Subject:
Title
North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grant Application - Partnership with Ducks Unlimited, Inc., a Non-profit Conservation Organization, on Purchase of Jefferson Marsh Mosquito Impoundment Property
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Fiscal Impact:
End of FY2023-2024 or beginning of FY2024-2025 - estimated $104,000.00 in grant funds for half of the property’s appraised value, an updated appraisal and appraisal review, and closing costs; estimated $90,500 in local match consisting of $45,250 from Mosquito Control District funds and $45,250 from Natural Resources Management Department, District 2 Stormwater funds.
Dept/Office:
Mosquito Control & Natural Resources Management
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Brevard Mosquito Control District Board/ Board of County Commissioners:
1) Authorize the Mosquito Control District and the Natural Resources Management Department to partner with Ducks Unlimited, Inc., a non-profit conservation organization, to apply for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Grant;
2) Authorize the County Manager to Sign the NAWCA Proposal Partner Contribution Statement;
3) Authorize the Public Works Department’s Land Acquisition Section to initiate a Purchase Option Contract with the owners of the Vetterlein property (Parcel ID: 25-36-12-00-1) at the County’s appraised value of the property, and to bring the contract back for the Board’s approval; and
4) Approve associated budget change requests.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
The Vetterlein property, consisting of over 72 acres of wetlands within the Jefferson Marsh mosquito impoundment on Merritt Island, has been recently appraised at $181,000. The Vetterlein property owners desire to sell the property at the appraised value for conservation purposes, and both the Brevard Mosquito Control District and the Natural Resources Management Department are interested 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, is applying for the NAWCA grant with Brevard County as partners to acquire the property. The NAWCA grant will pay for half of the property’s appraised value as well as an updated appraisal (closer to the distribution of grant funds), appraisal review, and closing costs. The NAWCA grant application requires that partners submit a Partner Contribution Statement committing cost share funds to the land acquisition, which is expected to occur in the fall of 2024.
Mosquito Control has been actively managing approximately 28,000 acres of mosquito impoundments within the Indian River Lagoon, including this Jefferson Marsh impoundment, to effectively control the local salt marsh mosquito population for approximately 60 years. Once the Vetterlein property is acquired, Natural Resources Management is planning to partner with Mosquito Control in a project which aims to optimize this particular impoundment to assist in reducing nutrients in the Indian River Lagoon while managing mosquitoes.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
N/A