SUBJECT
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Approve Land Purchase Agreements in conjunction with the purchase of conservation preservation properties located in the Lake Wales Ridge Ecosystem Project - Crooked Lake West Area, Anichini, Brown-Ferguson Parcels, Beck, Delehoy and Fitzpatrick parcels ($36,500 one-time expense)
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DESCRIPTION
The County through its Environmental Lands Acquisition program routinely acquires title to properties for conservation preservation purposes. Through this acquisition program the County has accumulated a large land holding within the Lake Wales Ridge Ecosystem known as the Crooked Lake West Area; however, many of the parcels are scattered and non-contiguous making land management activities very difficult. The County’s Natural Resources section has identified numerous parcels which if acquired would infill and add to the overall conservation area while aiding in future land management activities. The County is in the process of contacting the property owners of the identified parcels, many of whom are out of state, with an offer to purchase the specific parcels. Several property owners are still reviewing the offer and others, such as the ones referenced below, have decided to accept the County’s offer, and have executed agreements for the sale of their properties.
Approving the following agreements will allow the County to purchase and take ownership of the subject properties. It will also allow the parcels to be incorporated into the existing Crooked Lake West conservation preservation area and aid in the overall land management of the area:
1. Land Purchase Agreement between Robert M. Anichini and Karen Anichini, husband and wife, and Polk County for the purchase of Parcel ID Number 273128-000000-012030 for the amount of $5,000. The property is a vacant, rectangular shaped parcel containing approximately 1.25 acres lying in Section 28, Township 31 South, Range 27 East.
2. Land Purchase Agreement between Beverly Sandra Ferguson and Polk County for the purchase of Parcel ID Number 273129-000000-031100 for the amount of $5,000. The property is a vacant, rectangular shaped parcel containing approximately 1.25 acres lying in Section 29, Township 31 South, Range 27 East.
3. Land Purchase Agreement between Berta Elizabeth London, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Jean Delehoy, deceased and Polk County for the purchase of Parcel ID Number 273128-000000-034120 for the amount of $4,000. The property is a vacant, rectangular shaped parcel containing approximately 1.25 acres lying in Section 28, Township 31 South, Range 27 East.
4. Land Purchase Agreement between George C. Beck and Peggy Beck a/k/a Margaret Beck and Polk County for the purchase of Parcel ID Number 273116-000000-042070 for the amount of $5,000. The property is a vacant, rectangular shaped parcel containing approximately 1.25 acres lying in Section 16, Township 31 South, Range 27 East.
5. Land Purchase Agreement between William Fitzpatrick and Polk County in the amount of $17,500 for the purchase of three vacant, rectangular shaped parcels, identified as Parcel ID Numbers 273027-000000-043020, 273129-000000-011020, and 273128-000000-023020, containing a total of approximately 2.85 acres lying in Sections 27, 28 and 29, of Township 31 South, Range 27 East.
RECOMMENDATION
Request Board approve the afore-mentioned Land Purchase Agreements and authorize the issuance of checks totaling $36,500 for the respective purchases. The amount for real property taxes associated with the Fitzpatrick parcel which are due at the time of disbursement shall be payable to Joe G. Tedder, Tax Collector with the remainder payable to the property owner.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds are available for the purchase of the properties in the Environmental Lands Acquisition Fund.
CONTACT INFORMATION
R. Wade Allen, Director
Real Estate Services
863-534-2577