Subject:
Title
Approval, Re: Contract for Sale and Purchase from Vetterlein for the 72.35-acre Jefferson Marsh Tract for Mosquito Control - District 2
End
Fiscal Impact:
FY 2024-2025 $543,000.00 as follows: Mosquito Control Department Funds $45,250.00 / 1090-258000/5610000; Natural Resources Management Department Stormwater Utility Fund $45,250.00 / 260030/5610000/15979; Ducks Unlimited, Inc./ North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Grant Funds $452,500.00 plus $13,500.00 for Appraisals and Closing Costs.
Dept/Office:
Public Works Department / Land Acquisition Office / Mosquito Control Department/ Natural Resources Management Department
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board of County Commissioners / Brevard Mosquito Control District Board:
1) Waive the Environmental Site Assessment report as required per Administrative Order 37 due to the intended use of the property;
2) Accept and authorize the Chairman to execute the attached Contract for Sale and Purchase;
3) Authorize the County Manager to execute the Ducks Unlimited NAWCA Sub-Award Agreement US-FL-71-1, subject to the approval of the County Attorney’s Office, Purchasing, and Risk Management;
4) Authorize the County Manager to execute task orders up to the grant funded amount, as needed to accomplish the work, subject to the approval of the County Attorney’s Office, Purchasing, and Risk Management;
5) Authorize the County Manager to execute amendments to the contract, as needed, subject to the approval of the County Attorney’s Office, Purchasing, and Risk Management; and
6) Approve associated budget change requests and authorize the County Manager to execute any additional budget change requests or paperwork, as needed.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
The subject property is located in Section 12, Township 25 South, Range 36 East, on the east and west side of South Courtenay Parkway in Merritt Island.
The Vetterlein property consists of over 72 acres of wetlands within the Jefferson Marsh mosquito impoundment on Merritt Island. Mosquito Control has been actively managing approximately 28,000 acres of mosquito impoundments within the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), including the Jefferson Marsh impoundment, to effectively control the local salt marsh mosquito population for approximately 60 years. If this request is approved, Mosquito Control will install five culverts to increase the impoundment’s connection with the IRL. Additionally, Natural Resources Management is planning to partner with Mosquito Control in a project that aims to optimize this impoundment to assist in reducing nutrients in the Indian River Lagoon while managing mosquitoes.
Fair market value was established by obtaining an appraisal from Tuttle Armfield and Wagner Appraisal and Research, Inc. report dated October 24, 2024 with a value of $543,000.00 and an appraisal from Property Valuation & Consulting, Inc. dated June 6, 2025 with a value of $545,000.00. The owners accepted the offer of $543,000.00.
The Brevard Mosquito Control District and the Natural Resources Management Department have a public purpose need in acquiring the property. To reduce the financial burden on Brevard Mosquito Control and Natural Resources Management, Ducks Unlimited, Inc., a non-profit conservation organization, was awarded a NAWCA grant with Brevard County as partners to acquire the property. The NAWCA grant will pay for $452,500.00 of the property’s appraised value as well as up to $13,500.00 for appraisals, appraisal review, and closing costs. Mosquito Control and Natural Resources Management will each contribute $45,250.00 toward the fee title purchase of this property.
Mosquito Control will circulate NAWCA Sub-Award Agreement US-FL-71-1 for signature and attestation once a final draft is approved by the County Attorney’s Office, Purchasing, and Risk Management.
This acquisition follows the policies and procedures as set forth in Administrative Order 37.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
Upon execution by the Chairman, Public Works Department will contact the Clerk’s office to make arrangements to pick up the original executed Contract for Sale and Purchase.