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Commissioners waive conflict of interest, appoint Travis Waddell to Rio Neighborhood Advisory Committee
Summary
Board unanimously granted a Chapter 112 conflict‑of‑interest waiver and appointed Travis Waddell to the Rio Neighborhood Advisory Committee after staff said his county contracts were competitively procured and advisory role is non‑contracting.
The board considered and approved a request July 21 to waive an apparent conflict of interest under Florida's ethics provisions and to appoint Travis Waddell to the Rio Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC).
Susan Kouras of the Office of Community Development introduced the item and Frank Morley, assistant county attorney, explained that Waddell had two contractual relationships with the county: a debris removal contract through his company Bridal Construction and a dead‑animal removal contract through Freedom Waste Services. Morley and staff said Waddell filed required disclosure forms and that the contracts were competitively bid and awarded based on price.
Staff said Waddell initially answered “no” to a conflict question on his NAC application but identified a conflict during mandatory NAC training, at which point he resigned the NAC seat and reapplied while staff prepared the waiver request. Commissioners asked whether Waddell's role on the voluntary advisory committee would allow him to approve contracts; staff said the NAC is purely advisory and would not approve county contracts. Commissioners also noted there was an open vacancy rather than a choice between applicants.
Commissioner Vargas said she knows Mr. Waddell and supported his appointment, and Morley and staff said the county attorney's office supports the waiver. The board voted unanimously to waive the conflict and to appoint Waddell to the Rio NAC.
What it means: County staff said the waiver process allows residents with competitive county contracts to serve on advisory bodies when conflicts can be managed (for example by recusal) and when the advisory role does not include contract approval authority.
