Polk County Board of County Commissioners  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
October 01, 2024 Regular BoCC meeting  
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CALL TO ORDER - 9:00 a.m. (BILL BRASWELL, CHAIR)  
INVOCATION  
Dr. William DeHart, Chaplain, Polk County Fire Rescue  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE (BILL BRASWELL, CHAIR)  
B.  
CEREMONIAL PROCLAMATIONS  
B.1. Domestic Violence Awareness Month Proclamation  
Minutes: County Attorney Randy Mink read the proclamation for Domestic Violence  
Awareness Month.  
Clerk and County Comptroller Stacy Butterfield thanked the Board for the proclamation  
and for the time to recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month. She said last year  
Polk County had more than 2,600 cases of domestic violence injunctions filed. She  
said there are five different types of injunctions for protection; she said the other types  
include stalking, dating, repeat and sexual violence. She said in all categories there  
were more than 4,600 cases filed last year. She said we have numerous resources  
available to assist domestic violence survivors. She said there is no cost for filing for an  
injunction for protection. She said there are DIY online tools that guide them through  
the step-by-step process. She said there is a new program that is effective today. She  
said legislation was passed to provide a Hope Card that is for survivors. She said it is a  
wallet size card or a digital card that provides all the details about the final injunction for  
protection. She discussed the Hope Card and said this makes it easier for law  
enforcement to assist survivors. She thanked all those in the community who help  
provide the critical services. She thanked the agencies the provide critical services to  
survivors. She thanked the Director of Peace River Center Larry Williams, Court  
Administrator Nick Sudzina, and the Clerk's office that provides these services.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
George Lindsey  
Rick Wilson  
Lindsey, Braswell, Combee, Santiago, and Wilson  
C.  
REQUEST FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC/AUDIENCE AND OPPORTUNITY TO BE  
HEARD  
C.1. Ms. Fawn Spacke - Discuss Land Use Section 222 (Livestock/Fowl)  
Minutes: Fawn Spacke said she is in trouble for housing chickens on her property. She  
said 50 foot setbacks make it impossible to have chickens. She discussed other homes  
in her neighborhood that also have chickens. She asked if she has to be a part of the  
sanction exemption to house chickens. She discussed other city setback rules. She  
asked for them to review the setback rules. She said she is getting a variance and she  
is here to change the rules.  
Commissioner Combee said he does not know why we are at 50 feet.  
Chair Braswell said we will look into this.  
Land Development Director Ben Ziskal will work on this and will bring something back  
to the Board.  
C.2. Comments.  
Minutes: There was no one else from the public wishing to speak.  
APPROVE CONSENT AGENDAS  
D.  
D.1. Approve Consent Agenda.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
George Lindsey  
Martha Santiago  
Lindsey, Braswell, Combee, Santiago, and Wilson  
ELOISE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY  
D.2. Approve Eloise CRA Consent Agenda.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
George Lindsey  
Neil Combee  
Lindsey, Braswell, Combee, Santiago, and Wilson  
E.  
COUNTY COMPTROLLER (STACY M. BUTTERFIELD, CPA)  
E.1. Disbursements.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Neil Combee  
Martha Santiago  
Lindsey, Braswell, Combee, Santiago, and Wilson  
E.2. Minutes of Regular Board meeting held on September 17, 2024, and Budget  
Public Hearings held on September 9, 2024, and September 16, 2024.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Neil Combee  
Martha Santiago  
Lindsey, Braswell, Combee, Santiago, and Wilson  
H.  
COUNTY MANAGER (BILL BEASLEY)  
H.1. Approve an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Auburndale for Tourist  
Development Tax Funding for improvements to the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex  
and Auburndale Softball Complex. ($26,901,740 estimated expense over 23  
years)  
Minutes: County Manager Bill Beasley discussed the interlocal agreement with the City  
of Auburndale for Tourist Development Tax Funding for improvements to the Lake  
Myrtle Sports Complex and Auburndale Softball Complex. He recommended approval.  
Jeff Tillman, Auburndale City Manager, said this is a great partnership. He said the  
park is 250 acres and he said they are committed to the maintenance. He said the  
additional facilities will help them attract much larger events.  
Upon question, Mr. Tillman said there were 1.1 million that visited in 2023.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
George Lindsey  
Rick Wilson  
Lindsey, Braswell, Combee, Santiago, and Wilson  
H.2. Approve Standard Grant Agreement No. QG010 between Polk County and State  
of Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to fund the Wilson  
Ranch Reserve Hydrological Restoration Project. (one-time revenue  
$7,500,000)  
Minutes: County Manager Bill Beasley discussed the Standard Grant Agreement No.  
QG010 with the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection to fund the  
Wilson Ranch Reserve Hydrological Restoration Project. He recommended approval.  
Commissioner Wilson recused from voting.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Neil Combee  
George Lindsey  
Lindsey, Braswell, Combee, and Santiago  
Wilson  
Recused:  
I.  
COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 1 (GEORGE LINDSEY)  
I.1. Commissioner Lindsey Comments.  
Minutes: Commissioner Lindsey had no comments.  
J.  
COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 2 (RICK WILSON)  
J.1. Reappoint Eric Hinshaw as a Member (Seat 4) of the Industrial Development  
Authority, for the three-year term, November 7, 2024 through November 6,  
2027.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Rick Wilson  
George Lindsey  
Lindsey, Braswell, Combee, Santiago, and Wilson  
J.2. Commissioner Wilson Comments.  
Minutes: Commissioner Wilson had no comments.  
COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 4 (MARTHA SANTIAGO)  
K.  
L.  
K.1. Commissioner Santiago Comments.  
Minutes: Commissioner Santiago had no comments.  
COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 5 (NEIL COMBEE)  
L.1. Commissioner Combee Comments.  
Minutes: Commissioner Combee had no comments.  
COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 3 (BILL BRASWELL, CHAIR)  
M.  
M.1. Chair Braswell Comments.  
Minutes: Chair Braswell said to County Manager Bill Beasley that they met about a  
month ago and he asked about the audit of HR.  
Mr. Beasley said it was an efficiency study about technologies, staffing, and  
organizational details. He said that study is complete and they are deciding which  
elements to implement.  
Chair Braswell said he had two phone calls that the Supervisors of Elections' office in  
Bartow was broken into or there was a homeless person living in there.  
Mr. Beasley said he has not heard anything and he will follow up.  
Upon request, Waste and Recycling Director Dale Henderson said they have  
collaborated with Roads and Drainage and released a press release that explains to  
residents that if they have hurricane debris they can call customer service to be put on  
a list for it to be collected by Roads and Drainage. He said all other debris that is minor  
will be collected by Solid Waste crews. He said today we launched our new contracts  
with new equipment. He said a resident can retain their recycling cart and can put  
residential waste or yard waste in the cart or they can have the recycling container  
removed. He said waste and yard waste can be co-mingled. He said on Saturday they  
sent their first load of compressed natural gas. He said all the carts have Polk County  
on them.  
Mr. Beasley said what is iconic today is that we are now in the frontline business in  
collecting garbage. He said 1/3 of the county is under our jurisdiction, trucks and  
employees.  
Mr. Henderson said the trucks are 100% new.  
O.  
EXPEDITED HEARINGS PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NO. 2022-089  
Minutes: County Attorney Randy Mink reminded the audience of the procedures for  
expedited public hearings and public hearings. He swore in those who plan to speak.  
O.1. Public Hearing (LDCPAL 2024-3 CR 640 Industrial Park CPA) (Adoption  
Hearing) to consider the adoption of a Large-Scale Comprehensive Plan Map  
Amendment on 380 +/- acres to change the Future Land Use from Phosphate  
Mining (PM) to Industrial (IND). (No Fiscal Impact)  
Minutes: Land Development Director Ben Ziskal reviewed the proposed map  
amendment. He said that the Planning Commission and staff recommend approval. He  
said there were no comments from the Department of Commerce.  
The Chair opened a public hearing.; no one spoke.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Martha Santiago  
Rick Wilson  
Lindsey, Braswell, Combee, Santiago, and Wilson  
O.2. Public Hearing (LDCT-2024-14 TCX Full-Service Car Wash Text Amendment)  
(Adoption Hearing) to modify Table 4.8, Use Table for US 27 Selected Area  
Plan. (No Fiscal Impact).  
Minutes: Land Development Director Ben Ziskal reviewed the proposed text  
amendment. He said that the Planning Commission and staff recommends approval.  
He said there are no comments from the Department of Commerce.  
The Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Rick Wilson  
George Lindsey  
Lindsey, Braswell, Combee, Santiago, and Wilson  
P.  
PUBLIC HEARINGS  
P.1. Public Hearing to consider approval of an Ordinance limiting code enforcement  
and/or building division action for certain Construction on property in unrecorded  
subdivisions.  
Minutes: County Attorney Randy Mink discussed the ordinance limiting code  
enforcement and/or building division action for certain Construction on property in  
unrecorded subdivisions. He recommended approval.  
The Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Neil Combee  
Martha Santiago  
Lindsey, Braswell, Combee, Santiago, and Wilson  
P.2. Approve a Resolution identifying unrecorded subdivisions where the Board of  
County Commissioners desires to limit code enforcement and/or building  
division action for certain Construction.  
Minutes: County Attorney Randy Mink discussed the resolution identifying unrecorded  
subdivisions where the Board of County Commissioners desires to limit code  
enforcement and/or building division action for certain construction. He recommended  
approval.  
Upon question, Mr. Mink said the pending litigation is independent of this. He said we  
do have counter-claims for code enforcement actions but this would help resolve those  
actions.  
The Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Rick Wilson  
Neil Combee  
Lindsey, Braswell, Combee, Santiago, and Wilson  
ANNOUNCEMENTS  
Minutes: Meeting adjourned at 9:39 a.m.