Board of County Commissioners · April 7, 2026
Meeting date: April 7, 2026Summarized 2026-09-01 17:13
# Polk County BoCC Regular Meeting Summary — April 7, 2026
**Attendance:** All five commissioners present (Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, Santiago, Scott). All recorded votes were unanimous (5-0); no split votes occurred.
## Routine/Consent Approvals
- **C.1** Disbursements — Approved (Moved: Wilson; Seconded: Troutman)
- **C.2** March 17, 2026 minutes — Approved (Moved: Troutman; Seconded: Wilson)
- **D.1** Consent Agenda (full slate, items R.1–R.50) — Approved as a block (Moved: Troutman; Seconded: Scott)
## Notable Budget/Contract Items (County Manager agenda)
- **G.1** Dewberry Engineers, Inc. — engineering services for Hurricane Milton repairs at Circle B Bar Reserve, **not-to-exceed $1,149,927.44**. Approved (Moved: Wilson; Seconded: Troutman).
- **G.2** Central Concrete Products Inc. — construction contract for Wabash Park Basketball Court/Sidewalk, **$481,981.00 one-time expense**. Approved (Moved: Troutman; Seconded: Scott). Discussion noted new tile playing surface standard for safety/aesthetics and that the walking trail was the top request from the senior community.
- **G.3** RS&H Inc. — CEI services for Country Club Rd/Buckeye Loop Rd intersection project, **$460,157.24 one-time expense**. Approved (Moved: Wilson; Seconded: Braswell).
- **G.4** RK&K, LLP — design services for US 27/Bates Rd intersection project, **not-to-exceed $307,006.07**. Approved (Moved: Troutman; Seconded: Braswell).
## Land Development Code Public Hearings (First Readings, No Fiscal Impact)
- **N.1** Flex Space & Retail Plazas ordinance — Staff/Planning Commission recommended approval; public comment (James Abercrombie, critical of code process/compatibility standards). No vote recorded in minutes excerpt (first reading).
- **N.2** Storage Yards ordinance — No public comment. No vote recorded.
- **N.3** Administrative Plat Approval ordinance (shifts plat approval authority from BoCC to Land Development Director) — Staff proposed an amendment adding alternate signature authority (assistant/deputy county manager) in the Director's absence; Board reached consensus to add this. Public comment from Abercrombie objecting to the shift as taking away Board authority. No formal vote recorded (first reading).
## Other Public Hearings (Voted)
- **O.1** Speed hump resolution, Avenue Y NE near Winter Haven, **est. $5,000 one-time expense**. Approved (Moved: Braswell; Seconded: Wilson).
- **O.2** Right-of-way vacation (Cruse and Horney's First Addition, Lakeland) + acceptance of drainage easement from Arizona Holding IV, LLC, no fiscal impact. Approved (Moved: Braswell; Seconded: Scott).
## Consent Agenda — Notable Dollar Items (approved via D.1 block vote)
- **R.10** Performance bond accepted, Minute Maid Mixed Use Development — **$903,679.70**
- **R.21** Stipulated final judgment, Polk County v. Meritage Homes (CR 557 eminent domain) — **$2,273,900 one-time expense**
- **R.22** Right-of-way agreement (Welch/Hall), Thompson Nursery Rd — **$1,058,000 one-time expense**
- **R.13** Driver Education Trust Fund distribution to School Board — **$436,645.33 recurring**
- **R.42** FL Poly Town and Gown partnership — **$136,850 one-time expense**
- **R.41** Carollo Engineers CSA (SCADA Risk Assessment) — **$293,666.00 not-to-exceed**
- **R.16** Borrelli & Partners CSA modification (Chemical Storage Building/Pole Barn) — **$83,212.00**
- **R.14** Healthy Families Polk subcontract amendment — **$43,759 one-time expense reduction**
- Various performance bonds accepted/released (R.6–R.12), ranging from $6,723.52 to $903,679.70.
- **R.18** CLASAC recommended pursuing acquisition on six sites (Circle T Holdings, Lake Miriam Environmental Areas, Sunray, Armington Ranch, Mountain Lake Corp, Stuart Ranch, Fx Bar Ranch) and recommended **not** pursuing Cypress Sticks (EL-168-26).
- **R.47** County Attorney authorized to "opt-in" to Remnant Defendants opioid litigation settlement.
- **R.49** Authorization to file foreclosure lawsuits against five estates for deferred mortgages in default.
## Commissioner Comments (Non-voting)
- Wilson and Braswell discussed burn ban status with County Attorney Mink; fire chief can authorize temporary burn windows up to 7 days.
- Braswell highlighted April as Child Gun Safety Education Month, recognized In-Gauge Polk County for gun safety training programs.
- Scott discussed public records requests from James Abercrombie and stated he would visit other counties' Animal Control facilities for comparison.
## Public Comment (P.1) — Notable but Non-Agenda
- Multiple speakers (Kay Bourque, Eve Salimbene, Charlene Leis, Audrey Stansbury, Debbie Hicks, Kristin Ahlberg) raised concerns about Animal Control conditions, spay/neuter funding, and a request for **$50,000 for TNR (trap-neuter-return)** — not an agenda item, no vote taken.
- David Butler raised concerns about deputy overtime pay (cited "12,000 hours of flexed overtime last year") and questioned use of a county aircraft; Commissioner Wilson responded that flights are for state/federal appropriations trips, citing **$22 million** already returned to Polk County and an anticipated additional **$11–12 million** (total ~**$35 million**).
- James Abercrombie stated he prevailed in litigation against the County and recovered attorney's fees.
## Summary Assessment
This meeting was largely routine, with all formal votes passing unanimously (5-0). No item withdrawals or split votes occurred. The largest one-time dollar commitments were the **$2,273,900** eminent domain judgment (Meritage Homes/CR 557) and the **$1,149,927.44** not-to-exceed Dewberry Engineers contract for hurricane repairs, both approved without dissent or extended debate. The three Land Development Code ordinances (N.1–N.3) drew public opposition from one recurring speaker (James Abercrombie) but no vote outcomes were recorded in the minutes excerpt provided (consistent with first-reading status). Extended public comment concerned Animal Control conditions and sheriff's office deputy overtime, unrelated to specific agenda action items.