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

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.