Gilchrist County 11.02.26 BOCC Meeting

Gilchrist County BOCC meeting, titled November 2, 2026 (meeting metadata is dated November 3, 2026 UTC). The board approved moving forward with an amendment to the county’s 2023 John Deere wheel-loader lease, increasing the allowance from 5,000 to 7,500 hours; hours beyond the lease limit cost $35 each, and the amendment was expected to return for final approval. The board also approved Amendment No. 1 to the Florida Boating Improvement Program grant agreement with FWC for the Hart Springs boat ramp. The agreement was described as not to exceed $409,845.46, with the amendment mainly aligning the scope with work completed and reportedly adding about $1,000. A motion also passed authorizing standardized PEMT letters of agreement to receive federal-program reimbursements expected to total more than $300,000, with additional letters anticipated. The board approved reimbursement-related deployment of a Fire Rescue employee for hurricane operations in the Panhandle; the state was expected to cover eligible costs.

The county administrator reported that budget amendments would be needed at a future meeting for several accounts with spending above budget, including the Road Department (about $150,000 over, with roughly $96,000 attributed to fuel), EMS, and expenses associated with CDBG culvert-project engineering. Hart Springs had approximately $140,000 budgeted this year to finish campground improvements. The board also approved a request to waive primitive-camping fees for a two-night youth hunting event at Otter Springs, contingent on approval of the organization’s MOU; hunting on county land was not approved at this meeting. No other contract awards or purchasing decisions were identified. The board discussed possible future park fees or state takeover of parks in connection with Amendment 3, but took no action on those options.