Polk County Board of County Commissioners  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
July 01, 2025 Regular BoCC meeting  
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Rollcall  
Commissioner Becky Troutman  
Commissioner Bill Braswell  
Commissioner Martha Santiago  
Commissioner Michael Scott  
Commissioner Rick Wilson  
Present:  
Absent:  
CALL TO ORDER - 9:00 a.m. (MARTHA SANTIAGO,VICE-CHAIR)  
INVOCATION  
Murphy Hanley, Polk County Fire Rescue Chaplain  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE (MARTHA SANTIAGO, VICE-CHAIR)  
A.  
B.  
PRESENTATIONS and RECOGNITIONS  
PUBLIC COMMENTS CONCERNING AGENDA ITEMS  
B.1. Comments.  
Minutes: County Attorney Randy Mink reviewed Resolution No. 25-064 regarding the  
Board's adopted policy for the opportunities for members of the public to be heard.  
There was no one from the public wishing to speak.  
C.  
APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA  
C.1. Approve Consent Agenda.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Bill Braswell  
Michael Scott  
Troutman, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott  
Wilson  
Absent:  
D.  
COUNTY COMPTROLLER (STACY M. BUTTERFIELD, CPA)  
D.1. Disbursements.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Bill Braswell  
Becky Troutman  
Troutman, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott  
Wilson  
Absent:  
D.2. Minutes of Regular Board meeting held on June 17, 2025.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Bill Braswell  
Michael Scott  
Troutman, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott  
Wilson  
Absent:  
G.  
COUNTY MANAGER (BILL BEASLEY)  
G.1. North Ridge Trail Infrastructure Agreement (Deen Still Road to Laurel Estates).  
Improvement costs not to exceed $4,181,255.00. (Cash Reimbursement)  
Minutes: County Manager Bill Beasley discussed the North Ridge Trail Infrastructure  
Agreement for Deen Still Road to Laurel Estates. He recommended approval.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Becky Troutman  
Bill Braswell  
Troutman, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott  
Wilson  
Absent:  
G.2. Approve Utilities request to purchase Motorola radios and related essential  
services under Agreement #15-09 with Motorola Solutions for Utilities  
emergency operations communications ($269,754.56 one-time expense)  
Minutes: County Manager Bill Beasley discussed the request to purchase Motorola  
radios and related essential services under Agreement #15-09 with Motorola Solutions  
for Utilities emergency operations communications. He recommended approval.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Becky Troutman  
Bill Braswell  
Troutman, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott  
Wilson  
Absent:  
H.  
I.  
COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 1 (BECKY TROUTMAN)  
H.1. Commissioner Troutman Comments.  
Minutes: Commissioner Troutman had no comments.  
COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 3 (BILL BRASWELL)  
I.1.  
Commissioner Braswell Comments.  
Minutes: Commissioner Braswell had no comments.  
K.  
COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 5 (MICHAEL SCOTT)  
K.1. Appoint Jenna Sutton to replace Ronnie Hedrick on the Comprehensive Plan  
Advisory Committee.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Michael Scott  
Bill Braswell  
Troutman, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott  
Wilson  
Absent:  
K.2. Commissioner Scott Comments.  
Minutes: Commissioner Scott had no comments.  
LAY BOARD APPOINTMENTS  
M.  
M. LAY BOARD APPOINTMENTS  
M.1. Appoint Gary L. Phillips to the Tohopekaliga Water Authority (TWA) Board of  
Supervisors for the remainder of a vacated term and a new 3-year term ending  
September 30, 2028.  
Minutes: Commissioner Troutman commended Gary Phillips for stepping forward  
because the gentleman in that position passed away. She said they are thankful they  
were able to find somebody within the community to serve.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Michael Scott  
Bill Braswell  
Troutman, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott  
Wilson  
Absent:  
L.  
J.  
COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 2 (RICK WILSON, CHAIR)  
L.1. Chair Wilson Comments.  
Minutes: Chair Wilson was not present.  
COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 4 (MARTHA SANTIAGO)  
J.1. Commissioner Santiago Comments.  
Minutes: Commissioner Santiago wished everyone a Happy Fourth of July and said to  
be safe during the holiday.  
N.  
EXPEDITED HEARINGS PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NO. 2022-089  
Minutes: County Attorney Randy Mink reminded the audience of the procedures for  
expedited hearings and public hearings and swore in those who plan to speak.  
N.1. Public Hearing (LDCPAL-2024-14 Poinciana Subdivision CPA Amendment)  
(Adoption Hearing) to consider the adoption of a Large-Scale Comprehensive  
Plan Amendment to change the Future Land Use designation on 160 acres from  
Agricultural/Residential-Rural (A/RR) to Residential-Low (RL) and Rural  
Development Area (RDA) to Utility Enclave Area (UEA). (No Fiscal Impact).  
Minutes: Land Development Director Ben Ziskal reviewed the proposed land use  
amendment. He said that the Planning Commission recommended approval. He said  
the Department of Commerce had no comments. He stated that staff recommends  
approval.  
The Vice Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Bill Braswell  
Becky Troutman  
Troutman, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott  
Wilson  
Absent:  
N.2. Public Hearing (LDCT-2025-10 Temporary Storage of Storm Debris) (Adoption  
Hearing) to consider a County-initiated amendment to Land Development Code  
Chapter 2, Section 207, Temporary Uses, subsection 207.L, Road Construction  
Material/Equipment, 207.M, Temporary Storage of Vegetative Debris Collected  
from Major Storms.  
Minutes: Land Development Director Ben Ziskal reviewed the proposed text  
amendment regarding temporary storage of storm debris. He said that the Planning  
Commission and staff recommends approval.  
The Vice Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke.  
RESULT:  
APPROVED  
Bill Braswell  
Michael Scott  
Troutman, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott  
Wilson  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
Absent:  
O.  
PUBLIC HEARINGS  
O.1. Consider adopting an ordinance creating the Master Inwood Street Lighting  
Municipal Service Benefit Unit (“MSBU”) and adopt the Tentative Rate  
Resolution for the 2025-26 Master Inwood Street Lighting MSBU. (No fiscal  
impact)  
Minutes: County Attorney Randy Mink discussed the ordinance creating the Master  
Inwood Street Lighting Municipal Service Benefit Unit (MSBU) and the Tentative Rate  
Resolution for the 2025-26 Master Inwood Street Lighting MSBU. He recommended  
approval. He said there are three different rates for each district. He reviewed the rates  
for each district.  
County Manager Bill Beasley said that we had community meetings and this is what  
they asked them to do. He said it is a good example of us listening to the public.  
Mr. Mink said it is not one rate yet but we are getting there. He said it is a couple  
hundred street lights.  
The Vice Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Bill Braswell  
Becky Troutman  
Troutman, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott  
Wilson  
Absent:  
P.  
REQUEST FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC/AUDIENCE AND OPPORTUNITY TO BE  
HEARD  
P.1. Comments.  
Minutes: Wallace Lowery said he is here to talk about his house. He said he had  
repaired his house and he is getting hindrance and he does not understand why. He  
said he wants to fix his house. Staff will help facilitate what he is trying to accomplish.  
Debbie Hicks said she is here in regards to Animal Control. She said she was at the  
June 3rd meeting and this Board thinks the Sheriff is in control of Animal Control. She  
discussed volunteering and said the facility is owned by the county and the Sheriff does  
the daily operations. She said you cannot expect the Sheriff to do what he is expected  
to when the building is from another era. She said the building she worked in was built  
in 1988 and said the drainage is terrible and it is infested. She said they have passed  
the buck on this. She said there is so much room for improvement. She said the public  
wants to help.  
James Abercrombie said he continues to talk about public records. He said he has  
asked about the fence on Hunt Fountain Park and he still gets no public records. He  
asked why he cannot get public records. He said it is a cover up and two miles of  
fencing was taken down and he does not know where it is. He asked what happened to  
the money. He said $9 million was given to a developer to move here. He said they are  
supposed to be watching us. He said they make all their decisions at the Agenda  
Review meetings and they are doing it without the public's knowledge.  
Mary Hodges discussed her property and said they have never had flooding. She said  
that the ditches are not maintained and they are flooding. She showed pictures of  
flooding and said the pipe under the street has been blocked. She said she is terrified it  
will flood again and she said she lost everything in her home.  
Commissioner Scott said this area has several lots that have privately maintained  
ditches. He said if there are culverts that are blocked we will clear those. He said there  
are several homeowners who have not maintained those. He said it only takes one  
blockage to make the whole system unhappy. He said if it is the county's side we can  
address that. He said to get with the neighbors on the privately maintained side and  
have a community clean-up day. He said to follow up with him and he will gladly come  
out.  
Ms. Hodges discussed a neighbor not allowing anyone to dig the ditches.  
Jessica Alvarado said those pictures were hers. She said when it floods it affects their  
plumbing. She said it causes problems. She said there are ditches that look like they  
are blocked. She said she has been there 8 years and this started last summer. She  
asked for help.  
Ms. Hodges and Ms. Alvarado will follow up with Land Development Director John  
Bohde and Roads and Drainage Director Jay Jarvis.  
Commissioner Scott said he will drive by today and report to staff what he sees.  
Meeting adjourned at 9:37 a.m.