Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the November 7, 2023 regular meeting of the Polk County Board of County Commissioners. At this time, I would call on Chaplain Hanley to give the invocation, ask you to rise, and remain standing for the pledge. Good morning. Please pray with me. Heavenly Father, your word instructs us to pray for all those in authority that we may enjoy a quiet and peaceful life. And so as we begin this morning, I pray for these leaders assembled here and for all who are in positions of leadership throughout our county. Grant them wisdom as they seek the good of the citizens and visitors of Polk County. And let all that is accomplished here today bring you honor and glory. I ask this prayer in Jesus' name. Amen. At this time, we have some employee recognition, so the commission will go down in the well, and we'll have those introductions. Good morning, commissioners. I'm Jeff Foley, public and media relations officer for communications. Today, we are recognizing two employees for their service to Polk County. I'd like to invite the employees to come to the front as their names are called, and then if the honorees will remain standing at the front while the commissioners return to the dais behind them, we will take a group photo at the end. First, Robert Richards. Robert began serving Polk County's residents as a network analyst in the Information Technology Division 25 years ago. Today, he works in IT as a cyber firewall analyst. Robert holds multiple IT-related certifications, and in his free time, he enjoys CB and ham radios, 3-D printing, fishing, kayaking, and riding motorcycles. He also loves hiking Polk County's recreational areas with his family. Robert's wife, Stevie, works in IT, too. Robert plans to work for the county for a while longer, and then, when the time is right, enjoy some quiet time in retirement. Lisa Smith. Lisa has worked for Polk County's fire rescue division for 20 years. She started as a firefighter. She has also served as an engineer, and she now works as a captain EMT. Lisa's hobbies include water skiing, and she is the assistant show director of the Cypress Garden water ski team. She and her husband, Jason, have three daughters. In the future, Lisa plans to keep taking classes to further her knowledge about her current position as a captain EMT. If there's any family members who want to take photos, you're welcome to come. All right. Congratulations. Come on. Jeff, hold that baby so she can take the baby. Got it? All right. Congratulations. At this time on the agenda, we invite the general public to come forward with any issue or matter they wish to share with the commission at this time. You'll be afforded three minutes. Please give your name and address. Seeing none, we will close that portion and move on to the consent agenda. Motion for approval. Second. We have a motion and a second. Discussion on the motion. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, like, signed. Motion carries. Ms. Beaver, good morning. Good morning. Thank you, Mr. Chair. This morning, we have for you to approve and ratify payroll check numbers 0-2-4-0-9 through 0-2-4-8-5 in the amount of $114,774.19. 5,256 direct deposits in the amount of $8,027,061.20 dated October 20th through November 3rd, 2023. Wire and electronic fund transfers in the amount of $44,772,189.59 dated October 7th through November 6th, 2023. Invoice checks numbered 447-418 through 448-774 totaling $26,754,190.30 dated October 17th through November 6th, 2023. Move approval, disbursement. Second. Motion and a second. Any discussion on the motion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, like, signed. Motion carries. We also request approval of minutes of your regular board meeting held on October 17th, 2023. Motion for approval. Motion and a second. Any discussion on the motion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, like, signed. Motion carries. You had another announcement. Yes, sir. During the month, during November, the clerk's office is honoring U.S. military veterans and active duty personnel by offering free passport photos. With Veterans Day approaching, this is our way of showing support for the people who have served and are currently serving our country. To qualify for this offer, veterans and active duty personnel can simply present their DD-214, their military ID, or driver's license with a veteran designation at any of our three office locations. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. Mr. Neen, county attorney. Yes, Mr. Chair. I have one item that's placed underneath me to allow a commissioner to recuse himself. It would normally have been on the consent agenda, and that is the Conservation Land Acquisition Selection Advisory Committee classic recommendations on the following sites nominated to the Environmental Lands Program are to pursue acquisition on EL-100-23, EL-101-23, EL-102-23, EL-104-23, and EL-105-23, and not to pursue acquisition on EL-103-23, and I believe the conflict occurs with EL-105-23. Madam Clerk, I'll be recusing on this item as I have a business relationship with one of the applicants. Entertain a motion. At this time, I believe we have a quick presentation, Mr. Chair. Zoom, zoom. Yes, ma'am. Go ahead. The bill of the board. Gay Sharp, the Parks Natural Resources Division Director, just quickly go ahead. Go through the Conservation Land Acquisition Selection Advisory Committee's recommendation. As you're aware, in August, we opened up accepting site nominations for the Environmental Lands Program. We've done three of the technical assessment group tours, and it has been taken before the classic, that information and the summaries, and they have today bringing forward to you their recommendation on pursuing acquisition or not pursuing acquisition on the six sites. And after this meeting, once a determination is made whether we pursue the acquisition or not, then you will have staff move forward on doing due diligence, getting the appraisals, working with the property owners, and pursuing funding, whether it's through private partnerships, state partnerships, nonprofits, those type of things. And then we would bring back an agreement before the board. So that gives you an idea of the process. The technical assessment group, I want to point out, is a group that the classic committee decided to be instrumental in helping them to evaluate the sites. And they evaluate the sites using the criteria that's adopted in the Environmental Lands Ordinance. So it's very, you know, very important that the criteria is looked at on what are resources, the natural communities and landscape, the plant and animals, the human values, and management. And this is to give a real good outlook on how the property would fit into the Environmental Lands Program as far as values from a technical standpoint. Then this information actually goes to the classic committee, and this is just a map showing all over where they're located. And I will let Tabitha come up and quickly go through just the sites so that you can have some more information about what was being presented and what the recommendations were on that. So, Tabitha. Good morning. Tabitha Beale, Parks and Natural Resources. The first property that was evaluated in the program was a Freedlander property. It's approximately 649 acres, located east of Lake Wales, just south of State Road 60, off of Freedlander and Backbone Road. This property is next door to a Sand Skink mitigation project in Tiger Creek Preserve. Tag scored the property at 89, noting its higher value for water resources and its natural community landscape connections. Classic recommended the board pursue acquisition. The Fulton Scrub, approximately 238 acres. The site of a mixture of pasture and scrub, located just off of Alturas Babson Cutoff Road, southeast of Alturas. This project, ranked for tag, scored out as 75 due to its high diversity of plants and animals. Classic recommended to pursue acquisition for this project. The Astute Financial Conservation Trust, approximately 148 acres, located between Winter Haven and Lake Alfred, in the southwest corner of 92 and 17, primarily the wetland site. This project ranked high for water resources value, as at an 81 by tag, in classic recommended pursue acquisition. The Davidson Pasture is approximately 89 acres, located just west of Highway 27, south of the town of Lake Hamilton, just off the shore of Lake Hamilton, butts up to the Peace Creek Canal, next to the Water Management District's control structure. This project, ranked 54 by tag, and classic recommended to not pursue acquisition. The Raley Property, a 418-acre property, located just south of Dundee, north of Lake Annie, and east of Highway 27. This property scored an 86 for its high recharge value and water resources value and connectivity. Classic recommended it to pursue acquisition. Creek Legacy Ranch is approximately 1,313 acres. This site is located in eastern Polk County, just off the shore of Lake Hatchnahall, north of Hatchnahall Road. Tag scored this as a 95, and classic recommended it to pursue acquisition. This is the recommendation before the board. Just want to remind and say thank you to all of our classic members that are volunteers that are participating in this process with us, as well as our tag members. We're spending some long days in the field, and I just want to say thank you to everyone who's participating in those. Move approval. Second. Motion seconded. Mr. Wilson, that's your committee. Do you have any comments on the process? I just, just like you just said, it makes for some long days. We have some people that, we all do this. We look at it very, very hard. You know, this is some different properties across the board, but they get to where what would be, what we really look at is some great conservation stuff. So this is just a process, you know, we, we got to keep moving with it. Now they can start doing their work. We'll see what, you know, how many we can, can wind up with because things do change and with the sellers and everything. But, you know, I just want to thank everybody, you know, on the classic board and thank all our staff. They're, it's, it's hard work and, but it's all good. Thank you. Mr. Chair. Yes, ma'am. I have a question. I see the different points here from 95. They go down to 75. So how, what's the process now in selecting? Is it 95 because it has more points, carry more weights as you present it? Or how, how would that, how would that work out? So as these projects move forward to pursue acquisition, we'll be looking to pursue all of them in different ways. We'll be looking at partnerships. And that, that's what really drives the sellers need to move forward. How quickly or how slowly the seller wants to move forward. So at this point, it's just, we're pursuing each of these as we move forward in different ways. Yes, sir. I, I, I know this, the answer to the question, I think, but our potential partners are teed up, alerted that we're going and, and are fully engaged with us moving forward. Yes, sir. That's right. We, we're constant communications with our state, local, other local partners, whether it's municipalities and also the nonprofits in the area. Yeah. When we, you know, go out and look at the lands, most of them are there. Yes, sir. You know, they're, they're, they're helping us score. Well, I was on one of the tours and DEP and FWC, everybody was there. You know, and, you know, talk about Martha, how, you know, the score and everything. Well, when it comes down to it, once you get your appraisals and everything, you know, it, things can change. And so there could be a couple of drop office lists because we can't get a, strike a deal with the, with the seller, you know. Well, I guess since this is a new venture for us, that's why I was asking how are those points going to qualify the, the, the, the properties. So thank you. Any other questions? We have a motion, a second. All those in favor of the motion, say aye. Aye. Opposed, like, sign with one recusal, motion carries. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have nothing further at this time. Mr. Beasley. Good morning, Mr. Chair, members of the board. The manager's office will have five items for consideration this morning. Item number H1 is to request the board to approve a grant agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to provide funding for the Polk County Peace Creek Basin Wetland Restoration Project. This action will secure a one-time revenue source totaling $7,050,000. The Peace Creek Basin is entirely within Polk County and along with the Saddle Creek Watershed, formed the headwaters of the Peace River. The wetlands within the Peace Creek Basin have been extensively ditched and canaled, resulting in a lack of water storage and loss of historic aquatic habitat. Additionally, the changes within the Peace Creek Basin have contributed to downstream water quality nutrient impairments in the Peace River. Polk County is currently evaluating the Peace Creek Canal Basin and has identified priority areas to restore historic wetlands that will minimize flood risks, increase wetland functions, increase water storage, and improve water quality. In response to that overall basin evaluation, in 2022, Polk County submitted an application entitled Restoring Historic Wetlands to Provide Resiliency and Minimize Flood Risk in the Peace Creek Canal to the state's Resiliency Implementation Grant Program. As part of implementing statewide resiliency efforts, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has awarded Polk County funding for subsequent property acquisition and restoration efforts within the Peace Creek Basin, totaling $7,050,000. Matching funds will be provided through the Federal American Rescue Plan funds from prior, current, and future year budgets in the form of project design, permitting, and acquisition, totaling $7,950,000. Approval of this grant agreement is the next step towards moving this resiliency project forward to protect and restore critical wetlands as approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. This project has been reviewed and is endorsed by the Stormwater Technical Advisory Committee. The project costs totaling $15,000,000 are budgeted in the FY23-24 Community Investment Program under the Peace Creek Canal project line item. So, Mr. Chair, members of the board, I think this is a good news item. I think generations in the future will look back at these types of actions and say that was the right thing to do for the right reasons at the right time. I certainly want to take advantage of those federal and state funds. So, Mr. Chair, members of the board, I would recommend the board approve grant number 22 FRP-12 with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to provide funding for the Polk County Peace Creek Basin Watershed Restoration Project. And I'd like Tabitha Beal here to kind of put this in some context about areas that are under our current radar or our focus. Tabitha? As Mr. Beasley mentioned on Friday, this is a watershed approach project, and we're trying to establish infrastructure in this watershed through the Peace Creek Canal to make it more resilient for future growth that will be coming into the area, but also the extreme weather events that we've been seeing over the past couple of years. So, these areas are identified starting all the way up from Haines City area, coming all the way down 27, and across State Road 60 to Bartow, where it forms Peace River. These projects have been identified because these are the pretty much historical wetland areas as they were mapped if we would go back to pre-draining these areas. But they also are sort of the boundaries of what currently floods during those extreme weather events when we do get the hurricanes. So, what we're looking to do is make sure that those areas are there to provide that flood relief from other areas either further downriver or even within our own county boundaries. We're currently working in the areas that you see for design or acquisition, the areas that are starred on the map that is before you, and we're just continuing to work through this to see what is the best infrastructure we can install for Polk County in the future. This is a work in progress. This is a multi-year initiative, and you'll be hearing about this incrementally every step of the way. Any questions of staff? Entertain a motion. Second. Motion to second. Any discussion on the motion? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed, like, sign. Motion carries. Mr. Chair, members of the board, item number H2 is to request the board approve a construction contract with Senn State Contractors Incorporated in connection with the Jordan's Grove Ground Storage Reservoir and High Service Pump Station project. This action will be a one-time capital expense not to exceed $4,669,350, with board action to include a minor community investment program funding amendment. Polk County has completed the public solicitation process seeking qualified contractors interested in the installation of a one-million-gallon ground storage tank and high-service pumps at the Jordan's Grove facility located within the Williams Preserve development in the Davenport area. The utility master plan for the Northeast Region Utility Service Area does project that future growth will result in reclaimed water pressure and seasonal quantity deficiencies in the eastern portions of that utility service area. This project will construct a large storage tank and high-service pump station to help address both pressure and seasonal availability of reclaimed water supplies. Bid number 23-514 was issued and two contractors submitted bids, the lowest being submitted by Senn State Contractors out of Winterhaven in the amount of $4,447,000. A recommendation of award was issued and no protests were received. In accordance with Resolution 13066, a 5% contingency allowance amount is included in the proposed contract award. The contract time for this project has been set at 365 calendar days. Based upon prior expenses and encumbrances, a budget transfer from the utility reserves totaling $278,908 is necessary to cover total award costs. Upon approval of the budget transfer from the utilities reserve, funding in the amount of $4,669,350 will be available from the American Rescue Plan and the utility's five-year community investment funds. I might add, Mr. Chair, members of the board, that 65% of this project is funded with federal funds, 35% funded with utility capital investment funds. So, Mr. Chair, members of the board, in the interest of advancing a major utility operational initiative, I would recommend the board approve the proposed contract with Senn State Contractors at an expense not to exceed the $4,669,350 to include the requisite amendment to the FY23-24 community investment utility community investment program by way of the transfer from those reserve funds. Move approval. I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Need staff presentation? No, sir. Any questions? All those in favor, say aye. Opposed, like, sign. Motion carries. Mr. Chair, members of the board, item number H3 is to request the board approve an infrastructure agreement with the Pulte Home Company, LLC, for wastewater infrastructure improvement serving the Belhaven residential development. This is a one-time expense not to exceed $497,471. The developer has constructed a 183-unit single-family home and 170-unit townhome development known as Belhaven near the intersection of US-27 and Dunson Road. Wastewater services to this location are provided by the Polk County Utilities Division. Additional development is ongoing in the area near the Belhaven development, which will also rely on the Polk County Utility Division for those wastewater services. To support future growth in the area and limit the number of crossings within the FDOT-US-27 corridor right-of-way, as part of the completed site work, Polk County Utilities Division did request the developer to upsize a lift station and force main from the 8-foot diameter lift station and 6-inch force main required solely to support the Belhaven development to a 12-foot diameter lift station and a 10-inch force main. The larger diameter lift station and force main will provide wastewater capacity for the Belhaven project plus three additional anticipated apartment complexes while maintaining a single crossing in the US-27 FDOT right-of-way. This agreement provides for reimbursement associated with upsizing the lift station and the force main of the completed development to serve regional needs within the US-27 Dunson Road General Vicinity. Funding for this effort is available in the Utilities Expansion Community Investment Program Miscellaneous Developer Account line item. So, Mr. Chair, members of the Board, I would request the Board to approve the infrastructure agreement with Pulte Home Company, LLC for those specified wastewater improvements within the Belhaven plan development at a cost not to exceed $497,471. Mr. Chairman? Yes, sir? For my benefit and maybe the benefit of some others, how do we know that that 497, 471 is the right number, Tamara? Is it a bid that they get and just pass along to us? Yes, that number, that came from their contractor, what they were actually billed, yes. Commissioner Cummings, this is an after-the-fact agreement. The lift station and force main are already constructed, so they've already paid for it. We're just reimbursing them. That kind of doesn't answer my question. My question is, how do they determine that $497,000 is a fair price? How do we determine? Because we're going to give them $497,000. Oh, okay. Oh, I'm sorry. Okay, I understand. You know, maybe that's precisely what the additional cost was to upsize. Yes, usually what the contractor does is they give them the price for what they require, and then they give them the price for what we require, and we pay the difference. It's like the contractor gives them two bids. Mr. Cummings, I think part of that is based on their subcontractors, we do ask them to competitively quote this project. We didn't review the line items, both the materials, labor, and quantities. We feel like it meets the takeoffs that we've calculated, and we're good with it. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move approval. Second. I have a motion to second. Any discussion? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Those like to sign, the motion carries. Mr. Chair, members of the board, item number H-4 is to request the board approve an infrastructure agreement between Blackfin Champions, LLC, and Polk County for roadway improvements at the intersection located at U.S. Highway 27 and Four Corners Boulevard. This is a one-time expense not to exceed $738,189.87. The Blackfin Champions, LLC, is developing property adjacent to U.S. Highway 27 and Four Corners Boulevard in connection with the Champions Station project. As part of the development construction, the developer is required to make improvements at the intersection of U.S. 27 and Four Corners Boulevard in that the county has a funded lane, funded turn lane project at Four Corners and U.S. 27. County staff discussed with the developer the potential for a joint project at this intersection whereby the county would agree to pay the cost of constructing the turn lane improvements. The developer agreed to work with the county, and that is what has resulted in this proposed infrastructure agreement. The developer will construct all intersection improvements, and the county will reimburse the developer for the cost of the turn lane. The estimated construction cost of that turn lane is not to exceed $738,189.87. Funding for this project is available and identified in the Roads and Drainage Approved Community Investment Program. So, Mr. Chair, members of the board, in the interest of advancing another solely needed project in the Northeast Transportation Project, I would request the board approve the proposed infrastructure agreement between Blackfins, Champions, LLC, and Polk County for those specified roadway improvements at a cost not to exceed $738,189.87. Move approval. Motion to second. Any discussion on the motion? All those in favor say aye. Aye. As opposed, like signed, motion carries. I did have some discussion on that, just to kind of a feel-good, because almost 20 years ago, I was involved with signalizing the new public shopping center we were building adjacent to the Heart of Florida Hospital, and it cost us more than that just to put up the signal. It was right at $750,000 we paid for that. So, that's just 20 years later. That looks like a good deal to me. Your bargain's here and there. Mr. Chair, members of the board, the final item, the final item from the manager's office, item number H5, and as I prepare to read this, this has been a long time coming. We've been discussing this for probably the better part of two years. I'd like to introduce Mr. Dan Jones, if he would come to the podium. Before I make a formal recommendation to the board, I wanted Dan to say a few comments, but I wanted to read this information for the record, because I think it's really a monumental time, I think, in Polk's history in light of the Roar Homes' creation, its existence, and now its transition. So, item number H5, Mr. Chair, members of the board, is to request the board to approve an asset purchase agreement between the Millennial Property Investments Corporation, the Blue Falcon Operations Corporation, and Polk County for the sale of the Roar Home. This is a one-time revenue of $5 million. Polk County is the owner and operator of a 60-bed skilled nursing facility known as the Roar Home, located at 2120 Marshall Edwards Drive here in Bartow. In late 2022, the county issued a solicitation seeking bids from licensed nursing home operators interested in purchasing and privatizing the Roar Home to continue providing these critical and community-supported services. Following unsuccessful negotiations with multiple bidders, the Millennial Property Investments Corporation, a Florida non-profit corporation, submitted a letter of intent to the county in March of 2023, proposing to purchase the Roar Home property and the operations for $5 million. The board subsequently directed staff to negotiate the sale to Millennial without further consideration of the remaining bid submittals based upon Millennial's experience in operating skilled nursing home and long-term care facilities throughout Central Florida. The buyer's proposed nursing home administrator, Mr. Daniel Jones, has been a licensed administrator since 2011 and has operated similar facilities in Polk, Orange, Brevard, Hillsboro, and Osceola counties. Mr. Jones is a Bartow native, a graduate of Bartow High School, and is indeed familiar with the local physician's network within Polk County, the existing staffing complement at the Roar Home, as well as the community spirit surrounding that facility. The buyer will have 60 days following the effective date of the proposed asset purchase agreement to make specific inspections and or conclude due diligence. Closing of the transaction shall occur on the latter of 30 days thereafter, or 10 days following the buyer's receipt of the license approval from the Florida Agency of Health Care Administration. At closing, the county will grant an ingress-egress easement to the buyer for access to the property, and the county will retain utility easement across the property for its existing fiber optics lines. The net proceeds of the sale will be deposited into the county's general fund. So, Mr. Chair, I look back at this, and I understand the relationship with the Roar Home to the Bartow community. I understand the community initial concerns, but I think that this organization that Dan will talk about is the right people for the right purpose at the right time, and it makes a good mutual government business decision and a private sector initiative. I would, Mr. Chair, recommend the board to two things today. Approve the asset purchase agreement between Polk County, Millennial Property Investments Corporation, and Blue Falcon Operations Corporation. And two, I would ask the board to authorize the real estate services administrator to execute on behalf of the county any closing documents pertaining to the proposed transaction to include any affidavits and closing statements. Before the board makes a decision, I would ask Dan to say a few comments about what your vision is at that facility. My name is Dan Jones. Is that microphone? Sorry. My name is Dan Jones. I brought Brian Kuehl and Brian McCoy, who are partners with me. All three of us are licensed nursing home administrators. We've all operated in Polk County for the last 10 to 15 years. We all know doctors, case managers, very many contacts in the community. We don't want to change anything with the Roar Home. We want to keep everything as is, as a service to the community. We want to have a meeting with the employees, go over benefits and wages, and hire more and grow more and grow the business and grow the partnership. And we appreciate everything and all the time that Polk County has given us through this process. Mr. Wilson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. You know, everybody in this board knows how I felt all this time about the Aurora Home. Being I'm from Bartow and Bill is, I mean Commissioner Brazel is too, got a lot of people that went through there, got people that I went to school with and know that are there now. You know, my big thing, I mean, I really didn't want to see the county get out of the business, to be honest with you, you know, when I first came here. And then we went through COVID and a lot of things, you know, we were very fortunate. But, you know, it's, and when I, you know, when we're the, was the, we're the only county in the state that owned a nursing home, that kind of, you know, put us in a position and with what was going on through COVID, losing people out there to new jobs. But anyway, making a long story short, I feel very, very good about what's going on with you and the people that you're working with. And all I've really ever wanted was the nursing home to carry on and be what it's always been for years upon years. You know, people really like that place. You know, they, I mean, it's one of the best there is. And, you know, that was my deal. And what, you know, we, when, when we talked to you and it was, I feel good about it. So the only thing I ask is just keep, keep rolling with what we're doing and help people in this community. Yes, sir. The, the first submission after closing will be my grandmother. There you go. And I thank you. Mr. Braswell. Yeah, this place does have quite a history in Bartow, as you well know. I think it's great that a Bartow native is going to be running it. I think it will put a lot of people's minds at rest. There was a lot of concern that this thing is going to be turned upside down and turned into something that it hasn't been. The fact that you, you've said what your plan is, I think everybody should be very relieved, very happy, very pleased with the results. Congratulations. Thank you. Anyone else? We'll entertain a motion. Move approval of recommendation. Motion to second. Any further discussion? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Those like signed, motion carries. That's it, Mr. Chair. Mr. Wilson, anything else? Nope, I think I am good. Mr. Braswell. Yeah, I just want to congratulate Mr. Beasley. He's been reffing football games for high schools for how long? 26 seasons. 26 seasons. I've never held the job that long. But from what I understand, some of the people really like you, and then some of them are probably ready to kill you, so keep an eye out. But what was your last game? Winter Haven, Auburndale. And Auburndale won? Auburndale lost. Winter Haven won it. So you need to get back out there and fix that. Once again, congratulations. The headlines were that Winter Haven runs over Auburndale, I think, in a ledger. Ms. Santiago. Yes, I have two reappointments. The first one is Robert Sheffield to the Polk County Lakes Access Advisory Committee for the three-year term, November 17, 2023, to November 16, 2026. Second. I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Those like signed, motion carries. The next one is to reappoint Dr. Robert S. Hines to serve as a member of the Housing Finance Authority for the four-year term, December 1, 2023, to November 30, 2027. Second. Motion to second. Any discussion? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Those like signed, motion carries. Anything else? I'll let you talk about Cherry Hill. Ribbon cutting. I know that's on your agenda. That's it. That's it. Mr. Cumbie. Two things, Mr. Chairman. Can we get a report from Mosaic on the tear and what's going on out there, whether they come in person or whether they provide a report to maybe Mr. Beasley and then he can fill us in on that. Probably an in-person report would be preferable. I see a couple of people shaking their head. Who worked on that, Mr. Cumbie? I'm glad. I really don't know. There was an article and that's about all I know about it. I don't know if there's anything we could or should be doing beyond what we're doing, which is nothing, I think, at this time. But if there's something we need to be doing or be aware of, I want to make sure that the board's aware of it. The other thing is the article yesterday and then the news folks, Tampa getting interested in the SunRail thing and I've made it clear what my position is on SunRail and I think I've heard similar things from, I know, the Chairman, from Mr. Wilson and probably Mr. Braswell. So I don't know. I know we talked about it at TPO. We took a vote there that I actually voted against but to continue to allow DOT to look further but it sounds like we're getting further than looking further at this point and pun intended, I don't think we should go down that track and we're going to spend lots of money. I don't think it's viable. When you look, we're not New York City, we're not Chicago. When you look at these systems around the country, they just don't do well. They cost a lot of money and they don't do what we all hope they will do, which is provide relief on, in this case, I-4. There are so many people in this county who will be paying for that who will never be able to access it or benefit from it because they're just too far away from a station, too far away from I-4. It's just, I'd just like for the board to say yay or nay on it and whether we have any influence on how far this goes and how much money gets spent, I don't know. But the yesterday, the article and the interest in it, I mean, and I get that there's some people that want stations in their town. I think they see that as, you know, maybe some economic development. I understand it. But at what cost? You know, if we had an unlimited supply of money, we could have trains going east, west, and north and south, but we don't. And every dime we spend on that is going to be taken away from other projects that could help move traffic around central Florida and specifically Polk County. So that's all, Mr. Chairman. You had a question? Well, to that, I mean, I guess I'll ask Mr. Beasley. What, this is a FDOT-initiated idea. At what point is this going to be a TPO decision down the road? Because to what Neil's saying, it is god-awful expensive. I think a lot of us don't agree with it. And to nip it in the bud sooner than later seems like a good endeavor to just save money. Commissioner, this seems to be a TPO where the board is represented with a larger group of elected officials on the TPO. That seems to be the genesis of the initiative. DOT is working at the request of the TPO. I look to the county attorney possibly. I'm not sure of whether the county has a single other than individual votes on the TPO and maybe a discussion with this governing body. I don't know that it will rest on this body's shoulders alone. I think it's a TPO. It either lives or rises. I guess in that respect, if the county isn't putting any funding in it, I would think it's kind of dead anyway. Certainly, the county's funding and the other government funding, whether it be federal, state, and then the local operating share between all the jurisdictions, if the county decides not to participate, it doesn't move well for the project itself without the county's funding support at the operational level. And, you know, every time what I've seen on this, I've never seen a number put to the county, but I've seen numbers put to the municipalities, which, you know, obviously, you know, if they wanted to fund it themselves, so be it. But I'm curious, somewhere in there there has to be a number associated with what Polk County is going to kick in. I would think that as you get closer to this next level of engineering studies that the TPO authorized the DOT to proceed with, now you're going to start getting into the weeds, I think, at the end of that with regard to operational expenses, capital expenses, and prop share of those operating expenses. Mr. Chairman. Yes, sir. Yeah, and that brings up a question. I think you were kind of touching on it. You know, as a TPO, I mean, how many, we got 21, is it 21 now? 22. 23 actual votes, and, you know, and way more municipalities than anything. So as it comes through TPO, if the board, just for saying, was totally against it, then it's still going to get approved to move on. Am I correct? Yes. So if they move it on, then at some point in time, I reckon we have to say, eh, we're not going to do anything on this, or we're not for it. So I reckon that's where we're trying to get to. Well, I think the presentation we had a few weeks ago from the team that was engaged to do the study, their request was to allow the state to continue spending their money for more study. And so we said, okay, as long as it's coming out of your pocket, you know, keep doing what you're doing. But I'm inclined to agree with my colleagues that as we get further down the road, in fact, that was my quote in the paper, that as the price tag becomes more evident, that will be the, that's what's going to kill it, I think, eventually. There's certainly some enthusiasm for the individual municipalities. The existing 47 miles of track that's being operated now north of us. The state and the feds paid for the capital improvements. And over a year ago, that was supposed to be turned over to the players for them to start picking up the operation and maintenance tab, which they have yet to do. So we've asked time and time again, although you haven't turned over the cost, certainly you've been capturing the cost and know where it's going and give them an idea of what we might expect here. That is yet to happen. While 22 members make up the entire TPO, and we're certainly outnumbered 17 to 5, if a funding mechanism finally comes to pass that says there will be, in a certain geographic area, a municipal service taxing unit to support it, that will transcend multi-jurisdictions. And the county will be the heavy player in that, making that decision. So I'm of the opinion that if we don't bludgeon the data to give us the answer we want, then the data will come forward and make it impractical to operate. But that remains to be seen. Ms. Santiago. Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yeah. From what the conversation I had, the DOT appropriated of $1.5 million to continue with the design and the study, of this. So, I mean, if that's what's moving this forward, then, like you said, that's state appropriated money. Yeah, the committee is made out of 22, and we're outnumbered. That was pretty evident the last time we had a vote, where the majority of your commissioners voted no, and what was proposed went through. So, you know, I think we're just going to have to continue to voice our opinions during the TPO and see where that takes us. Not everybody on that TPO committee is for the sunrails, so we can't assume that they will all vote for that. But I personally want to see this moving forward. I want to see the study completed, because we may be thinking about how this affects it now or in the near future, but we don't know 20 years down the road how that's going to impact Polk County. Mr. Chairman. Yes, sir. At the TPO level, there certainly is no personal cost to any of us, not to the five of us or not to the other 17 members, so it's easy to say, I'd like to have a train. I'd like to have a train to go to Orlando and maybe even Tampa someday. But at some point, you know, every dollar that's spent by DOT, or anybody else for that matter, you know, is lost, and it can't be, you know, applied to some project that we all could benefit from, whether it's, you know, the interstate or whether it's 2760. You name the project. So I just want to send a message, really, I guess, you know, telegraph it. Is that the right kind of term? Make sure it gets there that, you know, I don't think this board has much interest in trying to, you know, fund the sunrail, at least on our part. And, again, what cities do, whoever said that, Bill or you or whatever, I mean, it really is up to them. But that price tag is, it looks like it's going to be more than I think we can ever justify based on how others perform. Ours is not going to be any different. There's nothing magic about sun railing and the path we're coming. And it's going to be real similar to other systems and other places, which have not done what they intend to do. But they are, you know, saddled with huge long-term costs that they can't escape. So I want to get out while we can still escape. Thank you. Well, the other point to your observation, you ask people, do you want it? They say, yeah, we want it, until they tell them how much. And then the sample of respondents on do you want it represented nine-tenths of one-thousandth of one percent. I appreciate you bringing that to everybody's attention. So we'll let it play it out, and we'll see what happens on the other end. Thank you. Anything else? My first comment is entertain a motion to reappoint Catherine Bevilacqua-Ely to the Early Learning Coalition of Polk County for your term May 6, 2022, through May 5, 2026. So moved. Motion is seconded. In discussion, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Motion passes. Remind folks to vote in Fort Meade, Winter Haven, Lakeland, and Auburndale today. I think those are the only ones that have municipal elections. And I think there's enough been said about Cherry Hill. Well, I didn't say anything. I'm just letting you say it. Well, it was a great event. The wreck potable reuse. I didn't know that word. Well, here, I got something. You want something? Someone asked me if I drank water that day. Reclaimed water. Same color as vodka. They said vodka. Yeah. If we ever get that desperate, at least we have a system that we know works. And that's about how. There you go. Now we go to the county attorney to explain our expedited hearing process. Before I do the expedited, Mr. Chair, I'll do the public hearing general procedures. We ask that you please turn off your cell phones or other devices that may distract from the public hearings. Please adjust the microphone and state your full name and address for the record before you begin speaking on a topic. Individuals speaking during the public comment section of a matter will be strictly limited to three minutes. The board is experiencing these matters, and they will discern what is legally relevant to an issue and what is not. Information that is relevant or repetitive only serves to frustrate and necessarily prolong the day's business. The commission expects civility at all times during all public hearings. Speaking out of turn, shout out from the audience. Despicable sounds or utterances while another is speaking are unacceptable, and you will be asked to leave the chambers for the remainder of the day. If a person decides to appeal any decision made by the board with respect to any matter considered here today, you will need a record of the proceedings and that for such purposes, you may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes a testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based, which you must gather at your own expense. Anyone in the audience who wishes to speak and present testimony today must be sworn in, and all testimony given during public hearings shall be deemed to be sworn. At this time, if you're going to address the commission or speak on any case today, please stand, raise your right hand, and answer out loud to the following questions. Do you swear or affirm that the testimony or evidence you provide to the commission today is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Thank you. Mr. Chair, we have one expedited hearing. I'll go over the expedited hearing procedures. Expedited hearings are held pursuant to resolution number 2022-089. Expedited hearings are used when no opposition was present at the Planning Commission hearing. The applicant agrees to the expedited hearings, and the recommendation of the Development Review Committee is for approval. Expedited procedures are the following. After staff briefly introduces the case, the hearing will be open for public comment. If anyone speaks during public comment, the applicant will be given the opportunity to respond. After public comment, the board will consider the land-use case. At any time, a full presentation from staff can be requested from the commissioner, the applicant, or a member of the public. All documents attached to the agenda item are deemed part of the record of the land-use case. Unless removed from the list of experts by motion of the board, all individuals on the list of experts attached to the agenda item are deemed experts for the purpose of the land-use case. And at this time, I will turn it over to Mr. Ziskell for the expedited hearings. Thank you, Mr. Mink. Good morning, Mr. Chairman. For the record, Ben Ziskell, Land Development Director. We have one expedited public hearing on your agenda today. Item number 01 is an expedited public hearing for case LDC-PAL 2023-5 Northeast Regional Park to consider a large-scale comprehensive plan amendment to change the future land-use designation from residential low to recreation and open space on 80.26 acres and to institutional on 1.95 acres to recognize an existing regional park and fire rescue station. The subject property is located east of U.S. Highway 27 and north of Florence-Villa Grove Road. This amendment will memorialize the designation as a park and a fire station. The intent of this property is not to be residential. So changing the land use from residential to recreation, open space, and institutional will solidify the intent to use these for government operations. It will also allow for improvements and enhancements to the park and fire station consistent with the comprehensive plan and the land development code. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval at their September meeting, and following any public comments or questions today, staff would recommend a favorable vote to transmit this item to the Florida Department of Commerce. Any questions of staff? Ladies and gentlemen, this is a public hearing on the matter, Agenda 01. If you wish to speak on this matter, please come forward at this time. Seeing none, we will close the public hearing. This is a transmittal hearing, so no action is required at this time. This will be back in two weeks. It does require a vote to transmit. We've got to vote. Vote to transmit. Move approval. Any discussion on the motion? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Those like signed, motion carries. Side note, Mr. Chairman, has we ever established league play at that facility? Because that's obviously an old photo. Looks like it was under construction. But at one time, we didn't have league play at all. It was just the Russ Matt. The Russ Matt's on the baseball fields, but there are league play on some, of the baseball fields, as well as the soccer field, or the multi-purpose fields. All right. Thank you. Mr. Chair, at this time, I'll go to the normal public hearings. The first matter is P1, which is a public hearing to consider the adoption of an ordinance set in the yearly salary of commissioners in accordance with Section 2.5 of the Polk County Charter. The charter provides that commissioners' salaries may be increased by the lesser of the average salary increases of employees for the previous fiscal year or the CPI for the previous year. This year, the proposed increase in salary is 3.5%, which is the average salary increase of employees in fiscal year 22-23 and less than the CPI of 6.5 for 2022, and it's recommended for approval. Any questions of staff? Ladies and gentlemen, this is a public hearing on the matter described. If you wish to speak on this matter, please come forward at this time. Say none. We'll close the public hearing and entertain a motion. Mr. Chairman, I would move approval and once again thank the county manager and the clerk for providing me an option to decline, but I'm happy to vote for everybody else. I have a motion to second. Any discussion on the motion? All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Those like sign, motion carries. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Next item is P2. It's a public hearing to consider adoption of an ordinance prohibiting smoking and vaping in public parks within unincorporated Polk County. The proposed ordinance authorizes the county manager to prohibit smoking and vaping in parks based on the board's direction. The plan is only to prohibit smoking and vaping in active parks at this time and is recommended for approval. Any discussion from the board? Ladies and gentlemen, this is a public hearing. We invite the public to come forward at this time. A little bit of background. These folks, their counselor came forward to me a little while ago with the idea that, as you may know, the state of Florida gave discretion to the cities and the counties to impose this ban that they had already done at the state level on state parks. And so, working with this group, the county attorney and the sheriff's office, we come forward with this recommendation. Gentlemen, please introduce yourselves and we look forward to your comments. Hello. So, I would like to say thank you for allowing me to speak today. My name is Troy. I'm in 11th grade and I am the president of the Polk County Community SWAT Chapter Club. So, secondhand smoke is associated with thousands of deaths each year. There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke at all. When communities introduce smoke-free policies, they reduce the risk of exposure to secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke was the cause of over 2.5 million deaths among Americans from 1964 to 2014. Most before laws like what is now the Florida Clean Air Act began to take effect. Around the world, 1.2 million non-smokers die each year as a direct result of being exposed to secondhand smoke. And next, we will have Mitchell. Hello. My name is Mitchell. A little closer to the mic. My bad. I'm in 11th grade. My name is Mitchell. I am the vice president of the Polk County SWAT Chapter. Reducing cigarette waste is an important public health step because cigarettes are not biodegradable and the plastics and toxic chemicals in the cigarettes and their filters can be harmful if they enter the water supply. Cigarette buds are harmful and ingested by children, pets, or marine life. And thank you for allowing us to speak today. Gentlemen, thank you for being with us. Entertain a motion. Second. I have a motion and a second. Any discussion on the motion? All those in favor, say aye. Opposed, like, sign. Motion carries. I think you wanted a picture with the group before we... So, if you all come over here and come forward, then the board will pose as we want to do. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here. Stand right here.