To Our Neighbors:  We need your voice to send a message to our Levy County representatives that we are strongly opposed to the proposed usage of land as a manure dump/compost business within our local Morriston community, especially the location between SE 180thAvenue and SE 42nd Place.

Background:  Reid Nagle Manager/Owner (All-in Manure and Nature Coast Soils LLC) is in the process of purchasing parcel 0457800300, a 160-acre area that is zoned agricultural and is referenced in the picture. As you can see, this location is between SE 180th Avenue and SE 42nd Place.   We were already concerned about the recent developments of the proposed manure dump at the corner of CR41 and CR326 and now understand the owner, Mr. Nagle, is expanding his business to the above referenced parcel ID with plans to use the property to store and compost manure waste.  Whether you live directly adjacent to this property or are in the surrounding geographic area, you will be affected by this proposed manure dump/compost business.  

What we know:  The property is expected to close in early December with plans by the buyer to turn the land into a manure dump/compost location.  On November 25, 2022, Reid Nagle sent his representative, Mike Ernest, who is President and COO of All-in Removal, to speak to concerned neighbors about the project. Mr. Ernest spoke to about 50 property owners from our neighborhood that were present at the meeting. He presented the buyer’s proposed use of land and how Nature Coast Soils LLC will have operations that run on a daily basis, six days a week. He advised that “to begin with” Nature Coast Soils LLC will be initially running an average of 20 commercial trucks (e.g., dump trucks) daily that will begin an hour before sunrise until dark every Monday through Saturday. As far as what the dump trucks will be carrying, Mr. Ernest described the contents as manure “sludge.”  This hourly use by large commercial vehicles will cause significant damage to the existing paved roadway, passing numerous residential homes along the way, disrupting this historically quiet community and present a danger to young children in the area. Mr. Ernest’s discussions did nothing to alleviate our concerns in having a manure dump/compost within our community in such close proximity to our residential homes. Below are examples of how this proposed manure dump/compost area will directly affect you, your property, and our neighborhood:

• Impacts to Road Safety:  The intersections of CR41 and CR326 already have high traffic and currently no caution lights. There are accidents quite often already atthat location. We are also concerned for safety of vehicular traffic at the corner of SE 42nd Pl and CR41 due to the curve on the main highway. Additionally, we are concerned for the safety of vehicular traffic and pedestrians at the intersection of SE 42nd Pl and SE 180th Ave, two neighborhood roads that merge via a sharp curve and will be used by the trucks in an area that already has county posted caution signs for “Children at Play” and “Equestrian Crossing.” Furthermore, the 20 or more commercial dump trucks traveling on adjoining roads will produce high levels of emissions causing pollution and will transportsludge/manure in close proximately to residents, with debris possibly falling out of the trucks and onto the roadway.  

• Negative Effects of Manure Composting:  There are so many well-documented studies and research on the negative effects a large manure dump/compost has on the health and wellbeing of citizens and wildlife. The area will become a breeding point and an environmental dumping ground emitting and cultivating toxic bacteria, fungus, acids and gasses, not to mention attracting and harboring flies and mosquitoes (that transport infectious diseases) as well as other parasites. Our community will see a dramatic increase in the number of flies and mosquitoes, as well as an ongoing and noticeable stench in the air. There is also concern for damage to the Rainbow River aquifer. There is also a concern for the Sabal Trail Gas line that runs through the 160-acres, that trucks will be driving over 40 plus times daily.
 

• Zoning Issue:  The entire neighborhood surrounding this property (parcel 0457800300) is residential/agricultural, and the community epitomizes quiet country living. Mr. Mike Ernest is currently on the Levy County Board of Zoning and Planning, a fact we find very interesting and could be construed as a proposed conflict of interest. We are disappointed we did not hear from Levy County representatives, especially when one of the buyer’s representatives is on the zoning board, nor did we hear from the imminent new owner (Mr. Nagle) himself advising us of the land use as a proposed manure facility. We are deeply disappointed we were not formally contacted by Nagle or by our Levy County representatives with news of plans to turn the 160-acre parcel described above into a manure compost location so that we could formally provide our concerns as citizens of Levy County. Nagle is also planning to rezone the 160-acres to be formally identified as industrial commercial use. This is the same thing that the county is trying to change regarding the proposed monkey location off of CR326.  The proposed rezoning practice is called “spot zoning” and is a process the county is trying to change. 
 

• Physical Safety of Property Owners and Visitors: The area within SE 180th Ave and SE 42nd Pl is bounded by residential homes and equine/livestock farms. The ongoing presence of commercial trucks will create deep ruts in the shoulders of the road becoming a hazardous environment for passenger vehicles, offroad vehicles, and pedestrians, as well as churn up debris and sand that will create a dusty environment for residents in the entire neighborhood. Having at least 20 commercial dump trucks traversing our neighborhood roads daily presents a traffic danger to our neighborhood’s young children. Additionally, the parcel in question is only approachable by a privately owned dirt road that goes right through not only a private residence but also a popular family destination, Mayhem Ranch, an agritourism location offset from the main road (SE 180th) that offers theme-based, child-focused, farm-educational festivals, a petting farm, activities, as well as regular outreach to local school districts. Having commercial dump trucks traversing our neighborhood roads daily presents problems with school children who regularly visit Mayhem Ranch and children getting off the school buses.  It is unsafe for property owners and the neighborhood's visitors to be in such close proximity to the accumulated large manure piles (with the dramatic increase in odor and insects), and the accompanying manure trucks (with the dramatic increase in traffic and hazardous conditions) transporting the toxic matter.
 

What you can do:  We need your voice to send a message to our county representatives that we are strongly opposed to the proposed usage of the land as a manure dump/compost area.  As a community we need to come together and fight this. Please Sign the petition against the listed parcel above and prevent the establishment of a manure dump from coming to our neighborhood in Morriston and persuade the Levy County Commissioners to not approve this proposal and ensure that the dump is on a more suitable location compatible with the surrounding neighborhood.