Polk County commissioners approve contracts, land purchase, appointments; adopt swim exclusion zones and new noise rules

Polk County commissioners on Sept. 2 approved multiple contracts and property actions, confirmed an appointment to the county court services division, advanced boat-ramp design work, adopted vessel-exclusion zones for several Winter Haven lakes and passed a revised county noise ordinance. The board also approved traffic calming on three residential corridors and confirmed a range of board and advisory‑committee appointments.

Manager’s office items and confirmations

- Court services appointment: The board confirmed Lashonda Salters as director of the Polk County Court Services Division, effective Sept. 2, 2025. Beasley noted the position is authorized in the FY24‑25 budget; the negotiated base salary is $130,000 plus roughly $56,000 in benefits. The appointment was presented under the county charter’s confirmation requirement for manager appointments.

- Wellhead construction contract: The board approved a one‑time construction contract not to exceed $3,379,950 for wellhead facilities at Holly Hill Upper Florida aquifer Well No. 2 and Oak Hill Well No. 4. Bid number 25‑Z‑402 produced a lowest responsive bid of $3,219,000 from the responsive bidder as read into the record; the board authorized an allowance/contingency consistent with Resolution 13‑066. Contract time is 300 calendar days for final completion; funding is budgeted in the Utilities Community Investment Program.

- Courthouse electrical site purchase: Commissioners approved a purchase agreement with Rosalita Enterprises, Inc. for approximately 0.5 acre immediately south of the judicial parking garage to site a larger emergency generator and associated switchgear. Purchase price: $1,802,222; estimated closing costs and title services: $10,000 (American Government Services). The county will demolish the existing building on the site to accommodate the generator and buffers to the courthouse electrical systems.

- Lake Marion boat‑ramp design: The board approved a consultant services agreement with Dewberry Engineers, Inc. for professional engineering services not to exceed $496,930.66 to design a replacement boat ramp and associated parking and access at the recently acquired Bellini Preserve on Lake Marion. Staff said permits and construction plans are expected in about a year and that staff will pursue state Boating Improvement Program grants for construction funding. Staff discussed a minimum of 15 trailer parking spaces and a design goal closer to 20–25 trailer spaces with room for future expansion.

Appointments, reappointments and advisory seats

The board confirmed several appointments with little discussion, including: - Harriet Rust — Polk Historical Commission, three‑year term (10/01/2025–09/30/2028). - Reappointments to the Citizens Healthcare Oversight Committee: Pauline Simons Brown (minority representative), Tracy M. Gray (children’s interests), Anne Barnhart (hospital executive member), Peter Veral, M.D. (specialist physicians), Christina Kreiser Jackson (quality of life professional) for staggered four‑year terms listed on the record. - Community Relations Advisory Council appointments: Reverend (name transcribed) Ketib, Sharon Lewis Mathis, and Dr. Shadel Terrell were announced and sworn in for four‑year terms beginning 09/02/2025.

Land‑use and planning items

- Land‑use change (expedited): The board adopted the expedited CPA (CPAS‑2025‑18) to change future land‑use on two small parcels intended to support a future fire station and to designate an existing stormwater management area as Preservation. The Planning Commission had recommended unanimous approval.

- LDC text amendments: Staff presented first readings for two land‑development‑code text amendments that would permit mobile home sales in industrial land‑use in the Southeast Polk SAP, and allow heavy‑equipment sales and service as a conditional use in the Juanita neighborhood industrial district. Both items were first readings; no final board action is required today.

Public‑safety and lakes: vessel exclusion zones and noise ordinance

Following testimony from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office about recurring safety incidents involving boaters and swimmers, the board adopted an ordinance establishing vessel‑exclusion (swim) zones and designated swim areas for Lake Winterset, Lake Clinch and Lake Ariana. Sheriff’s deputies reported repeated unsafe vessel operation in areas where swimmers gather; Lieutenant Benadore told the board deputies had made arrests during dangerous boating incidents. The adopted ordinance creates mapped exclusion zones; the sheriff’s office and staff said any future expansion or boundary amendment would require consultation and approval from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

At the same hearing the board adopted a substantially revised county noise ordinance that removes a prior exemption for certain boating/party activities and gives law enforcement clearer authority to address loud music and disturbances on lakes. Staff clarified that the revised noise rules apply countywide to vessels and to other activities that meet the ordinance’s definition of a noise disturbance; the ordinance does not set new, uniform hours specifically for boating noise but expands enforcement authority for boats and shoreline loud events.

Transportation and traffic calming

Traffic manager Amy Gregory presented public hearings and staff recommendations for three traffic‑calming packages: two speed humps on Wheeler Road North (approved), four speed humps on Avenue U NW in Inwood (approved), and nine speed humps on Dean Street in Mulberry (approved) with a board direction to add a tenth hump at a curve identified during public comment. Staff described survey data showing 80th‑percentile speeds above policy thresholds and reported successful homeowner ballot support for each project per county policy.

Votes at a glance (formal outcomes recorded at the Sept. 2 meeting)

- Consent agenda — approved (unanimous voice vote). - Payroll and disbursements (checks and wires specified in agenda) — approved. - Confirm Lashonda Salters as Polk County Court Services Division director (effective 09/02/2025) — confirmed. - Construction contract (Holly Hill UF aquifer Well No. 2 & Oak Hill Well No. 4) not to exceed $3,379,950 — approved. - Land purchase (Rosalita Enterprises, Inc.) $1,802,222; closing services American Government Services $10,000 — approved. - Consultant services agreement with Dewberry Engineers, Inc. for Lake Marion boat ramp – $496,930.66 — approved. - Appointments and reappointments listed above — approved. - Land‑use CPA (Christina Fire Station; preservation designation for stormwater facility) — adopted (expedited public hearing). - LDC text amendments (mobile home sales in industrial—first reading; heavy equipment conditional use in Juanita—first reading) — first reading (no final vote required). - Speed humps: Wheeler Road North (2) — approved; Avenue U NW (4) — approved; Dean Street (9 + 1 added) — approved. - Vessel exclusion zones for Lake Winterset, Lake Clinch, Lake Ariana — ordinance adopted. - Revised noise ordinance (repeal/replace ordinance 14‑30 as amended) — ordinance adopted.

Speakers relevant to actions

- Ben Beasley, County Manager — presented manager’s items and agreements. - Lashonda Salters — appointee, Polk County Court Services Division (confirmed). - Amy Gregory — Traffic Manager, Roads & Drainage Division (traffic‑calming items). - Ben Ziskel — Land Development Director (expedited land‑use hearings). - Lieutenant Benadore — Polk County Sheriff’s Office (testimony supporting vessel exclusion zones). - Miss Butterfield — Finance/Clerk (presented payroll and invoices).

Authorities referenced in meeting record

- Polk County Charter — manager appointment confirmation requirement (referenced for G‑1 Salters confirmation). - Resolution 13‑066 — cited in contract award contingency language for water wellhead contract (referenced in G‑2). - Bid No. 25‑Z‑402 — competitive solicitation for wellhead construction (referenced in G‑2). - State Boating Improvement Program (grant source) — cited as a potential construction funding source for Lake Marion ramp design (referenced in G‑4).

Clarifying details

- MSTU and budgets: MSTU annual revenue approx. $2.5 million; 2025 stormwater spending spike cited at roughly $27 million (see stormwater article). - Well contract: Lowest responsive bid $3,219,000; total authorized award not to exceed $3,379,950 including allowance/contingency; 300 calendar days to final completion. - Courthouse property: Purchase price $1,802,222; site approximately 0.5 acre with a 7,200‑square‑foot concrete block building to be demolished; estimated closing services $10,000. - Boat ramp design: Dewberry contract not to exceed $496,930.66; staff anticipate design and permitting within about a year and will pursue Boating Improvement Program grants for construction; design seeks 15 minimum trailer parking spaces with potential for 20–25. - Vessel-exclusion process: FWC approval required to amend ordinance boundaries after adoption; county must coordinate amendments with FWC.

Community relevance

Geographies impacted: Winter Haven (Lake Winterset, Lake Marion), Mulberry (Dean Street traffic calming), Oak Hill, Holly Hill, countywide noise enforcement.

Funding sources: Utilities Community Investment Program, county general capital funds, ARP, state grants (Boating Improvement Program), bid proceeds/contract contingencies.

Impact groups: court operations staff, lakefront residents, recreational boaters, road users near traffic calming sites, taxpayers.

Meeting context

- Engagement level: Dozens of public speakers for lake safety/noise and animal control later in meeting; large public‑comment turnout for Lake Winterset items. - Implementation risk: Medium (projects require permitting, grant awards or interagency approval such as FWC for swim‑zone boundaries). - History: Several projects are continuations of long‑running planning efforts (Lake Marion/Bellini Preserve purchase, wellhead upgrades, prior stormwater planning).