The Osceola County Board of Supervisors approved a $337,464.68 pay application for ongoing jail construction and adopted a new environmental health policy aimed at using existing nuisance code to address health and safety threats. The board also voted to decline optional terrorism coverage for the county’s builder’s risk insurance and approved a pay increase for a deputy jailer.

The pay application, presented by the project representative John, itemized general construction, HVAC, electrical work and reimbursable costs and recommended a $337,464.68 draw. After questions about surveying overruns and a damaged shed door, the board approved the payment on a voice vote; Loring moved the motion and Randy Hoof recorded support in the meeting record. “If we’re wanting to see it done in Jerry’s lifetime, we probably need to pay our bills,” said Unidentified Speaker 1, who chaired the meeting.

Why it matters: the payment keeps the jail construction on its schedule to enclose and winterize the facility before Christmas, the contractor said. The environmental health policy the board adopted clarifies that county action on nuisances will be complaint-driven, focus on public-health threats and lean on existing code sections mentioned in the discussion (transcript reference: “6 57 dash 2”) to authorize abatement and, when needed, referral to the county attorney.

Other decisions at the meeting included a motion to decline an optional terrorism endorsement for a builder’s risk policy, which staff estimated would cost roughly $1,100 for a benefit that supervisors judged unlikely to apply during construction. The board recorded a motion (mover recorded in transcript as Helmers) and declined the coverage by voice vote.

The board approved a step increase for Lucas Dahlman, elevating his deputy jailer pay to $66,006.39. The claims docket was approved, including claim 1041 to Boswell Water Service (one abstention recorded on that item). The board also approved a 2026 holiday schedule and handled routine county business including minutes and departmental updates.

Context and next steps: supervisors asked staff to bring certain follow-up items back, including benefit-provider details before any HSA or premium changes are finalized and further documentation on bid thresholds and county purchasing rules. The Board of Health will consider the environmental health policy in January, per the meeting record.

Speakers quoted in this report are identified as they appear in the meeting transcript; unnamed meeting leaders are referred to as “Unidentified Speaker” when the transcript does not provide a full name.