SUBJECT
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Confirm appointment of Mr. Brian Cogswell to serve as Polk County’s Solid Waste Division Director.
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DESCRIPTION
The Polk County Charter specifies the County Manager’s appointment of executive service employees is subject to confirmation by the Board of County Commissioners.
The County Manager has appointed Mr. Brian Cogswell to the position of Solid Waste Division Director.
Mr. Cogswell has more than 24 years of experience in county government, currently serving as the NCLF Site Manager for the Polk County Solid Waste Division, providing administrative, managerial, and supervisory oversight of landfill operations and residential waste collection operations. In that capacity, he oversees all field operations at the North Central Landfill and Solid Waste Collections serving more than 13,000 residences, ensuring compliance with Federal, State, and local regulations. He currently leads a staff of 45 employees and provides direction in personnel development, training, and succession planning.
Additionally, Mr. Cogswell monitors permitting and regulatory compliance, participates in site inspections, and maintains a strong working relationship with regulatory agencies including the FDOT, FDEP, Federal OSHA, and the US EPA. He has reduced operational costs through workflow optimization and staffing efficiency and has played a key role in managing multi-million-dollar Capital Improvement Projects.
From 2019 to 2023, he served as Finance & Customer Service Manager at the NCLF, overseeing finance, customer service, scale house, and administrative operations. In this role, he supervised 25 employees, improved morale and reduced turnover, managed $200 million within the Solid Waste Enterprise fund inclusive of a $45 million operational budget, and completed related audits with the Polk County Clerk of Courts - Inspector General. He also supported the restoration of residential collection services during the COVID-19 pandemic and helped develop a five-year residential collection contract valued at over $200 million.
In early 2019, Brian also served as the NCLF Business Process Analyst, developing the “Code Red” Safety Response Guide, training staff in emergency response procedures, and strengthening the division’s safety program through daily briefings and improved incident reporting.
Furthermore, Mr. Cogswell has extensive public safety experience through his prior 17 years of service with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, to include responsibilities as a Detective/Deputy Sheriff leading complex investigations and multi-agency operations.
Mr. Cogswell earned a Master of Science in Cybersecurity from the University of South Florida and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Polk State College. His professional achievements include FEMA and Incident Command System training, Solid Waste Landfill Operator certification through the University of Florida (TREEO), and an anticipated completion of the Certified Public Manager (CPM) program through Florida State University in July 2026.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommend the Board confirm the Manager’s appointment of Mr. Brian Cogswell to serve as the Solid Waste Division Direction, effective March 3, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Solid Waste Division Director is an authorized and budgeted position in the Adopted Budget, and the existing appropriations are sufficient to cover the negotiated salary and benefits, which total $198,051.96 ($154,850.00 base salary + $43,201.96 benefits).
CONTACT INFORMATION
Bill Beasley, County Manager
(863) 534-6444
BillBeasley@polk-county.net