Board of County Commissioners · March 17, 2026
Meeting date: March 17, 2026Summarized 2026-09-01 17:12
# Summary: Polk County BoCC Regular Meeting – March 17, 2026
## Routine Business
Disbursements, prior meeting minutes, and the Consent Agenda were all approved by unanimous 5-0 votes with named movers/seconders (e.g., disbursements moved by Wilson, seconded by Troutman; Consent Agenda moved by Wilson, seconded by Braswell). The Consent Agenda (Section R) contained mostly routine, no-fiscal-impact items (easements, franchises, bond acceptances, hearing-setting items), plus some dollar items noted below that were not discussed individually in the minutes and passed as part of the block.
## Major Budget/Contract Items (County Manager section, G) — all approved 5-0
- **G.1** – Agreement with Driven Security LLC to replace jail security systems at South County and Central County facilities: **$7,300,000.00** one-time expense. Moved by Troutman, seconded by Scott.
- **G.2** – CMAR/GMP addendum with Miller Construction Management, Inc. for Bradley Fire Rescue Station: **$6,076,766.58**, plus a CIP amendment/budget transfer of **$1,054,532.00** from EMS Millage Fund Reserve. Moved by Wilson, seconded by Troutman.
- **G.3** – CMAR/GMP addendum with Henkelman Construction, Inc. for Eagle Lake Fire Rescue Station: **$5,560,276.00**. Moved by Troutman, seconded by Wilson.
- **G.4** – Construction contract with Strickland Construction, Inc. for new Lakeland Hills EMS Station: **$3,695,394.00**, plus CIP amendment/transfer of **$147,731.00** from EMS Impact Fee Reserve. Moved by Troutman, seconded by Scott.
- **G.5** – Sub-Agreement No. SA-7 with Water Cooperative of Central Florida (Cypress Lake Wellfield Project): **$2,651,589.00** not-to-exceed. Moved by Wilson, seconded by Troutman.
- **G.6** – Letters of Agreement with 8 Managed Care Organizations: **$6,674,186.06** estimated one-time revenue (Medicaid ambulance billing reimbursement program). Moved by Troutman, seconded by Scott.
No opposition or discussion of dollar figures beyond staff explanation; all passed unanimously.
## Consent Agenda Notable Dollar Items (approved as part of block vote, D.1)
- R.7/R.8 – Performance bonds: $32,450.00 and $119,543.84
- R.10 – Maintenance bond: $47,689.42
- R.11 – Eloise Loop Road stormwater agreement: not to exceed $62,799.08
- R.12 – CDBG subrecipient agreement with City of Bartow: $199,411.19
- R.13 – 2026 Property Insurance Renewal: $1,835,312 one-time cost
- R.14 – Amendment with Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine: not to exceed $1,438,641
- R.15 – CMAR/GMP addendum with Miller Construction, LLC for Sheriff's evidence storage facility: $888,245.70
- R.18 – Land purchase agreements (Lake Wales Ridge conservation parcels): $8,000
- R.21 – Interlocal agreement transferring Grandview Parkway/Posner Boulevard: up to $500,000 one-time revenue
- R.23 – CSA with WSB LLC (CR 540/Lake Ned Rd intersection): $452,097.20
- R.24 – CSA with Eisman & Russo (Kathleen Rd/Deeson Rd intersection): $303,109
- R.25 – Amendment with Rummel, Klepper & Kahl (Wilder Rd Sidewalk): $78,316.00
- R.26 – Modification with Kimley-Horn (Starling Rd Sidewalk): $25,860.00
- R.34 – Piggyback agreement with Eurofins for lab services: $100,000 estimated annual expense
None of these were pulled for separate discussion or vote; all passed via the single Consent Agenda motion.
## Contested/Notable Item — SPLIT VOTE
**O.1 – Mammoth Grove Mine (LDCU-2025-29):** De novo appeal hearing of the Planning Commission's 6:1 denial (Dec. 3, 2025) of a conditional use for a ~656-acre (reduced from larger footprint after 200 acres adjacent to Saddlebag Resort was removed) sand mine. This was an extensive, contested hearing with numerous experts qualified (Richard Crockett, Matt Mouncey, Mark Stephens, Lee Walton, Amber Gartner, Tracy Mouncey, Dr. Robert DeMott for the applicant; Katherine Pratt for the appellant — all qualified as experts by unanimous vote) and roughly 25 public speakers, virtually all in opposition, citing concerns about traffic safety on SR 60/Mammoth Grove Road, air quality/dust, groundwater/well impacts, and noise.
- Commissioners disclosed ex parte communications and site visits before deliberating.
- **Final vote: 4-1, APPROVED.** Moved by Braswell, seconded by Wilson. **AYE: Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, Santiago. NAY: Scott.**
- Commissioner Scott dissented, citing traffic safety concerns (truck/trailer length exceeding 47 feet, no acceleration lane onto SR 60), skepticism about staffing to enforce dust-mitigation permit conditions, and concerns about the site plan layout.
- Commissioners Braswell, Troutman, Wilson, and Santiago cited compatibility with existing/historic sand mining in the area (dating to 1941), a site visit by Troutman showing minimal dust, and crash data presented by the applicant's traffic expert (Gartner) showing no crashes tied to the existing sand mine, as reasons for approval.
## Other Public Hearings — all approved 5-0, no fiscal impact, no public comment
- N.1–N.5: Land Development Code text/map amendments (communication towers, car washes, drive-thru facilities, Recker Highway Comprehensive Plan Amendment and Sub-District change).
- O.2: Right-of-Way Sign Enforcement Ordinance — creates a $250-per-sign fine, with removal costs assessed against sign beneficiaries if not removed within 7 days. Moved by Troutman, seconded by Scott.
## Nothing Else Unusual
No item withdrawals were noted. No other split votes occurred. All other items were routine and passed unanimously with named movers/seconders as listed above.