Council splits with staff over FDOT US‑27 landscaping scope, directs further negotiation

Lake Placid public works staff and council debated July 20 whether to accept the full scope of FDOT’s proposed US‑27 median landscaping project or to limit town-maintained responsibility to a shorter segment.

Public Works Director Alan Keefer told council the engineering proposal covers medians from markers 1 through 21; the town currently maintains medians roughly from 1 through 13 with maintenance agreement language extending to about 17. Keefer said extending town maintenance further north would require additional irrigation, staffing or subcontracting and raised safety concerns for staff working in narrow medians where posted speeds increase toward 55 mph.

Some council members urged taking full advantage of the state’s investment and negotiating expanded maintenance responsibilities if necessary; others recommended trimming the town-maintained limits now and asking FDOT to use the freed funds to enhance the southern end where the town already does landscaping. Council also asked FDOT about reclaimed-water irrigation plans and requested backup well options so the system would have redundancy.

Council directed staff to continue discussions with FDOT on irrigation design and scope, to negotiate to protect state investment while keeping staff safety and maintenance capacity in mind, and to return with recommended final designs. Keefer said FDOT is awaiting town notes and plans to proceed quickly—the earliest construction start mentioned was March of next year.