[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6534283,"mediaKeyId","3631980-b3150dfdd3afbf309f3a805e8313098c","parentId",3631980,"title","Polk County commissioners approve landfill engineering contract, AECOM algae pilot and agriculture center design; adopt traffic-calming measures","audioSeconds",7131,"startMs",7139000,"endMs",7529,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3631980-b3150dfdd3afbf309f3a805e8313098c&start=7139&end=7","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3631980-b3150dfdd3afbf309f3a805e8313098c/thumbnail_7139000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6534283/Polk-County/Florida/Polk-County-commissioners-approve-landfill-engineering-contract-AECOM-algae-pilot-and-agriculture-center-design-adopt-traffic-calming-measures","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6534283-e2024f05aec20529895ffbcd7d9ff2ed/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436486&Signature=C3DgSlBhofb4~wmlXWxbm8G7omn8OvzNbwZGvkwkL1UkKQZGNhWKZj1pg9F201jifOh~g7rxmlko3W51hy-dlIZ55pJEMgqwXEOotUkT7eGbXczLVc8M1CTGbFTiQgoLCY0i~CaEBuuAiVqucBzNVQLftZMC0Xnp2WTLTEosq02XzoWjPwC4nqYA8kAJVszwGIbH85sDjaC2-RZaAiMh0BDvZCFNYkqVhAbBNC7Fwdmce1~2PTCH6Rv6U31TdbY2B2XXmAK1sPXo6eOAsRJZxTqpPYyQvSWr-NgKfaje8zVpLDimvVAKDRxGrkoRdz4rLbTzc4Ar2GsioQVSR6n2jA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Polk County","date","2025-06-03T08:02:00Z","article","The Polk County Board of County Commissioners on June 3 approved a slate of contracts and local measures, including professional engineering for a landfill expansion, a state grant-funded pilot to test algae-harvesting technology, design services for a proposed Polk County Agriculture Center and traffic-calming installations in two neighborhoods.

Key board actions (approved by voice vote):
- North Central Landfill Phase 4 engineering: The board authorized an agreement with Jones Edmunds and Associates for professional engineering services related to Phase 4 of the North Central Landfill in an amount not to exceed $2,940,797.77. County staff said phase 6 operations are expected to reach capacity in 2029; the Phase 4 design work will include permitting with state and federal agencies and is expected to conclude most services by January 2029. Staff estimated Phase 4 would provide roughly 16 years of additional capacity and noted the county owns additional expansion acreage at the site.

- AECOM algae-removal pilot (state grant INV 51): The board approved a sole-source agreement with AECOM Technical Services to test its proprietary advanced algae cultivation/harvest technology on Upper Saddle Creek waters, in a one-time contract not to exceed $2,300,000. The full cost will be covered by a Florida Department of Environmental Protection Innovative Technology grant (standard grant agreement INV-51). County staff said the pilot would test nutrient removal upstream of Lake Hancock; if the technology proves effective it could be another tool for broader water-quality efforts.

- Polk County Agriculture Center: The board approved a phase-1 architectural and engineering agreement with The Lunds Group (LUNZ Group in packet) for master planning and design services for an Agriculture Center complex at an amount not to exceed $1,572,400. Staff said the phase-1 scope includes design and cost estimating for an event arena, livestock barns, paddock areas, trailer parking and a maintenance facility; the anticipated timeline for phase 1 completion is roughly two years, with future phases contingent on funding.

- Payroll, wire transfers and invoices: The board approved routine financial items presented by the clerk, including payroll (2,888 direct deposits totaling $4,638,520.22; payroll checks $55,755.23), wire transfers of $34,793,622 for May 20–June 2, 2025, and invoice checks numbered 483555–484457 totaling $16,410,746.73.

- Minutes and routine approvals: The board approved the minutes of the May 20, 2025 regular meeting and ratified consent-agenda items.

- Expedited land-use amendment: The board adopted the planning commission’s unanimous recommendation to approve LDCPA L2024-19 (Minute Maid Ramp Road 1 CPA), a comprehensive-plan land-use change that slightly extends a Tourism Commercial Center designation westward on a 3.2-acre portion of a 13.47-acre parent tract. No public opposition was recorded at today’s hearing.

- Traffic calming: After staff data collection and the required mailed-ballot support from property owners, the board adopted resolutions to install speed humps on two local roads:
- Eleventh Street Southeast in Highland City: four speed humps approved after staff recorded an 85th-percentile speed of about 35 mph with an average daily traffic of ~935 vehicles and an 80% favorable ballot return from fronting property owners.
- Freelander Road (between Tangelo and Lewis Griffin): three speed humps approved after staff recorded similar speed/volume results and the required property-owner approvals; staff said ballots were also distributed to properties with access via Freelander and met the 50% response threshold for those properties.

- Appointment: The board reappointed Sean Malott to the Polk County Industrial Development Authority for a three-year term.

Votes and process notes: Most items were approved by voice vote following motions with a second; the meeting transcript records “Aye” on roll call-style voice votes and the clerk declared motions carried. Where formal tallies were not recorded on the public record, staff and the clerk recorded unanimous approval by the board.

Why it matters: The landfill engineering contract keeps long-term disposal capacity on schedule and protects continuity of county solid-waste operations. The AECOM pilot uses a state grant to test an innovative treatment to remove nutrients before they reach Lake Hancock, part of ongoing water-quality work. The Agriculture Center contract moves a long-discussed community venue into the design phase. The traffic-calming approvals respond to neighborhood safety concerns raised earlier in the meeting.

Ending: The board did not take immediate action on animal-control policy matters raised earlier by the public comment speakers; commissioners said they would follow up with staff and the sheriff’s office where appropriate. The contracts approved on June 3 proceed to next steps of design, permitting and pilot implementation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Polk County - Board of County Commissioners on 2025-06-03 9:00 AM - Jun 03, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Polk County Board of County Commissioners on June 3 approved professional services for landfill expansion, a state-funded algae-removal pilot with AECOM, and design work for a Polk County Agriculture Center, and adopted traffic-calming speed-hump installations in two neighborhoods.","taxTitle","Polk County, Florida","taxId",2874,"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},6534288,"Polk County residents press commissioners for animal-control reforms, TNVR program and greater transparency",4639,787000,5426000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3631980-b3150dfdd3afbf309f3a805e8313098c&start=787&end=5426","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3631980-b3150dfdd3afbf309f3a805e8313098c/thumbnail_787000.jpg","/articles/6534288/Polk-County/Florida/Polk-County-residents-press-commissioners-for-animal-control-reforms-TNVR-program-and-greater-transparency","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6534288-27e22b325e56643693a206639e8901b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436486&Signature=POQr8HauCb2aas4ndsr282~zON4hNl~LU6u4tNMrJob7aaX7xpvxqZoSt1zYBeciLEFz5Kj8T2VWAGX2nOtDSQ1qu38npOwOTN~13gnFfXeDAWGwD-DJEFjj~fqrp-~OV02xK~dFG9x-BMetOfRGqDU2N~jKDY98pE8vNHXwA5V8MtKYZXNShZ99-uQRlq1UxfG~m6fWzxfglfiN~cON4I330xp0mO9t9o1HgtFjwfzZkSg13zRr2DaMandVXkggJZAvQjzuh3wxAM5uIeg8yC4vp6nLWcqg952bGNugOM8oPT7wA91lAyiOswrSpV5fKgfcQUdMwlrZO~LjoLTSgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of residents of Polk County told the Board of County Commissioners on June 3 that Polk County Animal Control’s operations are in crisis and urged the board to push for stronger spay/neuter programs, an official TNVR (trap-neuter-vaccinate-return) program for community cats, more volunteer support and greater transparency.

The appeals came during the general public-comment period. Eve Salambini, president and founder of the Street Cat Project of Polk County, said the shelter’s records and practices show “serious failures in transparency, oversight, morality, and ethical accountability.” She asked the county to publish monthly clear records, establish a countywide TNVR voucher program, adopt enforceable standards and create a public oversight committee.

Supporters cited numbers and examples from other Florida counties to press their case. George Robert Wheaton compared Polk’s outcomes with neighboring counties and said, “Hillsborough’s live outcome rate went from 51 percent in 2013 to 92 percent in 2023,” and told commissioners that Hillsborough estimates it costs $168 to trap, hold and euthanize a cat versus $65 per cat for TNVR. Several rescue volunteers and nonprofit organizers described long volunteer clearance times, instances of animals in poor condition, and frequent owner surrenders.

Why it matters: Residents and rescue groups said higher spay/neuter access, TNVR and smoother volunteer onboarding would reduce shelter intake and euthanasia, save public money and reduce the number of animals needing emergency care. Commenters tied reform to public trust in how tax and donation dollars are spent at Animal Control.

Details and requests from public speakers included:
- Monthly, publicly posted shelter statistics and clear accounting of how the shelter budget is used (Eve Salambini cited a $5,500,000 figure for the broader shelter budget and asked for clarity).
- A countywide TNVR program with vouchers to reduce intake and shelter euthanasia, modeled on nearby counties’ programs (advocated by multiple speakers including George Robert Wheaton and Patty James of Cat Rescue Alliance).
- Faster volunteer screening and foster access; several speakers said the volunteer clearance process can take six to nine months.
- Better animal descriptions, photos and foster options to improve outside networking and adoptions (Jennifer Castro, Patty James).
- Adoption, microchipping and registration processes to ensure animals are returned to owners; speakers said some animals have been reclaimed or euthanized quickly after intake.
- Stronger local ordinances aimed at backyard breeding, tethering and unlicensed sellers, and stiffer penalties for animal abuse (advocated by Sarah Lynn Smith and others; Smith referenced Florida Statute 823.15 in urging reductions of uncontrolled pet breeding).

Board response and limits of authority: Commissioner Braswell told the speakers the sheriff runs Animal Control and said, \"The sheriff runs animal control, and he will continue to run animal control the way he sees fit.\" Multiple commissioners said the sheriff is an independently elected constitutional officer, and that the commission does not directly manage the sheriff’s operations. But commissioners also encouraged residents to contact their offices and said they had heard the concerns and would discuss them further.

Other context offered by speakers and volunteers: several who volunteer or foster animals said they spend personal funds on veterinary care and emergency treatment for animals pulled from Animal Control. Some described facility problems including insufficient climate control and sanitation issues; others said donations of towels and supplies were not always used as expected. One former volunteer, Debbie Hicks, said she resigned because of conditions and staffing concerns.

What the board did: The June 3 session recorded the public concerns and prompted discussion; no ordinance, contract or formal policy change was adopted at the meeting. Commissioners asked staff and constituents to continue dialogue, and they encouraged residents to follow up with the sheriff’s office and the commissioners’ offices.

Ending: Speakers said they will continue community organizing and outreach. Several indicated they are prepared to provide policy proposals and to pursue partnerships with municipal governments and nonprofit rescue groups if the board and sheriff will consider coordinated measures to lower intake and euthanasia rates.

","Dozens of residents of Polk County told the Board of County Commissioners on June 3 that Polk County Animal Control’s operations are in crisis and urged the board to push for stronger spay/neuter programs, an official TNVR (trap-neuter-vaccinate-return) program for community cats, more volunteer support and greater transparency.","actionData","errors"]

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Polk County commissioners approve landfill engineering contract, AECOM algae pilot and agriculture center design; adopt traffic-calming measures

Polk County residents press commissioners for animal-control reforms, TNVR program and greater transparency