Tag Archives: Suwannee County Commission

Videos: A roomfull against WFNF at SCRP, Live Oak, FL 2026-04-02

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An overflow-capacity room full of people heard about the plan to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee River Basin: Water First North Florida (WFNF).

They did not like it.

[Videos: A roomfull against WFNF at SCRP, Live Oak, FL, 2026-04-02]
Videos: A roomfull against WFNF at SCRP, Live Oak, FL, 2026-04-02

Six people stood up front to speak, and many in the audience had questions. Larry Sessions speaking for himself (he’s also on the SRWMD Board), Franklin White speaking for himself and as a Suwannee County Commissioner, Dennis J. Price, P.G., asking SRWMD to resume evaluating his proposal to drill recharge wells at overflows of forestry ditch wetlands, Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman about what you can do, Joe Squitieri, wastewater professional, about Florida statutes give JEA until 2039 to deal with its wastewater, and Adam Collins, an engineer from Live Oak, who said we’ve been complacent long enough.

This was Thursday, April 2, 2026 at Live Oak City Hall, in the monthly meeting of the Suwannee County Republican Party (SCRP).

For much more about WFNF, including a petition and how to contact your appointed and elected officials, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

Here are WWALS videos of each speaker, followed by a WWALS video playlist.

In the interests of getting these videos posted in a timely manner, I’m not including much commentary about what went on. See for yourself. Continue reading →

WFNF at Suwannee County Republican Party, Live Oak, FL 2026-04-02

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Update 2026-04-02: Videos: A roomfull against WFNF at SCRP, Live Oak, FL 2026-04-02.

Come hear about the plan to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee River Basin: Water First North Florida (WFNF).

Thursday, April 2, 2026, Live Oak City Hall, 101 White Ave SE, Live Oak, FL 32064-3340.

Optional informal social time at 6:30pm, meeting starts at 7pm.

According to the facebook event by the Suwannee County Republican Party:

This Thursday, April 2nd, come discuss the Water First North Florida project, with SRWMD Board Member Larry Sessions, Suwannee County Commissioner Franklin White, geologist Dennis Price, and WWALS/Suwannee Riverkeeper Executive Director John Quarterman.

Our County Commission and those of all the surrounding counties have passed resolutions opposing the project, as has the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council.

So: What do we do now? Who will decide, and how can we influence future decisions? Come be part of the discussion.

https://www.facebook.com/events/819236594498207

[WFNR @ SCRP, 5:30 PM, April 4, 2026, Live Oak City Hall, 101 White Ave SE, Live Oak, FL]
WFNR @ SCRP, 5:30 PM, April 4, 2026, Live Oak City Hall, 101 White Ave SE, Live Oak, FL

That’s a bit of hyperbole about “all the surrounding counties,” since we have not yet heard from Hamilton, Lafayette, or Gilchrist. However, Madison and Columbia have passed resolutions, along with Suwannee County.

Update 2026-04-01: Hamilton County has been heard from:
Hamilton County Commission against the utter disrespect of SRWMD and JEA about WFNF 2023-03-24
https://wwals.net/?p=69937

For the complete set, and much more about WFNF, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

Larry Sessions represents the Upper Suwannee Basin and was reappointed June 2022 to the Governing Board of the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD). Continue reading →

Residents raise concerns over WFNF and Suwannee River –WCTV 2026-03-18

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TV reported on the WWALS Workshop on Crafting Public Comments, yesterday at the Live Oak Public Library.

Don Hale came to speak about the resolution against WFNF that the dozen-county Task Force had passed earlier that same day, and the letter the Suwannee County BOCC had passed the previous evening.

For much more about WFNF, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

[Residents raise concerns over WFNF and Suwannee River --WCTV 2026-03-18]
Residents raise concerns over WFNF and Suwannee River –WCTV 2026-03-18

Julia Miller, WCTV, March 18, 2026, Residents raise concerns over Water First North Florida project impacting Suwannee River:
Residents held a discussion ahead of the Water First North Florida Project open house on Thursday

SUWANNEE COUNTY, Fla. (WCTV)—Residents are weighing in on a North Florida water project that could impact the Suwannee River.

The “Water First North Florida Project” will be discussed at a public open house on Thursday, with officials saying it could help meet water demand and restore the river and aquifer.

Community members gathered Continue reading →

Letter against WFNF to SRWMD –Suwannee County Commission 2026-03-17

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“Hubris.” That’s what the Suwannee County Commission is going to call SRWMD’s WFNF project to pipe treated wastewater into the Suwannee Basin.

Hubris is excessive pride or self-confidence: arrogance.

The Titanic is a classic example: the unsinkable ship went down.

The Suwannee County Commissioners meet at 5:30 PM, tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 218 Parshley Street Southwest, Live Oak, Florida, 32064.

[Letter against WFNF, to SRWMD: Hubris --Suwannee County Commission, 5:30 PM 2026-03-17]
Letter against WFNF, to SRWMD: Hubris –Suwannee County Commission, 5:30 PM 2026-03-17

Much more about WFNF here: https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf/

Here’s the text of the letter, from page 75 of the agenda packet:

Suwannee County
Board of County Commissioners
224 Pine Avenue, 2nd Floor, Live Oak, Florida 32064
Franklin White, Chairman.

March 17, 2025[sic]

Hugh Thomas
Executive Director
Suwannee River Water Management District
9225 CR 49
Live Oak, Florida 32060

Re: Suwannee County’s Objection to Water First North Florida Project

Dear Mr. Thomas,

As a unanimous board we are writing to you — individually, as County Commissioners and on behalf of all the citizens of Suwannee County—to voice our strong objection to proceeding with the Water First North Florida Project.

Continue reading →