Hardee County advisory panel narrows candidate parcels for new sheriff's office, jail to four

The Hardee County Sheriff's Office site-selection committee met in the afternoon and voted to remove multiple candidate parcels from consideration, leaving four tracts under active consideration for a proposed new sheriff's office and jail. Chairing the meeting, Chairman Bryant said the group's formal role is to recommend a site to the Board of County Commissioners; the commission will make the ultimate decision.

Staffer Kyle Long presented nine candidate parcels and an objective screening approach that required at least 15 acres, water/sewer/electric, and location in or contiguous to city limits. After discussion and public comment, the committee eliminated Parcels 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9 in a series of motions and votes over the afternoon; the removal of tracts 7 and 9 passed 6–3. Sheriff Crawford and other committee members pressed for sites with limited residential impact and direct access to Highway 17.

Several members urged staff to contact property owners and confirm whether parcels are for sale, and to provide pricing or appraisal estimates before the next meeting. County management advised the group that a planned-unit-development (PUD) and land-use changes will be required for a jail site in many cases, and staff estimated the entitlement process could take several months once a parcel is selected.

The committee set an evening meeting for Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m. and directed staff to publish the remaining parcel locations in advance so affected property owners and neighbors can comment. Chairman Bryant said the site-selection committee aims to leave that meeting with a formal recommendation to deliver to the BOCC.