During its Wednesday morning special called meeting, the Suwannee County Board of County Commission voted 4-1 to assume an option from the Suwannee County Development Authority to purchase 155 acres at the catalyst site in western Suwannee County for $6,450 per acre, or $999,750 total.
District 1 Commissioner Jesse Caruthers was the dissenting vote.

The quick decision came after the board learned that the catalyst site property, which is in foreclosure, is scheduled to be auctioned at the courthouse steps on Aug. 2. County Attorney Hal Airth told the board that the sale would occur before the BOCC’s next scheduled meeting.

“Through no fault of our own, time is our worst enemy,” Commission Chairman Wesley Wainwright said. “Last Thursday we didn’t know it was going to the courthouse steps next week.”

District 3 Commissioner Ivie Fowler stated that he did not want the board to lose the property. However, he voiced his dissatisfaction with allowing another board, meaning the Suwannee County Development Authority, to set policy and prices for the BOCC.

“They don’t have the money and never did,” Fowler said. “They made an offer on something they couldn’t keep up with.”

According to Fowler, the BOCC would have never offered $1 million for the 155 acre parcel.

“We allowed them to do so by not making an offer ourselves,” Fowler said.

Suwannee County Clerk of Court Barry Baker asked the board what the county’s intent is once the property is acquired. Suwannee County Administrator Randy Harris advised Baker that the county would turn the property over to the “Project Christmas” company rather quickly.

“Project Christmas” is the code name given the prospective company that may set up shop on the catalyst site at the US 90 West and I-10 interchange.

The board also voted unanimously to pursue acquiring the additional 237 acres at the catalyst site. It was the board’s decision to offer the bank that holds the mortgage to the property $3,000 per acre, hoping they accept the offer before the Aug. 2 public auction.

According to Harris, the county’s estimated expense for the catalyst site, which doesn’t include the additional 237 acres, is about $3.5 to four million to date.