By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

            State Rep. Chuck Clemons, R-Newberry, and State Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville said Friday the state can’t do anything about a monkey research facility being built in Gulf Hammock until a permit is filed at the state level, but they will make sure the facility is stopped if that ever occurs.

            “My staff and myself have contacted the governor’s office. We’ve contacted the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and we’ve contacted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on that and we’re on speed dial should that application ever come in. We will do everything in our power to make sure that never happens,” said Clemons, speaker pro tempore for the next two years.

            The speaker pro tempore is the second highest office in the Florida House of Representatives and presides over the House if the top elected official, the House Speaker, is absent. The House Speaker and Speaker Pro Tempore are involved in setting the agenda for the House of Representatives before the Florida Legislature meets. The Legislature meets this year in March.

            Clemons served as chairman of the Levy County Legislative Delegation at its annual hearing in Bronson Friday. There are only two members of the Levy County delegation to represent several counties. Clemons and Perry listened to 33 requests from local government officials and residents. Clemons pointed out that the delegation representing Levy County is small compared to Miami-Dade’s delegation of six state senators and 22 state representatives.

            After the hearing ended, Clemons was asked what specific actions the state could take to stop the proposed monkey research facility from being constructed in Levy County. He said JOINN Laboratories, the China-based company that bought 1,400 acres in Gulf Hammock, would need state agency approval to house monkeys for any type of research facility, and not just monkeys, but any type of animal. If an application is ever filed, he said that’s where the state would take action.

            “What I can say is the Levy County Commission to the Florida House to the Florida Senate – we’re all unified in opposing any approval of an application from a monkey research farm in Levy County or any of the other counties,” Clemons said. “I am cautiously optimistic the application will never be filed because of such fierce opposition and rightfully so, to oppose such a facility in our community. We’re in lockstep with the people who oppose it.”

            Clemons was asked if he had heard whether the Gulf Hammock property was being sold by JOINN Laboratories. Spotlight was told a week earlier by County Coordinator Wilbur Dean that a reliable source told him the property was back on the market.

            “I haven’t heard the property is for sale, but that would make me happy and reduce our concerns about a forthcoming application we don’t want,” Clemons said.

            Brooks said the county commission is aware the JOINN Laboratories’ purchase of the Gulf Hammock land is a hot topic of conversation for the board and for local residents. He said he is also aware the property is on the radar of the state, the governor, and the federal government.

            “Everybody is very aware of what’s going on. I think it’s even more so for us because until it happens in your backyard it’s not as real,” Brooks said. “We’ve got our zoning prepared so we’re doing our part. If there’s anything we can help with at the state level – I know we have to be careful – Senator Perry talked about private property rights and being careful about how much you want the government in your private property rights, but at the same time there are things we can do to protect the homeland.”

            Perry said he doesn’t want a monkey research facility in Levy County triggering the next virus outbreak.

            “Why should we have that thing in our county where the next Coronavirus could start right here – you don’t even need to wait until it comes across from China,” Perry said.

            He said he doesn’t think the monkey facility will ever open in Levy County – at least that’s his hope.

            “I think there’s been enough outcry it’s not going to happen,” Perry said. “We really can’t be involved at the state level until they apply for a permit and that’s when you will see action,” Perry said. “Any other action will come from the federal level and I know they are working on that.”

            Perry said he doesn’t think the state can deem a country like China to be a threat. He thinks that will have to come from the federal level, but if the federal government makes that determination, “that gives us more power to enact certain things.”

            “Hopefully that doesn’t come to the light of day, but if it ever starts and moves forward we are ready to work on your behalf and with you to make sure that we don’t allow that,” Perry said.

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Enterprise Reporting by Terry Witt January 20, 2023; Posted January 21, 2023