Lynn Haven approves roughly $4.5 million in equipment and infrastructure purchases; delays decision on Mill Bayou streetlights

The Lynn Haven City Commission on Oct. 4 approved a series of contracts and equipment purchases totaling roughly $4.5 million for vehicles, public-safety gear, water system upgrades and sidewalk construction, and tabled a requested transfer of streetlights in the Mill Bayou subdivision while asking the neighborhood and Florida Power & Light for more pricing detail.

The actions came during a regularly scheduled meeting at Lynn Haven City Hall where commissioners voted on budgeted and grant-funded items ranging from a custom Sutphen fire engine to new automated meter-reading equipment and a five-year vehicle-tracking contract. The most costly single item approved was a Sutphen custom fire engine for $1,036,122; an FDOT Local Agency Program agreement to build the Tennessee Avenue sidewalk (Phase 2) — fully reimbursable to the city — was approved at about $1.18 million.

Why it matters: the purchases replace aging fleet and complete planned infrastructure projects, city staff said, and several of the items are tied to restricted funds or grant reimbursements. The approvals touch public safety (new engine, bunker gear, thermal cameras), sanitation and public works (garbage and knuckle-boom trucks, front-end loader), and long-running utility upgrades (water meters and lift-station engineering) that city staff said are necessary to maintain service levels.

Key approved items and context

- Fire equipment and public-safety gear: The commission approved purchase of a custom Sutphen fire engine for $1,036,122 (funded in the FY26 budget, noted staff) and 24 sets of new, PFAS-free bunker gear at $111,514.80. The commission also approved $77,920 for eight thermal-imaging cameras. Fire Chief Mark Johnson told the commission the 1998 engine has become unreliable and that the bunker-gear purchase aligns with state standards to reduce firefighters' exposure to PFAS.

- Fleet and public-works equipment: The commission approved a Komatsu front loader for $216,756.97, a Peterbilt Labrie side-loader garbage truck for $408,740.81, and a Peterbilt knuckle-boom truck for $238,000 to support sanitation and stormwater operations. City staff said sanitation is an enterprise fund and those acquisitions were included in equipment planning.

- Water system and technology contracts: The commission approved $749,060 to Core & Main for water meters and transmitters as part of the city's automatic meter reading (AMI) rollout; City staff said roughly 6,000 meters are currently on the AMI system and the purchase continues the multi-year replacement program. The commission also approved a 60-month Samsara contract for GPS hardware and licensing for non-emergency fleet vehicles ($287,937) and approved a memorandum of agreement with the Bay County Sheriff's Office for police information-technology support and software access at $5,714.29 per month.

- Engineering, drainage and lift stations: The commission authorized task orders and engineering work including $146,399 to Panhandle Engineering for improvements at Lift Stations 11 and 47 and $50,871.81 to Dewberry for the Merrick entrance drainage design; those items are intended to address recurring pump and force-main problems the city has identified.

- Sidewalks and small contract changes: The commission approved a change order of $1,900 for the Minnesota Avenue sidewalk project (grant-funded) and approved the FDOT Local Agency Program agreement for Phase 2 of the Tennessee Avenue sidewalk project, a $1,177,304 construction and construction engineering inspection (CEI) agreement that staff said will be fully reimbursed by FDOT.

Mill Bayou streetlights: decision delayed

The meeting included extended public comment and discussion about a request from the Villages of Mill Bayou HOA to transfer ownership of its street lighting to the city. Residents and an HOA representative urged the commission to accept the transfer and noted prior investments; others and several commissioners said the move would shift a recurring cost to all city taxpayers.

Resident Ryan Scray argued that transferring the lights would shift private developer or HOA costs onto taxpayers and called the proposal “fiscally irresponsible.” A representative for the Mill Bayou HOA said the subdivision had long borne the expense of decorative lighting and sought parity with other parts of the city.

Commissioners ultimately voted to table the Mill Bayou lighting transfer, asking the HOA to return with cost detail from Florida Power & Light (FPL) and for staff to review comparable lighting options. The motion to table passed by commission vote.

Public comment and other business

Residents raised other community concerns during public comment, including traffic congestion at Hawks Landing (parents and the Hawks Landing HOA asked the city to coordinate with Bay District Schools on traffic patterns and potential turn-lane changes), questions about historical personnel matters and litigation updates involving former city staff, and requests for transparency on large expenditures. The city manager and department staff answered several procedural and funding questions from commissioners and residents.

Votes at a glance (items approved or acted on Oct. 4, 2025)

- Resolution approving memorandum of agreement with Bay County Sheriff's Office for IT support and software access — $5,714.29 per month. Outcome: approved (4–0). Provenance: meeting discussion began ~6369s and vote ~6642s.

- Purchase: Komatsu front loader — $216,756.97. Outcome: approved (4–0). Provenance: introduced ~7138s; vote ~7368s.

- Purchase: Labrie Peterbilt side-loader garbage truck — $408,740.81. Outcome: approved (4–0). Provenance: introduced ~7392s; vote ~7847s.

- Purchase: Peterbilt knuckle-boom truck — $238,000. Outcome: approved (3–1; Commissioner Tender voted no). Provenance: introduced ~7858s; roll call ~7959s.

- Purchase: Sutphen custom fire engine — $1,036,122 (budgeted, half-cent surtax noted). Outcome: approved (4–0). Provenance: introduced ~7991s; roll call ~8230s.

- Purchase: thermal-imaging cameras (8) — $77,920. Outcome: approved (4–0). Provenance: introduced ~8247s; roll call ~8317s.

- Purchase: 24 sets of bunker gear — $111,514.80. Outcome: approved (4–0). Provenance: introduced ~8332s; roll call ~8457s.

- Purchase: water meters and transmitters (AMI program) — $749,060. Outcome: approved (4–0). Provenance: introduced ~8485s; roll call ~8552s.

- Contract: Samsara 60-month GPS/vehicle tracking contract — $287,937 (total). Outcome: approved (4–0). Provenance: introduced ~8578s; roll call ~8920s.

- Task order: Panhandle Engineering — Lift Stations 11 & 47 engineering — $146,399. Outcome: approved (3–1; Commissioner Tender voted no). Provenance: introduced ~8968s; roll call ~9200s.

- Task order: Dewberry — Merrick entrance drainage design — $50,871.81. Outcome: approved (3–1; Commissioner Tender voted no). Provenance: introduced ~9230s; roll call ~9301s.

- Change order: Minnesota Avenue sidewalk (grant) — $1,900. Outcome: approved (4–0). Provenance: introduced ~11227s; roll call ~11308s.

- FDOT LAP agreement: Tennessee Avenue sidewalk construction & CEI — $1,177,304 (fully reimbursable). Outcome: approved (4–0). Provenance: introduced ~11343s; roll call ~11668s.

- Mill Bayou streetlight transfer (agenda item 26): Motion to table pending FPL pricing and HOA documentation. Outcome: tabled (commission voted to table). Provenance: discussion began ~9316s; tabling vote ~11029s.

What commissioners and staff said

- Interim City Manager Chris Lightfoot presented and answered technical and funding questions on several items, including that the water meters and vehicle purchases are drawn from enterprise and budgeted funds. He also explained that the Panhandle and Dewberry work are part of continuing services contracts.

- Commissioner discussion focused on budget constraints, whether items were previously budgeted or grant-funded, and the budget impact of absorbing recurring costs from private developments (the Mill Bayou lighting request).

- Mill Bayou HOA representatives and residents urged the commission to accept the streetlights, saying the subdivision had long borne costs and sought parity with other parts of the city. Opponents, including resident Ryan Scray, urged the commission not to assume recurring private costs, calling the transfer “fiscally irresponsible.” (Quote from Ryan Scray: “This proposal asks 133 households to save $9 per month each by asking thousands of other residents to pay more over time. It’s not just unfair — it’s fiscally irresponsible.”)

What’s next

Staff said they will return with the FPL pricing and additional documentation requested by the commission on the Mill Bayou lights. For approved projects, staff will advance purchase orders, task orders and grant documents and return to the commission with construction bids or award recommendations as required by procurement rules and grant conditions.

Speakers (attribution whitelist)

- Chris Lightfoot, Interim City Manager (city staff) - Amy Myers (city attorney) - Mark Johnson, Fire Chief (city staff) - Kiki Roman (finance staff) - Commissioner Wark (elected official) - Commissioner Purnell (elected official) - Commissioner Tender (elected official) - Mayor Pro Tem Peoples (elected official) - Commissioner Ward (elected official) - Ryan Scray (resident, commenter) - Mill Bayou HOA president (resident; name not specified in transcript) - Courtney Stewart (resident, Hawks Landing) - Dr. Dave Lowery (Hawks Landing HOA president) - Johnny Beshears (resident) - Keith Baker (resident) - Alvin Peters (attorney, representing former city manager) - Cecile Schoon (commenter, representing former city manager) - Ebony Burrell (Communications & Marketing Coordinator, employee of the quarter)

Authorities cited in meeting

- Florida Statutes, sections 163.3191 and 163.3177 (comprehensive plan / evaluation and appraisal report) — referenced during the comprehensive-plan ordinance reading. - Florida Statute 380.093 subsection 3 (sea level rise compliance language referenced in comprehensive plan amendments) - FDOT Local Agency Program (LAP) agreement — Tennessee Avenue sidewalk project (grant). - Procurement threshold noted in meeting discussion: $35,000 (staff said purchases exceeding that threshold come to commission).

Actions (structured)

[The list below reflects formal agenda actions approved or tabled during the meeting. Motion makers/seconders are included when named in the transcript; when not specified the field is left "not specified." Vote tallies are taken from the roll calls recorded in the meeting transcript.]