Commissioners approve multiple infrastructure, parks and utilities contracts; contract for behavioral health services authorized

Polk County commissioners voted Jan. 21 to approve multiple contracts and infrastructure agreements covering roadwork, parks equipment, utilities and behavioral health services, and they also completed several land‑use hearings.

Key board approvals

- Thompson Nursery Road infrastructure agreement (Agenda item H‑1): The board approved an infrastructure agreement with the Peace Creek Crossing Community Development District covering Phase 2, Segment 5 roadway improvements on Thompson Nursery Road. Manager's office materials described a total capital investment of $5,916,393.91, with the community development district contributing $1,187,326.75 and Polk County's construction reimbursement not to exceed $4,729,067.16. The board approved the agreement.

- Park and playground equipment piggyback agreements (H‑2): Commissioners approved piggyback procurement agreements with Rep Services, Inc. and Bliss Products and Services, Inc. to purchase and install inclusive park and playground equipment countywide. County staff estimated annual expenditures for playground equipment and related services could range from about $3,000,000 to $4,500,000 in coming years; funding was identified within the Parks and Natural Resources Leisure Services MSTU Fund.

- US 27 at Tierra del Sol intersection contract (H‑3): The board authorized a construction contract with Ajax Paving Industries of Florida for intersection improvements at U.S. Highway 27 and Tierra del Sol Boulevard, including a new traffic signal and a right‑turn lane, with a not‑to‑exceed contract amount of $2,286,826.36 (including allowances and contingencies) and a 270‑calendar‑day contract time.

- Utilities AMI radio towers (H‑4): Commissioners approved a guaranteed maximum price addendum with Simco Construction, Inc. to build 16 radio communication towers for Polk County Utilities' advanced metering infrastructure system in the southwest utility service area. The not‑to‑exceed construction amount was $1,479,127.28 and the contract time was set at 300 calendar days. County materials said the work will replace drive‑by meter reading with real‑time data transmission and is funded from the utilities operating fund.

- Behavioral health contract (H‑5): The board approved a three‑year contract with Peace River Center for Personal Development to provide forensic specialist and navigation services for competency case management, discharge planning and community behavioral health navigation. The contract term was presented as retroactive to Oct. 1, 2024 through Sept. 30, 2027, with an annual not‑to‑exceed expense of $700,000; funding was budgeted in the indigent health care fund.

Land development and ordinance items

- LDC revision (LDCT‑2024‑26): The board adopted amendments to the land development code changing references from "as‑built" to "record drawings" and updating Appendix A testing and materials references. Staff said the edits were drafted with input from a local engineers and contractors roundtable and the planning commission gave a unanimous recommendation for approval.

- Warehouse separation amendment (LDCT‑2024‑18): Staff presented an amendment (first reading) to require additional buffering, such as opaque fencing and landscaping, where warehousing abuts agricultural or residential districts; the item received a unanimous planning commission recommendation and will return for adoption at a second reading.

- Development rights restoration (LDCU‑2024‑36): The board approved a request to restore historic development rights on a rural property that previously supported three dwellings. Staff said the site met the county's criteria for rights restoration and neighboring parcels have multiple dwellings; the board approved the request.

Votes at a glance (action outcomes recorded in the meeting record)

- H‑1: Infrastructure agreement, Thompson Nursery Road (approved; motion and second recorded; vote recorded as "Aye"; outcome: approved) - H‑2: Piggyback agreements for park/playground equipment (approved) - H‑3: Construction contract with Ajax Paving Industries for US 27 at Tierra del Sol (approved) - H‑4: Guaranteed maximum price addendum with Simco Construction for AMI radio towers (approved) - H‑5: Three‑year contract with Peace River Center for forensic specialist and navigation services (approved) - LDCT‑2024‑26: Land Development Code updates (adopted) - LDCT‑2024‑18: Warehouse separation amendment (first reading; return for adoption) - LDCU‑2024‑36: Development rights restoration (approved)

What commissioners and staff said

Manager's office staff described funding sources and program accounts for each project. For the Thompson Nursery Road agreement, staff said county funding would come from the Community Investment Program account identified for the project and that the request aligns with earlier board commitments to road improvements in the corridor. Shelton Rice, attorney for the developer, told the board the larger master development plan contemplates mixed uses across approximately 1,900 acres, and Stade O'Hays (concurrency entitlements manager) said a proportionate share agreement is in process for adjacent city‑limit properties.

Board process notes

Most manager items carried on voice votes with motions and seconds; the clerk's record and agenda materials list resolutions and budget transfers where applicable (for example, the Ajax contract included a community investment program amendment and a budget transfer from the Transportation Trust Fund reserve). Where first readings occurred (warehouse separation amendment), staff indicated the ordinance will return for adoption after the statutorily required interval.

What to watch: contract execution and project timetables for the Thompson Nursery Road work, the Ajax intersection project and the AMI tower build; forthcoming public hearings (warehouse buffering) and the consultant drafts and board direction for the comprehensive plan update.