Polk County Board of County Commissioners

Meeting Minutes - Final

October 21, 2025 Regular BoCC meeting

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CALL TO ORDER - 9:00 a.m. (RICK WILSON, CHAIR)

INVOCATION

Murphy Hanley, Polk County Fire Rescue Chaplain

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE (RICK WILSON, CHAIR)

PRESENTATIONS and RECOGNITIONS

A.1. Employee Recognition

Minutes: The Board recognized Rodolfo Socorro with Fire Rescue, David Seeright, Jr.

with Fire Rescue, Michele Sims with Procurement, Charles Blocker with Roads and

Drainage, and Danny Tucker with Roads and Drainage for their years of service with

the county.

PUBLIC COMMENTS CONCERNING AGENDA ITEMS

B.1. Comments.

Minutes: David Brown said he is in support of the round-a-bout on North Galloway

Road. He thanked the Board for cleaning out the ditch to help with drainage. He said

he is here to thank the Board.

Shannon Turbeville said he is in support of the round-a-bout. He said his concerns

were addressed for stormwater. He said that he reached out to Commissioners

Troutman and Braswell with his stormwater concerns and he said they did what they

were elected to do. He said they were accessible, sensitive to his concerns, and

solution oriented. He said he cannot think of better representation from elected

officials. He thanked the county manager and said that Hurricane Milton gave him a

new respect for the importance of adequate and maintained stormwater infrastructure.

He said he is appreciative of the efforts from Deputy County Manager John Bohde and

the department directors that addressed this.

Commissioner Braswell said he went out to Mr. Turbeville's house and looking at it you

would not think it would flood. He said that it flooded a foot and a half in the house, it

was gone before the sun came up and destroyed the inside of his house. He said they

are glad they helped him and there are so many places like that in the county.

APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA

C.1. Approve Consent Agenda.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYE:

APPROVED

Bill Braswell

Martha Santiago

Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott

COUNTY COMPTROLLER (STACY M. BUTTERFIELD, CPA)

D.2. Disbursements.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYE:

APPROVED

Bill Braswell

Becky Troutman

Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott

D.1. Minutes of Regular Board meeting held on October 7, 2025.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYE:

APPROVED

Martha Santiago

Michael Scott

Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott

COUNTY MANAGER (BILL BEASLEY)

G.1. Approve Agreement for Sale and Purchase between Texas Aquatic Harvesting,

Inc. and Polk County for the construction of a new wastewater treatment facility

to service the East Regional service area. ($8,530,000 one-time expense)

Minutes: Deputy County Manager Ryan Taylor discussed the agreement for sale and

purchase with Texas Aquatic Harvesting, Inc., for the construction of a new wastewater

treatment facility to service the east regional service area. He recommended approval.

Upon question, Mr. Taylor said studies will start soon and the facility will be completed

within two years.

Commissioner Scott said he wants to thank the staff. He said this property allows us to

tie this together with conservation areas. He said this is a great purchase.

Chair Wilson said we have been lucky and it has been great tying this into

conservation. He said that is a great program.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYE:

APPROVED

Becky Troutman

Bill Braswell

Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott

G.2. Approve and ratify the Letter of Agreement and IGT Provider Questionnaire from

the State of Florida, Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) for the

Public Emergency Medical Transportation Medicaid Managed Care Supplement

Payment Program ($4,989,893.04 not-to-exceed, one-time expense)

Minutes: Deputy County Manager Ryan Taylor discussed the ratification of the Letter

of Agreement and IGT Provider Questionnaire from the State of Florida, Agency for

Health Care Administration for the Public Emergency Medical Transportation Medicaid

Managed Care Supplement Payment Program. He recommended approval.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYE:

APPROVED

Martha Santiago

Bill Braswell

Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott

G.3. Approve construction contract with Ajax Paving Industries of Florida LLC for the

roadway improvements for North Galloway Road at 10th Street, CIP

Amendment and budget transfer. ($3,063,097.56 one-time expense -

$1,063,098 one-time transfer)

Minutes: Deputy County Manager Ryan Taylor discussed the construction contract

with Ajax Paving Industries of Florida LLC, for the roadway improvements for North

Galloway Road at 10th Street, CIP Amendment and budget transfer. He recommended

approval.

Roads and Drainage Director Jay Jarvis confirmed that there will be no road closures.

Commissioner Troutman thanked staff; she said everybody is doing this together and

doing the right thing to get this started and completed.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYE:

APPROVED

Bill Braswell

Michael Scott

Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott

G.4. Approve the Local Agency Program (LAP) Agreement between Polk County and

the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for the Kathleen Road Project

Development and Environment (PD&E) Study, associated resolutions, Budget

resolutions to establish budget ($2,000,000.00 one-time unanticipated revenue).

Minutes: Deputy County Manager Ryan Taylor discussed the Local Agency Program

Agreement between Polk County and the Florida Department of Transportation for the

Kathleen Road project development and environment study, associated resolutions,

and budget resolutions to establish budget. He recommended approval.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYE:

APPROVED

Bill Braswell

Martha Santiago

Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott

G.5. Approve agreement with Fleischman Garcia Maslowski (FG+M) for architectural

& engineering services for the Polk County and City of Bartow Joint-Use Fire

Rescue Station. ($799,930.85 onetime expense)

Minutes: Deputy County Manager Ryan Taylor discussed the agreement with

Fleischman Garcia Maslowski (FG+M) for architectural & engineering services for the

Polk County and City of Bartow joint-use fire rescue station. He recommended

approval. He confirmed that the totals for the county will be 60% of the cost.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYE:

APPROVED

Becky Troutman

Martha Santiago

Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott

COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 1 (BECKY TROUTMAN)

H.1. Commissioner Troutman Comments.

Minutes: Commissioner Troutman had no comments.

COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 3 (BILL BRASWELL)

I.1.

Appoint Angelic Sims as a member (Seat 6) of the Polk County Planning

Commission for the three-year term, November 4, 2025 through November 3,

2028.

RESULT:

MOVER:

APPROVED

Bill Braswell

Becky Troutman

SECONDER:

Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott

AYE:

I.1.

Commissioner Braswell Comments.

Minutes: Commissioner Braswell had no comments.

COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 4 (MARTHA SANTIAGO)

J.1. Commissioner Santiago Comments.

Minutes: Commissioner Santiago had no comments.

COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 5 (MICHAEL SCOTT)

K.1. Commissioner Scott Comments.

Minutes: Commissioner Scott said Highway 98 North construction is moving along. He

said if there are any residents that have issues, concerns, or questions to reach out to

their office.

COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 2 (RICK WILSON, CHAIR)

L.1. Chair Wilson Comments.

Minutes: Chair Wilson had no comments.

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. He swore in those who plan to speak.

N.1. Public Hearing (LDCPAS-2025-15 Crescent Road CPA) (Adoption Hearing) to

consider the adoption of an applicant-initiated Small-Scale Comprehensive Plan

Map Amendment to change the Future Land Use (FLU) designation from

Residential Medium (RMX) to Employment Center (ECX) on 17.42 +/- acres in

the North Ridge Selected Area Plan. (No Fiscal Impact)

Minutes: Land Development Director Ben Ziskal reviewed the proposed map

amendment. He said that staff and the Planning Commission recommend approval.

The Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYE:

APPROVED

Bill Braswell

Martha Santiago

Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott

N.2. Public Hearing (LDCD-2025-3 Hamilton Road Sub-district) (Adoption Hearing) to

consider the adoption of a sub-district change from Business Park Center

(BPC-1) to Business Park Center-2 (BPC-2) on 38+/- acres within in the Urban

Growth Area (UGA) and Rural Development Area (RDA). (No Fiscal Impact)

Minutes: Land Development Director Ben Ziskal reviewed the proposed sub-district

change. He said that staff and the Planning Commission recommend approval.

Upon question, Mr. Ziskal said that BPC-1 is the default BPC and then a sub-district

change is required to move to BPC-2.

The Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYE:

APPROVED

Becky Troutman

Martha Santiago

Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott

N.3. Public Hearing (LDCT-2025-13 Non-Phosphate Mining Exemption) (Adoption

Hearing) to consider the adoption of an applicant-initiated ordinance amending

the Land Development Code to allow an exemption for fill material excavation

associated with approved phosphate mines and gypsum stacks. (No Fiscal

Impact)

Minutes: Land Development Director Ben Ziskal reviewed the proposed text

amendment. He said that staff and the Planning Commission recommend approval. He

confirmed that Mosaic is the only one with a phosphate mining permit in the county.

The Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYE:

APPROVED

Michael Scott

Becky Troutman

Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott

PUBLIC HEARINGS

O.1. Public Hearing to consider adoption of a Resolution to vacate and close deeded

and maintained right-of-way for J Day Drive, Lakeland, Florida (No fiscal impact)

Minutes: Scott Lowery, Real Estate Services, reviewed the proposed request to vacate

and close deeded and maintained right-of-way for J Day Drive. He said there are no

objections to the proposed request.

Upon question, Mr. Lowery said the easement has been secured for the inter-connect

facility. He said the easement is in place and will be recorded with these documents.

The Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke.

RESULT:

MOVER:

SECONDER:

AYE:

APPROVED

Becky Troutman

Bill Braswell

Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, Santiago, and Scott

REQUEST FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC/AUDIENCE AND OPPORTUNITY TO BE

HEARD

P.1. Becky Bywater to discuss Polk County Animal Control

Minutes: Becky Bywater said she prepared a survey on animal wellness. She said out

of ten counties only two of them has the sheriff with the responsibility of the animal

control program. She discussed TNRV and said Polk offers no services. She said only

one other county has no-tethering. She said Polk is the only one who does not offer air

conditioning. She said the website falls short to functionality and transparency. She

discussed donations per animal and asked how can they not be embarrassed about

this.

P.2. Comments.

Minutes: Eve Salimbene said when we were here last time that Commissioner Scott

said he spoke to other counties that said TNVR did not work. She said they would need

to get 4,000 - 5,000 cats for it to work. She discussed Hillsborough County and

discussed how the euthanasia results can be lowered. She said that she sent an email

to the Sheriff on September 30th and she has not had a reply. She asked them to talk

to them about a reply.

Kay Bourque said efforts to talk to the Sheriff has yielded no results. She said the work

is snowballing with the increasing pet population. She discussed TNVR and an

ordinance for backyard breeding. She said it will take time to make a difference. She

said the ordinance changes have been successful in other counties. She said she

hopes they will be a part of the solution.

Ailigh Vanderbush showed slides comparing Hillsborough and Polk County. She

discussed the income, time frame for informational responses, salaries, and

operational expenses.

Betty Jean Ammarell said she goes out to Animal Control to check on the cats and

dogs. She said when she was out there yesterday she was told that the volunteer

program is gone. She said the only people that they have working out there are young

and they are inmates. She said ceiling fans and wired fences have been installed. She

said the adoption fees are waived and she wishes that they would advertise that. She

said that Pasco County has 300 volunteers and we need some improvements.

Kristin Ahlberg said she did not see fans and there is not air conditioning. She

discussed the animals in the cages. She said she did a walk-through and was horrified

with the conditions. She said they had a rally and said that Animal Control was shut

down that day. She said that she was banned from the facility. She said that the

animals are suffering. She said for them to join the TNVR groups.

James Abercrombie said the meeting was finally productive. He said he was asking for

a maintenance agreement. He said he wants to see where the fence went and what

money was brought out of it. He showed an article from Commissioner Braswell on

transportation challenges.

Commissioner Braswell responded to public comments. He stated that on the county's

website every budget since 2016 is on there. He said it is broken down and it is a huge

document.

Commissioner Troutman said when you are talking about Orange County and Polk

County it is important to look at populations numbers. She said Orange County has