Jackson County BOCC May 26th Regular Meeting Highlights

On May 26, 2026, the Jackson County Board of County Commissioners held a Regular Meeting at 6:00 PM. This is a recap of some of the reports and requests included in those meetings.

Discussion on approval of a 1-Year Moratorium on Data Center Development started the meeting. The Board began the meeting with discussion regarding development of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers in Jackson County. A large number of residents attended the meeting and addressed the Board during public comment, sharing perspectives related to potential short- and long-term environmental and health impacts, property rights, economic impacts, and preserving the rural character and natural resources that many residents value in Jackson County. Residents from neighboring counties, including Bay, Calhoun, and Washington counties, also participated in the discussion.

Following discussion and recommendations from legal counsel, the Board voted unanimously to move forward with a proposed one-year temporary moratorium on AI data center development to allow additional time for research, review of state legislation, and development of local regulations and policies related to any future proposals. Commissioners stated the moratorium is intended to provide the County time to evaluate the issue, gather information, and ensure any future actions are consistent with Florida law while considering the interests of residents and the community. The proposed moratorium ordinance will require two public hearings before final adoption, with the first public hearing scheduled for June 9, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. The Board thanks the community for their engagement and participation in discussions regarding the future of Jackson County.

A request was also made for approval of The Towers LLC Wireless Telecommunications Facility. The Board approved a request for construction of The Towers LLC Wireless Telecommunications Facility, consisting of a 255-foot wireless telecommunications tower with a 10-foot lightning rod on property leased from the Quinton and Janette Anglin Revocable Trust. The proposed tower will be located on the west side of Sylvania Plantation Road, approximately 0.55 miles northwest of the intersection of Sylvania Plantation Road and Fort Road in unincorporated Jackson County.

The Planning Commission reviewed the request on May 4, 2026, and recommended approval prior to Board consideration. The project is intended to support expanded wireless telecommunications infrastructure and connectivity within the area.

Continuing the meeting was a request to review of Marianna Multi-Use Trail Submission to the ARPC Regional Rural Transportation Plan. The Board approved support for submission of the Marianna Multi-Use Trail project to the Apalachee Regional Planning Council’s Regional Rural Transportation Plan (RRTP). The proposed project, submitted by the City of Marianna, was divided into Western Loop and Eastern Loop segments to help support more detailed planning and strengthen future funding opportunities.

The proposed multi-use trail is intended to provide additional transportation and recreational options for residents while improving pedestrian and bicycle connectivity and safety throughout the area. This is also a step toward future grant and infrastructure opportunities.

A request was also made for selection of new members for the 2026 AHAC Committee. The Board reviewed applicants for the current vacancies on the 2026 Affordable Housing Advisory Committee (AHAC), an important component of the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program. The AHAC includes representatives from a variety of housing, business, planning, and community service sectors who help evaluate local housing needs and provide recommendations related to affordable housing initiatives in Jackson County. Following the Board’s decision to table the item at the May 12, 2026 meeting, additional outreach and notification efforts were conducted, including notifications to municipalities throughout Jackson County, Citizens Academy graduates, postings on County social media platforms and the County website, and legal advertisements in both the Jackson County Times and the Graceville News.

Following review and discussion, the Board approved the appointments of Charlene Trickey-Durham, Jennie Ann Dean, Danielle Newsome, and Rebecca Robinson to serve on the AHAC committee.

A request was also made for adoption of TDC Museum Business Plan and Short-Term Goals. The Board approved adoption of the TDC Museum Business Plan and Immediate Short-Term Goals following additional review after a presentation provided by TDC Executive Director Kelsi Jackson during the May 12, 2026 special meeting. The adopted plan outlines phased priorities intended to support the preservation and sharing of Jackson County’s history through future museum, memorial park, trail, and educational initiatives associated with the former Dozier property.

The approved short-term goals include continued community outreach and artifact collection efforts, preliminary memorial park and trail planning, development of collections storage procedures, and long-term grant and fundraising preparation to support future project phases. The proposed trail concepts alongside roadways would not present anticipated issues from a real estate standpoint when developed in a manner similar to sidewalks.

Approval of Award for 2526-14 Holyneck Road Paving was also requested during the meeting.

The Board approved the award of RFP 2526-14 for Holyneck Road Paving to Anderson Columbia following the County’s solicitation of bids for the roadway overlay project. Six bids were received during the May 7, 2026 bid opening, with Anderson Columbia submitting the lowest bid at $560,592.25.

Continuing the meeting was a request to set a Special Meeting for selection of 2526-10 Employee Health Plan Awardee. The Board approved scheduling a special meeting on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time for review and selection of the awardee for RFP 2526-10 – Employee Health Plan Services. Proposals for the employee health insurance solicitation are scheduled to be received on June 4, 2026, after which County staff and the County’s contracted consultant, Siver, will begin evaluating submissions.

Approval of evaluation criteria and ranking committee for 2526-21 - Disaster Recovery Consultant continued the meeting. The Board approved the evaluation criteria and ranking committee for RFP 2526-21 – Disaster Recovery Consultant Services as part of the County’s efforts to strengthen compliance with FEMA and Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) reimbursement requirements. The County is resoliciting the disaster recovery consulting services contract, with the current provider identified as DHM.

The Board also approved serving as the ranking committee for the proposal evaluation process. The adopted criteria will evaluate firms based on qualifications, specialized expertise of team members, technical approach, cost of services, and references to help ensure the County selects a qualified consultant to support future disaster recovery and reimbursement efforts.

Approval request to award 2526-09 Lift Station Generators was also presented. The Board approved the award for the Lift Stations portion of the Critical Facilities Generators and Lift Stations project under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). The project is part of the County’s efforts to strengthen infrastructure and improve critical systems during emergency events. Four bids were received when bids were opened on January 28, 2026, with Energy Systems Southeast (ESSE) identified as the lowest bidder. The County’s engineer for the project is DHM.

Although the initial bid exceeded the available grant budget, DHM and ESSE worked together through a value engineering process to reduce project costs while maintaining project objectives. As a result, the revised project cost was successfully reduced to match the available $435,790 grant budget, generating more than $243,000 in savings from the original proposal and allowing the project to move forward within budget.

A request was also made for approval of Vacant Land Contract to Sell Parcel. The Board approved a Vacant Land Contract for the sale of a County-owned vacant lot located at 4405 Putnam Street in Marianna to James E. Pumphrey for a purchase price of $15,000. According to staff, Chipola Realty informed the County of the potential buyer and prepared the contract for consideration. The property is located adjacent to the Jackson County Public Library.

Approval of Road Swap Between Jackson County and City of Marianna was also requested to the board. The Board approved an interlocal agreement between Jackson County and the City of Marianna to exchange ownership of certain roadway segments in support of future pedestrian infrastructure improvements. Under the agreement, the City will assume ownership of Old Cottondale Road from Penn Avenue west to the City limits, while the County will assume ownership of Milton Avenue from the “Y” intersection at Harrison and Milton south to Old Cottondale Road.

According to the City of Marianna, the roadway swap will support planned sidewalk construction intended to improve pedestrian travel and safety in the area, including connections to existing sidewalks and improved foot traffic access near Gibbs Village. The agreement was reviewed and approved by legal counsel prior to Board approval.

The Board approved a grant agreement with the Florida Department of Commerce, contingent upon no substantial changes, to support continued recovery and revitalization efforts in Jackson County through Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding. The project will assist with rehabilitation of the structure formerly known as Madison’s Restaurant, located at 2881 Madison Street in Marianna, which sustained significant damage during Hurricane Michael.

This grant enables Jackson County to assist the private owner of the former Madison Warehouse property with hurricane recovery repairs funded through a state-administered grant. While the County has not purchased the property, the agreement helps keep the project moving forward, supports local revitalization efforts, and does so without impact to County finances.

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