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Residents warn committee about school proximity and neighborhood access at proposed jail sites
Summary
Multiple residents told the Hardee County site-selection committee that closeness to North Huachula Elementary School, vehicle access through neighborhoods, and potential aftercare for a proposed mental treatment facility require careful consideration before selecting a site.
Several residents and former officials asked the committee to weigh child safety, traffic and neighborhood disruption when evaluating candidate parcels. Serena Parrish, who lives near one proposed site, urged members to visit the property and see how close school grounds and residential yards are to candidate tracts.
Brandy Hartline and Cody Galat emphasized access: they said sites with direct frontage on Highway 17 or adjacent arterial roads would keep emergency vehicles off quiet residential streets. Others expressed concern about a proposed Tri-County mental-health facility being colocated with the jail, arguing Hardee County currently lacks the supportive housing and outpatient services necessary for safe discharge pathways. The county manager and other staff said the committee’s charge is site selection; questions of operations and funding for a mental facility lie with Tri-County and future procurement steps.
