Board of County Commissioners · March 3, 2026
Meeting date: March 3, 2026Summarized 2026-09-01 17:25
# Polk County BoCC — Regular Meeting, March 3, 2026
**Attendance/votes:** All five commissioners (Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, Santiago, Scott) present and voting AYE on every item. No split votes, no failed motions, no items withdrawn from the floor. Meeting adjourned at 10:05 a.m.
## Items voted on (all passed unanimously, 5-0)
| Item | Amount | Mover / Seconder |
|---|---|---|
| C.1 Disbursements | — | Troutman / Scott |
| C.2 Minutes of Feb. 17, 2026 meeting | — | Troutman / Braswell |
| D.1 Consent Agenda (items R.1–R.22) | — | Wilson / Braswell |
| G.1 Confirm Brian Cogswell as Solid Waste Division Director | — | Wilson / Braswell |
| G.2 Land Purchase Agreement with Steven and Sally Morrison, Environmental Lands Program, CLASAC Project EL-109-23 | $422,917.50 total expense | Scott / Braswell |
| G.3 CSA No. 22-088-04 with HNTB Corporation, design services for Longfellow Blvd at N. Crystal Lake Dr. intersection improvement, plus CIP amendment and budget transfer | $411,187.81 one-time expense; $261,188.00 one-time transfer | Troutman / Wilson |
| L.1 Appoint Joshua Borem to Seat 7, Polk County Industrial Development Authority (term through Jan. 21, 2027) | — | Troutman / Braswell |
On G.3, in response to a question, County Manager Beasley said the project will include pedestrian crosswalk signalization and that "safe pedestrian movement is part of the analysis."
## Notable dollar items adopted within the consent agenda (no separate vote)
- **R.2** — Sponsorship Agreement with Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay, Inc. for a Junior Achievement Polk Discovery Center at Tenoroc High School: **$200,000 one-time expense** (largest single consent expenditure).
- **R.10** — Amended/restated contract with Talbot House Ministries of Lakeland, Inc. for primary, specialty, dental and behavioral health services at Good Samaritan Free Clinic: **not to exceed $234,000 annually**.
- **R.8** — HOME program homeowner assistance, Auburndale, Case #RC25-HOME-002: **$193,946.94**.
- **R.9** — HOME program homeowner assistance, Winter Haven, Case #RC25-HOME-004: **$174,060.00**.
- **R.18** — CSA No. 22-093-03 with NV5, sidewalk design along W. Daughtery Rd. between US 98 and Green Rd.: **$189,701.43**.
- **R.19** — CSA 2021-024-05 with Jones Edmunds and Associates for Environmental Resource Permitting at North Central Landfill Williams Tract cell 3 borrow area / Transfer Station: **not to exceed $184,022.71**.
- **R.13** — Cooperative FuelMaster software agreement with Syn-Tech Systems, Inc.: **$150,000 estimated annual expense**.
- **R.20** — Statement of Work with CDW-G for Solutions Architect staff augmentation: **not to exceed $135,200**.
- **R.7** — Accepted performance surety of **$880,502.11** (Performance Bond No. 47SUR300214011307) for Touchstone Phase 1 (no fiscal impact to county).
Other consent items with no fiscal impact: two selection-committee negotiation authorizations (Grace Design Studios, LLC for architectural/engineering services for Fire Rescue Administration Headquarters; Whitehead Construction for CMAR services for the new Smith Lane Joint-Use Fire Rescue Station), four right-of-way/easement acceptances, two letters of support, two hearing-setting items for the 324 Recker Hwy land-use cases, and an equipment removal form.
Two consent items of note beyond dollar figures:
- **R.21** — Resolution stating intent to apply proceeds from the **sale of the Waverly Utility System** to an alternate qualifying use under Treasury Reg. §1.141-12(e), with a supplement to tax/arbitrage certificates.
- **R.22** — Authorized the County Manager, for **sixty (60) days**, to adjust rates at the North Central Landfill as necessary to address additional yard waste resulting from drought conditions and a recent cold snap.
## Public hearings
- **N.1, N.2, N.3** — First readings of three Land Development Code text amendments: Communication Towers (LDCT-2025-25), Car Washes (LDCT-2025-26), and Drive-Thru Facilities (LDCT-2025-27). Staff and Planning Commission recommended approval on all three; no public speakers; adoption hearings set for **March 17**. No vote taken (first readings). Staff noted a fall-zone setback of one times tower height where commercial abuts residential.
- **O.1** — Polk County Right-of-Way Sign Enforcement Ordinance was **continued to March 17, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.** (no action).
## Public comment (non-agenda)
Two clusters of speakers:
1. **Agriculture facility** — Christie Shenefield and Kateland Raney asked that the planned Ag Center be a multi-use facility accommodating all livestock species rather than leaning equestrian, and requested a focus group / advisory committee before plans are finalized. Beasley said staff and the consultant will review each comment, assess budget impacts and possible subsequent phases, then brief the Board at an agenda review or work session. Commissioner Wilson said a meeting to review comment cards, suggestions and emails was scheduled for the next morning. Commissioner Troutman said there "seems to be still a lot of ambiguity" and asked staff to "tie that process down a little more."
2. **Animal Control / animal welfare** — Eve Salimbene, Charlene Leis, Debbie Hicks, Becky Bywater and Jhoanna Allende raised facility conditions (cleaning still underway at 10:15 a.m., odor, a back gate that does not lock, a dog reportedly without medical care for two weeks), requested a new facility, an advisory committee, a spay/neuter voucher program, stronger coordination between Animal Control and the Sheriff's Office, and tethering/pet-sale ordinances. Commissioner Scott stated the Board "increased the salary for an additional veterinarian for Animal Control."
James Abercrombie criticized a change to the three-minute public comment rule and asked "where the fence went and where that money went" regarding a park project.
## Recognitions
Keep Polk County Beautiful's Katie Hayes reported the county won the **2025 National Innovation Award** for local programming for the "Clean It Up To Green It Up" curbside cleanup program, citing over **400,000 pounds of trash and over 11,000 tires** collected in the prior year; Jewett Middle Academy won a top broadcast award at the Student Network Television Convention. Beasley recognized Susan Pelz, acting Solid Waste director and chief engineer, who will remain in an engineering capacity.