Board of County Commissioners · Jan. 21, 2025
Meeting date: Jan. 21, 2025Summarized 2026-09-01 18:04
# Polk County BoCC — Regular Meeting, January 21, 2025
**Attendance note:** Commissioner Martha Santiago was absent. Every recorded vote passed 4-0 (Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, Scott). No split votes, no failed motions, no items withdrawn from the floor.
## Major dollar items (all approved under County Manager section)
| Item | Amount | Mover / Seconder |
|---|---|---|
| **H.1** Thompson Nursery Road (Phase 2, Segment 5) Infrastructure Agreement | County reimbursement not to exceed **$4,729,067.16**; developer contribution **$1,187,326.75**; total project cost **$5,916,393.91** | Troutman / Braswell |
| **H.2** Piggyback agreements with Rep Services, Inc. and Bliss Products and Services, Inc. for park/playground equipment | Estimated **$3,000,000–$4,500,000 annual recurring** | Braswell / Troutman |
| **H.3** Construction contract with Ajax Paving Industries of Florida, LLC (US 27 at Tierra Del Sol intersection), plus CIP amendment and budget transfer | **$2,286,826.36** one-time; plus **$1,286,827.00** transferred from Transportation Trust Fund, Reserve Budget Stabilization | Braswell / Troutman |
| **H.4** CMAR 2020-055-03 Guaranteed Maximum Price addendum with SEMCO Construction, Inc. (Utilities AMI radio towers) | **$1,479,127.28** one-time | Troutman / Braswell |
| **H.5** Behavioral health contract with Peace River Center for Personal Development, Inc. (forensic specialists, navigation services) | Not to exceed **$700,000** | Braswell / Troutman |
On H.1, attorney Shelton Rice (Peterson and Myers) stated the development was annexed into Lake Wales around 2019 and the plan "contemplates up to 6,000 residential units." Staff said the property to the north is negotiating a proportionate share agreement for Thompson Nursery Road improvements.
## Consent agenda
Approved as a block (Braswell / Troutman, 4-0). Also approved separately by the same margin: disbursements and the January 7, 2025 minutes.
Larger or noteworthy consent items included:
- Lunz Group, Inc. Amendment No. 11 — Eagle Lake Fire Rescue Station A&E services, **$274,310.00**
- Whitehead Construction — Willow Oak Fire Rescue Station interior renovations, **$229,649.00**
- RDK Truck Sales Amendment #1 — waste collection truck leases, **$405,000.00** estimated
- Rummel, Klepper & Kahl CSA — FDC Grove Road Reclaimed Water Main Loop, **$213,750.00** not-to-exceed
- 2025 State Legislative Priorities for Polk County
- Resolution of Necessity **authorizing condemnation** for the Spirit Lake Road / Old Bartow Eagle Lake Road intersection (Project No. 5400193)
- Resolution approving Declarations Extending **State of Local Emergency 24-01** (executed by the County Manager Jan. 13 and Jan. 17, 2025)
- Set public hearing for **March 18, 2025** on amending the Comprehensive Impact Fee Ordinance to adopt the 2025 Warehouse Trip Characteristics Study and updated transportation impact fee rates
- Land purchase from Higinio Nieves Diaz for conservation preservation, **$1,136**; fee refund of **$4,608.00** (LDCPAS-2024-20)
- Multiple utility acceptances, maintenance bonds and sureties (e.g., $317,849.50 Barry Road; release of $113,603.46 bond for Harmony on Lake Eloise Phase 1)
Commissioner Scott asked about the timing of increased warehouse/industrial impact fees; County Manager Beasley said staff plans to present the studies to Economic Development Councils before the March 18 hearing.
## Hearings
- **O.1 (LDCT-2024-26, Record Drawings/Appendix A revisions)** — adoption hearing; approved 4-0 (Braswell / Troutman). No public speakers.
- **O.2 (LDCT-2024-18, Section 220 Warehouse Separation)** — first reading only; no vote recorded. Ziskal described required opaque fencing/buffering abutting residential and an additional 50-foot no-development spacing for facilities with four or more loading/unloading areas.
- **P.1 (LDCU-2024-36 Rodriguez Rights Restoration, ABC Road)** — conditional use for three dwelling units on one parcel; approved 4-0 (Braswell / Scott). No public speakers.
## Public comment
Five speakers addressed the Board. Agenda speaker Gueline Gbobo (traffic on Avenue G NW, Inwood) was not present. Linda Fife opposed a new Publix on Thompson Nursery Road and raised intersection safety concerns. Kelly Quinn urged a limited-growth strategy and a new hydrology study, noting none since 2006. Tom Palmer raised the Northeast Polk wastewater plant and said the utilities ordinance penalty amounts to "a slap on the wrist with a $50 fine"; County Attorney Randy Mink said his office is working with Utilities on enforcement and would look at it closer. Suzanne Lindsey asked whether an environmental/natural resources sub-consultant could be hired for the Comprehensive Plan. Ron Newingham opposed the proposed Boy Scout Road / Highway 60 development.
## Other notes
- Employee recognitions for Tanya Tucker, Eric Anderson, Chanda Bennett, and Sharon Mathis; Brenda Brooks of the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters presented Mathis a 25-year service award.
- Appointments approved 4-0: Bruce W. Lyon to the Industrial Development Authority (Seat 2, Feb. 20, 2025–Feb. 19, 2028) and Kimberly Knaisch to the Housing Finance Authority (Jan. 22, 2025–Jan. 21, 2029).
- The agenda listed a **Work Session item Q.1, Comprehensive Plan Update** (Ben Ziskal and Inspire Placemaking Collective), but the minutes contain no entry for it.
- Discussion under commissioner comments on the Wahneta Farms/Wahneta drainage ditch: Mink said a meeting with the O'Kellys and the Water Management District would be held and studies completed before the Board decides among options. Scott said he does not like "Option 3 with the storage of water because of the increase in flow."
- Meeting concluded at 10:05 a.m.