Board of County Commissioners · May 19, 2026
Meeting date: May 19, 2026Summarized 2026-09-01 17:27
## Polk County BoCC — Regular Meeting Summary, May 19, 2026
**Attendance:** All five commissioners present (Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, Santiago (Chair), Scott). Meeting adjourned 10:59 a.m.
### Votes Taken — All Unanimous (5-0)
Every item voted on at this meeting passed unanimously. No split votes, failed motions, or withdrawals are recorded in the minutes.
**Routine approvals:**
- Disbursements — moved by Wilson, seconded by Troutman
- May 5, 2026 minutes — moved by Troutman, seconded by Scott
- Consent Agenda — moved by Troutman, seconded by Scott
**Largest item — G.1: Environmental land purchase.** Agreement for Sale and Purchase between La Cala, LLC and Polk County for the Environmental Lands Program – CLASAC Project, EL-127-24, **$2,996,250 not to exceed total expense**. Moved by Wilson, seconded by Scott; approved 5-0. County Manager Bill Beasley stated the county is "leveraging 45% of this through the federal government." Parks and Natural Resources Director Tabitha Biehl said the primary goal is water quality — a treatment system for canal water entering Lake Rosalie, which "has seen a decline in water quality" — and that public/recreational access would be explored later.
### Land Use Hearings (all adopted 5-0)
- **N.1 Braddock Road CPA** — 36 ± acres from Mixed-Use/Preservation to Business Park Center. Braswell/Wilson.
- **N.2 US 27 & Deer Creek** — 1.01 ± acres, Leisure Recreation-X to Institutional-X. Braswell/Wilson.
- **N.3 Poinciana Commercial NAC** — 12.6 ± acres, DRI to Neighborhood Activity Center. Troutman/Wilson.
- **N.4 Poinciana Commercial Activity Center Plan** LDC text amendment. Troutman/Braswell.
- **N.5 Wahneta Main Street Corridor (MSC) Overlay** LDC text amendment. Wilson/Braswell.
**O.1 Medulla Road RL CPA** — 5.14 ± acres from Business Park Center to Residential Low. Notable: **the Planning Commission had voted 4:3 for denial**, and the **City of Lakeland requested denial**, citing concerns about future residents' complaints threatening airport expansion; the city alternatively requested an avigation easement, which staff said it could not require. County staff recommended approval. The property was previously denied for Residential Low in 2020. Moved by Scott, seconded by Braswell; approved 5-0.
### Notable Consent Agenda Dollar Items (approved without discussion)
- **R.18** Microsoft Enterprise Agreement renewal — 3-year agreement, **$1,914,913.98 annually**
- **R.38** Settlement in *Xzalyn Powell v. Polk County BoCC*, Case No. 53-2023-CA-002965 — **$150,000 one-time expense**
- **R.28** Johnson, Mirmiran and Thompson CEI services, Maine Ave Sidewalk — not to exceed **$397,003**
- **R.36** Black and Veatch CSA 2024-006-08, utilities KPI module — not to exceed **$376,591**
- **R.29/R.30/R.31/R.32** Engineering CSAs: Dewberry US 27 at North Blvd (**$164,856.72**); Dewberry Lake Bonny (**$160,740**); Burgess and Niple CR 559 at Lundy Rd (**$150,789.94**); Rummel, Klepper & Kahl Fitzgerald Rd (**$59,318.50**)
- **R.19** Whitehead Construction CMAR pre-construction services, Highland City Fire Station/Smith Lane — **$40,280**
- **R.23** Toberen Estate parcel, Lake Wales Ridge/Crooked Lake West — **$5,000**
- Performance/maintenance surety acceptances and releases including **$2,512,977.10** (South Bartow Racetrac) and **$467,153.03** (ChampionsGate West Retail & Office Phase 1)
- **R.21** Resolution renaming private roadway from Jeanette Lane to Haunted Forest Road — **$47.20**
### Public Comment
Extended public comment focused largely on **animal welfare/Animal Control**. Speakers (Kay Bourque, Eve Salimbene, Cynthia Dorman, Debbie Hicks, Kristina Vasquez, Jhoanna Allende) raised backyard breeding, TNVR, euthanasia rates, and shelter conditions. Cynthia Dorman **requested $150,000 for the Street Cat Project**. Vasquez requested a breeder licensing ordinance, an inmate dog program, and lifting the shelter's ban on cell phones and cameras. Commissioner Scott described recent shelter improvements (evaporative cooling fans, washer/dryer, sealed food storage, salary increase for a second veterinarian). Salimbene and Dorman both responded to prior statements by Commissioner Braswell.
Other commenters: **James Loyd Thomas** on e-bike safety, in memory of Maddox Moore; County Attorney Mink noted Senate Bill 382 addresses some e-bike issues. **David Butler** criticized a DR Horton tax exemption and questioned county aviation spending; commissioners and staff responded that ad valorem exemptions are granted only after performance metrics are met. **James Abercrombie** spoke against multiple land use items and requested records regarding disposal of a fence; Beasley stated public records were provided.
### Recognition
Winter Haven Economic Development Council received Florida EDC "project of the year" for the Chick-fil-A cold storage facility at the Winter Haven logistics complex — Bruce Lyon cited a **$1.5 million state grant** to extend rail and projected **~160 jobs at average wages of $80,000**.