Board of County Commissioners on 2026-05-05 9:00 AM

Good morning, everyone. We will get ahead and get started with our May 5th regular BOCC meeting, and please rise as we go for invocation and then Pledge of Allegiance. We'll start with Chaplain Hanley doing our invocation. Good morning. I would invite you all to pray with me. Heavenly Father, as we gather here this morning, we seek you, mindful of the calling you have placed within each of us. As we engage in meaningful discussion and as decisions are made here today that will affect the citizens and visitors of this county, fill us with your grace, and may all that is accomplished here today bring you honor. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. I pledge you to the Lord. At this time, we will move on to public comments concerning agenda items. Do we have any, Ms. Amber? Ma'am, we have one. Okay, we have Mr. David Butler on G3. Mr. Butler? Is Mr. Butler here? Okay, well then, we'll just move on, and we will close the public comments concerning agenda items and go on to Ms. Stacey Butterfield, County Comptroller. Good morning. Good morning. Today, we have for you to approve and ratify payroll checks number 04565 through 0607, in the amount of $48,996.90. We have direct deposits, 3,058 of them, in the amount of $4,656,771.49, dated May 1, 2026. We have wired electronic fund transfers, $37,528,458.19, dated April 21 through May 4, 2026. And lastly, we have invoice checks number 503714 through 504634, totaling $12,276,230.25, dated April 21 through May 4 of 2026, for you to approve and ratify, please. Madam Chair, motion for approval. I have a motion and a second. Any questions? Hearing none. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. We also request the approval of the minutes of your regular board meeting that was held on April the 21st of 2026, please. Motion for approval. Second. I have a motion and a second. Any questions? Hearing none. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Anything else, Ms. Butterfield? Yes. I would just like to bring to everyone's attention that this week, May the 3rd through the 9th, is Public Service Recognition Week, which honors our federal, state, and local county employees all throughout the nation. Our public servants, our employees, the board, the clerk, all of our employees, at all forms and levels of government work every single day in our cities and counties and state to keep everything running smoothly. So I just want to say many of them are behind the scenes, and I know at your board meetings, I love that you do the recognition for their service, and county manager Beasley always mentions the collective years of service that are represented, and that's just one of our organizations here in the county. So it's an opportunity for all of us to champion those employees because they are the ones that continue to show up every single day and support our community with perseverance, commitment, and they deliver those essential services that are required for all of us to enjoy our community. So I just want to say thank you not only to your employees, to our employees, and all of our employees, especially at the county level. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you for that information. Moving ahead, we'll do the approved consent agenda. Second. I have a motion and a second. Any questions? Hearing none, all in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. We move on to county attorney. Yes, Madam Chair, I have one item. As y'all are aware of, in response to the freeze in February, the board authorized the county manager to adjust the landfill rates for 60 days to encourage residents to bring yard waste to the landfill instead of leaving it out for collection. At a previous work session, the board stated their desire to do a similar program in preparation for hurricane season. So this item authorizes the county manager to adjust the landfill rates for one month between May 1st and June 1st to encourage individuals to bring their yard waste to the landfill in preparation for hurricane season and is recommended for approval. Madam Chair, motion for approval. I have a motion and a second. Any questions, discussion, Commissioner Scott? Madam Chair, if I may, just to highly encourage residents, you know, the reason the board wanted to implement this was really to encourage the residents to be proactive and pick up anything that is loose yard debris or dead trees, limbs, stuff like that, so we are minimizing flying debris during the event of a hurricane. So this is a great opportunity to not only save money but be proactive, be more of a courteous neighbor, and I highly encourage all of our residents to take advantage of the program. Thank you. Thank you. Anybody else? Well, I must agree, Commissioner Scott, I think this is a great idea to prepare for the hurricanes and minimize any damage and danger during this time and even after the hurricane. So this is wonderful. So we have a first and a second. Any more questions, discussion? Hearing none, all in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries, attorney. Motion carries. Mr. Beasley, you're next. Good morning, Madam Chair, members of the board, members of the viewing audience. The manager's office will have four items for board consideration this morning. The first item, item G1, I want to say is the easy, heavy, positive lift of the day. Item G1 is to request the board to approve an agreement between the Florida Department of Commerce and Polk County in connection with federally funded community development block grant disaster recovery funds associated with the Florida Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program. This agreement will provide $70 million to address multiple infrastructure, restoration, and improvement projects across the Polk County. I got to say, Madam Chair, I think this may be the largest single grant award in Polk County's history. But between the year 2023 and 2024, hurricanes Dahlia, Debbie, Helene, and Milton, along with several tornadoes, devastated the state of Florida, each bringing strong winds, heavy rainfall, and severe flooding to many parts of the state. In January of 2025, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced that the state of Florida would be receiving approximately $925 million of federal funding to support long-term recovery efforts following the impacts of these severe weather events in 2023 and 2024 through the Florida Department of Commerce's Office of Long-Term Resiliency. Federal Community Development Block Grant recovery funding is designed to address needs that remain after all other assistance has been exhausted. Florida Commerce's Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program has been allocated $400 million of these federal dollars to fund infrastructure, restoration, and improvement projects within those Florida communities most impacted by these 2023 and 2024 storms. In the fall of 2025, Polk County made application to Florida Commerce for grant assistance, and in December of 2025, Polk was notified of a $75 million pending award to implement a comprehensive regional infrastructure and mitigation initiative designed to address flooding, stormwater management, and water quality impacts exacerbated by these 2023 and 2024 storm seasons. The proposed agreement details expected deliverables to include project implementation, environmental and engineering services, water infrastructure repair and construction, 21st century water quality improvement solutions, and the Peace Creek Headwaters restorations. Overall, this initiative encompasses multiple coordinated project components across the Lake Hancock Basin, including Lake Gibson, Lake Parker, Lake Bonney, Saddle Creek, and the headwaters of the Peace River. Project activities include rehabilitation and retrofitting of stormwater infrastructure and pump stations, expansion of flood storage capacity through infrastructure improvements and strategic land acquisitions from willing sellers, restoration of headwaters across various areas to improve natural flood attenuation, and the implementation of advanced water quality improvements, including algae harvesting and nutrient reduction measures. Budgeting for these anticipated state revenues and respective capital projects will be established through the FY26-27 upcoming budget and community investment program process. So, Madam Chair, members of the Board, I think consistent with the Board's continued commitments toward environmental preservation, stormwater management, and water quality improvements, I would request that the Board approve the proposed agreement with the Florida Department of Commerce and Polk County for the provision of federal community development block grant disaster recovery funds, all of which are in connection with the Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program. And so, Madam Chair, maybe Tabitha Beal could come to the mic just quickly. I've got to say this about Tabitha. I don't believe we would have gotten this $70 million if it hadn't have been for her. However, Tabitha's reputation across the state of Florida, Tabitha's tenacity and deliberate style and knowledge of what goes on in Central Florida, which really is really well thought of in Tallahassee. And so, my compliments to Tabitha and her staff for landing $70 million into Polk County. And what this money is going to do for those initiatives is just beyond speech. Madam Chair. Tabitha, would you like to share a little bit about this project? I know it's already been said, but I'm sure you could add your touch to it. Yes, ma'am. Yes, Commissioner. And I want to say thank you to Mr. Beasley as well. Those very kind words. This is a true partnership from the board support to our partners throughout this landscape to make this happen and to be able to bring these funds and hopefully from relief here to Polk County and its residents. So, it is a true regional watershed project. You're going to be, I think, seeing more of these styles of projects that help address multiple issues rather than one piece at a time. So, appreciate the board's support. And this will be a quick, it's a four-year project. So, we'll be doing this quickly as we possibly can. So, thank you. Well, we thank you. $70 million is not short change. That's for sure. So, thank you for what you do for Polk County. We appreciate it. Madam Chair, I have to recuse myself from this vote. I have a business relationship, so I have to recuse myself. Okay. Tabitha. I know probably 10, 15 years ago, there were some projects that were proposed to clean Lake Hancock faster than it is being cleaned now. I mean, I think now it just kind of goes through that filtration system and goes into Saddle Creek. Is there any projects out there on the horizon that might do more quicker for Lake Hancock? I mean, I've had a lady come in and propose one, but you know about that. And you're right. Those studies were done 10, 15, 20 years ago. That was before the lake level modification project that was implemented by the Water Management District. So, it is a completely different water body, how it's managed now. So, those original feasibility studies, even though they were extremely expensive at that time, would be even more difficult at this time. Because one of the objectives of those original studies was to draw the lake down to, like, less than a foot. Which, essentially, at this point, would be impossible with the new regulatory restrictions that are on Lake Hancock. So, looking at watershed solutions like this, where we treat the water coming into Lake Hancock as we best can, and then treat the water immediately leaving Lake Hancock as our best cost benefit at this point, I would say. The part I don't understand about that, and I probably should have asked the question before today, but my understanding is Lakeland sewage went into Lake Hancock for 50 years or whatever. I mean, at some point, that just kind of wears out, doesn't it? I mean, doesn't that just go away after so many decades? I mean, what's making it so polluted now? So, you're right. There's the historical loadings from multiple wastewater treatment facilities. It wasn't just Lakeland. There were other ones that were coming into Lake Hancock. Lake Hancock just sort of ended up as that resting place. So, that's why we have those extreme muck layers in the bottom. Really, the only way those muck layers are able to decompose, I guess you could say, is when the water levels do come down low enough and oxidization starts to happen in those. But due to water supply concerns within the regional basin all the way down to Charlotte Harbor, we're actually stacking water higher in Lake Hancock at this point, using it as a water supply. And that's why the water reservation was placed on Lake Hancock by the Water Management District. Okay, thanks. You're welcome. Commissioner? I just want to comment, you know, what this does for our region for water holding capabilities is going to be exciting to see. We've had many residents, you know, that were obviously affected by various different storms. And it was just, you know, we have to abide by regulation. So, if we cool water from one area to relieve them, it may cause, you know, problems downstream. Where this really builds in a system of water storage capabilities across this area, which will be hopefully, you know, we'll see the results at our next very wet summer, followed by a few storms. We will see the benefit of this. So, it is great for our community. Thank you for chasing this. And thank you for bringing it back. All right. Thank you, Tabitha. So, we need a motion for approval. I have a motion and a second. Any additional questions? Okay. Hearing none, all in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Madam Chair, members of the board, item number G2 is another very positive development for additional funds coming Polk County's way. Item G2 is to request the board to approve a state-funded grant agreement between the Florida Department of Transportation and Polk County in connection with the Phase 2 of the Powerline Road Project. Today's board action will represent the acceptance of $7,500,000 of state funding to support the right-of-way acquisition portion for the Phase 2 segment of the Powerline Road Project. Polk County's approved community investment program includes a roadway project to improve Powerline Road to a four-lane corridor from South Boulevard to Henson Avenue, known as the Phase 2 of the Powerline Road Project. To allow for construction of the roadway, the county will need to acquire additional right-of-way and easements from impacted property owners. The engineering design of the project is nearly complete, and the right-of-way acquisition is expected to begin in the coming months. Polk County submitted a grant application to the Florida Department of Transportation for right-of-way acquisition funding in connection with the Phase 2 portion of the Powerline Project. The grant was approved by the Florida Department of Transportation, and they have provided a state-funded grant agreement in the amount of $7,500,000, specifically for right-of-way acquisition funding. The county would be responsible for any cost in excess of this grant funding. The state grant funding source is not federal, nor does this type of funding federalize the project. The county attorney's office and the real estate services director have reviewed the agreement and recommend approval. Upon approval of the grant agreement, funding will be budgeted within the special revenue grant funds for the Roads and Drainage Division's Community Investment Program as part of the upcoming 26-27 budgeting process. So, Madam Chair, members of the board, I think consistent with the board's priority commitments to roadway improvements across all of Polk County, especially to needed roadway improvements in the northeast sector of Polk County. I would request the board approve the proposed Florida Department of Transportation grant agreement in the amount of $7,500,000, all of which are in connection with the right-of-way acquisition support to Phase 2 of the Powerline Road Project. Commissioner Braswell? Bill, just going forward, when we put maps up showing the road network on that side of the county, and I know it's not locked down 100%, but can somebody put a dash line of where the Central Polk Parkway is going to be? Yes, sir. I'd be glad to do that. Every time I look at one of these, I'm like, exactly where is that in relation to that? It has changed. You're absolutely right. And I think it will add clarity to the viewing public as well as the board when you see that overlay with that proposed Central Polk Parkway alignment. Yes, sir. I'd be glad to do that. Any other questions for... Okay. Do I have a motion? Motion for approval. I have a motion and a second. Any additional questions? Hearing none, all in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Madam Chair, members of the board, item number G3 is to request the board to approve a community investment program amendment and a budget transfer in the amount of $3 million from the Polk County Sheriff's Office Central County Jail Expansion Project to the newly identified Kathleen Government Center Project. Facility programming, space planning, and final design effort to support the Polk County Sheriff's Office future Central County Jail Expansion are currently funded at $3 million within the board's adopted community investment program. Given the secondary priorities now assigned to this project as a direct result of the Polk County Sheriff's Office successful efforts to continue effectively managing the Polk County inmate population, a reassignment of these professional services funds is now contemplated for the higher-priority Kathleen Government Center project. Following recent property acquisition of the future site for the Kathleen Government Center, staff is now ready to expedite the process to select the architect of record and the construction manager of risk builder. All of this effort is being done to expedite that project in anticipation of gaining five months in advance of the originally envisioned schedule. A community investment program amendment and budget transfer are necessary to help expedite this process. The overall goal of this effort will be to ensure the history, the legacy, and the nostalgia of the Kathleen community is reflected in the proposed government-centered design and related site amenities that are conducive to the Kathleen community heritage. Transfer funds in the amount of $3 million are available within the General Capital Improvement Fund. The Central County Jail Capital Project will receive a $3 million replacement allocation as part of the FY26-27 Community Investment Program budgeting process. So, Madam Chair, members of the board, I think in keeping with the board's priority commitment to public access to a wide range of local government services, I would request the board to approve the Community Investment Program amendment and budget transfer in the amount of $3 million from the Polk County Sheriff's Office Central County Jail Project to the newly created Kathleen Government Center project. Madam Chair, a motion for approval. Second. I have a motion and a second. Questions? Yes. Commissioner Scott. Madam Chair, just more of a statement. With the Kathleen Government Center, we had our town hall meeting. We got a lot of feedback from the community. That was all noted down. A lot of good feedback came from that. So, we are continuing to seek that. So, anyone that was watching this this morning or watches it later on, please feel free to reach out to our offices or my office and give specific feedback. It is important. So, anything that you want to see or want us to consider in that Kathleen Government Center, we're certainly all ears open for that. So, I just highly encourage that information to come forth to the office. Thank you. Anybody else? Okay, I have a motion and a second. No more questions. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Madam Chair, final item from the Manager's Office relative to board action this morning is item number G4, which is to request the board to execute a local agency program agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation and to approve a resolution to establish that Polk County will serve as the local agency program construction manager on behalf of the City of Lake Wales in connection with the Ridge Scenic Highway Connector Trail project. The final design of the Ridge Scenic Highway Connector Trail is nearing completion. The proposed 8-foot-wide multi-use trail will total approximately 4 tenths of a mile long, beginning at East Central Avenue just east of Scenic Highway 17, then turning north along North 3rd Street, moving westward at East Seminole Avenue, and finally proceeding to the trail terminus of the existing Lake Wales Trailway. The local agency program management of the design work is covered under an existing interlocal agreement between the City of Lake Wales and Polk County, with design fees covered under a previously approved local agency funding agreement between the Florida Department of Transportation and Polk County. This proposed Florida Department of Transportation local agency program agreement is to provide for construction funds for the Ridge Scenic Highway Connector Trail in an amount not to exceed $808,992. The City of Lake Wales will be responsible for any construction costs in excess of these state-provided funds. And aside from the incidental direct and indirect staffing man hours assigned to manage this project, there are no fiscal impacts to this requested board action. So, Madam Chair, members of the board, I think consistent with the board's commitment to active and passive recreational opportunities for both the citizens of and the visitors to Polk County, I would request the board to authorize the chairperson to execute the local agency program agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation for all planned construction efforts in connection with the Lake Wales Scenic Highway Connector Trail project. And, Madam Chair, I would say this is another good example of how local governments cooperate. Lake Wales had a need. The state had some funding. Lake Wales didn't have the ability to manage the project. The county did, and so we agreed to partner with that so that we could bring those funds back to Polk County. Great. Any questions? Do I have a motion? Motion for approval. Welcome. I have a motion and a second. Any additional questions? Hearing none. All in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Madam Chair, one other thing, if I could bring some clarification. I asked Chief Sean Smith to come to the podium here. You may recall several weeks ago, the drought condition had slightly improved and up to at least to the point where the data would suggest that we could have rescinded our burn ban. We did that. And about two weeks ago, a lot of folks took advantage of needed opportunities with a burn ban having been rescinded. Well, the weather conditions continue to do what they do in Central Florida this time of the year. So the drought conditions have continued to increase. The indexing numbers are up again. And so the staff is going to recommend through the Chief's office the creation of that burn ban again, effective, I think probably tomorrow morning. But Chief, I wanted you to talk to the board real quickly about where we are with the weather reviews and the indexing. Yeah. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Beasley. Good morning, Madam Chair and Commissioners. Yeah. As you know, the state of Florida is in a drought. Some of the state is actually in a severe drought. So really how we manage it and how we make those decisions on doing the burn ban is called that KBDI index. And we went over that a couple of weeks ago, right around that first week in April where we decided to rescind that. When we rescinded that burn ban, we were at 386 at that KBDI, which is pretty low, which is, which is, that's a comfortable level where we felt we could lift that. Right now, within that short amount of three to four weeks, we're at 525 for our KBDI, with 72% of that county at or above 500 as a KBDI level. And normally we have, and Mr. Mink could probably clarify that, but anything over 50% of the county at 500 or above is when we really stress and where we weigh that balance of go ahead and enacting that burn ban. So we're at that point. I was really doing a lot of rain dancing this weekend, but it came, but it wasn't enough by any means. So I think this is where we're going to be, and we'll work at that and take care of that. Okay. Any questions for Chief? Well, I just want to say thank you for continuing to monitor this and advise us on how we should proceed with this. Yeah, I got one thing. You know, we had it this past weekend, you know, we were talking about tornado warnings, and I'm sitting there going, I don't want any tornadoes, but we want the rain. Oh, yeah. And, you know, at our place, we've got a half inch, you know, and that was good, but it's not enough. Yeah, it knocked it down about six or seven on the KBDI index, which isn't enough. Right now, the state has 50 counties that have that burn ban going on. You know, we'll be 51. We held out as long as we could, you know, to piggyback a little bit about the landfill too with that frost, people being able to bring that. We lifted that to help alleviate some of that also, but now it's time to go ahead and reinstate that. I agree. That would be effective tomorrow morning. And the board will codify that in two weeks from today. Well, I'm glad that the rainy season is going to hopefully start really soon and take care of all this. At the end of the month, beginning of July. So. Yeah. Thank you, Chief. Thank you, everybody. Okay. Moving on, we have Commissioner's reports. Commissioner Troutman. Just real brief. Obviously, I was absent during the last meeting. I had a wonderful opportunity to go on a trek with the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation and there will be a documentary that's produced out of that to be in probably December of this year. So I just think the public knowledge and the public education around the wildlife corridor continues to grow and just wanted to share that experience. Are you going to be a star pretty soon? I don't know that I would say star, but, you know, it's a different appearance when you don't get a shower every night and you sleep in a tent. So it should be interesting anyway. Anything else? No, ma'am. Okay. Commissioner Wilson? No, ma'am. I don't have a thing. Commissioner Braswell? Yeah. One thing, since our last meeting, I met with TLC Pet Snips, which was a good meeting, very interesting. They basically confirmed what I had said at the previous meeting. But what was more important was the direction they've taken and where they're going. And I thought it would be helpful to mention it now. So it's basically the same name, different people. And they're going to, or not they're going to, they're already in the process of reviving the idea of vouchers for sterilizations. So they've already begun raising money, and I want to explain what they intend to do. What they're looking to do is raise at least $50,000 annually. So what we talked about was recurring gifts to them to keep this program alive. And with $50,000, they'll do 1,000 sterilizations every year. And if they get more, they'll do more. If they get less, they'll do less. But what we talked about was the opportunity for corporate sponsorships, which I think that's the way to go with something like this. Recurring money, you know, it's going to be there. People aren't going to change their mind all that often. And it's a good way to move forward with that idea. It will not involve any county money. It won't involve the county in any way, for that matter. But myself and some others intend to move it along because we, I think, some of the people sitting up here know a lot of potential corporate sponsors that can help out with something like this. And the parameters will be simple. You have to be a Polk County resident. This program, this is for stray animals. These are for pets that are owned by individuals who can't necessarily afford it. And they're going to have to prove their residency and financial need. And I'm not really sure how they do that. But TLC Pet Snips has all that figured out already. So I'm not here to announce this program is rolling out right now. But I will say that they are open for business. And anyone who wants to contribute toward this cause is welcome to give them a call. But I'll have more information, you know, in a month or so on a more formalized program to move this forward. That's all I got. Madam Chair. Yes. I just want to challenge, I think, for $50,000, if she's able to raise that, be significantly more than 1,000 sterilizations and talking with some other agencies about that. So they can do amazing amount of sterilizations for $50,000. And my first thought was for every $100 contributed, Commissioner Wilson would match it. But I don't know. That is so generous of him. I don't know if that's going to work out. Well, that's all I got. Thanks. Well, we'll look forward to some more information around a month. You said that you have more information for us. That's a good start. Commissioner Scott? Yes, ma'am. Just one item. This weekend is the Mayfair by the lake at Lake Morton. Kind of a Mother's Day weekend tradition. So I invite all to come out to that. I'll be there at 9 a.m. for the ribbon cutting. And certainly a great time for families. And just a happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there watching this. Thank you. Thank you. And I don't have anything. So let's move on to expedited hearings. Thank you, Madam Chair. Before we do the expedited hearings, I will go over the public hearing general procedures. I'll remind everyone, if you wish to speak on any of the public hearing items, you need to fill out a speaker card in the back and give the card to a member of the communication staff. We ask that you please turn your cell phones off and 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 the topic. Individuals speaking during the public comment section of a matter will be strictly limited to three minutes. The Board did experience in 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, shout from the audience. Disappearable 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 and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based, which you must gather at your own expense. Anyone in the audience who wishes to speak and present testimony today must be sworn in. All testimony given during public hearings shall be deemed to be sworn. At this time, if you're going to address the Commission or speak on any case today, please stand, raise your right hand, and answer out loud to the following questions. And this is only for the land use cases. Thank you. Do you swear or affirm that testimony or evidence that you provide to the Commission today is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Thank you. At this time, I'll go over the expedited hearing procedures. Expedited hearings are held pursuant to Resolution No. 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 the Commissioner, the applicant, or a member of the public. All documents attached to the gen 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 gen item are deemed experts for the purpose of the land use case. At this time, I will turn it over to Mr. Ziskell to present the expedited hearings. Thank you, Mr. Mink. Good morning, Madam Chair, members of the Board, and members of the audience. My name is Ben Ziskell, Land Development Director for Polk County. Today's expedited public hearing agenda has four items. The first two are companion items, although they will require separate motions. Item number N1 is an expedited public hearing for case LDC-PAS 2025-19 PRWC Receiving Facility Comprehensive Plan Amendment to consider a future land use designation change from residential low to institutional on approximately 9.91 acres. The subject site seen here is directly abutting the city of Davenport, the town of Davenport. It is located to the east of U.S. 27 and directly west of the Ridgewood Lakes community and the Ridgewood Lakes Amenity Center. This property is the site of a receiving facility as part of the Polk Regional Water Cooperative in partnership with Polk County Utilities. This particular site does abut existing residential development, and it will be properly buffered and screened as construction of the receiving facility commences. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of this land use change, and following any questions or comments from either the board or the public, staff recommends approval. Any questions for staff? Okay. Do we have anyone, Ms. Amber, for this? Yes, ma'am, we do. Thank you. We have Mr. Abercrombie. James Abercrombie. 2737 Gifts on the Yellow Way Road, Lakeland, Florida 33810. Folks, I haven't had an opportunity to read this until this morning. I didn't even see the agenda on the computer anywhere. So I really am not sure about this. I would have to research it a little more. I would like to have the full, what did you just call it? I'd like to hear the whole story, see the whole project, see what's going on with it, where it comes from, what it's for. It's inside Davenport, I assume, inside the city limits. Is that correct? Is that correct? Mr. Abercrombie, this time you give comments, but this is not answering question time. All right. Give me the records. I want to see the entire records. Anything else, Mr. Zisco, to add to this presentation? All right. That was the full presentation. There you go, Mr. Combs. Once again, it did not specify where it was, inside the city limits or what? Mr. Abercrombie, are we paying for theirs? Please make your comments. I did. I'm asking. It's not a time to ask questions. Clarification. I need clarification of somehow. If you're through with your comments, then you're through. Yeah. This is very constitutional, folks. Very constitutional. Madam Chair, I would remind that the agenda was published by Friday, and this item was available by Friday, and it was covered on Friday at the agenda review. I did not see it on the computer. It was there. I did not see it. Right beside it. And not only that, during that time, it's an opportunity if anybody has any questions to make phone calls, either to county commissioners or to staff. Thank you, Mr. Abercrombie. Thanks, sir. Okay, so any other questions? Hearing none, I need a motion. Move for a proposal. Second. I have a first and a second. Any other comments, questions? Do we need to close the public hearing? Sorry? For the record, do we need to close the public hearing, or are we good? Close the public hearing? I think we did, yeah. I'll make sure. Okay. I'm good. Any other questions, comments? Hearing none, all in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Item number N2 is an expedited public hearing for case LDCD 2025-4 PRWC receiving facility district change to change the underlying subdistrict of the subject site from Institutional 1 to Institutional 2. As the board is aware, any piece of unincorporated Polk County that receives an institutional land use designation automatically defaults to the Institutional 1 land use designation. So the previous item that was just assigned institutional defaults to Institutional 1. This subsequent item is a subdistrict change to change that to Institutional 2. The intent of the Institutional 2 is to allow storage of equipment on this site, which will meet the land development code requirements for proper screening. It will also allow vehicles associated with the receiving facility to be stored completely in closed structures. Again, this item did appear before the Planning Commission, and you received unanimous recommendation of approval. So following any questions or comments today, staff recommends approval to change to the Institutional 2 subdistrict. Any questions for staff? Yes, Commissioner. Just to clarify, this is the county making a land use change, so this land is in the county, correct? Correct. Polk County has land use authority within unincorporated Polk County. Any piece of property that is within one of our municipalities, the land use authority defaults to that municipality. So this is a decision on unincorporated land within the Polk County. Thank you, sir. Any other questions for staff? Okay. We have one person for public hearing, so we open public hearing, and it's Mr. Abercrombie. Good morning. Same thing. James Abercrombie, 2737. It's only gallery road, Lakeland, Florida, 33810. We've got the same situation here, folks. I need the public records. I want to see everything that they base their decision on and their recommendation to you, because I'm sure you haven't read it, so on and so forth. I want public records for both the last one and this one, and probably the rest of them. Thank you. I close the public hearing and bring it back to the board. Motion for approval. I have a motion and a second. Any questions, discussion? Hearing none, all in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Item number N3 is an expedited public hearing for case LDCT 2026-1, Juanita Main Street Corridor overlay land development code text amendment to adopt the necessary land development code provisions to implement the Juanita Main Street Corridor. This is really part four of a major effort to enhance redevelopment efforts in the Juanita community. The first two parts included map amendments to the land use map within both the comprehensive plan and then also regulations within the land development code. And parts three and four are text amendments to the comprehensive plan and the land development code to provide flexibility and incentives for infill development and redevelopment within the Juanita community. So this particular text amendment provides the allowable uses within the overlay, and it also provides standards that relate to compatibility, signage, and buffering specifically within this overlay district. This item did appear before the Planning Commission and receive unanimous recommendation of approval. Today it is on its first reading, so no action is required by the board. Any questions for staff? Hearing none, we open that up for public hearing, and I have one, Mr. Abercrombie. James Abercrombie, 2737, Gadsomley-Yalloway Road, Lakeland, Florida, 33810. Same issue, folks. I want to see all the public records. I want to see how the decision was made, who else was involved in it. Public records is important. I can't say anything about the Kathleen project yet, but I will. But we need more public records. This needs to be viewed. I need to find out where to find this on the computer. Once again, it was not on the website that I looked at, the county website. I watched the meeting. I watched the entire meeting, and I never saw the agenda. I heard her go through it, but that's it. Okay, I close the public meeting and bring it back to the board. Move for approval. It's just a first reading, so I don't think I have to do anything. Thank you. And I had that highlighted, and I just went on with it. Item number N4 is an expedited public hearing for case LDCT 2026-4, Point Siena Commercial Activity Center Plan Text Amendment. This is also on first reading. This is a text amendment to adopt a commercial activity center and a commercial activity center plan for a piece of land that is proposed for development in the Point Siena area. And you can see the subject site here. It's bound by three roads, Marigold, Pine Street, and Laurel Avenue. What this activity center does is it establishes a pattern of development so that the parcels seen on the screen are developed cohesively. You'll see the blue arrows located on the screen, which depict the general access locations for the time that these properties are developed, including an arrow that connects the two pieces, providing cross-access. This activity center also provides standards for buffering along the northern portion of this property with the existing residential property. It also provides language regarding the necessary improvements to Pine Street and Laurel Avenue at the time that this property is developed. This is a text amendment which requires two hearings, and it's before you today on first reading, so no action is required. But it's your next meeting, you will see the land use change, the MAP request, as well as this text amendment for second reading. So you will adopt both the land use change and the text amendment at the same time in two weeks. So again, following any questions or comments today, no action is required on this item. Your Planning Commission did unanimously recommend approval. I'm glad you mentioned that like five times. Thank you. Okay, any questions for staff? Yes. Madam Chair, Mr. Ziskal, just two things. One, as far as the road extension of Laurel Avenue, that will be at the expense of the developer for the extension, correct? Okay. And currently there's not any portion of Laurel that is in that black box area, is that correct? As far as a connection right now, it doesn't exist. Correct. So that would occur in the text of this amendment does clearly state that that must be accomplished at the time of development and that access to Laurel Avenue, as well as Pine Street, be maintained so that the development disperses onto all three roads so that they have adequate ingress and egress to both parts of this property. Okay. And then as far as the, sorry, three questions. The type of intersection that we'd see for Laurel and Pine, that again would be based off the traffic study information and whatever is prescribed would be implemented at that time for our regulations, correct? Yes, sir. That is correct. Okay. And then last question on point number five on landscaping. It says to the greatest extent practicable development shall conserve and utilize existing on-site vegetation. Obviously from the aerial, the sites look fairly vegetative. Just more of a question from my point. What is, when we talk about practicable and, you know, obviously conserving as much as we can, what does that translate to when we look at the development plans for the site? Right. So they're certainly going to have to eliminate some trees in order to build buildings, parking lots, and stormwater. Once those three major pieces of the development puzzle are mapped out, we will then work with them to provide landscaping beds and landscaping pockets where they can preserve as much of the remaining landscaping as possible. So we'll have to see what is proposed on the site and how that relates to stormwater and to the impervious surfaces. And then we'll try to work with them on designing it to preserve as much as the remainder as possible. Of course, when they are evaluating the site, they'll need to look at everything from soils to hydrology to sensitive species, and we'll be mindful of that through the development process as well. Would that be similar to a minimization of wetland impacts when we talk about the practicable conservation of existing foliage? Yes, sir. That would all be part of the design and the discussions at design time. Very good. Thank you. Yes, sir. Any other questions for staff? Okay, then I open it up for the public hearing. And then Mr. Abercrombie. James Abercrombie, 2737 Goodson, Galloway Road, Lakeland, Florida, 33810. I would like the same thing, public records. I want to know everything that's happened through this project. Also, I'm interested in the committees. I understand you have a lot of committees that make a lot of these recommendations to the planners as well. I'd like to know what the committees are, who's on the committees, and what gives you the right to do this. I close the public hearing, and since this is the first reading, we will wait in two weeks. I just may. And that concludes the expedited portion of today. I'm sorry. Mr. Commissioner Braswell has a question. Yeah, Mr. Abercrombie, page 162 of today's agenda packet through page 240 will probably answer some of your questions. And I would follow up, Commissioner Braswell, you actually, I just double-checked. If you go to www.polkflorida.gov, you click on government. At the top right-hand corner, it brings you to where you can go to the Board of Accounting Commissioners page. That's where I found it. Yes, sir. And right there is the agenda, right underneath the members on this board. You can click on it, and it pulls up the agenda. And I just double-checked, and it's there. So everything is pretty available for anybody. For anybody. Yes, sir. And I just noticed on one of the slides that it was published also in The Sun and another paper. I don't remember the other one. So it's been publicly announced. In addition, these items go to the Planning Commission, and their agenda and the agenda, all these items normally are the same. That's for anything. Yes, sir. Yes, ma'am. So these items have already been out there for some time now. Thank you. Thank you. Madam Chair, one other thing. I was absent at the agenda briefing, but I was able to successfully watch the entirety of the meeting on Sunday as well. And all the items that we covered today were discussed, and full transparency on Friday's meeting. Thank you. Okay. So we are through with the expedited hearings, and then we're going to go to the public hearings. Madam Chair, first up is our traffic engineer, Ms. Amy Gregory. We're going to talk a little bit about a request for traffic calming devices in a community. Amy, please. Good morning. For the record, I'm Amy Gregory, traffic manager in the Roads and Drainage Division. And before you this morning is a public hearing to consider adoption of a resolution to allow the placement of four traffic calming devices, or speed humps, on Woodview Drive and Polk City. Woodview Drive is classified as a local residential road, 20 feet in width, 3,075 feet in length, with a posted speed limit of 30 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 38 miles an hour, and an average daily traffic of 365 vehicles, Woodview Drive met the board's traffic calming policy criteria for speed and volume. Staff subsequently distributed ballots to the homeowners with property fronting Woodview Drive, and we received the required 80% favorable responses from yes votes and from non-votes per the board's policy. Staff also distributed ballots to homeowners whose access is through Woodview Drive, and we received the required 50% favorable response from yes votes and from non-votes per the board's policy. On April 7th, 2026, a hearing date of May 5th, 2026, 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 Woodview Drive. And I'll stand for any questions. Any questions for staff? Okay, hearing none. We'll open it up for public hearing. Amber, do we have any? Okay, thank you. I have Mr. Abercrombie. Good morning. James Abercrombie, 2737, Gipson-Land-Calloway Road, Lakeland, Florida. I wonder if anybody has really taken the time to consider these speed bumps, and I understand what they're for, but I also understand that they're inconvenienced for a lot of situations. And I'm talking about EMS mostly. Can you imagine driving an ambulance or a fire truck over to a speed bump at 30, 40 miles an hour? It doesn't happen, folks. I haven't heard anything about the fire and rescue and all that stuff, how they've improved. I know we're building the stations on every corner just about anymore, but I have not heard how it's improved anything, what has really happened with the traffic count, that type of stuff. As far as your public records, what you guys are talking about does not get into depth. I want the full depth. Everything that was said and done, who was involved, including the committees, that stuff, I want to know about it. I'm going to see it. Thank you, Mr. Abercrombie. With that, I close the – oh, I'm sorry. I have a Daryl Morris. Good morning. I've never done this before, so bear with me. Just give your name and your address. If you don't live on my street, why complain about it? Give your name and address, and then you go on. Right. I've lived there for about four years. The speeding has really been a problem, not only with cars and trucks, but with the motorcycles, the side-by-sides, the dirt bikes. We need the traffic control devices to slow these people down. There's already been a child hit years ago and drugged down the street. My neighbor's mailbox has been plowed over three times. My neighbor's dog has been ran over by a speeder. The control devices you're talking about putting in is great, but what I would recommend for that application is a regular speed bump because these people that live in the back of this community are still going to hit these doing 40 miles an hour. Not only that, but the people that are on the four-wheelers and the side-by-sides are going to use these as ramps to see how far they can get. A regular acute speed bump that they can't really hit doing more than five miles an hour is what I would recommend to see. That they know they can't hit that going faster than five, or they may damage their vehicle. So that's where I stand on this. Great. Thank you. Would you please state your name and address for the record? It's Daryl Morris, 9110 Woodview Drive, Polk City. Thank you. That's all I came here for. Thank you, sir. Madam Chair, maybe Amy could just comment on the hump versus the table. I think what he's looking for is what you see in parking lots, and I think those are intended for parking lots. I'd have to do a little more research, but I don't think they're permitted on public roads. I can say that some of the speed humps they've installed over by Lake Eloise, you're not going to hit those going much more than five, and they're not the ones that you see in a parking lot. So if they do, put your chair out there and have some entertainment for the night. Yeah, we do have those in the city of Lake Alfred. They're called speed tables. They're up and down pierce, and people still hit them doing 50 miles an hour, you know. But anything is better than nothing. So thank you. Thank you, Daryl. Okay, I do have one person, another person. I think it's Praxy Rogers. Did I say that correctly? Maybe not. My name is Praxis Rogers. I live at 3019 Redwood Avenue. I've also never done this before. My concern is that I have had speed bumps put in a road near where I live in. The issue is that these speed bumps are split into three sections. Instead of covering the entire road, there are two gaps in the middle that leave perfect space for your car. It's literally an opening where you can drive straight through the speed bump, therefore making it completely useless. On top of that, in order to move through it so that you can basically skip over the speed bump, it requires you to take up both lanes. So now you're having drivers drive in the middle, not slow down, taking up the entire road, meaning that these speed bumps are completely useless. When you implement these speed bumps, are they going to cover the entire row, or are you going to leave spaces so that people can just skip over it? That's all. Thank you. Thank you. Would you care to address that as far as the speed bumps? I'm not sure where she is or if she might be in the city limits somewhere, but the speed bumps we install go across the whole road, with the exception of maybe the edge to make sure drainage can keep flowing. Okay, thank you. We'll look into it. Thank you. I was going to say, I think she may be in the city limits of Lakeland, and they have installed some of those recently, but it's in areas where they've had significant water flow, and so those are there. She's correct that you can't drive through them, and you take up both lanes when you do that, but I believe it was addressing some water flow issues. Thank you. All right, we'll close the public hearing, and we'll bring it back to the board. Motion for approval. I have a motion and a second. Any further question, discussion? Hearing none, all in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Number two. Good morning. Sandra Howard with the county attorney's office. The next three public hearings are before you today due to the county's annual audit of the businesses which have been approved for economic development ad valorem tax exemptions. These three companies have been delayed in their construction or equipment purchasing and are requesting to delay the start dates of their respective tax exemption periods as a result. So first, item 02 is a public hearing to consider adoption of an ordinance amending Ordinance 21-006, the Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption for Agro Iron LLC. Under the current ordinance adopted by the board in January of 2021, the exemption period was to begin in 2026 and run for seven years through 2032. The company has requested that period be pushed back two years to instead run from 2028 through 2034, citing significant change in Florida's citrus industry as part of the reason for the delay. Because of the length of time that has passed since the exemption was first approved in 2021 and today, the county has requested and Agro Iron has agreed to increase the average annual wage required to be paid under its performance agreement to today's standard, which is just under $64,000 at that 115% rate. County staff and the Central Florida Development Council are in agreement with the request, so the recommendation to the board this morning is to amend Ordinance 21-006 and to approve the First Amendment to Agro Iron's performance agreement. I'll stand for any questions. Any questions for staff? Okay. Thank you. I'll open it up for public hearing, and I do have one person. Mr. Abercrombie. James Abercrombie, 2737 Gipson, Galloway Road, Lake Long, Florida, 33810. We've been through this one before, ad valorem taxes. You never give me an exemption on ad valorem taxes or anybody else in this county. Just businesses that are wanting to move in that make multi-million dollars to start with, they can afford to do that. How does that work? Why are we not entitled to the same thing that these developers and contractors are allowed to do? That's our tax dollars. We have to make it up. You give this to them, and no wonder we need to go to the state and get some money. Much more money from the state because we're giving a lot of ad valorem taxes away. But yet you're still against the homestead exemptions for the older generation, such as myself. Thanks. Thank you. And I close the public hearing and bring it back to the board. Move for approval. Second. I have a motion and a second. Any additional questions or comments? Hearing none, all in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Again, Sandra Howard with the county attorney's office. Item 03 is a public hearing to consider adoption of an ordinance amending Ordinance 22-018, the Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption for Public Supermarkets, Inc., related to Project Horizon and the company's IT headquarters. Under the current ordinance adopted by the board in March of 2022 and previously amended last May in 2025, the exemption period was to begin in 2026 and run for 10 years through 2035. The company has requested that period be pushed back one year to run from 2027 through 2036 to align with another company expansion project nearby. Like the previous company just discussed, due to the length of time that has passed since the exemption was first approved and today, the county has requested and public has agreed to increase the average annual wage required to be paid under its performance agreement to today's rate, which is just under $64,000 for the 115% rate. County staff and the Central Florida Development Council are in agreement with the request, so the recommendation to the board this morning is to amend Ordinance 22-018 and approve the second amendment to Publix's performance agreement. I'll stand for any questions. Any questions for staff? Okay, I opened it up for public hearing, and I have one. Mr. Abercombie? James Abercombie, 2737, gets on the Calvary Road, Lakeland, Florida. This was her recommendation last meeting, folks, so I've got to sign up for every meeting, so I've got to sign up for everything before I want to do it. So, anyway, Publix is a good company. They've been around for a long time. They've made a lot of people millionaires. They've done great. The problem being, it's not we're trying to support them again. I mean, they've been in business for 60, 70, 80 years, and we're supporting them now with ad valorem taxes, and once again, we have to make it up. Why? How come we have to make it up? They have the money to do so. We need to talk about it. Thank you, and I close the public hearing and bring it back to the board. Motion for approval. I have a motion and a second. Any additional questions or comments? Hearing none, all in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Sandra Howard, County Attorney's Office. Finally, item 04 is a public hearing to consider adoption of an ordinance, amending ordinance 2024-015, the economic development ad valorem tax exemption for D.R. Horton, Inc. Under the current ordinance adopted by the board in March of 2024 and previously amended last May in 2025, D.R. Horton's exemption period was to begin in 2026 and run for eight years through 2032. The company has requested that period be bushed back one year to run from 2027 through 2034. County staff and the Central Florida Development Council are in agreement with the request, so the recommendation to the board is to amend ordinance 2024-015 and approve the related second amendment to D.R. Horton's performance agreement. I'll stand for any questions. Any questions for staff? Hearing none, I'll open it up for public hearing. I have one person that signed up, Mr. Abercrombie. 2737, Gibson, Sonia Galloway Road, James Abercrombie. Same issue, folks. Very sane one. Why are we paying the taxes for them? Why? I pay enough taxes in my lifetime. I'm 73 years old. I've paid taxes all my life. I still pay homestead taxes there. Everything else we pay. Why am I having to pay their taxes? Just because they want to come to Lakeland and Mayor Polk County to start a new business or whatever they do. We shouldn't be supporting them. They'll go somewhere else. Hope what? Let them go. We don't need the traffic anymore. We're getting sick of the traffic. Thank you. And I close the public hearing and bring it back to the board. Move for approval. I have a motion and a second. Any additional comments? So, yes. Yeah, I just want to say, you know, I think it's important that we look at the economic development. These are some companies that are known within our households. But these jobs are vital to our economy. And I support economic development fully. And I'm glad to see that we're able to make this program incentivize getting businesses here. Madam Chair, if I may as well. And from the mathematical standpoint, oftentimes these, well, not oftentimes, one of the requirements, when you look at the improvements that are being done and the jobs that are being provided to this community, the offset in taxes, per se, we're not, you know, the county isn't funding this to happen. The county is simply giving a small percentage of a break on taxes to incentivize the companies to offer those higher paying jobs and to make those improvements, which ultimately, when you look at tax roll, the improvement on the property increases the amount of tax that we do collect after the ad valorem period has ended. So the net gain is not only the jobs and economic growth, but also the additional funds and revenue that are received on tax roll post-ad valorem expiration. So I think it's a great program. I'm certainly glad that we still provide that here in Polk County. And I do want to say that there are metrics that have to be met, and it's monitored, so it's not that we just give an approval and then that's it. These metrics have to be met by these organizations, and if not, then we can definitely revoke the approval. Am I correct, Sandy? Yes. The reason that these are brought for you today is actually a result of that annual audit. So they're audited every year. I don't have the job creation that each of these companies has created and what the total capital investment will be because that was discussed when they were initially approved today. We're just asking to push back the date of their period, but that's exactly right. We audit them strictly every year to make sure they've created the jobs and invested the capital that they agreed to do. Thank you. So did we do the approval yet? No. No. Motion and a second. We have a motion. We have a motion and a second, and we're in discussion. Anything else? I saw you now, Commissioner. All right. Then hearing none of the other comments, all in favor? Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Thank you. Okay. We'll move on to the next portion of the agenda, which is the general public and audience opportunity to be heard. Do we have any, Amber? Yes, ma'am. We do. Okay. We have 10. Okay. Thank you. We have Reverend Lois Ann Sorensen. Madam Chair, members of the board. Good morning. Good morning. As you said, my name is Lois Sorensen, pastor of Reformation Lutheran Church at 460 Old Polk City Road, Lakeland. I'm also a member of the Board of Peace, the Polk Ecumenical Action Council for Empowerment, say that three times fast, a coalition of more than 20 congregations. May is Older Americans Month, so it's only fitting we are here to continue advocating for community-based care for low-income seniors. About 13 months ago, I was one of those who stood before you, sharing horror stories. Here's an update to one story that I shared. The wheelchair-bound widow who gave up and moved into a nursing home, she moved into an accessible apartment, still could not cobble together enough in-home care. Her health suffered and she died. Basic in-home care is not only about aging in place with dignity. It can be a matter of life or death. After we spoke with you last year, the county manager and senior staff met with peace and expressed a willingness to consider funding a pilot project to expand part-time in-home care for low-income seniors. The Senior Connection Center, Polk County's Area Agency on Aging, then submitted a letter of intent for such a project, at which point county staff expressed a greater interest in funding a pilot project for some full-time adult daycare. And we understand that that proposal for the revised scope was well-received and will be considered for funding by the COC next week. And we give thanks for this development, which will benefit at least 30 senior citizens and their families. We give thanks also that about 900 seniors in Polk County already receive part-time basic in-home care administered through the Senior Connection Center. And yet, another 2,773 or so low-income seniors who are pre-qualified as needing those services are still waiting. Three months ago, y'all were, among many other local officials, invited to attend PEACE's Nehemiah Action. This annual event occurred two weeks ago. It was attended by about 850 people, and they cheered when the superintendent of schools agreed to work with PEACE on a different issue. The same 850 were disappointed that no one from the county came to address this issue. And I'm here to deliver postcards that many of them signed and to request what we wanted to ask you that night. Please direct the county manager to secure funding for basic in-home care to serve at least 100 seniors on the almost 3,000-person wait list. I have the postcards. I don't know which staff to hand them to. Thank you. Thank you. Next, we have David Butler. Hey, my name is David Butler. My address is exempt. Last time I was here, the last time I wanted to speak about the airplane, but I didn't get my last 36 seconds. The Cessna cost, I mean, the Kodiak cost $2.8 million. A brand-new Cessna cost $9 million. That's three times the price. You could buy three Cessnas for one Kodiak. Cessna burns 45 gallons of fuel an hour. I'm sorry, the Kodiak burns 45 gallons of fuel per hour. Cessna's 15. You could fly all three Cessnas for the price of the Kodiak. I'm getting to all this. I've said it all before. I think when you all bought that Kodiak, you did it as a favor for the sheriff for a vanity project. I've worked there for 25 years. Never, ever did I need an airplane during a hurricane deployment. In fact, I worked three hurricanes in the same month. Never need an airplane for it. I want you to look closer at what the sheriff gives you for a budget. You just mentioned, and I didn't know about this until today, the sheriff's given $3 million back for a plan you had for the jail. Now it's going to a government center. That sounds like a shell game. Nobody questions the sheriff's budget. So it's easy to put that out there. It's what it looks like to me anyway. Sorry, I'm going to close my page. That's good enough. The last time I was here, I saw what, in my opinion, was a temper tantrum. Full-blown hissy fit from an elected member where he called people names, called somebody a piece of crap. Is that acceptable? He made it his mission for two and a half years to make sure a group didn't get a county dime. Instead, he was going to implore you all to do the same thing. Do you all agree with that sentiment? Because somebody hurt your feelings, you're going to make sure that company doesn't get a dime, or that group doesn't get a dime of taxpayer money? Was that the right thing to do? That $3 million from the sheriff's office could have been used for some glaring problem that the county has over close to the landfill. I'm not with the animal rights group, but they've been begging and begging for help. And they seem to be problematic. A portion of that $3 million could have went to animal control for the spay and neuter program. Why can't it? Why can't it? Now, I'm going to start with 36 seconds left, but I'm going to use all my time because you wouldn't give it back to me last time. I implore you to look closer at the sheriff's budget, stop playing the shell game, and even though you don't agree with your constituents, they hurt your feelings, they bother you, do the right thing. You know what? There's a lot of people out here, so I'm going to give you back your 10 seconds. Thank you. Thank you. Yes. Yeah, Mr. Butler. Please, we don't need that in the courtroom, in this room, either. Thank you. First of all, Mr. Butler, I want to thank you. The second time you came here, you may or may not know, you and I have a lot of mutual acquaintances or friends at the sheriff's office. And when you walked in and sat down with the animal people, that really shocked me as the most negligent animal owner in Polk County's history to be sitting down with these people. The fact that your negligence killed a county dog, a canine with a sheriff's office, was shocking to see you sitting with them. And now I see you're trying to separate yourself from them every time you come up here. But to criticize the airplane, the cost and all that, I've asked somebody to come up with, how much did you cost the county? Don't leave. How much did you cost the county? That number is over $100,000 from negligence. I don't see how you can, well, he didn't sit here, he left. But I don't see how he can come up here and criticize anybody being negligent like that, especially with an animal, especially the way it happened. But it is what it is. The other point about this airplane, I know you've got to beef with the sheriff. I know you've got to beef with the sheriff's budget. That's pretty obvious. We didn't buy that airplane just to use willy-nilly. It's been used for surveillance. It was already part of the largest fentanyl bust in Central Florida's history. Right there in that article, I don't remember the numbers they quoted, but it saved lives already. Now, I know you don't like that. You think it's a waste of money, but other people think differently. So we'll continue using the airplane and doing what we do. Thank you. Thank you. We have next Terry, I think, is Berger. Good morning. My name is Terry Bucher, and I'm at 157 Audubon Court, Winter Haven. I'm a member of the Peace Board of Directors. I come today to speak on behalf of our senior citizens, our low-income senior citizens here in Poe County, and for help for basic life support systems and assistance that will help them live in their own homes and age with dignity. In mid-January of this year, 902 low-income seniors were being served through Senior Connection Center. However, that left 2,773 low-income senior citizens without any help, and those individuals were pre-qualified for services through Senior Connection. My own husband passed three years ago. My husband passed three years ago at the age of 95. He was legally blind for the last 15 years of his life, and his blindness increased in that 15-year time period due to macular degeneration. He suffered from neuropathy, from diabetes, and he also suffered from early dementia. It was not safe for him to be alone in our home. I was fortunate to be able to care for him, but I know the stress and the strain on family caregivers trying to care for their seniors at home. And they do wish to remain home so that they may age with dignity. We were fortunate that he was home until the last two weeks of life when he was hospitalized. I do know that the cost of keeping our seniors in their own home is much less than facility cost. Peace, as an organization, will continue to scrutinize the local spending of county for our seniors for senior health care. For example, of the $5.5 million in grants approved by Polk County COC last June, less than $68,000 was targeted for our seniors. That's barely 1%, even though every senior over 20 per 6 counts for 26% of our population. Please direct our county manager to fund in-home care for at least 100 more of our seniors that are on that waiting list. Thank you, and God bless you all. Thank you. Madam Chair? Yes. Manager Beasley, as far as the 30 that was referenced that's going through, that's still a couple weeks out from what I understood. Is that correct on the program they're referring? Yes, sir. If it goes to the Citizens Health Care Oversight as an advisory group, it'll come back from the staff through my office and may come for board action, but it'll be part of the Polk Health Care Plan and the Indigent Health Care Funding Program. Do we know on that, kind of what I'm understanding is more of a trial or an initial phase for 30, what was the time frame that we were putting on that to kind of assess the success of the program, and then what would be the further expansion of it from a time window perspective? Do we know? I think that's subject to revenues and expenses planned for the Polk Health Care Plan and the revenues associated with the Indigent Health Care Fund source. I'd have to get back to the board as a whole on that. I'm not sure what staff's strategy is for scheduling the implementation of the first phase. Is there a potential second phase or a third phase possible? Okay. If we could add that. Yes, sir. I want a future agenda briefing to be helpful. Thank you. Glad to. Anybody else? Okay. Kay Bork, you're next. Hello, I'm Kay Bork at 1133 Brook Road in Fort Meade. Thank you, Commissioner Braswell, for shining a light on TLC Pet Snips' work, their spay-neuter project, and for your support through corporate relationships. As you all know, the spay-neuter program is key to reducing our pet overpopulation in Polk County, so thank you for that. Excuse me. Thank you. Until I started attending these meetings almost a year ago, I was blissfully ignorant of government processes. I voted for Polk County commissioners for the last 23 years without any understanding of the job that stands before you and how your views might affect the things that are important to me in this great county. I believe that Polk County residents need to become educated and engaged in the business of the county if we want our elected officials to be aware of our concerns. That's why I show up here and share the concerns about the critical state of animal welfare in this county, as well as at a high level offering proven solutions that can create sustainable long-term change. Now, I understand that the board has many important voices competing for your attention and that we're just one of those. You have excellent staff that provide you with focused information in their areas of expertise that helps you to navigate through these voices, whether you're considering land conservation issues, waste management. You ask your staff to provide you with solutions to problems and a forward vision so that you can ensure this county runs like a well-oiled machine. Unfortunately, the experts in the animal welfare arena are not on your staff. They are community members and are not presently able to provide you with any more than a three-minute elevator speech at a time on the issues and proposed solutions. We're never going to rescue, adopt, or kill our way out of the animal welfare crisis today. We must address the root cause that got us here, which is the unchecked pet overpopulation. TLC Pet Snips is one of those numbers of community groups who are working to make a difference, lots of them. But we must resolve to make a data-driven strategic shift in the way we manage animal welfare in Polk County if we want to create sustainable long-term change. And honestly, the strategic shift will require some work to develop that comprehensive plan for action. So I'd like to propose one very doable action today. I understand that you're presently reviewing the function and need for each of the committees that provide you input and information. And although I know your goal is not to add committees, I have provided a draft proposal for you for an animal welfare advisory committee. The purpose would be to clearly define for your review and approval the long-term vision for animal welfare in Polk County and develop a plan to get there. I believe that the residents of Polk County are alarmed about the pet overpopulation issue. And I also believe that as they're becoming more educated, like me, they'll not be satisfied with the status quo. Thank you for your time. Thank you, Ms. Board. Next, I have Debbie Hicks. Debbie Hicks, 236 Alderman Road, Lakeland, Florida. Commissioner Braswell, I am not going to spend my time on most of your remarks at the last meeting, but I do take issue with your comment about we should be doing something productive. We could fill this room in every lobby in this building with the people who run rescues, the people who volunteer at those rescues, the people who donate to those rescues, and the money and goods that come into the rescues and people like me. I have just tried to help the animals that came across my path. I didn't go looking for them. In the past 20 years, I have taken in 12 stray dogs that were left in our neighborhood, five dogs I was able to keep, one puppy I sent to SPCA, and six to animal control. Two because of behavior issues, and the last four came in pairs. I got them off the street. They were so aggressive, full of ringworms, and I had to have animal control come out to be able to catch them. Because of what I've dealt with with animal control, I volunteered for four years because I appreciate what they do and the people that work there. Just like hundreds and thousands of us who spend our own money, time, and put our own animals at risk bringing these strays in, think of all the animals that have gone to animal control, that have not gone to animal control, and the good people that have stepped up in this county that is being productive. That is what productive is. Also, coming here has been very productive. If it wasn't productive, then you would not want us to go away. When you form with qualified people a committee regarding animal issues, then we would have somewhere to go. You don't want us here. The sheriff will not see us, and he says the shelter is adequate. So why should we not go to the media? I guess 40 years from now, our county will be real proud of our 80-year-old facility. Now there is pride in your infrastructure, an 80-year-old facility. We need animal control to be well-run, an updated facility to handle the needs of the animals who the people of the county, for whatever reasons, are unable to take care of. And, Lord willing, I will be here at every meeting for two and a half years to remind you that we need some animal help in this community. If nothing else, the committee could teach us how to teach our people to do better with the animals. Because a lot of these animals are left because the people are unable to take care of them. It's not the fault of the animal or the people. Anyway, thank you. Thank you. Next, I have Novella Johnson. Good morning. My name is Novella Johnson. I live at 7983 Indian Heights Drive in Lakeland, Florida. I am here as a peace board member. I am here today, not only in that capacity, but also as a caregiver. My mother is 86 years old. She's a double amputee, and she faces several other serious health challenges. I attended a meeting where a commissioner expressed that he understood what families like mine are going through because of a similar personal situation. While I respect that perspective, it is difficult to fully understand this experience when you have access to the resources that many residents simply do not. I have contacted several agencies that provide care for the elderly, and in reality, it's alarming. The cost for four hours of in-home care per day at $25 an hour, $100 a day, $700 a week, $2,800 a month, and that's just for four hours a day. Most families simply cannot afford that, especially those living on Social Security. My family experienced another painful reality in this system. My stepfather passed away in January of 2026, and only after his passing did we receive a call about services being offered. By then, it was too late. Seniors need services now, not months or years later. My family is not the only one. Many others have been contacted for service after their loved ones have already passed. This is not just a delay. It's a failure in timing with real human consequences. I'm asking the board to take action, not just understand. Please direct the county manager to secure funding for basic in-home care services to serve at least 100 more seniors off of that nearly 3,000 wait list. These are vulnerable citizens and residents. They deserve dignity, timely support, and the ability to remain safely in their homes. We need assistance before it's too late. Help us before it's too late, not after. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Next, I have Mr. Abercrombie. Okay, the real reason I'm here. James Abercrombie, 2737 Gibsonia-Galloway Road, Lakeland, Florida, 3310. Okay, two sessions ago, Mr. Scott there gave me 3,000 pages of public records, folks. 3,000 pages. Remember that? Okay. I have no idea where that come from. That's not what I asked for. I had asked for that prior for six months, and I finally got 2,000 pages. I went through all 2,000 pages that I brought back over 1,000 just for you people to go through and look at with me. Didn't want to do that. Well, let me read something to you. You're talking about a contract. The contract is only for the material and the labor, period. The work replacing the fence was an agreement, a maintenance agreement, and then that means agreements. The Lord's statute, to release public records to members of the public upon request and comply to the handling of the materials created under this agreement. That's for the contractor themselves. They're supposed to have public records to me if I want them. I should be able to go to their office and get them, but I can't even get them from the county office. So how's that going to work, folks? It don't work. I'd like to put this up real quick. That's out of your charter. That's what your manager is responsible for. But enough about that. I really don't have the time to argue with you about this again because I've done too much this year. Just this year. Now, I want to talk about Kathleen. We had a big meeting. Great. Wonderful. I really thought you folks were really interested in getting to know the people and understand what they want. I watched you Friday. All you talked about was the inside, the building itself. Nothing about the outside. Nothing about the traffic. Nothing about the flooding. Nothing about the railroads. Nothing about the fire station not being able to get across the railroads. Nothing about the outside of it. The traffic, all the traffic that you're going to make from downtown Lakeland, from Sears Town, all the way out to that project, all over the county. You're not even thinking about that. You don't even care about that. That's what the citizens were talking about that night. Most everybody was objected to this. They don't want it. The timing is not here. We need infrastructure that we've been begging for for 20 years. You're working on the light. It's too late for the light. You really need an overpass now to go over that railroad track just so the firemen can get across it for fire. EMS. I was just talking about that a minute ago. EMS is not going to be able to get to them with the train stop there in the middle of the road. The roads themselves, Decent Road, is only a two-lane road. I mean, it's not even probably 20 foot wide, maybe. And there's a bridge across it at one point. So I don't know how the cars are going to pass with a fire truck coming the other direction. There's no redress off either side. You're not going to be able to get off the road for them. You're not thinking about any of that stuff. Thank you, Ms. Abercrombie. Next, we have Doretha Tillman. My name is Doretha Tillman. My address is 1345 Ninth Court, Northeast, Winter Haven, Florida. I am a peace team leader and a board member of the peace organization. And I'm here to speak to you about, from my heart, as a former caregiver for my mother who lived with me and had dementia and Alzheimer's disease. During that season of my life, my mother lived with me in my home, with me and my husband and my small child. And at the same time, I also had two kids that were in college in Tallahassee. My husband and I were both working full-time jobs. At that time, my mother was able to attend a county-funded daycare facility while I worked. The services were not just helpful, but it was necessary. Before my mother began to go to the center, the daycare center, she would leave the house and leave my house to go to her place. And she had to walk about a mile and a half to get there in the hot sun. At times, neighbors and community members who knew her would encourage her to come to their house and just sit there for a while. And they would let me know that she was at their place. What my family did to encourage her to stay home, my two children in college would call her periodically during the day to try to help her stay at the house. And I would call her while I'm at work. And this would kind of help her stay in place. Now, the facility gave me and my family a peace of mind when she was there. Now, during the pandemic, the facility closed and never reopened. Now, since many families have been left without this kind of support that made a difference for my life, I'm sure that something of this nature would help others. Families need access to adult daycare, respite care, basic in-home care services. The services help seniors remain safe, help caregivers remain employed, and help families avoid crises. Commissioners, I respectfully ask you to please direct the county manager to fund the in-home care for at least 100 seniors on the 3,000-people wait list. Now, thank you. Thank you. Next, we have Ms. Becky Bywater. I'm Becky Bywater, 916 Brookwood Drive, Lakeland. Mr. Scott, I appreciate you are making the effort to visit other shelters and look forward to your comments, not only on the facilities, but the programs that they have in place for animal welfare. Sheriff Judd, in one of his Morning Coffee Facebook posts, recognizing his animal control staff, stated, don't listen to a few crazy radicals. Well, I thought it was kind of funny myself. I've been called a lot of things, but that was not one of them. Government leaders have an ethical obligation to maintain respectful, professional, and composed communication with their constituents. Bill Braswell, since you have unlimited speaking time and we only have three minutes each to rebuke some of your comments, I would like to address two. I take personal offense that you think I or any one of my friends or these people here who are animal lovers want TV time. I honestly thought that was pretty absurd. Your closing statement, I will do everything I can to make sure you guys get nothing, not a dime of county money. I do not believe that any rescue has ever asked you for writing them a check. I understand the discussions with the Pulley Project is they were asking for a low-cost spay-neuter voucher for low-income families. These families, two jobs to put food on the table, a lot of them, and they want a family pet just like you have the ability to have one. They were not asking for money for themselves. You just told your constituents who voted you in and pay your salary that you will not give them a dime because they want a healthy family pet. Also, they now believe that you control the purse strings of this commission. I sincerely hope your fellow commissioners do not follow your lack of responsibility, which you ask them to vote with you. It's been said many times, you cannot adopt or kill your way out of this situation. The only thing in the root cause is to contain the overpopulation of unwanted litters. We're not going away. Two non-profits have recently been formed to carry on this mission and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. We, the public people, are strong. Thank you. Thank you. And the last one I have is Praxis Rogers. My name is Praxis Rogers. I'm at 3019 Redwood Avenue. I'm here to speak against the AI data center that is being built in Fort Meade. So when they first published how many gallons of water they were expected to be using per day, the number was originally 140,000 per day. Somehow that's magically dropped to 50 per day. Not sure how that happened. On top of that, in order to fund these water, they're going to have to build wells on our already strained aquifer. They're going to use up more water on our already strained aquifers. We're currently in a drought. And on top of that, that is going to cause our water bills and our electricity bills to increase. Speaking of electricity bills, the AI data center that was made in Fayetteville, Georgia, required more power lines to be built. So in order for the power lines to be built, they needed more property. So they used eminent domain to take people's land so that they could build these power lines. 330 private properties were affected so that they could build these power lines for this data center that the people did not want. And on top of that, their water is now being poisoned. Their air is now polluted. And of course, they've got the sound pollution of the constant humming from the data center right next door. So on top of that, they're going to have to build wells, which means that they're also going to be polluting those wells. The physical building of this AI data center is only estimated to bring 500 jobs. Those 500 jobs are not going to be jobs for your average everyday Floridian who has an average everyday skill set. It's going to be specialized jobs. They're going to ask people who don't live here to move here, to work there. The construction jobs to build the building in the first place is also not going to go to your average construction worker because of the specialties required to build this building. So all of these jobs that this AI data center is supposedly going to create aren't going to go to average Floridians with your average high school level intelligence. They're going to have to go to people who have, like, college degrees and shit. And I don't know if you know this, but most of us don't fucking have college degrees. Excuse me. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Right now. Thank you. Please sit. Thank you. I close the public hearing, and we stand adjourned. Thank you.