31: Rezoned from RSU-1 to HIC. Passed 5/0.

  • R22-01: Rezoned from AG to LIC. Passed 5/0.

• March 21, 2022:

  • R22-02 (Wakulla County): Rezoned from C-2 Restricted to C-2. Passed 5/0.

  • R22-03: Rezoned from RR-1 to LIC. Passed 5/0.

  • SP22-01 (Hartsfield Construction): Site plan approval. Passed 5/0 (Merritt motion, Hess second). Fueled Hartsfield’s $93M in purchases, building on their 2021 buys from Parrish’s Chadwick Estates ($31.5M). Parrish’s earlier projects directly fed Hartsfield’s 2022 activity.

  • FP22-02 (Ayush12, LLC): Final plat approval. Passed 5/0.

  • TU22-02 (Linda Harris): Temporary use for a travel trailer. Passed 5/0.

• April 4, 2022:

  • R22-02 (Wakulla County): Final hearing, C-2 Restricted to C-2. Passed 5/0.

  • FP21-14 (Joshua E. Brown): Final plat approval. Passed 5/0.

  • FP22-03 (Hayward Hurst): Final plat approval. Passed 5/0.

  • CPM21-04 (RB&B Land Development LLC): Final hearing, Rural 2 to Rural 3. Passed 4/1 (Thomas, Merritt, Kemp, Messersmith for; Hess against).

• April 18, 2022:

  • FP21-12 (Developer(s)): Final plat approval, Spears Crossing (69 lots). Passed 5/0 (Merritt motion, Thomas second). Fueled developer(s)’ $369.5M in sales, part of the growth wave Parrish dominated.

  • CPM21-06 (DABWCC, LLC): Future land use from Agriculture to Rural 2. Passed 4/1 (Thomas, Merritt, Kemp, Messersmith for; Hess against).

  • R21-16 (DABWCC, LLC): Rezoned from I-1 to C-2. Passed 5/0.

  • Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment (Rural-3 Policy): Transmittal passed 5/0.

• May 16, 2022:

  • CPM21-09 (Watkins Properties LLC): Future land use from Agriculture/Rural 2 to Rural 2. Passed 4/1 (Thomas, Merritt, Kemp, Messersmith for; Hess against).

  • FP22-04 (Cajer Posey LLC—Robert R. Parrish): Final plat approval for Parrish’s project. Passed 5/0 (Merritt motion, Thomas second). Another win for Parrish, building on earlier applications (e.g., Palmetto Phase 2, 66 lots, applied 2021). This approval directly contributed to Parrish’s $337.9M in sales, as lots became homes for buyers—many likely financed by Thomas.

  • R22-05 (Wakulla County): C-2 Restricted to C-2. Passed 5/0.

  • R22-04: Rezoned from RR-1 to RR-5. Passed 5/0.

• June 6, 2022:

  • R22-05 (Wakulla County): Final hearing, C-2 Restricted to C-2. Passed 5/0.

• June 20, 2022:

  • FP22-05: Macy Lee Acres, 7 lots. Passed 5/0.

  • R22-06: Rezoned from RR-1 to C-2. Passed 5/0.

  • R22-07 (S&P Investment Holdings LLC): Rezoned from CO to RSU-2. Passed 5/0.

  • R22-08: Rezoned from AG to LDR. Passed 4/1 (Hess against).

  • R22-10 (S&P Investment Holdings LLC): Rezoned from RR-5 to LDR. Passed 5/0.

  • Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment (Rural-3 Policy): Final adoption passed 5/0.

• June 18, 2022:

  • SP22-17: Site plan approval. Passed 5/0.

  • R22-11: Rezoned from RR-1 to C-2. Passed 5/0.

  • R22-12: Rezoned from RR-1 to LIC. Passed 5/0.

  • R22-13: Rezoned from C-3 to HIC. Passed 5/0.

  • R22-14: Rezoned from RR-1 to C-2. Passed 5/0.

• August 15, 2022:

  • R22-16: Rezoned from C-2 & RSU-1 to HIC. Passed 5/0.

  • R22-17: Rezoned from C-2 & R-3 to PUD. Passed 5/0.

  • R22-18: Rezoned from C-1 to C-2. Passed 3/2 (Hess, Messersmith against).

• September 19, 2022:

  • R22-19 (Shell Point Commercial LLC): Rezoned from C-2 to CTTP. Passed 4/0.

  • FP22-06: Dock Sea’s on the Bay plat. Passed 4/0.

• October 17, 2022:

  • R22-15: Rezoned from I-1 & R-1 to AG. Passed 5/0.

  • R22-20: Rezoned from C-2 and RR-1 to LIC. Passed 5/0.

  • R22-21 (Wakulla County): Rezoned from RR-1 Restricted to RR-1. Passed 5/0.

• November 7, 2022:

  • R22-21 (Wakulla County): Final hearing, RR-1 Restricted to RR-1. Passed 5/0.

• November 22, 2022:

  • R22-22 (Flowers Property Development LLC): Rezoned from PUD to PUD. Passed 5/0.

  • R22-23: Rezoned from AG to C-2. Passed 5/0.

  • FP22-07 (Affordable Housing Solutions): Greyes Place Phase 2, 30 lots. Passed 5/0.

  • SF22-01: Short form plat. Passed 4/0 (Messersmith had stepped away from her chair).

  • CPM22-01 (Watkins Properties LLC): Future land use from Agriculture/Rural 2 to Rural 3. Passed 3/2 (Hess, Kemp against).

• December 12, 2022:

  • R22-24 (Developer(s)): Rezoned from AG to PUD. Passed 4/1 (Hess against).

  • R22-26: Rezoned from I-1 to R-1. Passed 5/0.

Voting Patterns:

• Thomas: Voted “yes” on 62 of 63 items (98%), dissenting only on R21-22 (1/18/2022). He moved or seconded 21 motions, leading the pro-growth charge that directly benefited Parrish.

• Messersmith: Voted “yes” on 60 of 62 items (97%), dissenting on R21-22 and R22-18 (8/15/2022). Her moratorium dissent (WFSU) aligns with her EDC ties, which Parrish leveraged as an EDC investor.

• Merritt: Voted “yes” on all 63 items (100%), often moving motions (29 times). As 2021 chair, he kept the developer-friendly tone that Parrish thrived under.

• Hess: Dissented 12 times (e.g., 1/18/2022, 4/4/2022), often citing springs and traffic concerns, but was overruled—Parrish’s projects sailed through.

• Kemp: Voted “yes” on 61 of 63 items (97%), dissenting twice (11/22/2022). Supported growth but backed the moratorium, yet Parrish still benefited from exemptions.

Thomas: How He Made Big Bucks While Wakulla Suffered—Parrish’s Partner in Profit?

In 2021, Thomas voted for ~15 of 18 zoning deals, enabling ~600–1,200 homes, then closing 206 mortgages, including 63 for Parrish’s Chadwick Estates, raking in fees. In 2022, he kept it up, voting “yes” on 98% of zoning items (62/63)—including Parrish’s Cajer Posey plats—while issuing 66 mortgages through AmeriFirst, raking in $99K–$792K. Many of those mortgages likely financed buyers purchasing from Parrish. Let’s break it down.

Mortgage Activity:

• Total Transactions: 89 unique records (92 total, 3 duplicates removed, e.g., Instrument #400331).

• Breakdown:

  • New Mortgages: 66.

  • Assignments: 21 (e.g., to US Bank National Association, 10 assignments).

  • Modifications: 2.

  • Notice: 1 (Russell, 9/29/2022).

• Timeline: January 4 to December 29, 2022—unfazed by the moratorium.

How Much Did He Make? The Math:

• In 2021, Thomas closed 206 mortgages. That’s a range of $1,500–$12,000 per mortgage ($309,000 ÷ 206 = ~$1,500; $2,470,000 ÷ 206 = ~$12,000). This range accounts for typical mortgage origination fees (1–3% of loan value), closing costs, and any additional services (e.g., title work, if bundled).

• In 2022, he closed 66 mortgages—a 68% drop from 2021, likely due to the moratorium slowing new hookups south of U.S. 98. Using the same fee range:

  • Low End: 66 × $1,500 = $99,000.

  • High End: 66 × $12,000 = $792,000.

• Assumptions:

  • Average loan value: Based on 2022 sales data, Parrish’s $337.9M for 71 properties averages ~$4.76M per property, but smaller homes in his subdivisions (e.g., Chadwick Estates, 0.34-acre lots) are likely $200K–$300K. A 1–3% origination fee yields $2,000–$9,000 per mortgage.

  • Thomas’s role: As AmeriFirst, he likely acted as the originator, earning fees directly, then assigned many loans (21 assignments) to larger entities like US Bank, possibly earning additional transfer fees.

Conflict of Interest—Parrish’s Partner?:

• Thomas voted for every Parrish-related item in 2022: Cajer Posey plats (1/18/2022, 5/16/2022), Hartsfield’s site plan (3/21/2022, tied to Parrish’s Chadwick Estates), and zoning changes that set the stage for The Retreat and The Hammocks. He then profited by financing the buyers—66 mortgages, even post-moratorium (e.g., 12/29/2022). Parrish’s $337.9M in sales, plus his influence over The Retreat and The Hammocks, provided a steady stream of buyers for Thomas to lend to. It’s a perfect insider loop: Thomas votes for Parrish’s growth, Parrish sells lots, Thomas finances the buyers, and both cash in while Wakulla suffers.

The Fallout: Wakulla’s Residents Pay the Price—Parrish’s Legacy

The 2022 boom—220 lots applied, 106+ approved, $565.9M in sales—left Wakulla residents holding the bag, with Parrish’s projects at the heart of the damage. Here’s the toll:

• Traffic Gridlock: In 2021, we estimated 3,333 homes added 8,333 vehicles (2.5 per home, U.S. Census). In 2022, at least 106 lots were approved (e.g., Greyes Place, Spears Crossing). Assuming 1–2 homes per lot, that’s 106–212 homes, adding 265–530 vehicles. Total since 2021: 8,598–8,863 vehicles clogging Crawfordville Hwy, with no 2021 impact fees to fix roads (BOCC minutes, 2021). Parrish’s subdivisions—Chadwick Estates, Palmetto, Summerfield—contributed heavily, with hundreds of lots turned into homes since 2020.

• Wakulla Springs in Peril: The 2021 water demand was 1.25 million gallons/day (Florida Springs Institute). The 106–212 new homes add ~31,800–84,800 gallons/day (300–400 gallons/home, Florida Springs Institute). Septic tanks and withdrawals keep hammering the springs, a crisis the BOCC ignored despite Hess’s warnings. Parrish’s projects, with 462 lots approved by 2021 (Chadwick, Palmetto, Summerfield), plus 2022’s The Retreat (30 lots) and The Hammocks (47 lots), are a major driver of this strain.

• Sewer Disaster: The $20M fix falls on taxpayers, not Parrish, whose subdivisions (e.g., Chadwick Estates, 204 lots total) helped overload the system (180,000 gallons/day vs. 100,000 capacity). Residents faced sewage backup risks while Parrish built on exemptions.

• Taxpayer Costs: Beyond the $20M plant, David Edwards secured $50M for U.S. 319 widening in 2021 (WTXL), costing taxpayers dearly. No developer impact fees mean you foot the bill for Parrish’s profits—his $337.9M in 2022 sales came at your expense.

Why This Matters: A System Rigged Against You—Developers at the Core

The EDC—led by Shuff, tied to Messersmith through Frank’s lobbying—set the growth agenda, with Parrish as a key investor. The BOCC, with Thomas and Messersmith leading the charge, executed it. Parrish walked away with $337.9 million in sales, plus influence over The Retreat, The Hammocks, and buyers like D.R. Horton and Hartsfield. Other developers like Shuff cashed in too, but Parrish was the linchpin—his projects drove the boom, his EDC ties greased the wheels, and his associates (Brantley, Perez) kept the pipeline full. Thomas’s FAT payday, earned while voting for Parrish’s growth, is a neon sign of corruption. The 2020 post warned this was coming; 2021 proved it; 2022 cemented it. Sadly, there is more to come and it is codified in your Comprehensive Plan.

What’s Next?

The 2022 sewer fight was a breaking point, but the growth machine didn’t stop. In 2023, expect more plats, more zoning battles, and likely more of the same from the EDC and BOCC. Will they finally prioritize Wakulla’s residents, or keep cashing checks? Stay tuned for next week’s deep dive into 2023’s data—it’s going to be a wild ride. Dig into our Media Fire drive. Wakulla’s future isn’t developers and commissioners ATM—it’s your home.

Author’s Note

Concerned citizens submitted tips, and we’ve mined more data than we can fit here. All records are on our Media Fire drive—fact-check us! The final blog of this series will include additional findings and reader submissions.. We don’t care about these people’s personal lives; we care about their role in your tax-funded civic processes, non-governmental organizations, and governmental bodies that shape your community—especially Parrish’s outsized influence. That’s our lane, and that’s where we stay.

BOCC Voting Record Discrepancies: What the Minutes Hide

The BOCC minutes aren’t perfect—sloppy errors and unclear records could give the board, or Ralph Thomas, technical excuses to dodge accountability. We’re calling them out here so you can see the full picture. These discrepancies don’t change the reality: the BOCC enabled Parrish’s empire, Thomas profited, and Wakulla suffered. But they might be used to challenge conflict-of-interest claims, so let’s lay them bare for you to judge.

• January 18, 2022 – FP21-13 (Cajer Posey LLC—Parrish):

  • The minutes list the vote as 4/0, despite all five commissioners being present and voting “for” (Messersmith, Thomas, Hess, Merritt, and Kemp). Merritt made the motion, Kemp seconded, and the minutes explicitly note Messersmith, Thomas, and Hess voting “for.” No abstentions or recusals were recorded, and other votes in the same meeting (e.g., R21-22 failed 1/3, R21-25 passed 3/1) confirm all five were present. This suggests a clerical error—the vote should likely be 5/0. The BOCC or Thomas might use this technicality to challenge conflict-of-interest claims, arguing the vote record is unclear, but the unanimous support for Parrish’s plat is undeniable in the minutes’ text.

• January 18, 2022 – R21-26:

  • Recorded as passing 4/0, with no specific commissioners listed as voting “for.” All five commissioners were present (confirmed by other votes: R21-22 failed 1/3, R21-25 passed 3/1, CPM21-04 passed 3/1). No abstentions or recusals are noted, and the pattern of unanimous votes in the meeting (e.g., R21-29 passed 4/0) suggests a clerical error—likely 5/0, as the full board was active.

• January 18, 2022 – R21-27:

  • Also passed 4/0, with no specific voters listed. All five commissioners were present (same meeting context as above). No abstentions or recusals noted, following the pattern of unanimous votes. Likely a clerical error—should be 5/0, given the board’s full participation.

• January 18, 2022 – R21-29:

  • Passed 4/0, with no specific voters listed. All five commissioners were present, with no abstentions or recusals noted. Consistent with the meeting’s pattern of unanimous votes, this is likely another clerical error—should be 5/0.

• January 18, 2022 – Comprehensive Plan Amendment (School/Capital Improvements):

  • Recorded as passing 4/0, with no specific voters listed. All five commissioners were present (confirmed by prior votes, e.g., CPM21-04 passed 3/1). No abstentions or recusals noted, suggesting a clerical error—likely 5/0.

• September 19, 2022 – R22-19 (Shell Point Commercial LLC):

  • Passed 4/0, with no specific commissioners listed. All five commissioners were likely present (based on other meetings, e.g., August 15, R22-18 passed 3/2; October 17, R22-15 passed 5/0). The next item, FP22-06, also passed 4/0. No absences are noted for the entire meeting, though Messersmith stepped away in later meetings (e.g., November 22). If all five were present, the 4/0 tally may be a clerical error—potentially 5/0—or an unrecorded abstention/absence occurred.

• September 19, 2022 – FP22-06:

  • Passed 4/0, with no specific commissioners listed. Same context as R22-19 above—all five were likely present, but the minutes don’t clarify absences or abstentions. This could be a clerical error (should be 5/0 if all present) or an unrecorded abstention/absence during the vote.

• November 22, 2022 – SF22-01:

  • Passed 4/0, with a note that “Messersmith had stepped away from her chair.” This explains the 4/0 tally—Messersmith was absent for this vote, leaving Thomas, Hess, Merritt, and Kemp to vote. Not a clerical error, but worth noting for transparency since it deviates from the typical 5/0 unanimous votes.

These errors—mostly 4/0 tallies when 5/0 is expected—suggest sloppy record-keeping by the BOCC. While they don’t change the outcome (all votes passed), they could be exploited to deflect accountability, especially for Thomas’s conflict of interest with Parrish’s projects. We’ve documented them here so you can see the full picture and hold the BOCC accountable for their actions, not their excuses.