[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6668143,"mediaKeyId","2241235-6907e454dad21229befa35672c462ea6","parentId",2241235,"title","Commissioners approve extension request process for Allen Road to enable parcel split","audioSeconds",144,"startMs",6559000,"endMs",6703000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2241235-6907e454dad21229befa35672c462ea6&start=6559&end=6703","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2241235-6907e454dad21229befa35672c462ea6/thumbnail_6559000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6668143/Hardee-County/Florida/Commissioners-approve-extension-request-process-for-Allen-Road-to-enable-parcel-split","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668143-542b7cf74611f85bdf008c724a7dd26b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773608211&Signature=YkkqwQDlykcKioIhuUrhP~72B~6aNnkqOtGlyNsTqZb1oX~bZ1gx7~bwMH~39jvQBv5TGNwUKxljLq-q-St8C~UO6-5p5ZJ79okwmsF6wsOwKt5eN87n-253GD7yMR2OeoGjNz5ymQmcN9kdAmUja~FCw295SWNZ2RhOjtNs9MaD4je7CNrjzTxO4kBV~wxJvnkyNIlJwVI-fulD1OjDLYt3ewDB87UrOTF1cG9hWF-ImlFzBYGPMIHLkBD4OU31R7JmXkpfbBAeVMlwEMwmglXKYIAtzykVFejXRck~CGoG0lTtWkNZD4~9oyCaj9ygbgr58JoYeHunrQx6J339-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hardee County","date","2025-02-06T08:31:00Z","article","Hardee County staff presented a request on Feb. 6 from the Thao family to extend 120 feet of Allen Road into their property so they can subdivide parcels and create new building lots.

Project coordinator Tara Holt told the board that Allen Road has been county maintained for more than seven years and that the Thao family constructed the 120-foot extension at their expense and had the work inspected by county staff; the county’s right-of-way width was reported as 20 feet and the department found the extension met county standards for acceptance into county maintenance. Staff noted that other parcels in the vicinity have access from Terrell Road and that the newly created lots would require new driveway and culvert permits.

Commissioners asked whether the newly extended roadway provides adequate turnaround space for county equipment; staff said the right-of-way and layout were reviewed and allow grader turnarounds for maintenance. Commissioners noted the county’s pavement-prioritization process generally ranks dead-end roads lower for paving but that accepting the extension into maintenance fits county practice for providing public access when privately built to standards.

Staff recommended approval of the resolution to accept the extension and add the 120 feet to county-maintained mileage; the board discussed but did not record a formal separate vote at the workshop. The item will be processed administratively per county policy for acceptance of dedicated road extensions and the property owners will be required to secure driveway/culvert permits for new lots.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Hardee County - Hardee County Board of County Commissioners - Feb 06, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Property owners requested a 120-foot extension of county maintenance on Allen Road to enable a parcel split; staff reported the family built and funded the extension to county standards and the board agreed to accept the extension into county maintenance and to require driveway/culvert permits for the subdivided parcels.","taxTitle","Hardee County, Florida","taxId",72884,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6668146,"FDOT adds funding; low bid for County Road 663 resurfacing within supplemental agreement",313,6761000,7074000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2241235-6907e454dad21229befa35672c462ea6&start=6761&end=7074","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2241235-6907e454dad21229befa35672c462ea6/thumbnail_6761000.jpg","/articles/6668146/Hardee-County/Florida/FDOT-adds-funding-low-bid-for-County-Road-663-resurfacing-within-supplemental-agreement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668146-01a32dc75e810aadf24ed3a94879d7b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1773608211&Signature=bcbEW6ufpXdugi~TJM5JLh8muEq1iXasssphO0f-gvGrIzIbYh-DSBzNLlmLN8FncIJnIjWb~6UDGq5mZlPdiFQyMOlXUd4lGiMI9PoLv4-G1T~Dz2SzGG01ZNsYenCx46BoUNOLUr04LFHmnu01n7e2bJZb0W8Q0oiguZGb6Ag0PEa67rPXUHjcjfBnJRrwR8IVxa93FnUXDCEGpDLKZqb4nfDhobCnf5-VpFuLvnA40bZc6mEkwTHy-CTE2exnU3Pph0u6JohLyQYNocZ6XLWTNcAGWJj7cWsYQdcJDzXQ21-Fa7GK7nrHyDSxSQ0AxmG7dY46DY~EmZojdyZ91g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County staff presented bid results and a request for supplemental FDOT agreements on Feb. 6 for resurfacing approximately 7.6 miles of County Road 663 between State Road 64 and the DeSoto County line.

Three contractors submitted bids. Staff recommended the low responsive bidder, Ajax Paving, under a package that accepted two deductive alternates (reducing two segments and reducing structural asphalt thickness from 3 inches to 2.25 inches) to bring the work within scope. After tabulation, staff said Ajax’s bid left a shortfall on segments 1 and 3 (cited in staff’s tabulation as roughly $284,518 for segment 1 and $80,920 for segment 3), while segment 2 had an excess. Staff reported that it requested additional funding from the Florida Department of Transportation following the bid opening and that FDOT agreed to provide the supplemental funding to cover the shortfalls.

Staff said the county’s previous request for State ARPA and SCRAP funding covered much of the project and that FDOT’s supplemental amounts would allow the county to proceed. Because FDOT requires separate supplemental agreements and resolutions for the affected segments, staff brought separate resolutions for board consideration to execute those agreements. The county’s consultant and staff noted the bid-protest and award period timelines; staff recommended the board authorize award to Ajax Paving once FDOT’s supplemental agreements are executed and to approve the corresponding resolutions so the department can finalize contracting.

Commissioners asked for clarifications on segment limits and funding sources; staff explained the three segments correspond to different funding streams (State ARPA for the northern segment and SCRAP funds for the others). No formal award was recorded at the workshop; staff said it would present the formal award and executed agreements in a future meeting once FDOT’s supplemental paperwork is complete.","Bids for a 7.6-mile resurfacing of County Road 663 came in below some initial budgets but with shortfalls on two segments; FDOT agreed to cover the shortfalls and staff recommended awarding to low responsive bidder Ajax Paving pending the supplemental agreements.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6668151,"County seeks 160 kW generator to maintain jail power until grant project completes",130,7143000,7273000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2241235-6907e454dad21229befa35672c462ea6&start=7143&end=7273","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2241235-6907e454dad21229befa35672c462ea6/thumbnail_7143000.jpg","/articles/6668151/Hardee-County/Florida/County-seeks-160-kW-generator-to-maintain-jail-power-until-grant-project-completes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668151-b50eae9a0a5f1b964975d72c261384d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1773608211&Signature=S2cJuDAQcXbtRiXq823dYuys7a9KTTnu05eMEFUc9b2oCMfQFjvWeASE3YOEOEwz5~yklbMmiy19fvTW0lPO1HrYAo9e3O1SRnCAXQcjyXUP3Sgu~HoKgeV4OwK1KD58jjgn4bIeQISt9h8NZWHkOyEA35AVEBBLuPfFglXkTCCHog--xVMuhzZNVAYaAwbGlg~g2d~YgEnrgreDk3Fw5d5FknG2OSrC3N9n-OOwNJR8LHZ-05yEWg8DSMv2MHuTmW0xfCIEwmTbVpJw2E44UaSo4X78juv9S~3f25dR87kukSbzT0GlqOnDrfslXdAXZUs2bF6J~1npQPEVY0AuzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County staff told the Hardee County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 6 that the sheriff’s office emergency power system has been degrading and that staff identified a commercially available 160-kilowatt generator for $119,000 to maintain full operations until a larger Hazard Mitigation Grant Program project is completed.

According to staff, the generator procurement process for the larger grant-funded project is lengthy — contractors have warned of lead times up to 60 weeks — and the county’s current backup sources include a federal unit that could be reassigned. The county’s contractor told staff the new generator could be delivered significantly sooner and would eliminate recurring emergency repairs and reliance on the federal unit.

Staff said funds for the $119,000 purchase are available in the current fiscal-year budget and recommended buying the generator, noting it would also become a county asset for future use. Commissioners asked clarifying questions; no formal vote was recorded on the workshop agenda. Staff said they would proceed with procurement subject to the board’s future formal action (if required by procurement rules) and would coordinate final contract signatures through the chair or county manager.","County staff proposed buying a 160 kW generator to stabilize emergency power at the Hardee County jail while a longer Hazard Mitigation Grant-funded project proceeds; staff said funds are available in the current budget and asked the board to authorize purchase.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6668155,"County to join Florida severe-weather network; state to place up to five weather stations",123,3080000,3203000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2241235-6907e454dad21229befa35672c462ea6&start=3080&end=3203","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2241235-6907e454dad21229befa35672c462ea6/thumbnail_3080000.jpg","/articles/6668155/Hardee-County/Florida/County-to-join-Florida-severe-weather-network-state-to-place-up-to-five-weather-stations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668155-43e413b0122e53462d2eda42ee13f917/orig.mp4?Expires=1773608211&Signature=luYAybkJotsgWYlavqZHBhdYjnVknStxsleQeFPXf5G2RqIIRHC~JSIAtVVvNtEg21-sgdoOejrlYfYwCnGK1vGPj1zPxe12WbPNMp9-HgdO-~g8byRkwTixVhjbCJDJdMHY4Mdc0RhE0iSBQlHYCIa21X63T5c4KZgFWY5kfmtvRNfmwqVsSiapH79WYy3EehPrvBMEc3VsIxLqh04aInZ8HBlDLs3RaFJoho0eUnbfiMeRRzQKyYX0n3siUvx99cOSWNkAEA-mEFNQ7O2GmNSf9VAqf9~JKj4F8HYJpZPEi-GJZ6CnfQWAxFwwkWRvoUzGgjgEll8jERZR39tFpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hardee County’s emergency management director presented a memorandum of agreement on Feb. 6 to join the Florida Severe Weather network and to host up to five weather stations placed by the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

The agreement allows county-owned weather stations to be configured to report to the National Weather Service and provides for installation and three years of maintenance by the state. The counties would be responsible for maintenance costs thereafter; staff estimated those ongoing costs at about $2,000 per year but said participating counties in the program have not necessarily been charged in past years as the program matures.

The director said two county-owned stations already existed but did not report to the National Weather Service, leaving the county as a coverage gap in regional weather reporting. The new stations are solar-powered, have cellular telemetry and include public live-streaming camera capability. Two of the stations are planned for county parks, which staff said will also allow remote public viewing of park conditions.

Commissioners asked whether airport automated-surface observation data could be integrated; staff said the airport station exists but is not as publicly accessible and that the FEMA/State stations will provide a simple public website login for live conditions. No formal action was recorded at the workshop; staff presented the memorandum and opened questions.

The board did not record a vote at the workshop; staff said the state would fund the initial purchase and installation and that the county’s responsibility would begin after the three-year maintenance period.","Emergency management presented a memorandum allowing placement of up to five state-owned weather stations that will report to the National Weather Service; the state covers initial purchase and three years’ maintenance.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6668160,"Hardee County commissioners hear East Academy pitch, discuss preserving Rest Haven as school",1947,345000,2292000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2241235-6907e454dad21229befa35672c462ea6&start=345&end=2292","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2241235-6907e454dad21229befa35672c462ea6/thumbnail_345000.jpg","/articles/6668160/Hardee-County/Florida/Hardee-County-commissioners-hear-East-Academy-pitch-discuss-preserving-Rest-Haven-as-school","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668160-a64f48a7cd5042e16a43aef7bf4a5437/orig.mp4?Expires=1773608211&Signature=cy1zmIe4QqM-bzt2dfwoPDj9fbSc0eWVI724U7WFqS2wGp6ePJHdNMst2Jn3QNZoxG3W9M4pVsqjU3kkP5CbR9KcPfhpf7ZOePgBPdcoQ8Pr3Ilp1uhG9VlrZJgtwnjL8FzdEXZHz4jdM7pXneDs-F~6euRBvE7H5ZEavaD~LaKyeM39nAh7b7eT~9iNBBUPx58uyv2zxxBcT0dy-kxUv7shGO8ZyNGJGMdfpJrlfrMd3sfZ0~uBiajWQfetAGqmZfyJVrCdXNkjyTsxeFRSmy6ZfW7rvDlqm4xrdTHkU4cO-Z0XVX8mAlDb8aI8DiR3RRu3aISXvj6NCTFQtQDQ8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","East Academy co-owners Blair Thornton and Brandy Hartline told the Hardee County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 6 that their private school has grown from a handful of students in 2023 to more than 100 and asked the county to consider a partnership that could allow the school to make Rest Haven its permanent campus.

The presentation and ensuing discussion focused on East Academy’s model — small class sizes, a staff of certified teachers and family engagement — and on whether Rest Haven, a county-owned historic facility that the county has posted for public sale, could be preserved as a school. Brandy Hartline described East Academy’s approach to families and instruction and said, “The definition of fair is not everybody gets the same thing. The definition of fair is everybody gets what they need.”

East Academy said it began in 2023 with modest space and has expanded its programs and enrollment, now offering prekindergarten through eighth grade with plans to add ninth grade. The founders said the school seeks a permanent location outside city limits to enable agricultural-education programming, FFA activities and room for future expansion. They said they have located Rest Haven as an appealing site because of its size, heritage and out-of-city location, and asked the county whether a partnership could be formed to preserve and reuse the building for education.

County staff reported that Rest Haven has been posted for sale on the government auction site GovDeals and that an initial auction period closed with no offers; a later posting attracted thousands of page views and watchers. Staff said the current highest bid at the time of the update was $275,000, which staff said did not meet an appraised value they cited of $384,000. Commissioners and staff also discussed other posted price signals and a previously cited assessed value of $1,300,000; participants noted inconsistencies in listing and reserve information and asked staff to clarify the posted “buy it now” and reserve figures.

Commissioners expressed support for the idea of Rest Haven returning to a school or assisted-living use, but they did not take action to sell, lease or transfer the property at the Feb. 6 workshop. Instead, the board directed staff and the county attorney to continue the public posting through the current GovDeals listing cycle, to return at the March workshop with options for competitive disposal, and to present potential pathways that could include sale, lease (including triple-net options), or a structured partnership with a local organization such as East Academy. Commissioners also requested that staff obtain clear information about capital and regulatory constraints — in particular, septic and water-system requirements — and to commission or collect an independent structural inspection and an assessment of infrastructure needs so potential partners would know expected upgrades and costs.

County staff said there were no dollars budgeted this fiscal year for structural or engineering assessments and that procuring such reports would follow normal procurement and budgeting processes; staff indicated they would bring cost estimates and options back in March. The board asked staff to consider advertisement language and competitive processes that could limit acceptable uses (for example, educational or assisted-living uses) if the board wanted to preserve the site’s heritage and constrain future uses. The county attorney and manager cautioned that any request to limit responses must still be publicly advertised and conducted to ensure fairness and avoid spot-zoning or disproportionate liability for the county.

The item closed with commissioners broadly supportive of preserving Rest Haven’s historical character and expressing interest in partnering with a local school operator but emphasizing the need for transparent, competitive procedures and clear engineering and regulatory information before any commitment by the county.

No formal motion or final sale decision was recorded at the workshop; staff will report back at the March workshop with updated auction results, legal/financing options, and proposed advertisement language if the board wishes to narrow acceptable uses.","East Academy founders pitched the private K–8 school's growth and asked the county to consider partnering to preserve Rest Haven; commissioners directed staff to continue the public sale while developing options to prioritize school or assisted-living reuse and to return with more information at the March workshop.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners approve extension request process for Allen Road to enable parcel split

FDOT adds funding; low bid for County Road 663 resurfacing within supplemental agreement

County seeks 160 kW generator to maintain jail power until grant project completes

County to join Florida severe-weather network; state to place up to five weather stations

Hardee County commissioners hear East Academy pitch, discuss preserving Rest Haven as school