Board of County Commissioners on 2024-02-06 9:00 AM

Let's get started. Welcome to the February 6th Board of County Commissioner meeting. If you will stand, please, for the invocation and the pledge. Please bow your heads and pray with me. Heavenly Father, we thank you that you are always near and that you always hear us. As we face the challenges that are before us today, we ask that you lead us and guide us in wisdom and truth. Help us this day and always to do what is right and what is just. For the good of all who live in, work in, and visit this wonderful county that we call home. And I ask this prayer in Jesus' name. Amen. Do what? Do a head count. All right. Let's get started here. The first thing on the agenda is requests from the general public to speak. I want to make a distinction here. I've got a few people who want to speak about something other than the concrete crusher. Those are, this is the time for them to speak. The concrete crusher will be on the later agenda if you want to talk about that. So, yeah. So, yeah. And then anything else you want to talk about. But James Allen, we'll need your name and address. You'll have three minutes. All righty. Good morning, commissioners, ladies and gentlemen. My name is James Allen. I live in 843-5 Fussell Road, Polk City, Florida, 33868. I graduated in Auburndale in 1975. My parents graduated in Auburndale in 1953. We live out in a green swamp. Six weeks ago, I and many others residents that live in the north of I-4 on Old Grade Road learned the city of Lake Alvord as annexed properties on Old Grade Road north of I-4. In the green swamp, critical states are concerned. You all knew this about nine months ago. Why wasn't we informed? The only way we, that we could have done this is with the 6,000 acres of the Elachee Wildlife Management Area. The only way we found out is a development company sent letters out on the residents on Old Grade Road wanting to develop another 150 acres north on the north end of Old Grade Road in Dean'sdale. That's the only way we found out about it. We was not informed. There was only one property owner north of I-4 notified because they boarded the property that was annexed. It was an underhanded way that the city of Lake Alvord used the Elachee Wildlife Management Area to umbrella and annex the Frasier Bimbo and Stetner properties. They did not list it separately. I'd like to know what the state of the city of Lake Alvord needs with 6,000 plus acres of wildlife management area. The only way they needed that is to get the Frasier Bimbo properties and the Stetner properties in the city limits of Lake Alvord. Folk County has protected these lands for around 50 years. Now since most of the properties south of I-4 in the Green Swamp has been developed under the weak comprehensive plan of the Lake Alvord comprehensive plan, the vultures are looking north. Now there is a development company that want to develop 150 acres north in the Old Grade Road in Dean'sdale. We the people would have not even known about all this until the development company sent some residents in Old Grade Road a letter. I spoke with Wade Allen, Folk County realtor developer. He thinks this is a great thing. He also told me he wasn't planning on retiring in Folk County. These people lived in Folk County a long time and seen a lot of development. This development has to quit somewhere and the Green Swamp is a great place to stop it because look south of I-4 and look everywhere you go. You've got to sit through red lights two and three times at a time. What are we going to do when one of us has a heart attack and has to sit three or four times for an open heart surgery or emergency? This overpopulation is not good for Folk County. Thank you, Mr. Allen. I know, but you need to change that. James Amber Crombie. Folk County Seal, you need to change. Mr. Abercrombie. James Abercrombie, for the record, 2737 Gibson and Galloway Road. I've been two sessions already, folks. This is my third session. It's taking me three hours and nine minutes, and I get nine minutes to talk to you folks. This will complete my nine minutes. You don't want to listen. I understand that. But I'm telling you, I'm here to file a complaint. The very first meeting, I filed a complaint against your employees and your zoning. I'm not your zoning. I'm sorry. You're in your inspections department and your permitting departments. I went to the county attorneys. I got no response from them. The last meeting I was here, I had two guys follow me out in the hallway and try to intimidate. They tried to give me legal advice. They tell me I have to go to civil action. So they give me this, my inspection record. I said, Your Honor, how do I file this suit? He says, What's it for? I said, It's for a red tag. Can't file for a red tag. I need more information. Why is it red tag? What's going on here? I need an inspection. I need a final decision. I need somebody to tell me why these people are getting away without having to finish that permit, without completing my roof, repairing my roof the way it's supposed to be done. It's your rules, your regulations. And I'm not going to, I've already talked to all the staff. I've tried to talk to the attorney. The attorney refuses to talk. I'm sure that you all have talked to the attorneys and the manager himself. I'm sure you've talked, those gentlemen should have come to them to start with. They should have also come to you to know that they're having a problem with being able to talk to the attorney. There's a whole cluster going on here, folks. You're responsible. This is a charter government. You have the final decision, not those folks across the street. I can't vote them out. I can't vote them out. I can vote each one of you out. I cannot. You have the final decision. You have to give me a decision before I can take it to court. I have no standing without a final decision. You all should know that. What I'm expecting right now, I demand to be put on the agenda. I also expect the staff to come up and give their testimony. I will be here with my testimony. And then you will make a final decision. So I can get this into the courts. I can't do it until you do. Any questions? Of course not. I really don't care. Thank you, Mr. Abercrombie. There's two sides to every story, so let's hear the other side. Ben Dunn, please come forward. You sit down. Good morning, board members. Regarding this situation, it's regarding a re-roof on Mr. Abercrombie's home. He hired a contractor to do a re-roof. They put a material on that he disagreed shouldn't have been on, which was shingles, because of the roof pitch. During our inspection process, we did fail it three times for the shingles being put on when the roof pitch was less than a 212. Our building official, Ryan Wiggins, talked to the contractor, worked out a resolution where the contractor would go out, tear the material off, and replace it with what was appropriate. When we tried to communicate that to Mr. Abercrombie, he refused to let them do the fix on the property, so therefore we had to cancel the appointment. Our process worked. We did what we were supposed to do. We failed the inspections. That was what his complaint was. We concurred with that, and today we have an expired permit and a roof that hasn't been finalized. So we arranged for the builder to come back, fix the problem, and he won't let him on the property? Correct. All right, thank you. Tom Palmer? Good morning. Tom Palmer, 1805 26th Street Northwest. I'm on the board of Green Horizon Land Trust. The other day, our executive director noticed a zoning hearing sign on the property across the street from some of our land, and so she emailed the planner on call trying to find out what's going on. Well, she got a response. It was accurate, but it was in planner, and she didn't understand it. But since I speak planner, I was able to explain it. I guess my point is maybe sometimes you need to think about communicating more clearly to the public on some reason, because they don't deal with this stuff all the time, and it might be helpful to do that. Were you able to get it resolved? Yeah, I told her it was no big deal, and it's fine, but she didn't understand it because it was in technical jargon. Like talking to an attorney. Well, I don't want to alienate any of my legal plans anyway. Anyway, the other thing is I get to subscribe to the Planning Commission agenda, and I'm getting these things, and you first open up, all you guys have a bunch of dark, heavy, black lines like it's redacted. You've got to go through a couple clicks to finally get to the right text. I don't know whether it's an IT problem or a planning department problem, but it's just, I mean, you can eventually get to what you're looking for, but it just takes a couple extra steps. All right, we'll get on that. And third thing, I noticed that the agenda study, the Efficiency Commission report is out, and I was wondering when that would be posted where it's available to the public to look at. Isn't it good? The report's not actually out, Tom. The report will be released on the 15th, 14th or 15th of this month. Okay. It looked like some interesting points. It's a little more substantive than some of the past ones. Yes, sir. All right, thank you. Thank you. Jonathan Stewart, speed bumps. Oh, yeah, you know, we do have speed bumps. So, yeah, if you're here, we will talk about speed bumps later, and that will be the appropriate time. Thanks, George. I've got another speed bump, so. And, nope, that's aggregate. All right. So, we've got speed bumps, and we've got concrete crusher on the agenda later on. That will be the appropriate time for that conversation. All right. Consent agenda. Chairman, I'd like to move item R-23 from the consent to the county attorney's agenda. Okay. Move approval. It's consent agenda absent R-23. Second. Got a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda by moving R-23. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, like, send motion carries. Deedee. Deedee. Good morning, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. This morning, we ask for you to approve and ratify payroll check numbers 02562 through 02599 in the amount of $45,091.50. 2,635 direct deposits in the amount of $4,011,399.27, dated January 26, 2024. Wire and electronic fund transfers in the amount of $39,187,537.13, dated January 23rd through February 5th, 2024. Invoice checks numbered 452-597 through 453-388, totaling $17,364,750.27, dated January 23rd through February 5th, 2024. Move approval. Second. Got a motion and a second for approval. Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, like, send motion carries. We also request your approval of the minutes of your regular board meeting held on January 23rd, 2024. Motion for approval. And you got a motion and a second to approve the minutes. Any discussion? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Opposed, like, send motion carries. That's all I have. Thank you. Okay. You don't want to remind us about Valentine's Day? Too late. Okay. Mr. Bink. Mr. Chair, the only item I have is the item that was moved to consent agenda, R23, which is a request to approve agreement for professional services with Allen, Norton, and Blue for review of the management of the fire rescue division. As the board can recall that on January 23rd, 2024, you approve a resolution authorizing the chairman to inquire about services from consultants to provide services to review the management of the fire rescue division. This agreement, the scope of services include review of the general management of the fire rescue division, review of the standard operating procedures to determine if such procedures are sufficient to operate the fire rescue division, review the discipline process and discipline issues, determine if discipline is consistent with the fire rescue division or within the fire rescue division and what type of employee actions result in discipline from the fire rescue division and also review of the demotion process, review of the management structure of the fire rescue division, review of the leadership programs within the fire rescue division, review of the communication process within the fire rescue division, complete a workload analysis of the fire rescue division, review employee morale within the fire rescue division. Based on the authorization of the board, the chair, I believe, has decided to move forward with and request the board to approve the agreement with Allen, Norton, and Blue to provide these services, and it's for a contract not to exceed, although the agenda says $100,000 is actually $50,000, and it's recommended for approval. All right, George. Yes, sir. I have a couple of questions. The agreement indicates that the study will be completed in six months, yet the term of the contract is five years. I'm curious why such a... Actually, that occurs in a lot... Actually, it occurs in a lot of our consulting agreements. If you recall, when we did the impact fee study, we actually had that five years to allow in case we need to bring them in for additional services. Yes. So forth after the fact. So that's a term that we have in most of our consultant services. And those other consulting agreements operate under the authority of the county manager. This one has been carved out. I would not recommend we keep this continuing contract for five years at... And that's of the discretion... Whoever the chairman happens to be for the next five years. Well, they would still have to bring whatever the work authorization back to the board, so... So let's let them bring it back one at a time, because it also goes in to say we can go into other divisions, similar scope in other divisions. I think that's a further erosion of the county manager's authority. So if this one has risen to specific conditions, then I would limit it to the term of the six months to do this study. And if the future chairman or future somebody decides they want to go into other divisions, then outside the scope of the county attorney, then they can bring it back to the board at that time. So I'm suggesting that the term of this agreement be limited to the term that the consultant says, and that would be six months. How about we do this? We limit it to, since I'm the chairman, my term is chairman. That way, if it goes over, we don't have to come back and rearrange the contract. I'm okay with that. Okay. Anybody else? Well, are we going to have to take that back to the folks? Is that something that... Well, we'll go ahead. I'm sure they'll be agreeable to it. I would tweak that language, send it back for their signature, bring it back, and have the chairman sign it, so long as the board authorizes me to do that. Well, then we're looking at, what, 10 months, 11 months? What are we looking at here? What are we looking at here? Well, yeah, he has nine months left in his... I mean, only the... Y'all make a decision. At the end of the day, we're approving for them to do one study. If they have to do more, then it will come back for the board for approval. How about December 31st, 2024? Whatever y'all want to do, that's up to you. Yeah, this is where you're getting... I would move approval of the agreement, but to change the end date to December 31st, 2024. Anybody going to second it? Second. Well, I got another question. All right, go ahead. There was a reference, the other scope of the vision. And that other scope would require the authorization of the full board before that scope is expanded. Right. Correct. The only thing that can be studied under this one is the fire rescue division specifically. There was a lot of conversation in the agreement about public records and drafts not being released for public inspection. When is a draft not a public record? No, once it's released to the chairman, at that point, it would be a public record. I think the intent was that it wouldn't be just released as like a public notice or something. But if someone requested it, it would be released. And there's language in there that we have to follow the public records law. I would suggest at the bottom of page 24, the first paragraph, this is in conflict with what you just said. Want to clarify, Randy? If you wanted me to tweak that, I can tweak it. I believe ultimately we have to, it doesn't matter what our agreements say, we have to follow public records law. So we will release it upon request. If this was brought to my attention on Friday, we would have took care of it then. Right. Okay. You guys are good with a modifier? I think Granny's point is correct. You've got to follow the law. It doesn't make, we can write whatever we want in there relative to when something can or can't be released and what's a public record. I think the intent was that when you get these consultant services study, that we don't just automatically release it for public because it's a draft. But if someone does a public records request, of course, we have to release that at that time. The paragraph is confusing in that regard. Okay. Anything else? Conduct interviews with a list of folks, including elected officials. Will all board members be allowed that? Yes. Or is that discretion of the board chair? Yeah. All board members. Absolutely. Okay. So that's about all my comments, sir. So the only modification is December 31st, 2024? And I'll tweak the language to make it clear for the public. All right. And my only comment is I see this as not a one-off. I see this going forward as something that happens in other divisions. I think it's a good idea to have an outside agency look at the county government, the structure, the way it operates, just like I've said before. The IG and the military, they don't ask permission, they just show up, they tear you apart, and they tell you what's good, and they tell you what's bad, and you move on. And I think this is a good thing we don't do it, and I think this is a good thing we don't do it. I was surprised to find out that there's really no government set up to do it, but I think it's a great idea. And at this point, we've got a motion and a second with the modification of the term. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, like sign. Motion carries. Mr. County Manager. Good morning, Mr. Chair, members of the board, members of the viewing audience. The manager's office will have four items for board consideration this morning. Item number H1 is to request the board approve a contract with the Haley Center for the proposed purchase of a medical office building. This is a total investment not to exceed $1,600,000. The Haley Center is one of five free clinics financially supported by the indigent health care sales tax and is contracted to the county to provide services to low-income Polk County residents. The clinic is currently located at 3425 Lake Alfred Road in Winterhaven, which is the facility that we used to call the Gil Jones Facility. Primary care and specialty care services at the Haley Center are provided by the staff and more than 60 volunteers, including physicians, nurse practitioners, medical providers, administrative, and ancillary staff. Additionally, the Haley Center provides clinical educational opportunities to the local technical schools and universities for their students that include medical doctors, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, medical assistants, dieticians, nutritionists, and clinical nurse assistants. In response to a request for applications for public health infrastructure investments issued by the indigent health care program, the Haley Center submitted a request for $1,600,000 to purchase an existing 3,350-square-foot medical office building located at 603 6th Street Northeast in Winterhaven. Currently, the Haley Center is residing in a leased building that does not have a right for renewal clause. Multiple changes in that building's ownership have continuously challenged the Haley Center's day-to-day operations. The purchase of the proposed facility will sustain the delivery of health care services with the potential to expand and increase such services. Additionally, the location of the proposed site is more visible and more easily accessible to the general public. The proposed contract with the Haley Center will allow for the purchase of the building as well as provide costs associated with conducting due diligence, closing costs, and costs associated with transitioning from the existing facility to the proposed facility. This funding request was presented to and comes with a recommendation for approval from the Citizens' Health Care Oversight Committee. Funds are available in the Indigent Health Care Fund as anticipated through the five-year Indigent Health Care Plan Strategic Spending Plan. So, Mr. Chair, members of the board, I think this is a good news item. I think this is consistent with the public health mission of this board, prior boards, and I believe future boards. So, I would indeed recommend the board approve the contract with the Haley Center for the proposed purchase of the medical office building as recommended by the Citizens' Health Care Oversight. And this action will include the requisite contract safeguards to protect that public investment. Questions for the manager? Move approval. Second. Got a motion and a second for approval. Any further discussion or questions? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, like signed. Motion carries. Mr. Chair, members of the board, item number H2 is to request the board approve a local agency program, a LAP agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation in connection with the minor streetscape improvements along East Orange Avenue and East Crystal Avenue within the city limits of Lake Wales. The board's action today would include the requisite community investment program amendment and budget resolutions to amend the current FY23-24 budget to reflect this one-time revenue totaling $800,000. The Florida Department of Transportation proposes to enter into a LAP agreement with Polk County to provide $800,000 in construction funds for street resurfacing, Americans with Disability Act, street improvements, and tree landscaping along East Orange Avenue and East Crystal Avenue within the city limits of Lake Wales. In September of last year, the board approved an interlocal agreement with the city. Since the city is not a LAP-certified state agency and cannot accept such FDOT funding, Polk County is a LAP-certified agency and will be acting as FDOT's project manager and construction agent to support the city's initiative. In January of this past last month, January 23rd specifically, the board approved amendment number one to the existing interlocal agreement stipulating that the city would be responsible for reimbursing the county for all construction costs that are in excess of the $800,000 being provided by the Florida Department of Transportation. Upon approval of the community investment program amendment and the resolution to amend the current year budget, funding in the amount of $800,000 will be established in the special revenue grant fund for the identified project. So, Mr. Chair, members of the board, I think this is a good news item. I think this is good governance. I think this is a case where one of our smaller cousins in local government in Polk County didn't have the resources or the capability to deliver their initiatives. The county does, and the county has formed a partnership to help them accomplish that goal. So, I would request the board to authorize the chairman to execute the proposed LAP agreement and supporting resolution with the Florida Department of Transportation in connection with those minor streetscape improvements along East Orange Avenue and East Crystal Avenue within the city limits of Lake Wales. Mr. Chairman, a motion for approval. Second. We've got a motion and a second for approval. Any questions or discussion? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Those like sign. Motion carries. Next item. Mr. Chair, members of the board, item number H3 is to request the board approve a construction contract with Kaminga and Roadvoots in connection with the North Lakeland Driftwood Drive drainage improvements project. This is a one-time expense totaling $558,436.20, all of which is fully funded by the Federal American Rescue Plan funds. Polk County has completed the public solicitation process seeking bids from qualified contractors who were interested in restoring the original drainage system along the Driftwood Drive corridor. The general scope of work includes the desilting or replacement of existing drainage pipes, repairs to damaged driveways, and drainage inlet replacements at critical locations. Bid number 23654 was issued and three contractors submitted bids. The lowest responsive bid was submitted by Kaminga and Roadvoots in the amount of $531,844.20. A recommendation of award was issued and no protests were received. In accordance with resolution number 13066, $26,592 is included in the total contract award amount to address contingency and work allowance issues. The contract time for this project has been set at 180 calendar days. Funding is available in the county's American Rescue Plan fund as provided by the United States Department of Treasury. So, Mr. Chair, members of the board, in the interest of addressing a drainage problem, hopefully in advance of the rainy seasons, as well as to draw down those federal funds, I would request the board to approve a construction contract with Kaminga and Roadvoots in the amount totaling of $558,436.20, all in connection with bid number 23654. Mr. Chairman, motion for approval. Second. Got a motion and a second for approval. Any questions or discussion? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, like, signed. Motion carries. Mr. Chair, members of the board, final item from the manager's office this morning, item number H-4 is to request the board approve amendment number 1 to the existing professional services agreement with Hazen and Sawyer to provide professional engineering services for the septage receiving station project. This will be a one-time expense totaling $727,049, of which 100% funding is coming from the federal government's American Rescue Plan funding. Due to newer restrictive federal and state biosolids management regulations, there are fewer sites that are authorized to receive and dispose of biosolids materials. As a result, local private septage haulers requested the county consider providing receiving stations at all of its wastewater treatment facilities. This resulted in a septage receiving station master feasibility study that indeed recommended building septage receiving stations in close proximity to existing wastewater treatment facilities. In May of 2022, the board approved a professional services agreement with Hazen and Sawyer to design two septage receiving stations to be located, one at the Northwest facility and the other at the Southwest Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility. That original agreement provided for Part 1 services in an amount not to exceed $323,000 to develop conceptual and preliminary design reports for each receiving station. Those professional services are complete. The preliminary facility design report for the Northwest Wastewater Treatment Facility concluded that the best location would be the North Central Landfill would be a much better location for offering a site-ready, easily accessible location for a new septage receiving station. In addition, the North Central Landfill site offers a cooperative project opportunity for the utilities and the Waste and Recycling Divisions to treat both excess leachate generated at the landfill by complementing the existing wetland treatment project currently under construction, as well as a disposal site for the biosolids, all at the same location. The Utilities Division is recommending approval of Amendment No. 1 in the amount of $727,049 to provide for the final design and bid support services in connection with the septage receiving station to be built at the North Central Landfill site. These Part 2 professional services will be completed with sufficient time for the spring-summer 2024 equipment acquisition, delivery, and related site work bidding, all of which is to ensure the facility is operational no later than the spring of 2025. The North Central Landfill septage station and leachate treatment facility will be designed to treat up to 50,000 gallons per day of septage and up to 100,000 gallons per day of leachate. Upon completion of these Part 2 professional services, construction support services will be negotiated and submitted for subsequent board approval. The total not to exceed costs for Parts 1 and 2 to date would be $1,050,049. The future Southwest septage receiving station will be further reviewed as part of an off-site site property analysis and evaluation process. Funding is available in the county's American Rescue Plan Fund as provided by the United States Department of Treasury. So, Mr. Chair, members of the board, in the interest of what we've talked about for probably the last several months, I do believe this is a growing need. This is a way to address that need. So, I would indeed recommend the board approve amendment number one for those professional services in connection with agreement number 2022-025 with Hazen and Sawyer to provide Part 2 design and engineering services for the septage receiving station to be located at the North Central Landfill at an amount not to exceed $727,049. Move approval. Second. Got a motion and a second. Mr. Beasley, explain to me. I'm a little confused here. So, we're going to procure the equipment in April, and we're going to construct the – what is the bid construction phase? What are they? Side work. Just side work. Side work. And that's done May of – why – it's going to take 11 months to do the side work? Side work? We've got some window in there for the equipment delivery. That's an unknown to us right now. We have to specify, spec the equipment. We have to order the equipment, and the equipment has to be delivered. Concurrent with that, we plan to be bidding the site work and have the site prep ready for the equipment. So, we've given ourselves some slack in that schedule with being uncertain as far as the timing and delivery of that equipment. So, we're actually going to get on the site work sooner than whatever it is up there. Yes. Or get it done, and then – Summer, fall, we should have the site work done. So, it's possible that if the treatment units show up in November, we would be operational in November? As quick as we could get the units installed, tested, and there will be some requisite permitting from the state on this site as well. Tamara, what's the time frame on the units that you know of? Again, we won't – they can't give us an actual delivery schedule until we specify them. Some things they have available just depends on what we need. So, it could be three months from the time we order it. It could be a year. But they can't give us a schedule until we actually specify them. So, what this schedule is showing is we're going to begin procuring them. As soon as we have the specifications, we're going to start ordering the equipment to get that manufacturing time shortened. Because if we waited until the normal schedule, we'd probably be another eight months beyond this schedule. What specifications don't we already know? We have to – what you have to do to specify it is you have to look at our influent, the wastewater, the septage characteristics, and the leachate characteristics, the flow, and the site conditions. So, that's what we're looking at. I guess it seems to me like we already know all that. It is. It is, but it's actually just – it's formalizing it. You know, I mean, the septage does vary from area to area, and I don't mean area like in Florida. I mean Florida has a different type of septage collection. Right. We're going to have, like, way more sand than they would maybe up north. So, there are definitely – there's definitely characteristics that vary from area to area, but it does require – they have to have those specifications. And that's what they're working on beginning now. Okay. All right. So, we'll look for this to be up and running, Mr. Beasley, November. So, I got a motion and a second for approval. Any other discussion? No, this is a big deal, and I hope we get it right, and I hope we get it sooner rather than later. Absolutely. It affects a lot of people in this room that aren't even aware that it affects a lot of people in this room. And living under the unfortunate curse of B.S. Ranch in that kind of greater Reynolds Road, Main Avenue, back to Cumbie Road, Parkway area, I know has been tough for a lot of people. I know a lot of folks here for the rock crusher today, the people in mine and mill supply, which is close to where this rock crusher is. I mean, they walked around with clothespins on their nose at times in there. They're like, hey, we're just killing this man. So, hopefully, this will be a solution. I see Tom Mims in the back of the room, and I know they're looking at, you know, doing a similar project, and I hope this doesn't change it. But, Tom, I think when I can speak for the board up here, we can't wait. We can't take any chances. We've got to move forward and try to get a solution to this. I think it's about 20 years overdue, and it's one of the most probably responsible things that we've ever done. And if you do it, it'll be responsible on your part as well because it's, you know, an important part of taking care of the environment these days with, I don't know, three, 400,000 septic systems in the county. We should have done this a long, long time ago. I tried and I failed, but maybe this is – I can write this one on my tombstone. So, I thank Bill, and I thank Martha, and I thank Rick, and I thank George and the staff for continuing to move forward to come up with something that works. All right. We'll get that on your tombstone for sure. Okay. I'm not going to have a tombstone, by the way. Anybody else? All right. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed, like signed. Motion carries. Anything else? That's it, Mr. Chair. All right. Commissioner Lindsey? Nothing. Thank you. Commissioner Wilson? Nothing. Commissioner Santiago? Nothing. Commissioner Cumby? Yes, sir. We talked about Friday, Jay Jarvis was there. We talked about Lewis Road and the work that the staff's done out looking at that, and it will require a change to even consider speed bumps for Lewis Road, and I would move that we make that change, which would permit the staff to then survey the folks out there to see if it will qualify and if it's supported by the neighborhood. That's a motion. All right. You got a motion? Anybody? Bill knows what I'm talking about. He's shaking his head, so. Second. Okay. You got a motion and a second? Say it one more time what your motion is. To change our policy, which will bring a change to us that would allow us to look at Lewis Road because it's classified now as a major collector or collector, which prohibits us from doing that when it's in fact a local road or begin as one, but it's now a collector because of traffic. Mr. Bink will talk about the schedule, Mr. Chair. Say that again? Just quickly. We've already worked on language that we're planning on bringing back to the board at the next agenda that we believe captures the issue that Commissioner Cumbie also addresses concerns. Let me withdraw my motion if you're bringing it back. No? We're bringing it back next meeting. We already drafted the language for the policy change. Well, let's just go ahead with a vote because you're doing it anyway. Yeah. Either way is coming back. You were getting ahead of us. All right. Well, I would like to see what the policy change is. It will be. It will be. I think he's just asking for direction for us to bring it back. I think we need to wait. What do you want to do, Neil? Yeah, let's just vote. Okay. Yeah. I mean, and we're voting on not a specific policy change, just to bring a policy change. Yeah, to bring a policy change. All right. Any other discussion? You got a motion in a second? All in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed? Like sign? Okay. Motion carries. Anything else, Neil? Yeah. I don't know, and I don't want to spend a lot of time on this, but at least I'll get somebody to thinking about it, and I don't know who the appropriate person is to really answer the question. But I want to know if we keep crime statistics in this county, if the sheriff keeps it or if the clerk, I don't know who's the record clerk, of folks of arrests made, not convictions, but of arrests with folks who are undocumented and some folks would say otherwise illegal aliens in our county. What do we have here? I mean, I know they know. So I think that's part of the process when they arrest, if some kind of, some form of identification, but I don't know if those, who's keeping those, maybe the sheriff. Well, there's a lot going on. This border discussion is getting crazy. What's going on there? I don't know how this all ends. We had four folks in New York City last week that beat up some police, jumped on a bus. They actually picked them up in Phoenix, Arizona, but things are getting kind of crazy, and people need to be aware of what's going on in our county. I had a friend of my son's call the other day. She had a brand-new Corvette. She got hit by a driver who was here illegally who had no insurance, no driver's license. The car owner was here illegally but did have insurance, but it was an out-of-state company, and they denied coverage, and she said she's lost her use of her vehicle for two months, and she's got a $10,000 diminished value certificate that now goes along with her Corvette, and there's nothing you can do about it. But this has a big impact on all of us, especially the folks that are running around coming here, buying a car. They have no driver's education. They have no license. They have no insurance. They smash something up. They really don't have a lot of consequences. We need to know what that activity is. I won't say what the universe, but it would be a snapshot of 2023. How many folks did the sheriff's department arrest who were undocumented as far as we could tell? It can't be that hard to get those numbers. It may be just a few keystrokes. Well, let's do this. Why don't you just make a list of the numbers you want and give it to Beasley, and Mr. Beasley can get it from maybe have someone from the sheriff's office come in and give us a report, explain it to us, that sort of thing? Well, I just think we need to know. The other thing is annexation. Mr. Allen left, and I've had conversations with Mr. Allen, but at some point maybe, Randy, I don't know if you can give us something that we can send to those folks up there. We do not have any authority, as I understand it, to stop Lake Alford or any other city in the county. They can annex anything they want, and we're no different than the guy living in Orange County or Osceola County or any other when it comes to having any power to stop that. And I didn't say that, but Mr. Allen knows it, and I've told other folks that, that we just have no power at all. I cannot tell anybody why City of Lake Alford annexed the Hiloche Wildlife Management Area, nor can I tell you why the state agreed to sign off on that. But nevertheless, the Board of County Commissioners does not have any authority to stop any city's annexation plan. Anything else? Nope. Okay, I don't have anything, and we will move on to the second half. Randy, go ahead. Yes, sir. I'll go through the public hearing general procedures at this time. 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 is able to 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, shouting out from the audience, disrespectful 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 any 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 verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes a testimony evidence upon which the appeal is based, which you must gather at your own expense. Anyone in the audience who wishes to speak and present testimonies today must be sworn in. All testimony given during public hearings shall be deemed 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 question. If you're going to speak, you need to stand up. Anyone who's going to speak. Okay. Thank you. 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? All right. Thank you. At this time, we'll go through expedited hearings. We have one that Mr. Siskel will present. I will go over to 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 hearing, and 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 a 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'll turn over to Mr. Siskel. Thank you, Mr. Mink, Mr. Chairman, members of the board, members of the public. We have one item on our expedited public hearing agenda today. Item number 01 is an expedited public hearing for case LDCT 2023-21 Graceway-Thornhill Institutional Appendix E text amendment to consider an ordinance adopting a land development text amendment to Appendix E for a parcel-specific land use. The subject site is located at the southwest corner of Spirit Lake Road and Thornhill Road, and our focus is on a 30-foot strip, a parcel of 30-foot strip indicated in the red box on the screen. The subject site underwent a land use change in 2017 to change from residential low to business park center on the entire corner of the southwest corner of this intersection. And as a part of that, the applicant agreed to restrict the land uses that would be allowed on that parcel, so they were not allowed to do everything in the BPC. They created a refined list. Subsequently, the portion in the pink directly at the corner was changed to Neighborhood Activity Center, and there is now a request to change the portion in the yellow box to institutional to facilitate the construction of a church. But the code still has that restrictive use list for the 30-foot section. So this text amendment would simply remove that 30-foot strip from the code, so it wouldn't be subject to that restrictive use. It would allow the church to move forward. This is a first reading of today's ordinance, so following any questions or comments, no action is required by the board. All right. Any questions? Seeing none, I'll open a public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak on this matter, please come forward. Seeing no one, I'll close a public hearing, and we will revisit this next meeting. Yes, sir, and that concludes the expedited portion of your agenda. All right. Let's go to P1. Good morning. Amy Little with Land Development. The next case is LDCT-2023-15. It is a Land Development Code text amendment to Appendix E of the Land Development Code to add additional area to a previously approved conditional comprehensive plan map amendment to allow the applicant to apply for a conditional use approval for construction aggregate processing and storage. For the purposes of notification, 168 mailers were sent on January 9th, 2024. Two signs were posted on January 21st, 2024, and a legal ad was published in the Lakeland Ledger on January 19th, 2024. Staff has received petitions with 716 signatures in opposition, 14 emails in opposition, 53 letters with 58 signatures in opposition, and three letters of support. This is the first reading, and no action is required by the board today. The adoption hearing is set for February 20th. In 2016, a conditional comprehensive plan map amendment was completed to change a portion of the property from Business Park Center 2 to industrial. At the time of approval, a condition was applied to limit the location of construction aggregate processing and storage to the southwestern-most portion of the parcel. The legal description of this property was added to Appendix E of the Land Development Code, which is the parcel-specific future land use appendix. The owner has since sold the majority of the property that was included in that legal description of Appendix E, but is seeking to develop the use on the site. This text amendment allows additional property to be added to Appendix E of the Land Development Code to allow them to apply for the conditional use approval on the site. The Planning Commission recommended approval 4 to 2, and staff is recommending approval. The items on this slide have been entered into the record. The site is located north of the Polk Parkway, east of Highway 98, east of South Cumbie Road, as shown here. On the left, you can see the aerial shows the location of the site in relation to Cumbie Road and Highway 98, and on the right is a closer look at it. You can see the split between the land uses that was done back in 2016. The western portion is industrial, while the eastern portion is Business Park Center 2. This amendment does not change any of the underlying land uses. Table 2.1 of the Land Development Code notes that construction aggregate processing and storage requires a level 3 conditional use approval in industrial and is not permitted in BPC 2. Further, the conditional comprehensive plan map amendment listed the use only to that southwestern portion of the parcel, of the original parcel. Here's the original map that was provided with the 2016 conditional CPA. You can see the diagonal hash marks indicate where it was changed to industrial, and then here is the section that was specifically outlined for the construction aggregate, and it would be that section kind of south of Mine and Mill. Here's the subject parcel as it exists now. That's in yellow, and here you can see this is in red where the previously approved area in Appendix E was. This is the section that they are wanting to add to Appendix E. It's an additional 2.23 acres, and here you can see that's the original. This is the parcel as it's owned today, and the blue dots are where they're wanting to add the section. To the north, the new outline section, if approved, would be over 820 feet to the properties to the north, and it actually moves it a little bit further away from the properties to the east, up 450 feet. And in comparison, the section that was approved previously was closer. It was 250 feet to the east. Staff is recommending approval. This is the first step in order for them to develop the site with construction aggregate. This is the first reading. Again, no action is needed by the board today. The adoption hearing is scheduled for February 20th. If approved, the conditional use request would come back in front of the Planning Commission on March 6th for approval. At that time, a binding site plan is required, meeting all the conditional use standards in Section 303, which includes the setback of 200 feet from residential used property. As shown in previous slides, they are exceeding that. A type B landscape buffer is required around the entire use. It is the intention of the applicant to keep the majority of the dense vegetation that is there that's in the BPC2 section. But if they did remove that, they would be required to put at least a type B buffer in there as outlined in 303. This is just the first reading, so the board does not require any action today, but staff will ensure that all the standards of 303 are met when they come in if it is approved for the conditional use. And with that, I will stand for questions. Any questions? Seeing none, I'll open a public hearing and ask the applicant to come forward. Good morning, Mr. Chairman. County Commissioners Dave Carter, professional engineer. Carter K Engineering, 137 5th Street, Northwest Winter Haven. This morning, Mr. Tom Mims and Patrick Mims are here with me for the presentation. This is kind of an unusual process that you're going through. The Appendix C, as you remember, the Land Development Code, if you have a land use, typically all the uses that's listed under that land use are allowed. Appendix C basically can restrict some of those uses, so it's kind of like conditional zoning in a sense. We were not involved with the original approval. It was given about six or seven years ago. When the application was made last fall, last summer, for the C3, which is conditional use in front of the Planning Commission, we understood that the area that we were planning was allowed for the allowed use for the CCA. After talking with staff and looking at the map that was presented in Appendix C, we felt like we needed to run the legal description of that area. We did that and determined that the site we were planning to put the facility on was actually just north of the upper limits, the northern limits of the original approved area, some 200, 250 feet north of the original limits. And so even though we were scheduled for a Planning Commission meeting last fall, we had to continue that. And we understood from staff, after meeting with staff several occasions, that the appropriate process would be to adjust the limits that are listed in Appendix E, and then that would allow the use in the area we're proposing. As was stated, this is not a site plan approval process that we're in right now. If this is approved, we would have to come back, as all C3 uses, in front of the Planning Commission, where all the site constraints would have to be looked at and evaluated and voted on in that hearing. And, of course, there is an appeal process for the C3 use in front of the Planning Commission. Just to let you know, this use was talked about. I listed to some of the videotape of the hearing six or seven years ago, and this use was specifically discussed, obviously. The provision was put on restricting it to a certain geographic area. So the plan was to put a crushed aggregate plant on this site some six or seven years ago, and we're just getting to the point now of actually moving forward with that. I would let you know the plant that's being proposed on this site is a portable plant. They're very expensive, as you can imagine, and so Mr. Mims is planning on using that plant in several locations, depending on where the source material is being generated that particular month. This is not a permanent facility that's planned on the site. So it would come and go depending upon when there's material there to be crushed. As I'm sure you're aware, we have to comply with the Water Management District. This will require, site will also require permitting with DEP as an industrial use. We require to retain our pollutants on site, both air and water. I would point out, as staff indicated, that we're about a little over two-tenths of a mile from the mobile home park to the north under the original approval, a little over two-tenths of a mile. If this approval is granted, we'll be a little bit under two-tenths of a mile. So it is a change. We are a little bit closer to the folks to the north, but we would not view it as a significant change. The forested area on the north and east of us is a low-lying wetland area and floodplain. I'm not going to say it's never going to be developed, but I would doubt that area will become developed because of the depth of the floodplain and the amount of wetland and wetland soils on that site. So our expectation is that site will remain in its current condition throughout at least the use of this property. I would also mention to the board, we have letters of support from every property owner adjoining our site. The adjoining owners are typically on Mine and Mill Road, are typically industrial-type car wrecking facilities, things like that. That's what that road typically has on it. We feel like the buffer of the forest between our proposed site and the neighbors is sufficient to ameliorate any intensity differences. Mr. Chairman, that's the extent of my presentation. I'll be happy to stand for any question the board might have. Any questions? What was the date of the original approval? Do you know? I think it was about six or seven years ago. Like exact date? You got me on that one. I don't know what the exact date is. Okay. All right. Get it to me at some point, if you would. Ben, you got it? Morning or afternoon? Yeah. It would have been afternoon. Mr. Chair, it's September 6th, 2016. Thank you. Anybody else got any questions? All right. We have a public hearing open. Before we go on, I've got a big stack of people who want to talk on this. I also know you have some representatives that you would like to speak for you. So each individual gets three minutes. If you've got someone who speaks better than you or is more comfortable speaking that you would like to speak for you, they're welcome to come up, tell us who they are, but I need to also know who you're speaking for. So we don't want to duplicate the process. And it's been said here four, five, six times already. There is no vote on this today. At the end of this, we just move on to the next item. So with a public hearing open, anyone wishing to speak on this matter, please come forward. And feel free to kind of line up so we can just move right through this. And rather than go through this list, I'm just going to pull you off this list as you come forward. Go ahead. Good morning. My name is David Shaloff. I reside at 1626 Blue Lake Drive, Lakeland, in Skyview Estates, one of the communities to have the misfortune of being close to this proposed atrocity. I would also like to say that my neighbor, Mr. Jim Sudding, who is back here, has ceded his three minutes to me as well. To this point in time, we have been led to believe that this application can only be denied if it does not meet the present codes, which is ludicrous. There is, however, a moral code that is important here. Everyone in this room, including the applicants, knows in the core of their being that this project on this site is wrong, as this project is totally incompatible with our neighborhood. This should be case closed. Go find an appropriate site. It is not too late for the applicant to do the moral thing and withdraw this application. This application also flies in the face of Polk County's mission statement, which is, and I quote, we enhance the quality of life for people throughout Polk County. One of the values cited along with this mission statement is, and once again I quote, stewardship. We each take responsibility for the care, management of the resources entrusted to us, our communities, the environment, the financial, and human resources of Polk County. Show us that these fine words will not be forgotten or ignored as you consider this application. Hopefully these fine words were written with real intent and are not just a bunch of empty words written only to impress, as they represent a path to a good future for all. It is wrong that anyone would try to push this environmental abomination into any community, let alone a community with a large number of economically disadvantaged people. We find ourselves overwhelmed by lawyers and money, neither of which we have to protect ourselves against this onslaught. Skyview Estates already has a number of residents with respiratory issues, some of whom are on oxygen full time. The cement dust from this facility will be devastating to them. The worry and stress of this will only compound their problems. I am sure that our neighboring communities, such as Crystal Acres Estates, have people with similar issues. The Occupational Safety and Health Association recommends that workers on these sites wear respirators and should eat, drink, and smoke in dust-free areas. It is unrealistic to believe the proposed buffer zones for this site will prevent the cement dust from entering into our communities where we eat, drink, and perhaps smoke. Why should we have to worry about this in our own homes, on our streets, and in our recreational areas? Certainly our general well-being, our quality of life, and our financial well-being, as our property values will certainly plummet, should be of a greater concern to the powers that be in Polk County than increasing the wealth of a few already wealthy people who live nowhere near this proposed site. In closing, I quote Jiminy Cricket's advice to Pinocchio, let your conscience be your guide. I am sure that if the august members of this board heed this advice, as well as Polk County's own mission statement and values, you will not allow this facility into our community or any other community where there are people living, working, or playing, unless it happens to be the community in which the applicants reside. Thank you for hearing me out, and I trust you will make the right decision. Thank you. Thank you. Next. My name is Barbara Risk. I live at 1830 Blue Lake Drive in Lakeland. Sorry if I get a little emotion. First thing I'd like to stress to each and one of you is to listen and both hear what we have to say today and understand that it will affect a lot of lives. We are a second generation here in Skyview. We didn't choose here by accident to live in this park. We truly love this park, maybe as much as each one of you love your area that your home is in. While we are not as young as we used to be, we still like to enjoy our lives. We like to take walks out in the park from time to time. We also sit on our carport with friends and family to enjoy. But this business is going to make it much harder for us to do just that. Our air quality is not going to be what it is today, not to even take into the effect of what BS Farm has done to us. Will you have the monitoring system that you say you had for BS Farm? How long did it take you to do anything with that? I'm glad to see that you are finally doing something for that. Hopefully it's not too late. As I stated, we are not as young as we once were, but please consider the young students at Oscar J. Pope Elementary. That is even closer to the facility than our park. How do you say to these healthy, how do you say, how do they stay self-healthy, breathing all this dust from this business? They have recesses. Are they going to stop production during the recess? I don't think so. At one point, I tried to reach out to Pope County, I mean the school, through their Facebook. I was accepted until I actually started talking about it, and they shut me right down. How is that fair to those that don't know what's going on in that area? I remember years ago, we live in Sparta, and there was an airport that came in. Nobody else around. And then the homes started coming in, and they started complaining about the noise. Excuse me. Who was there first? You knew that when you moved in there. They're not here. We are. We should have priority of our lives. I believe our community area is called either Combi Settlement or Crystal Lake. Either way, this is one of the poorest areas in Pope County. Not my words. Just Google it. If that doesn't raise a red flag as to why and how they want to use this property, go somewhere else. You have other properties where there's no homes or schools. Thank you, ma'am. Next. Let's just hold off on the applause. We don't really need that. Go ahead. Good morning, commissioners. Mr. Shaloff stole all my thunder and put it much more eloquently than I could, so I'll get rid of this page. We need your name and address. I'm sorry. My name is Derek Bagg. I live at 1926 Blue Lake Drive, Lakeland 33801. And just to the bottom line, everybody knows that such a facility would create much dust and noise and therefore is not compatible with those living, working, or going to school in the area. That's the bottom line. Commissioners, without malice, I respectfully request when it comes to vote on this issue, please pause to remember that it is the citizens that are at the top of the organization chart. And also remember the mission statement, which Mr. Shaloff read to you. And lastly, also the stewardship that Mr. Shaloff read to you, taking responsibility and care for the management of the resources entrusted to you, which includes the communities and the environment of Polk County. My hope and belief that all of you care to remember and will make the correct choice for the common good of all the citizens of Polk County. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Next. Good morning. I was given time from my neighbor, Martine, to speak more than the three minutes. Martine who? Taylor. Got it. Thanks. Martine Taylor. I just want to say good morning again, Mr. Chairman and Commissioners. Thank you for allowing me to speak this morning. Your name and address, please. My name is Becky Chupak. I live at 3023 Sago Lane. If you look at our map up here, you'll see the word Galaxy. To the right of that, you'll see Blue Lake. I may be 15 homes just north of that. I have a big concern here. We have 207 homes within Skyview Estates. My husband and I have lived there for more than 12 years and are proud to call this community our home. We enjoy Blue Lake, which is right there where it says Blue Lake Drive. For fishing, boating, we have walking trails, two parks, and miles of streets to enjoy on bikes and walking. I'm on the HOA board in our community, and I have spoken to and listened to a lot of questions and my concerns about the possible expansion of the use of this future concrete company that I believe it is that Mr. Mims wishes to expand. I would like to ask Mr. Mims and the commissioners, and I don't expect a response this moment. Have you driven through our neighborhood at Skyview Estates? Have you realized, and you can tell exactly from the map, just how close that black dotted line is to Galaxy Lane, to Blue Lake? That's where we live. This is where we're growing old. This is where we chose to live. My husband and I are hoping that when we are gone, we can leave this property for our children and grandchildren. I want to be sure that it's a clean community, that the lake is still clean. I'm sorry, but I've seen many times the seepage that goes from a concrete company or any company such as that into the lakes. Oh, years later, they find that out. Into our soil. We can't let this happen. The noise of the trucks, the crushing, dropping, loading, unloading. I do understand that you spray this dust. Yes, well, our Florida breezes dry that quickly, and the dust is still there. Where will it go? It will go to Galaxy Lane. It will go to our homes. I'd like to see and ask you to see the studies and reports conducted to ensure that our homes will not be polluted in such ways. We do not want to smell the air pollution. We don't want to know that our Blue Lake has been polluted beyond repair years from now. I have so many questions, such as how many trucks are they intending to bring over Skyview Road, Combi Road, and Reynolds Road each day? Keep going. Thank you. I can imagine those roads are already congested enough. I can imagine the increase in car accidents and pedestrian accidents. I'm also concerned about our Pope Elementary nearby, which is closer than our community. Yes, our 207 homes are enjoyed by 55-year-old residents. We are the voters, Mr. Lindsey, in your District 1, and we ask for your attention and respect on this in the future as you consider this. And, of course, Pope Elementary with 429 students that are all 5th grade and younger, 10 years and younger. We're all concerned about this. The shirt I'm wearing is to show my concern for air quality. My husband had a lung transplant three years ago, nearly died of a lung disease. We've moved to Florida to enjoy and have the fresher air so he can survive and thrive. Air quality is crucial. I implore that you give us the respect, your constituents, to consider this, to communicate with us your concerns and understand and listen to our concerns. Mr. Mims and his company, we ask that they find other places to expand. We do not want to see this industrial future land use literally on our property line. I thank you for your time. Thank you, ma'am. Next. Good morning. My name is Al Tuberow. I'm a resident at 1810 Blue Lake Drive in Skyview Estates. And I'd just like to ask you if you would like to have a concrete crushing plant in your backyard. I don't think anybody would. I'm here today to remind you that the Board of Commissioners, that this is your primary responsibility to protect the citizens. We, the people, should come first, not corporate America. We have the God-given right to breathe clean air and drink non-contaminated water. Our children have the right and deserve to grow up in a safe environment. Toxins being dispensed through their community does not provide this. We have the right to wake up without concrete, dust hardening in our lungs, and poisoning our bodies. We know basically nothing about this company. We don't even know the name, what chemicals, amounts of traffic, noise levels, water runoff, dust distribution, or the hours of operation. All we know is that Mr. Mims wants to destroy our quiet, healthy community to save money. He wants to centralize his operation to save diesel fuel. This community is bound together against this proposal. Our pressure on the county leaders has forced the closure of B.S. Rouch. That is proof of our solidarity. Oscar J. Pope School is about 100 feet away from this plant. Approximately 500 elementary school children will be breathing, eating, and playing in concrete dust. They will be listening to semi-truck, tailgates slamming, boulders dropping, concrete being stripped off of the pavement, along with huge hammers pulverizing concrete. Imagine trying to live in this environment but then trying to learn in that environment. Kids aren't going to be able to learn anything. They're going to be distracted by all these things. The students and the staff have the right to breathe fresh air. And then they're going to go home and be in the same environment. This is not fair. This plant should not be built here. Traffic is another disaster. Combia is a single-lane, narrow highway. Mine and Mill Road barely accommodates a single semi. I imagine two semis sitting at the intersection trying to swing out into the other lanes so that they can get out. People behind them get mad. They get aggravated. They accelerate to speed around the semis. This is a dangerous, dangerous environment to build. We must protect ourselves. And it starts here. You must vote no or you will personally be responsible for our community's health. Everybody agrees there's silica and silicates in the crushed concrete and they're cancer-causing and disease-causing. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Go ahead. Linda Bowman, 1542 Blue Lake Drive, Lakeland, Florida, 33801. My little speech is short and sweet. You made a mistake once with BS Ranch. Don't make another mistake. Think if your kids were there. If you want to live in that kind of situation, there's other places that this can go to, not close to our community. We, our park has been there since 1967 and that. I am second generation. So keep that in mind. Thank you. Thank you. Next. We really don't need the applause, please. Charlie Meidel, 3028 Segoe. I live in Skyview Estates. I know we've gone through all this stuff with the, you know, the pollution and all that kind of stuff. My biggest thing is I'm looking at the roads. Combi, two-lane highway all the way from 92 to 98. That's going to have to at least be tripled because of the amount of trucks coming through. Mine and mill, that whole intersection is going to have to be redone with at least lights or something because at certain times of the day, Combi is basically impossible to get on, get off because of the traffic. And if they're going to add another 50 to 100 trucks a day, that road can't handle it. I think there needs to be an environmental study done. I don't know how long it's going to take. Another traffic study definitely because the last traffic study I think was done back in 2017. Things have really changed out in that area now. More industrial, more warehouses, more truck traffic. Just Saddle Creek alone is a ton of trucks a day. So, anyway, I think you're going to have to look at all this stuff, look at the big picture. But, to me, this isn't the right area to put something like this. It needs to go way out. Thanks, sir. Next. Yeah, you had another just a handheld mic. Ma'am, if you want to move over some, we can see you better. There you go. Yep. We'll readjust the mic. Jeff can direct it over to her. All right. We'll go on to the next person. We'll find a microphone that'll work. Mr. Chairman. Yep. Can we operate the mic down here inside the well here? Bring her in here for this access. Yeah. Y'all work on that, and we'll hear from this lady here. Go ahead. My name is Susan Neese. I live at 1710 Blue Lake Drive, Lakeland, Florida, and that is in the Skyview Estates area. I just want to say how unfair I think it is that zoning was set up in this area many years ago, and that zoning encouraged houses and residential areas and schools to develop here because they knew that this was not zoned industrial. This was not zoned to be an area where they would have to worry about things like this. It seems very unfair to me that now that you've got this residential area surrounding this, and you've got this school right down the road that were all encouraged by previous zoning to all of a sudden flip that zoning around and allow an industry like this to come into the area and basically make the quality of life for these residential areas and this school go down. I think you need to look back at the historicity of this problem and see that you did, as a county, promise these people that this kind of thing would not come into their area. You promised them with the previous zoning, and now that they're here, all of a sudden we have this problem. It would seem to me that Mr. Mims can find someplace else where there is proper zoning for his industry and not try and insert it into this area that has historically been residential and school institutional. Thank you very much. Thank you. Let's try this again. Good morning. My name is Susan Johnson. I live at 3018 Crystal Hills Drive, Lakeland, Florida, 33801. I've lived there for over 34 years. Back some time ago when they had the meeting before, I addressed the situation about Oscar J. Pope Elementary. It was built in 1970, which is long before this aggregate has come up, and it's a pre-K through five school located on Main Avenue. The location where Carter and K. Engineering and Mr. Mims want to build the construction aggregate processing and storage area, is close to Oscar J. Pope. They state that the construction site is 0.9 tenths of a mile away from Oscar J. Pope. To get to this distance, the dust particles would have to travel down Main and Mill Road, turn left onto Cumbie, go down Main Avenue, turn left at the light, and go a short distance to the entrance of Oscar J. Pope, which is on the left side of the road. If you use Google Maps to get the distance, it's 0.3 tenths of a mile as a crow flies. The playground for Oscar J. Pope is located at the back of the school, and dust particles don't linger. I mean, they linger in the air. They don't know which way to travel down a road or whatever. They just float in the air, and that's the short distance to the school. Breathing in these dust particles can cause dust-related diseases like lung cancer, silicosis, COPD, and asthma. Also, the noise created by the actual crushing of these aggregates would be very disturbing to the children and disrupting their learning. Every child that attends Oscar J. Pope Elementary needs to know that they are attending a school where they are given the opportunity to be compatible with students at other schools in the county. These students should be given that chance. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. Next. Good morning, Commissioners. My name is John Jarrett. I live at 1814 Blue Lake Drive, Lakeland, Florida, 33801. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to voice my objections to the rock crusher. We all know nobody in this room or anybody up here on this board wants a rock crusher by their house, correct? Okay. So we are very upset that you're being forced upon us with this thing Mr. Mims is doing. No self-respect in Republican, Independent, or Democrat thinks pollution is good. Nobody. It's a total non-win for any political or personal value at all. It has no value at all for anybody personally. But I have a question. Has this business, given the board members, assurances that their operation will be safe for the environment, safe for its workers, that's within the PELs, safe for the surrounding general public areas, and has obtained, at the very least, a general air permit? Has he? Keep talking. They got the air permit. Okay, good. The general air permit, Section C-52J, says, Use of a general air permit does not relieve the owner or operator of the facility from liability and penalties when the construction or operation of the authorized facility causes harm or injury to human health or welfare. That includes noise, causes harm or injury to animals, a squirrel eats some acorns and ends up discovering he has a belly full of particulate. Well, that would be that, plant and aquatic life, or causes harm or injury to the property. It does not allow the owner or operator to cause pollution in contravention of Florida law. So, I hope that he's able to do that. But I do not think, and I've never seen any of these types of installations being able to fulfill and jump through all those hoops. It's not within a city. They're always put way outside of the city where this thing is out of sight and out of mind. Thank you very much. Thank you. Next morning. I'll put it down because I'm short. My name is Sherilyn Lampert. I live at 4677 Yacht Avenue, and I'm a property owner in Skyview Estates. I share the property with my sisters, my brother, my brother-in-law, and my sister-in-law. And I'm speaking on behalf of my sister and brother-in-law, as well as myself. We've talked about air pollution. We know that outdoor ambient air pollution is estimated to have caused 42 million premature deaths worldwide in 2019, with particulate matter being the main driver. Particulate matter causes a multitude of diseases, including cardiovascular and respiratory disease and cancers. There's been lots of research done with the risks to human health of particulate matter. Particulate matter is basically air pollution. And the major components of air pollution in today's world are black carbon and cement dust. Diesels, let's talk black carbon, diesels churn out a hazardous mix of pollutants. Black carbon is a main one. What's more, black carbon is emitted at ground level where we breathe it. And it's coming from a mobile source. It's moving around us. Diesel emissions are associated with premature deaths. In 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency analysis found that approximately 8,800 people died prematurely due to these emissions. Ambient diesel levels are highest near several locations, most specifically busy roads and facilities they service. People who live near the service, these facilities they serve are at greatest risk. Again, in December 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency announced standards for diesel emissions that are to be reduced by 50% by 2027. This is vital information. This is vital information. Why? Why would it be due to the fact that the amount of black carbon spewing from diesels in our air is still a major risk to our health, not to mention our quality of life? Daily, according to the applicant, Mr. Carter, in the last meeting that was held, 130 to 140 trucks, that would be heavy-duty diesel trucks, will pass areas where children are walking to and from schools, areas that are surrounded by residences, areas where other people are going to work. Those diesels will be idling while waiting to get into the facility site. They'll be idling while loading and unloading. Let's see. In a 12-hour day, that's approximately one diesel every five minutes. That really raises the risks to our health, not to mention that there will be more idling while these diesels wait to turn onto and off of Comby Road. Thank you, ma'am. I'm speaking for two other people. Can I continue? Did you name those people? Yes, I did. Okay, all right. I'm sorry. Do you want me to repeat them? Yeah, are they here? Yes. Okay, all right. In the back of the room? All right. Keep going. Okay. So, where was I? Okay. We've already talked about Comby Road. Cement dust. We all know that cement dust is really polluting and harmful to our health. We also know that small industries are one of the main sources of cement dust. Crushing aggregate, sorry, construction aggregate crushing and storage facilities are in the 80th percentile of the most polluting industry based on dust emissions. Small industrial sources release large amounts of pollution, including dust that contributes to air quality problems in the U.S. The setbacks of 200 feet that have been talked about earlier might have been appropriate at the time they were developed. But more recently, for example, papers that have come out from the state of Texas, a setback of 440 yards is insufficient. Recent mapping of air pollution conducted in June 2020 notes that allowing this type of industrial facility to mix with residential neighborhoods leaves many of those people vulnerable to air pollution. The piles of concrete surrounded by a six-foot fence still doesn't mean that the cement dust isn't going to travel, which has been said earlier. Not only that, vegetation is harmed by cement dust. The buffer that was talked about earlier of the vegetation around will be destroyed eventually by that cement dust. Knowing where pollution is at its worst, decision makers can make smart decisions to ensure the quality of life. We are not the only communities that are fighting against these in our backyards. Look at Detroit, where building officials are presently waging a court battle to shut down crushing operations that the surrounding residents say have been negatively impacted by since its operation. And that was reported in January of 2020. Look at Chicago, where in 2016, communities struggling with dust and other industrial pollution related to concrete crushing facilities saw some release because of the EPA decisions against that small industry. Residents of Houston community fought to oppose such a new facility, resulting in the owner withdrawing the request. Most sources of outdoor pollution are well beyond the control of individuals. This demands concerted action by national, regional, and not the least of which, local level decision makers. This is key to protecting public health, our health, to ensure, to enhance our quality of life. It's imperative that we can breathe. It will be hard to breathe with a construction aggregate processing storage facility in our back yard. Bottom line, the proposed facility is not compatible with our neighborhood. Thank you very much. Thank you. Next. Hello, my name is Ward Taylor. I live at 1914 Blue Lake Drive in Lakeland. Originally, after retiring, I finally decided I'm coming to this lovely community of Skyview Estates. We're actually second generation. It's a glorious place to live, but unlike those who work, I'm outside at all hours of the day, during business hours, trying to enjoy my property and the lake that it abuts. I'm sorry that Mr. Min's, you know, it's another example of a company that comes in. I'm sure this August body had a reason back in 2016 to limit this particular concrete crushing facility in this area. Now he buys up more land and, without his due diligence, finds out, oh, I'm not allowed to build that. Well, what's the first thing he does is he comes in here and says, oh, well, change that. Well, I'm saying there's a reason for that, and that's all of us that are living all out and around it. The last thing anyone wants to do, I mean, I can't control the noise on the highways, and I can't control the flybys by prime air, but someone putting a dust plant, it may be 820 feet, but that's only 270 yards from my backyard. I have concerns about the dust and airborne particulates that are going to be produced from loading and unloading and storing this concrete, as well as the process itself of crushing the concrete, and it will have negative effects on my quality of life. The sound produced is even worse. That's going to travel and basically make my backyard unusable weekdays during business hours. If this amendment is accepted, I'm going to end up with a property value that's going to drop, and I'm going to be trapped in this house because no one's going to want to buy it, because the moment they come to view it, they're going to hear this thing going off 200 yards away, and they're going to walk away. So you're not only going to affect my physical health, my emotional use and enjoyment of my property, but you're also going to financially devastate me in the process, and that's all I have to say. Thank you. Next, just pull it down. There you go. Good morning. I'm Jean Hassabrook, 1610 Reynolds Road, Lot 51, Lakeland, Florida, 33801. I happen to live in Citrus Woods Estates. We were not fortunate in many ways to get a letter from you telling us about this facility you were building, just like with B.S. Ranch. We didn't hear about it until it was too late. This time, Skyview, who also is a community that we all own our own property. We are not your typical community. We own our property along with our units. So we are, okay. Anyway, we're very concerned about this. This side of the room is almost all residents of Citrus Woods. Our community right now is almost 60% permanent residents. We have about 40% are snowbirds. So our population of permanent residents is growing. I have a letter from one of our residents. They happen to live in Canada, and they state, we strongly object to both case LDCT 2023-15 and LDCU 2023-19. We are part-time residents of Citrus Woods. We are permanent residents of St. Mary's, Ontario, Canada. In our hometown, we have St. Mary's Cement Company, which has contributed to local air pollution levels. Many complaints, odor, and visible dust seen. Downwind of the facility, St. Mary's area has had higher rates of hospitalization due to COPD, asthma, and in the past compared to other areas of Ontario. There was some evidence of St. Mary's Cement causing increased levels of benzene. This may cause cancer as well as damage to the reproductive immune and neurological systems. Dust levels on vehicle has necessitated removal of the dust by chemical, which St. Mary's Cement Company was forced to pay for. We feel the proposed facility will affect our health and well-being of nearby residents, Brian and Tina Douglas. They live in our community at lot 174. When I got here, one of our other residents handed me this, and this is from the asthma. It lists the asthma capitals of the world, from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Guess who's number two? Lakeland. And you want to add this to our health? We're very concerned about our health. We're concerned about the noise pollution. We're just plain concerned about not this community and the others in our area have been there for years. We're from the 70s. This rock crushing community doesn't need to be in our... We don't care if this... We have lots of good neighbors who happen to have businesses. But they don't make noise and they don't make pollution. They just do their business. We don't hear them. You know, we live with them. We're happy with them. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. Next. Hello. My name is Bob Bolin and I live at 1930 Blue Lake Drive. I own the property and the house, pay taxes. And beginning of this thing, we all said a prayer. And we're supposed to be looking out for each other. We need to be looking out for taxpayers. And this is undue to be put on to a community. Not only the crushing, but they're going to crush this stuff and they're going to create kind of like a mountain. And it's going to be higher and higher as they're unloading that with the sound and the dust. So the wind is even going to make it worse. My property backs up to the lake. And that's going to magnify the sound. And, you know, I'm retired. I've worked my whole life, paid taxes, come down here and bought a nice piece of property. And now I have to worry that I'm going to lose value in my home and that I just can't imagine anybody considering to let this wreak of havoc put on us, this BS thing that everybody's been dealing with, with the smell. So hopefully they're going to get that straightened out. But then we're going to get stuck with breathing toxins and God knows what else and the sounds. It's just going to wreak havoc on us. So then later on down the road, we're going to be back down here again or my kids or somebody's going to be down here and wanting to know why this thing was ever built in the first place. And what can we do to stop this? It's the same thing with this BS farm. It's going to be the same thing with this if this goes through. And I thank you for your time and really think about how this is going to pack all these people. Please consider what you're going to make a decision on for people like us, Americans. We just want to live. Thank you, sir. Next. Dwayne Witter, 1610 Reynolds Road. I hope the fact that I'm here speaking for the people of Skyview Estates, Skyview area, Citrus Woods, Anglers Cove, Anglers Cove West, and Sunshine Village. In this particular area, I estimate that there's around 5,000 homes in a school within a surrounding mile of where this facility is presented in a lot of small businesses also. We've heard about dust pollution. You can control dust pollution to a certain point, but you can't control it at all. Noise. Noise is a big factor. I don't care how big of a fence you build or a wall you build. You are not going to control the noise. Environmental. Leaking fuel from trucks. Leaking fuel from the machinery that does the crushing. I work for a trucking company. I know about the leaking fuel for trucks, the noise, the air, the smoke, and everything. They brag about the fact that they're close to Highway 98. But Comby Road, two-lane, very, very tough road to travel. Highway 98 is now a three-lane road. And it's got more traffic than it can handle. I've been in the area for 21 years. I think you really need to consider the fact. I compare this situation to B&S Ranch, which I sat in this room right here in front of you people, when this was okayed at B&S Ranch. And for five years, we've suffered from the odor from B&S Ranch. We've lost homes. We've lost people because of that. Why not go out in the area where there's thousands of acres and no residential? Why don't they go out there? I don't understand it. I am sure none of you live close to this area like we all do. We definitely are against it. I guess my question is, is this a case of money over health? I ask that you vote no when you do vote on this situation. Thank you. Thank you. Good morning. I think it's still morning. My name is Bonnie Shaloff, and I live at 1626 Blue Lake Drive in Skyview Estates. What I really want to say here is something that we should think about. Mr. Mims has asked for this additional 2.23 acres because he sold off, in 2018, the land that was originally identified with the CU entitlement. So we still have that land, that nearly 15 acres, that has that CU entitlement, conditional use entitlement, as well as now he wants another 2.23 acres. That's a 15% increase almost on the original package. So I question why he can ask for that, just because the information in Appendix C was so small he didn't notice it, and he wasn't a student, a business person, to consider why he's selling off that 15 acres back in 2018. You know all our concerns. You've heard enough of all the reasons why they shouldn't do it. But what I want to say here is this is not compatible for the people who live here, for the people who work here, for the people that go to school here, for the people who worship here, for the businesses, for their children, for visitors, for people who play here. So please, and you've heard this plea many times, follow your mission. Enhance the quality of life for people in Polk County. Vote no to this text amendment. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak on this matter? Dave, if you want to say something, you're welcome to, or you can save it for the next meeting. It's up to you. I'll be brief. I just want to leave you with some thoughts before we finish for today. Just to let you know, the Mims family has owned this property for about 40 years. Prior to the land use, as you all are aware, we had zoning, and then we went to the land use descriptions. My understanding was that prior to that change, that this land was industrial and allowed to be used for uses such as this. I heard an audience member talk about not wanting industrial here. The land use is already industrial, which, as you're well aware, allows things like manufacturing, motor freight terminals, and warehousing. That's allowed today. The discussion of truck traffic, our traffic would be going south. We would hit Cumbie and then 98. We view that as our area where we would be targeting for both incoming and material going out. Pope Elementary, if you'll notice, the original approval was about 600 feet, and I will tell you, as the crow flies, was about 600 feet from the closest point of the playground area of Pope Elementary. We're now 1,100 feet, so it's almost double the separation between the school and where we're at. I'm sure you're all aware of the process. We have to get land use entitlements before we do detailed site engineering. We've not applied for the various permits that we need to have. We will certainly do that, and we'll be required to do that. I'm sure the board's aware of that, but I just want to let you know that the process we're in, we've not gone to that point yet. Also, I would encourage you to, if you have time between now and the hearing, to travel the area and take a look around, drive through Skyview, drive down Mine and Mill Avenue. You will notice our adjacent landowner next door to us is a car auto salvage yard, and that salvage yard is significantly closer to the Skyview site than this particular site is. I would also note that the Citrus subdivision, which was mentioned, and I understand there's a lot of people here from there, is something like seven-tenths of a mile as the crow flies away from the site. It's a significant different distance. So I just, Chairman, I wanted to leave you with those thoughts as you think about this project over the next couple of months until the next hearing. So I'll be glad to answer any questions you would have. Anybody got any questions? All right. Thank you very much. We'll close the public hearing. We're not going to take any action on this. It will be next time. If you guys want to leave, you don't have to sit through the next part of this. I know you've sat here for a couple hours. Feel free. We'll take two minutes to let you get out of here, and we'll move on with the next items. Good morning, Board of Commissioners. This is Eric Peterson for Land Development Division presenting LDCT 2023-7. A legal ad was published in the Lakeland Ledger on January 10, 2024, and this is the final adoption hearing for the amendment. Just to briefly tell you about the process, this was a long process that began several years ago. It was delayed by Senate Bill 250, but that has been resolved. It's comprised of six sections. First section, applicability and purpose, sets forth all the different types of plan development that it applies to. It establishes that development must be within the area for water and wastewater availability where necessary. There's three main sections that deal with the timing of development, the internal design, and the external design. The timing, this is eligibility, not necessarily entitlement. There was concerns voiced at the last hearing that the language wasn't clear enough, that this looked to be an entitlement and not necessarily just a measure. So you've refined the text, and it is in your ordinance as you have before you today. A lot of the requirements that we have in here for plan development apply to other parts of the county now. The 20% open space, the wetlands calculation, warm water ponds, 500 square feet of parks and recreation with a 10,000 square foot minimum. Those have been adopted, and those are in effect since December 6, 2022. What's different about recreation amenities is that there's a certain schedule based on the number of units in the plan development. The applicant has the ability to vary those, but essentially you get one point for each unit, and there's four types of recreation amenities. They earn different points. It gives some variety to where recreation amenities are placed. They can be at different levels and appeal to the number of units in the development. It doesn't occupy the entire recreation requirement. It leaves areas open for things like open play, passing a ball, picnics, stuff like that. This is one example of how it would be applied. There could be several different types, or it could all be one larger amenity. There's additional parking requirements for plan developments to get at the smaller lots, the more narrow lot sizes that don't have places for extra vehicles or boats. That has been put into the design requirements. Lastly, the Planning Commission's focus when evaluating plan developments is focused on the immediate compatibility with neighboring properties. That's what we want the Planning Commission to focus on the most, and the other external issues are all resolved prior to the hearing. This is just one example. With that, I'll stand for questions. I have a more detailed slide presentation if you want to go into depth. I think when you say all other issues will be resolved beforehand, that's kind of important in that it will keep some of these developments that we have seen in the past that are isolated in the middle of nowhere. They're just not even going to show up anymore if they come in as a planned development. I mean, it makes good sense to me. Anybody else got any comments or questions? Okay. I will open a public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak on this matter, please come forward, and you'll have three minutes. Okie dokie. I'll close the public hearing and bring it back to the board. Second. Got a motion and a second for approval. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, like, sign. Motion carries. Thank you, Eric. P3. Good morning. For the record, I'm Amy Gregory, Traffic Manager for the Roads and Drainage Division, and this morning I have three items for you. The first is a public hearing to consider the adoption of a resolution to allow the placement of two traffic calming devices. On Ware Avenue and Winter Haven, Ware Avenue is classified a local residential road, 20 feet wide, 1,419 feet in length, with a posted speed limit of 20 miles an hour. Upon receiving a request for traffic calming, staff collected speed and volume data and reviewed the crash history. And with an 85th percentile speed of 28 miles an hour and an average daily traffic of 402 vehicles, Ware Avenue met the board's traffic calming policy criteria for speed and volume. Staff subsequently distributed ballots to the homeowners with property fronting Ware Avenue, and we received the required 80% favorable response from yes votes and from non-votes per the board's policy. On January 9th, 2024, a hearing date of February 6th, 2024, was set by consent agenda, and staff posted on-site notices as well. And as much as the board's criteria for the installation of traffic calming devices have been met, staff recommends adoption of a resolution to install two speed humps along Ware Avenue. And I'll stand for any questions. Any questions? See you none, I'll open a public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak against it or speak on this matter, please come forward, name and address, please. Commissioner, first of all, I'd like to thank people here from the county for their diligence in advising us how to go about getting the speed humps. The traffic off of Ellucian Park Road, as these people before us, before me, I feel their pain because growth is just growing. It can't be stopped, unfortunately. So I just would appreciate if the commission could go ahead and approve these speed bumps. It's just taking away from the lifestyle, as, again, like the folks said before me, of being able to do things that you were in the past able to do. Kids can't go outside and play in the streets anymore because of traffic. The traffic, again, off Ellucian Park Road is, in the last five years, I don't even know the numbers. I mean, I've lived there all my life. But it's just crazy. But, again, it's just growth. So to try and protect the kids in the neighborhood, we did request that we get these speed bumps, and we'd appreciate it if you guys could find that way. Can we get your name and address, please? All right. Raymond Davis, 244 Ware Avenue. Thank you. Anybody else? Police are in Park Hall, so 544. Yes, sir. Yeah, okay. All right. I'll close the public hearing and bring it back for a vote. Move approval. Motion and a second for approval. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, like, sign. Motion carries. Next item. The next item I have for you is a public hearing to consider adoption of a resolution to allow the placement of four traffic calming devices on Camp Gilead Drive in Polk City. Camp Gilead Drive has classified a local residential road, 20 feet in width, 6,208 feet long, with a posted speed limit of 20 miles per hour. Upon receiving a request for traffic calming, staff collected speed and volume data and reviewed the crash history, and with an 85th percentile speed of 35 miles an hour and an average daily traffic of 90 vehicles, Camp Gilead Drive met the board's traffic calming policy criteria for speed and volume. Staff subsequently distributed ballots to the homeowners with properties fronting Camp Gilead Drive, and we received the required 80% favorable response from yes votes and from non-votes per the board's policy. On January 23, 2024, a hearing date of February 6, 2024, was set by consent agenda, and staff posted on-site notices as well. And as much as the board's criteria for the installation of traffic calming devices have been met, staff recommends adoption of a resolution to install four speed humps along Camp Gilead Drive. And I'll stand for any questions. Questions? All right. Seeing none, I'll open a public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak on this matter, please come forward. Name and address. And we've seen you before. Chaplain Jill Bryan, 1445, Camp Gilead Drive. Thank you. I just want to say thank you. Because I started three years ago on trying to get speed bumps for that camp. And if I could just say that I'm so proud of Sheriff Grady Judd and the deputies that came out to talk to me. And to say, and then just start to do all the research and reports, wow, thank you. I do hope this will be something that will happen as soon as possible. Because we don't want a child to die. And, oh, gosh, I might get emotional. You know, when things don't happen, I'm reminded of when I went to camp and the baseball grate was up. I was the catcher. And until I ripped my foot open at nine years old at a camp in Whitewater, Wisconsin, when I came back from the hospital, that was nailed down, that another camper would never get hurt. We're talking about life and death. And when I see campers crossing that street and going, or when I was out walking my dog, I would have been run over three times. Now, I've given you my information because I'm moving to North Carolina. I love serving here. I love being here. But as helping our public safety officers, police, fire, search, and rescue, I'll be serving in Rockford, Illinois for the summer, training chaplains under the Federal Association of Christian Counselors and Therapists. It's a wonderful organization in Groveland. And I thank the director for passing on information to me as I was able to get it to Grady Judd and Chaplain Marvin Pittman. And I thank the chief of Auburndale for not wanting me to be a chaplain because I know there are bigger fish to fry around this country. And it's just an amazing thing. But thank you for doing what is right. Thank you for always helping families. I can't wait to come back one day and visit that camp and see new stuff, the new gym, speed bumps, great roads. And you all just keep up the good work. And if the gallery didn't know that emptied out, that camp was built in 1938. And I'm so glad that it's continuing to go. I've served in the other camps in the Carolinas. And I just want to say thank you. Thank you, county. Thank you, cities. Thank you, everybody. And we'll see you later. Thank you. And we'll try to get those in before summer camp begins. Anyone else want to speak on this matter? My name is Chris Andrew. I am the director of Camp Gilead at 1445 Camp Gilead Drive. Those who aren't familiar with it, our campus does straddle both sides of Camp Gilead Drive. Each summer, we have approximately 1,000 children that come through the camp. And we do process them from one side of the property to the other, crossing Camp Gilead Drive. Annually, we have about 4,000 visitors to the campus. And as of recent, I've been at the campus for about 12 years. As of recent, I won't say that we see an increase of total traffic, but we are coming to be the curviness of the road seems to be an enjoyment for those who like to go down it very, very fast. We are finding that it is a very difficult thing. We have internal procedures and protocols for safety for children not to cross a loan. But we are seeing that dangerous driving to become a bigger issue with our children that come to the camp. Thank you. My name is Jonathan Stewart. I reside at 1452 Camp Gilead Drive. And I'm here to speak on behalf of Chris and the people there at the camp. Just want to thank you for all of the consideration you're giving us. Here's the thing. The speed and volume data might be skewed because of the Google lady that tells people on I-4 when there's a traffic jam up on 557, up around 27, it routes them through our road. So what happens is what's typically maybe 90, 100 vehicles in the space of three hours, that probably explodes. And the people that are coming off of I-4 at 557 pretty much are filled with road rage. So it's kind of a time of the essence thing, not because of the people of Polk County. These are usually people from Hillsborough County, Osceola County, Orange County, those people up there on I-4 who are getting pretty upset that I-4 really doesn't take the volume of traffic that's put on it sometimes. So it really is one of these butterfly effects. And, you know, you're talking about 20,000 kids over the next five years. It's going to cost 20 grand to do four speed bumps. So not only is it worth a dollar a kid to put these speed bumps in, it's kind of time is of the essence. Because if you've ever been on I-4 and there's traffic, I bet some of you have even been kind of upset with what you're looking at from a traffic standpoint. Just think a lot of those people are coming through Camp Gilead. So we'd ask not only that you consider the bumps, but time is of the essence as far as getting them in there. Thank you. You offering a dollar a kid to pay for the speed bumps? We're going to have a cake sale, but we're also going to put a box at the back here. So if any of you want to make a donation- They'll go out the side door, I'm sure of that. Thank you. Anybody else? All right, seeing none, I'll close the public hearing and bring them back. Move approval. Motion and a second for approval. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, like signed, motion carries. Next item. Last item I have for you this morning is a public hearing to consider adoption a resolution to allow the placement of four traffic calming devices on Rocky Point Road in Lake Wales. Rocky Point Road is classified as a local residential road, 19 feet in width, 2,347 feet in length, with a posted speed limit of 25 miles an hour. Upon receiving a request for traffic calming, staff collected speed and volume data and reviewed the crash history. With an 85th percentile speed of 35 miles an hour and an average daily traffic of 254 vehicles, Rocky Point Road met the board's traffic calming policy criteria for speed and volume. Staff subsequently distributed ballots to homeowners with property fronting Rocky Point Road and received the required 80% favorable response from yes votes and from non-votes per the board's policy. Staff also distributed ballots to the homeowners whose access is through Rocky Point Road and received the required 50% favorable response from yes votes and from non-votes per the board's policy. On January 23, 2024, a hearing date of February 6, 2024 was set by consent agenda and staff posted on-site notices as well. And as much as the board's criteria for the installation of traffic calming devices have been met, staff recommends adoption of a resolution to install four speed humps along Rocky Point Road. And I'll stand for any questions. Questions? Seeing none. I'll open a public hearing. Anyone wishing to speak on this matter, please come forward. Microphone. He'll get you a mic. He's getting you. Okay. I'm speaking on behalf of myself, Milton Patrick, 3725 Young Road, and Guy Goosby, 2729 Young Road. I'd like them to put an amendment on it. You've got school buses, four-wheel drives. I never signed a contract with Disney for an amusement park. There's no grass nowhere on our street. They come across your yard. They tear everything up. I've been to the substation on Thompson Nursery Road 30 times. Every time, he says, we only got one deputy. Somebody needs to get fired and hire some more deputies. I mean, two days ago, my neighbor lives behind me, across the canal. His two little girls was riding four-wheeler. Come out of somebody else's property, right down the road, that much, and they've been dead. These kids, they don't care. You stop out and talk to them, and they tell you the L word real quick like. And you can't smack one of them. I'd love to. I've got two German Shepherds. They'll pull up to my gate. I've got a 240-foot block wall. They'll pull up to my gate and aggravate my German Shepherds. And you try to call and ask them to stop. You go talk to their parents. Well, my son wouldn't do that. And I said, well, he did. They race up and down that road every day, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 2 o'clock in the morning. They're running four-wheelers. I never signed a contract with nobody for an amusement park. And when I was growing up, I always thought you had to have a driver's license to drive on a road. I can remember when my granddaughter was, just a little tot. I bought her one of those little Barbie doll cars or whatever. I was in Jupiter at Jonathan Dixon State Park. It was on a Christmas. I had my electric wheelchair with me, and she was beside me. Highway Patrol stopped me and gave me a ticket because she was on the road. And these guys here, they do it every day. They'll come across your property, tear everything up. And nobody, we need grass out there. Y'all hired a street sweeper. Who in the world needs a street sweeper in the country? And the only reason is because they throw so much dirt on the road. I mean, that is just insane. But I would like to put an amendment, and I'm behind Jenny's or Jenny Drive. If that's the first one you want to do, I'm 100% behind it. I can get you as many signatures as you want to put these things in. The people are aggravated. I followed the school bus two months ago down Canal Road. Have any of y'all been on Canal Road? I mean, it is a road from hell. She was doing 62 miles an hour down that road with a school bus and turning that black road. I couldn't believe it. Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. Anyone else? I would appreciate y'all trying to help us out out there because the police department, they say they understaffed. They can't do nothing. If you go by Vinny's, and there would be 12, 15. Come on up. Your car is sitting there. All right. We'll let the next lady speak. Pamela Slaughter. I live at 6580 Rocky Point Road in Lake Wales, Florida. We've lived there for seven years, and I cannot imagine the future if we don't get these speed bumps. You get woke up at the last past Saturday at 3 o'clock in the morning with people drag racing trucks down that road to the point that they burn rubber and leave it all on the road that it sounded like they were going to run smack into our house waking us up. It doesn't just happen at night. It's during the day. Our neighbor was walking her dog one evening on the side of the road, and a lady came flying down from Lake Pierce back toward Canal Road, hid her dog, did not stop. The lady said she thought it was a raccoon or something. She drove from Rocky Point Road all the way to Winter Haven Hospital and realized when she got out, the dog was stuck to the grill of her car. It took her that long to figure it out. Now, she had to be going down that road pretty fast for that to happen. What if that had been a child? We have four granddaughters. We retired and moved out there to be in the country, and we're scared to let them even go in our driveway to ride their little tricycles and all. These people fly down this road. I'm telling you, I've seen them go 60 and 70 miles an hour just flying off a canal coming down there. Someone's going to get killed. These speed bumps need to be put in as soon as possible. Thank you. Thank you, ma'am. Anyone else? All right. Seeing none, I'll close the public here and bring it back to the board. Motion to approve, please. Second. Got a motion and a second for approval. Any comments, questions? All right. All in favor, say aye. All right. Opposed, like, signed, motion carries. Next item. Good morning. This is Wade Allen, your real estate services administrator. I've just got one item for you real quickly here. The county has received a petition from JSK Consulting as authorized agent for ADM Florida Partners LLC to vacate a portion of the platelet, unopened, unmaintained, right-of-way shown on the map of Haskell, Polk County, Florida. Subject right-of-way lies in Section 14, Township 29, or age 24 east. The map of Haskell filed in 1886 depicts various rights-of-way throughout the plat. The petitioner owns all of the lots within Block 6, Tier 3, which is all of the surrounding property around this proposed vacation, and has requested the vacation to the alley that bifurcates the lots in order to accommodate its plans to develop the properties. By vacating the right-of-way, this will remove the public's interest in the subject area and will allow the petitioner to assemble and more fully utilize their properties for the plan development. The appropriate utility providers, along with the appropriate county divisions, have reviewed the request, and they have no objections to the vacation. Staff recommends the board adopt a resolution to vacate the platelet, unopened, unmaintained right-of-way as shown on the map of Haskell as fully described in the legal description attached to the petition and a resolution. And also, although you see the sign right here, just to let you know that one of the proposed uses that will be coming into this area is proposed to be a daycare. And this area right here, although this is the City of Lakeland, they've already worked out the relocation plan, so it's not an issue. So I'll remain standing for any questions you might have. Questions? All right. Seeing none, I'll open a public hearing. Anyone wanting to speak on this matter? Seeing no one, I'll close the public hearing and bring it back to the board. Move for all. We've got a motion and a second for approval. All in favor, say aye. All right. Opposed, like, sign, motion carries. Thank you. Morning. Sandy Howard with the county attorney's office. Item P7 is a public hearing to consider adoption of an ordinance granting an economic development ad valorem tax exemption for an expansion of an existing Polk County business, Public Supermarkets, Inc., and to approve a performance agreement with the company. Public's plans to invest more than $28 million in the construction and addition of two new manufacturing lines along with the purchase of related equipment within their existing facility located at 3620 New Tampa Highway in Lakeland. The company plans to create 10 new full-time jobs in the county as a result of this expansion, with the new jobs paying an average annual wage of $55,574, which is 115% of the county's current average annual wage. Both the Lakeland Economic Development Council and the Central Florida Development Council have provided a letter to the county in support of this project, and we have representation from both EDCs as well as from publics with us here today. Based on the board's approved guidelines, the project qualifies for a 40% reduction in applicable ad valorem taxes for a six-year period, running from 2026 through 2031. The property appraiser's report estimates that if the exemption is granted, approximately $68,133 in ad valorem taxes would be lost each year of the six-year period. The county would recognize new ad valorem tax revenue just over $102,000 annually during that time, representing the remaining 60% of value. Additionally, MSTU, School Board, and SwiftMUD new tax revenues gained are estimated to be approximately $164,000 each year collectively. Thank you. I'll stand for any questions. Questions? I'll open a public hearing. Anyone wanting to speak on this matter, please come forward. Seeing nobody, I'll close public hearing and bring them back to the board. Motion for second. Got a motion and a second for approval. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed, like, aye. Motion carries. Thank you. Item P8 is a public hearing to consider adoption of an ordinance granting an economic development ad valorem tax exemption for another expansion of an existing Polk County business, Novifost Development, LLC, and to approve a performance agreement with the company. The company plans to construct a new 40,000-square-foot phosphoric acid manufacturing and processing facility near 3220 State Road 630 West in Fort Meade. The company's total capital investment in real property improvements and equipment is estimated at $32 million. The company plans to create 28 new full-time jobs in the county as a result of the expansion, and the new jobs will pay an average annual wage of $56,000, which is slightly over the 115% of the county's current average annual wage. The Central Florida Development Council has provided a letter to the county in support of the project, and we also have representatives from Novifost Development here with us today. Based on the board's approved guidelines, the project qualifies for a 40% reduction in applicable ad valorem taxes for a six-year period running from 2027 through 2032. The property appraiser's report estimates that if the exemption is granted, approximately $62,400 in ad valorem taxes would be lost each year of the six-year period. That's $94,000 of new revenue generated during that time each year, and MST, School Board, and SWIFT MUD tax revenues of approximately $150,000 each year collectively. Thank you. I'll stand for any questions. Questions? Seeing none, I'll open a public hearing. Anyone wanting to speak on this matter, please come forward. Seeing nobody, I'll close the public hearing and bring it back to the board. Move approval. Motion and second for approval. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, like sign. Motion carries. Next. Thank you. The final item does not require a public hearing, but it's being discussed at this point because it relates to the same project, Novifost Development's planned expansion in the county. The county's impact fee ordinance number 2019-056 in resolution 19-129 provides for the mitigation of impact fees for qualified, targeted industry businesses creating new high-wage jobs in the county. The program authorizes a certain percentage reduction off the total cost of county impact fees based on the creation of new high-wage jobs and capital investment. Because Novifost is adding 28 qualifying jobs and making a $32 million capital investment, the company qualifies for a 35% impact fee reduction on the new 40,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. Without approval of this impact fee mitigation agreement, the estimated county impact fees for the new facility would be $29,160. The 35% mitigation is valued at $10,206 for a reduced amount due from the company of $18,954. The county's interest will be secured by a lien on the property to ensure the company maintains the required number of jobs for a seven-year period. Thank you. I'll stand for any questions. Any questions? Move approval of the impact fee mitigation agreement. Second. Got a motion and a second for approval? With no but boss. I apologize. All in favor say aye. Aye. Those like sign. Motion carries. We have one other item. Mr. Beasley would like to address the board in the audience. Yes, sir, Mr. Chairman of the board. Just about five minutes. Two items I want to mention to the board this morning. One, I think it's really a good news item. I wanted the board to kind of hear it from the staff first before you start hearing about it. Through either press releases from the governor's office or information from our federal delegation. A fair amount of federal money is headed to Polk County. Not specifically to the BOCC, but is headed to Polk County for two big purposes. One being broadband and the expansion of broadband services into some of the more rural areas. The second being a community type of facility to be sited in the Fort Meade area, I think. So I wanted Todd Bond to mention to you those two specifically. And then the second item that I'll mention in closing is a more somber, sad event of someone's passing. I want you to be aware of that. So, Todd, if you'll handle the funding side of it. Thank you. That's going to help basically expand Internet into low-income areas. And that will take care of, it will expand about 547 miles of fiber for about 4,735 unserved or underserved locations in Polk County. There's four areas. I'll kind of give you the idea where they're at. But there will be about 72 miles of fiber in 1,144 locations in the Camp Mack, Frostproof, and Fort Meade areas. 185 miles of fiber to 1,389 locations in Homeland, Nichols, Mulberry, Fort Meade, Bowling Green, Juanita, Frostproof, and Bradley Junction. 147 miles of fiber to 1,170 locations in the Sokrum, Lakeland, Polk City areas. And 143 miles of fiber to 1,032 locations in the Lakeshore, Babson Park, Waverly, and Davenport areas. Now, this isn't money coming to Polk County BOCC. It will go to private vendors like Verizon. And basically, they will extend the fiber out into those communities. But it still benefits our residents. I did want to mention that although this isn't coming into the BOC, that our IT division, under the guidance of David Palmer, I'm not sure. He didn't make it down. But under the guidance of David Palmer, the director, they work with the state. They work with the providers in finding locations and where this is needed. They also provided letters of support for these requests. So good news that this is coming into the county. This is the second round. If you remember back about six months to a year ago, there were some announcements of funds coming to Polk County. And we had to look into it to figure out, are we getting it? What's going on? And it's really the second round of the money going to the vendors to expand those Internet access points. The second item, so that was $14 million. The second item was for multipurpose facilities. And it was announced yesterday that Fort Meade is receiving $4 million for a multipurpose facility that will serve as a library, hurricane shelter, multi-use space, and location for various community programs. So in total, $18 million, or about 8% of the total funding that was announced yesterday from the governor's office, is coming to Polk County in some way to benefit our residents. So good news. Thanks, Todd. Last item, Mr. Chair, it's a sad event, but I wanted you to be aware, if you're not already, that Reverend Dr. Alex Harper has passed away. He passed away on January the 22nd. What's special about Mr. Harper was that he served on the Community Relations Advisory Council for 22 consecutive years. He was appointed in 2002, and he wasn't at the last meeting, I believe, Commissioner Santiago, I don't think he was at the previous meeting to that. It's just to serve in that capacity for that length of time says a lot about him as an individual and how he cared about the county. And, you know, while I think he brought certainly a sense of wisdom to that council, he brought a sense of wit to that council as well. It really, he had a really lighthearted way about making his points and getting consensus on issues. And the last thing that I'll say about Dr. Harper that I remember the most about him is he was adamant that he gave the benediction after every council meeting. And there was not one time he didn't mention thanks to the county employees, not just the employees who were a part of that council or who were staff support to that council, but all the county employees for what they did and what they do day in and day out. He clearly was a man that we are blessed to have had him come through our community. He left a legacy. We were represented at his funeral last Friday in Lakeland. And I just want you to be aware that he'll be missed, but always remembered. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thanks for letting us know. Anything else? All right, we're adjourned. Thank you.