Polk County Board of County Commissioners  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
January 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)  
A.  
PRESENTATIONS and RECOGNITIONS  
A.1. Employee Recognition  
Minutes: The Board recognized Tanya Tucker with Code Enforcement, Eric Anderson  
with Roads and Drainage, Chanda Bennett with Land Development, and Sharon  
Mathis with Equal Opportunity for their years of dedicated services.  
County Manager Bill Beasley introduced Brenda Brooks with the International  
Association of Black Professional Firefighters (IABFF).  
Ms. Brooks thanked Mr. Beasley for allowing her to be here. She awarded Sharon  
Mathis with a 25-year service award with IABFF as their training chair and for all the  
other jobs she did. She said it is a 25-year gold pin. She said this pin recognizes the  
effort that she does especially in her community.  
B.  
C.  
CEREMONIAL PROCLAMATIONS  
REQUEST FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC/AUDIENCE AND OPPORTUNITY TO BE  
HEARD  
C.1. Gueline Gbobo - Traffic on Avenue G NW - Inwood Community  
Minutes: Gueline Gbobo was not present.  
C.2. Comments.  
Minutes: Linda Fife discussed Thompson Nursery Road and said she spoke about  
some options at the last meeting. She discussed her e-mail that she has sent to Roads  
and Drainage Director Jay Jarvis. She said she opposes the new Publix on Thompson  
Nursery Road. She discussed concerns with the intersection. She said to take a  
second look and to make this safe for all residents.  
Kelly Quinn said she is here to implore the Commissioners to take seriously the  
concerns and priorities of residents who participated and paid for the Comprehensive  
Plan. She said the top concerns were to preserve and conserve the natural  
environment and wildlife habitat, protect rural and agricultural land, ensure adequate  
water supply, update roads and affordable housing. She said this could be done by a  
limited growth strategy. She requested a new hydrology study and she said we have  
not had one since 2006. She said a lot has changed in 20 years. She discussed  
expanding the Old Scenic Highway/17 to a four lane highway versus alternative toll  
routes.  
Tom Palmer discussed the Northeast Polk wastewater plant and asked if they need a  
review of the Comp Plan or if there is a better way to get a handle on this. He said it is  
not clear what mechanism the county has to crack down on this. He asked for  
something more clear in writing.  
County Attorney Randy Mink said a lot of it is covered under the Utility Code and his  
office is working with Utilities to make sure it is enforced.  
Mr. Palmer said he looked at the utilities ordinance and he said it is a slap on the wrist  
with a $50 fine.  
Mr. Mink said they will look at this closer.  
Suzanne Lindsey said there has been a sub-consultant hired for the transportation  
portion under the Comprehensive Plan. She asked if there could be a sub-consultant  
hired for the environmental and the conservation of natural resources.  
Ron Newingham said he is with the Walk-in-Water Estates. He said the proposed  
development for Boy Scout Road and Highway 60 is not conducive to growth  
development. He said it is not good for the environment, not good for the county and  
he said it should not be allowed to take place.  
D.  
APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA  
D.1. Approve Consent Agenda.  
RESULT:  
APPROVED  
Bill Braswell  
Becky Troutman  
Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, and Scott  
Santiago  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
Absent:  
Minutes  
Minutes: Commissioner Scott discussed the implementation of the increased impact  
fees for warehousing and industrial and he asked if we have a date certain.  
County Manager Bill Beasley said an item on the Consent Agenda sets the date for the  
public hearing to March 18th. He said county staff is looking to coordinate with a  
number of Economic Development Councils to have a single presentation to them on  
the studies that were done. He said they are planning to do that between now and the  
public hearing.  
E.  
COUNTY COMPTROLLER (STACY M. BUTTERFIELD, CPA)  
E.1. Disbursements.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Bill Braswell  
Becky Troutman  
Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, and Scott  
Santiago  
Absent:  
E.2. Minutes of Regular Board meeting held on January 7, 2025.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Bill Braswell  
Becky Troutman  
Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, and Scott  
Santiago  
Absent:  
H.  
COUNTY MANAGER (BILL BEASLEY)  
H.1. Thompson Nursery Road (Phase 2, Segment 5) Infrastructure Agreement.  
(County reimbursement not to exceed $4,729,067.16 and includes a Developer  
contribution in the amount of $1,187,326.75 for a total project cost of  
$5,916,393.91)  
Minutes: County Manager Bill Beasley discussed the Thompson Nursery Road Phase  
2, Segment 5 Infrastructure Agreement. He recommended approval.  
Upon question, Mr. Beasley said this is the area annexed into the City of Lake Wales.  
He said Winter Haven is on the north side.  
Shelton Rice, Peterson and Myers, said the development and entitlements were  
annexed to the city around 2019. He said it was entitled through a master development  
plan. He said it has mixed uses from commercial, residential, retail and office. He said  
there are two primary access points. He said the plan contemplates up to 6,000  
residential units and is likely to come in less than that. He stated it is still going through  
the engineering process. He said it connects to 27 south of Thompson Nursery Road  
and Thompson Nursery Road is the northern boundary.  
Thado Hays, Concurrency and Entitlements Manager, said the property to the north is  
in the process of doing a proportionate share agreement to see what proportion their  
payment is for the actual improvement to Thompson Nursery Road.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Becky Troutman  
Bill Braswell  
Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, and Scott  
Santiago  
Absent:  
H.2. Approve piggyback agreement with 1) Rep Services, Inc. and 2) Bliss Products  
and Services, Inc. to provide various park and playground equipment. (estimated  
$3,000,000.00 to $4,500,000.00 annual recurring expense)  
Minutes: County Manager Bill Beasley discussed the piggyback agreement with Rep  
Services, Inc., and Bliss Products and Services, Inc., providing various park and  
playground equipment. He recommended approval.  
Commissioner Scott said it is great that the county continues to invest in our parks and  
the adaptation of equipment to be applicable to all types of users. He said it is a great  
investment.  
Mr. Beasley said this Board has been good with one-time capital funding for these  
types of investments.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Bill Braswell  
Becky Troutman  
Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, and Scott  
Santiago  
Absent:  
H.3. Approve 1) construction contract with Ajax Paving Industries of Florida, LLC, for  
the US 27 at Tierra Del Sol intersection improvement project. ($2,286,826.36  
one-time expense), and 2) CIP Amendment, and budget transfer in the amount  
of $1,286,827.00 from the Transportation Trust Fund, Reserve Budget  
Stabilization to the Tierra Del Sol Intersection Project.  
Minutes: County Manager Bill Beasley discussed the construction contract with Ajax  
Paving Industries of Florida, LLC, for the US 27 at Tierra Del Sol intersection  
improvement project, CIP Amendment, and budget transfer. He recommended  
approval.  
RESULT:  
APPROVED  
Bill Braswell  
Becky Troutman  
Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, and Scott  
Santiago  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
Absent:  
H.4. Approve the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) 2020-055-03, Guaranteed  
Maximum Price (GMP) Addendum with SEMCO Construction, Inc. for the Polk  
County Utilities AMI radio towers. ($1,479,127.28 one-time expense)  
Minutes: County Manager Bill Beasley discussed the Construction Manager at Risk  
2020-055-03, Guaranteed Maximum Price Addendum with SEMCO Construction, Inc.,  
for the Polk County Utilities AMI radio towers. He recommended approval.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Becky Troutman  
Bill Braswell  
Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, and Scott  
Santiago  
Absent:  
H.5. Approve a behavioral health contract with Peace River Center for Personal  
Development, Inc. (PRC) for the provision of forensic specialists and navigation  
services not to exceed $700,000.  
Minutes: County Manager Bill Beasley discussed the behavioral health contract with  
Peace River Center for Personal Development, Inc., for the provision of forensic  
specialists and navigation services. He recommended approval.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Bill Braswell  
Becky Troutman  
Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, and Scott  
Santiago  
Absent:  
I.  
COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 1 (BECKY TROUTMAN)  
I.1.  
Appoint Bruce W. Lyon as a Member (Seat 2) of the Polk County Industrial  
Development Authority, for the three-year term, February 20, 2025 through  
February 19, 2028.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
APPROVED  
Becky Troutman  
Bill Braswell  
SECONDER:  
Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, and Scott  
Santiago  
AYE:  
Absent:  
I.2.  
Appoint Kimberly Knaisch as a member of the Housing Finance Authority for the  
four-year term, January 22, 2025 through January 21, 2029.  
RESULT:  
APPROVED  
Becky Troutman  
Bill Braswell  
Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, and Scott  
Santiago  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
Absent:  
I.3.  
Commissioner Troutman Comments.  
Minutes: Commissioner Troutman said on Saturday, February 1st, Polk County's  
Parks and Recreation will be doing a run at the Bone Valley ATV Park for the Hunt for  
Sasquatch. She encouraged everyone to attend. She said for the item R. 27 on the  
Consent Agenda for the renovation of the Willow Oaks Fire Department she received  
communication from a fire fighter that wanted to express their sincere thanks and  
gratitude for this long overdue project. She said they wanted the Commissioners to  
know that they appreciate it.  
J.  
COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 3 (BILL BRASWELL)  
J.1. Commissioner Braswell Comments.  
Minutes: Commissioner Braswell said he could not wait for noon to get here yesterday.  
He said it was a long time coming and he is glad it happened.  
Upon question, Clerk and County Comptroller Stacy Butterfield said the Real ID is a  
process with the Tax Collector and you get the star on your identification. She said it  
should not be a surprise because it has been advertised for a long time. She said when  
they go to renew they will have that information. She said she has been told that if you  
do not have a star you cannot get on an airplane.  
Mr. Mink said for the Wahneta drainage ditch they will have a meeting with the O'Kellys  
and the Water Management District and get their input. He confirmed that we will need  
the full plan for the lakes management and then they will have to do studies to take in  
what they are bringing down.  
Commissioner Braswell said he wants to be at the meeting.  
Mr. Mink said something will be brought back to the Board.  
K.  
L.  
COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 4 (MARTHA SANTIAGO)  
K.1. Commissioner Santiago Comments.  
COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 5 (MICHAEL SCOTT)  
L.1. Commissioner Scott Comments.  
Minutes: Commissioner Scott said he appreciates the county's efforts for the hurricane  
debris pick-up. He said they are receiving a little reprieve from concerned residents. He  
said he received a couple emails about Bok Tower Gardens and said DOT has a road  
project. He said he would like the county to weigh in on that and he does not want Bok  
Towers to be impacted for an expansion of a roadway. He said with Wahneta Farms he  
does not want to support flooding downstream. He said we do not want an adverse  
impact ten years from now. He said there are several options to look at. He said to stay  
true to what we should be doing which is they manage their water and we are not  
looking at taking on more water for that.  
County Attorney Randy Mink said the direction from the Board was to get the studies  
done and then the Board will make the final decision from the options.  
Commissioner Braswell said there is no talk of increasing water it is just giving another  
avenue. He said every time we get a heavy rain it floods. He said there is flooding there  
right now. He said they are looking at pulling water back to where it should be.  
Commissioner Scott said he does not like Option 3 with the storage of water because  
of the increase in flow. He said Option 1 and 2 maintain the characteristics. He said a  
portion of the property has wetlands that should have been constructed or was on deck  
to be constructed. He said he does not want us to take land for the betterment of  
someone else.  
M.  
O.  
COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 2 (RICK WILSON, CHAIR)  
M.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 and swore in those who plan to speak.  
O.1. Public Hearing (LDCT-2024-26 Record Drawings and Appendix A Revisions)  
(Adoption Hearing) to consider adoption of a County-initiated request to amend  
multiple sections of the Land Development Code to clarify, document, and  
improve ways to install infrastructure and prepare development sites for  
residential and commercial construction projects. (No Fiscal Impact)  
Minutes: Land Development Director Ben Ziskal discussed the proposed text  
amendment. He said that the Planning Commission and staff recommend approval.  
Upon question, Mr. Ziskal said there are two different groups they meet with twice a  
year. He said one is the local engineers that focuses on the design components and  
the other group focuses on construction and that includes the testing labs and site  
contractors  
The Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Bill Braswell  
Becky Troutman  
Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, and Scott  
Santiago  
Absent:  
O.2. Public Hearing (LDCT-2024-18, Section 220 Warehouse Separation) (First  
Reading), to consider the adoption of a County-initiated request amending  
Section 220, Compatibility related to warehouse uses and loading and unloading  
areas. (No Fiscal Impact)  
Minutes: Land Development Director Ben Ziskal reviewed the proposed text  
amendment. He said that the Planning Commission and staff recommend approval. He  
said this will require additional buffering for light intrusion. He said that this is the first  
reading.  
Upon question, Mr. Ziskal said the opaque fence and the buffering will be required in all  
cases when abutting residential. He said what they have drafted is a facility that has  
four or more loading or unloading areas will be required to have an additional spacing  
of 50 feet where no development can occur. He said they have differentiated between  
facilities that have three or less loading areas.  
The Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke.  
P.  
PUBLIC HEARINGS  
P.1. Public Hearing (LDCU-2024-36 Rodriguez Rights Restoration ABC Road) to  
consider an applicant-initiated request seeking a Conditional Use for recognition  
of a former legal non-conforming use of three dwelling units on one parcel per  
Section 120.H of the LDC. (No Fiscal Impact)  
Minutes: Erik Peterson, Land Development, showed slides and reviewed the proposed  
request for a Conditional Use of three dwelling units on one parcel. He said that the  
Planning Commission recommends approval. He showed photos of the site. He said  
that this is compatible with all the criteria.  
Upon question, Mr. Peterson said the septic systems will have to be re-permitted  
though the Health Department.  
The Chair opened a public hearing; no one spoke.  
RESULT:  
MOVER:  
SECONDER:  
AYE:  
APPROVED  
Bill Braswell  
Michael Scott  
Troutman, Wilson, Braswell, and Scott  
Santiago  
Absent:  
ANNOUNCEMENTS  
Minutes: Regular Board meeting concluded at 10:05 a.m.