The St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 21 handled a broad slate of formal business, approving multiple ordinances, budget and planning items and several development site plans.

The board voted to repeal a 1989 county ordinance that required community water fluoridation, a step county attorney Dan McIntyre said would allow water providers such as the City of Port St. Lucie and local water authorities to decide the matter themselves following guidance from the State Surgeon General. "Repealing the ordinance just allows us those entities to decide for themselves whether fluoridation is appropriate or not," McIntyre said. Motion carried by voice vote.

On the countys finances, the board approved a budget resolution recognizing $205,693,732 of unanticipated revenue and balance-forward adjustments tied to FY2024 closing balances and capital project reconciliations. Jennifer Hill, the countys managing budget director, said the amendment reconciles beginning balances, adjusts interfund transfers and recognizes other unanticipated revenue.

Economic development: the board approved a fourth amendment to a Job Growth Investment Grant agreement for a manufacturing company (Arcosa/Accel referenced in staff backup) that shifts the schedule of job-creation milestones and flips payment timing to better align incentives with the company's revised hiring timeline. County staff said the total incentive amount does not change; the company has created 18 of the 125 jobs required to date and requested milestone adjustments after equipment-delivery delays. Commissioners debated whether to deny further amendments or to accept a rescheduled payment plan; the board approved the amendment and directed staff to return in March with proposals for guardrails on future incentive extensions.

Policy/administration: the board adopted a one-page government-relations strategic graphic that staff can use during legislative committee weeks but agreed on two immediate edits: add the word "roads" under the infrastructure pillar and change "balancing impacts of development" to "growth management." Staff said a larger strategic plan will be finalized after the legislative session and during an upcoming budget update.

Public works/roads and drainage: the board adopted the culvert-assistance program assessment resolution, authorizing MSBU special assessments to fund stormwater culvert replacements where property owners elect to participate. The board also approved a road paving-waiver request for a minor three-lot subdivision at 1057 South 37th Street, waiving the developer's fair-share paving contribution subject to conditions.

Wetlands and conservation: the board approved a Category 1 wetland waiver for a Brown residence on South Ocean Drive on Hutchinson Island to allow construction of a single-family residence with a limited shared access drive and mitigation. Staff noted unavoidable impacts of 0.152 acres of wetland and 0.003 acres of wetland buffer; the applicant agreed to preserve the remaining wetland and buffer by conservation easement and to buy mitigation credits. The board also approved a companion resolution to accept the conservation easement and related monitoring and dune/sea-turtle protection plans.

Major site plans: the board approved final site plans for two large pods within the Oak Ridge Ranch (Solaris) planned development: Pod 5 (292 acres, 859 dwelling units; approved 4-1) and Pod 6 (approximately 331 acres, 1,000 units; approved 4-1). Staff presented conditions that include phased infrastructure requirements, a hold-harmless provision tied to completion timelines for transportation improvements, and the requirement that amenity centers be completed by issuance of 40% of building permits for each pod. Commissioner Clasney registered repeated objections to the use of preserve-area credits to meet up to 50% of public recreation obligations; other commissioners supported approval and cited infrastructure and design commitments.

Honors: the board adopted a resolution supporting the state designation of a portion of I-95 (mile markers 115120) as the Trooper Zachary Fink Memorial Highway.

Votes at a glance (selected items)
- Repeal of 1989 fluoridation ordinance: approved by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
- FY2025 budget amendment (recognize $205,693,732): approved by voice vote.
- Job Growth Investment Grant, 4th amendment (Arcosa/Accel): approved (motion carried by voice vote; board directed staff to revisit incentive guardrails in March).
- Strategic government-relations graphic (with two edits): approved (motion carried by voice vote).
- Road paving waiver (1057 S. 37th St.): approved (motion carried by voice vote; conditions apply).
- Culvert Assistance Program (MSBU assessment resolution): approved (voice vote).
- Category 1 wetland waiver (Brown residence, South Ocean Drive): approved (motion carries; conditions require conservation easement, mitigation credits and monitoring plans).
- Acceptance of conservation easement and associated plans (companion to Brown waiver): approved (voice vote).
- Oak Ridge Ranch Pod 5 final site plan: approved 4-1 (opposed: Commissioner Clasney).
- Oak Ridge Ranch Pod 6 final site plan: approved 4-1 (opposed: Commissioner Clasney).
- Trooper Zachary Fink Memorial Highway resolution: approved (voice vote).

Board members and staff said they expect follow-up briefings on infrastructure funding, monitoring of incentive agreements and continued public engagement on neighborhood drainage concerns.