Elections/Sheriff Building Plan Hits Costly Snag?

    Lake County’s Plans to purchase land south of Tavares to consolidate the Supervisor of Elections and Lake County Sheriff’s Offices has hit a snag. The county, during its due diligence on approximately 13 acres at the intersection of SR 19 and Lane Park Road, has found a variety of environmental issues that could cause the price of the property to skyrocket.
    The Lake County Commission on Tuesday heard a staff update on the land, on which the county holds a $1 million option through next June. As part of its due diligence, the county undertook environmental testing and wildlife surveys, and both raised concerns.
    Copper and arsenic have been found on the property, likely due to its past as a citrus grove. Additionally, the property has been described as a ‘prime habitat’ for sand skinks, a protected species that along with gopher tortoises could result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in increased mitigation costs associated with purchasing the property.
    "These are significant environmental issues," said commission chairperson Sean Parks.
    Commissioners agreed to move ahead with a third environmental check of the property, a $34,000 assessment that will attempt to decipher how much copper and arsenic are on the site, and if it has impacted groundwater in the area.
    The news of the property’s issues places the project at risk, as several commissioners voiced concern.
    “We hadn’t made a full commitment,” said commissioner Leslie Campione, noting there are no engineered drawings for the site, yet. However, the county is facing some deadlines with the purchase, including the need to reimburse costs associated with rezoning the land should the county back out of the deal. Those votes are expected in Tavares in early December.
    Further complicating the issue is the requirement that the new offices be within the city limits of Tavares.
    The county is keen to find space for the supervisor and sheriff, as the supervisor’s office is in leased space and its head, Alan Hays, has told the county he needs more space. Also, the sheriff’s office is currently housed at least in part in the upstairs section of the historic courthouse.
    Citing a time coming where the county will need to ‘fish or cut bait’, Parks said the county may need to look elsewhere.
    "Let's see what the phase III says," he said, adding the commission may need to "look at some other government-owned property."
    County staff said contact would be made with Lake County Schools to see if that entity had any extra property that could be made available.