Fight between Baker County, conglomerate may be over

The more than two-year fight that has pitted a large, multi-national building materials conglomerate against rural Baker County may have come to an end Friday.

Oldcastle Southern inc., that has been seeking sand-mining rights south of Macclenny, officially pulled out of mediation with the county Friday.

Oldcastle's attorney notified the county attorney, Rich Komando, in a short email Friday.

"This email serves as notification that Oldcastle Southern Group, Inc. hereby withdraws its Request for Relief Pursuant to Florida Land Use and Environmental Dispute Resolution Act, Fla. Stat. Sec. 70.51," the short email said.

Met with fierce backlash from some county residents after the initial application called for pumping millions of gallons from the Floridan aquifer, the company quickly changed its approach.

Oldcastle brought forth a new offer to instead use the City of Macclenny's "gray" water for the mining process that pacified some concerns, but ultimately wasn't enough to sway the County Commission. It voted down Oldcastle's proposal by a 4-1 vote last July.

Following the vote, Oldcastle entered into non-binding mediation with the county and began a concerted public relations effort to try to change public opinion.

Company spokespeople were a common site for months at county events, even at one point floating the idea of the company offering land for a badly needed sports complex. Oldcastle4Baker.com, a website set up to tout the company's supposed benefit to the county, was also established.

That website is now defunct.

It is unclear if this spells the end to the saga. A lengthy court fight has long been the biggest fear for many in the rural county that can ill-afford the cost.

In April, an Oldcastle spokesperson told the Times-Union that if mediation did not result in a favorable outcome for Oldcastle, the corporation would consider sueing the county.

However, Oldcastle spokesperson Heather Askew declined to speak to that end Friday saying "We don't have any comment."

Clifford Davis: (904) 359-4103