testing. Testing testing, testing Testing. >> Testing. Testing. 1 2 3. >> Testing. 1 2 3. Hello. Hello. Hello. Just What are you doing?
This is the board of county commissioners regular meeting on January 20th, 2026 in board chambers to various Florida. I don't know. >> Okay. Well, we're going to get started.
>> All right. Good morning, everyone. Welcome to our Lake County Board of County Commissioners meeting this January 20th, 2026. We welcome you. Our invocation today will be given by Pastor Tony McCoy from the Hope International Church. And after the invocation, we'll
remain standing and then we'll all say the pledge of allegiance together. So, pastor, >> good morning, Lake County commissioners and all those who are in attendance. I want to first of all just start off by thanking each of you uh for this
opportunity to open this uh time and gathering in prayer. It is always my privilege and honor uh to stand before each of you when called upon. Um before I pray, I would like to share with each of you our annual theme that we have at
Hope International for 2026. Our annual theme is kingdom impact. Now, kingdom impact is made visible through how we lead, how we serve, and how we love one another in our community. Each
one of you have answered the call to lead, to serve, and to love Lake County and our communities here in Lake County. I want to personally thank you uh for giving your your time, your talents,
your expertise, and most of all your hearts to impact the lives of our Lake County citizens. Let us all pray, please. Father God, we thank you for these men and women who have accepted the call to
serve the citizens of Lake County. We are grateful that when you called them, you also equipped them for every responsibility and decision before them today, but not only today, but throughout this year 2026.
My prayer is that you would grant them wisdom, clarity, and discernment. Help them to remain anchored in you, focused on their purpose, and present on the work that you have called them to do. May their leadership continue to
position Lake County for a positive transformation and may each of their decisions that they make be tied to making a kingdom impact for your glory. My prayer is that you would bless them, their support
staff, and all those who serve alongside of them. And may we always be reminded that our strength and our victory as a community comes through you. We ask all of these blessings in your son Jesus
name. And we say, amen. >> Amen. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. >> Thank you, pastor. Appreciate your message. Welcome. All right. Uh Jennifer Barker, county manager. Do we have any updates today? Good morning, Madam Chair, commissioners. There are no updates to the agenda this morning.
>> All right. Um, moving along then, we have our employee service awards and quarterly awards, and I'll call on Janine Nelson, the HR manager, to present those awards. >> Good morning, Madame Chair and Commissioners. Janine Nelson with human resources and risk management. This
morning you have the privilege of recognizing employees who have reached significant milestones in their careers with a county. We have 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and even a 30-year employee this morning uh in as well as some retirements and our quarterly service
awards. So, let's get started. All right, with five years of service. All right, we're going to start with Michael Prit. Michael Prit is a security and access control specialist with the Office of Facilities Management. He began his career on October the 26,
2020. Glenn Purle serves as a senior building inspector with the Office of Building Services, beginning his career on November the 9th, 2020. Paul Hammond, senior code enforcement officer with the Office of Code Enforcement, November
9th, 2020. Also, and then Brad Kaplan began his career with Lake County on November the 9th, 2020. He serves as a fixed asset surplus specialist for the Office of Procurement Services. All right. And then we have Jay Howerman. Began his career with Lake County on
December the 7th, 2020. Chief maintenance supervisor with water resources. Suzanne How December the 1st, 2020. She's a program associate with the circuit judges. And Robin Steinman, who began a career with Lake County on December the 20th, 2020. She serves as
an office associate three with public works traffic operations. Any of those individuals who are here for five-year recognition, if they could stand, would happy to give them a round of applause. Okay. We also have u with fire rescue some five-year recognitions as well.
Katherine Inis, emergency dispatch lead, and Kathy Davis, Michaela Gunter, who are telecommunicators. We had a fire class five years ago. Fire Lieutenant Paramedic James Batiz, Gerald Hood, fire Lieutenant EMT Matthew
Batista, Justin Joseph and Joshua Patel, firefighter paramedics. And firefighter EMTs are Anthony Huntley, Jacob Epalito, Michael Leight, and Jordan Neil. They began their service with us in October of 2020.
over 10 years of service. We have Justin Elkins. He began his career with Lake County on October 26, 2015. He's our water resources director with water resources. We also have James Coyle. Began his career with Lake County on November the 30th, 2015. He's a legal
office associate with the office of the county attorney. And then Daniel Flannry who began his career with Lake County on November the 30th, 2015, traffic office supervisor with public works traffic operations. Would those individuals stand please
15 years of service. Richard Miller began his career on November the 29th, 2010. He's a road senior equipment operator with public works ops special projects. Brandon Rogers December the 20th also uh 2010. He's a road senior
equipment operator with public works. He serves in Umatillaa at maintenance area 3. Mark Shepard, senior building inspector with the office of building services December the 6, 2010. And if those individuals would stand, we'd be happy to recognize them for
their 15 years. We're moving on to 20 years. Justin Puo began his career with Lake County on November the 7th, 2005. He serves as a park ranger with the office of parks and trails. Michael Springer, Lake County uh
service since November 14th, 2005. He's a support services manager with the office of library services. Eric Wellaven began his career with Lake County on December the 12th, 2005. He's an office manager with the Office of County Probation. And then Bobby Benia,
who began his career with Lake County on December the 12th, 2005. He serves as one of our assistant county managers. Would you like to stand for us, please? Thank you. 20 years ago in October, we also had a fire class of fire lieutenant paramedics
uh celebrating 20 years, Ryan Carroll, Jason Graham, Dne Wilson, a fire lieutenant EMT Ryan Dupont, and then firefighter EMTs Mark Green, Jared Robble, and Jacob Wy. 25 years of service. We have Aaron Chadic who began his career with Lake
County on November the 27th, 2000. He's a service desk manager with it. And then Jason Rivera, fire lieutenant paramedic with the office of fire rescue. Began on December the 21st, 2000. I know Ann is here.
We do have a 30-year employee that we're celebrating today. I didn't see her come in. Uh Nikki Wright. Nikki Wright began her career with Lake County on December the 11th, 1995. She's a systems database manager with the Office of Public Safety Support. So, if we could give her a
round of applause. So, we have three retirements to recognize today. Ricky Magnus uh serves as a sign fabricator with public works traffic operations. He's celebrating 30 years. He began with Lake County on
October the 17th, 1995. I did not see him come in today, but let's give him a round of applause. Jim Gloig began his career with Lake County on August the 27th, 2012. He's an assistant traffic operations supervisor with public works traffic operations,
and he's celebrating 15 years of service. Jim, do you want to stand up? We're also celebrating uh the career of Anthony Deon, Tony Deon. He's a chief probation officer with the Office of County Probation, celebrating 26 years. And I'm going to introduce Tommy
Carpenter so he can say a little bit about about Tony. >> Good morning, commissioners. Tommy Carpenter, assistant county manager. Thank you for this opportunity to say a few words about Tony. I'm going to stick to his wishes and make it short and
sweet. So Tony, if you come on up. I've had the privilege to work with Tony in my capacity as assistant county manager for about four and a half years. And I can tell you that of my over 30 years of public safety, it has been one of the greatest honors and privileges I've had to work with someone. So thank
you, Tony. All right, I have a few words. I just want to have you say something about someone that's been in public safety so long. So today I have the privilege of recognizing someone who has dedicated nearly four decades to public service, our chief probation officer, Tony Deon. Tony began his
career in 1986 as a parole and probation agent in Prince George's County, Maryland. Next, he worked with the state of uh Maryland Department of Corrections as a pro parole and probation officer. Eventually, Tony moved to Florida, joining Orange County Corrections as a probation and surveillance officer. In
1999, Lake County was fortunate to hire Tony as its chief probation officer and has led the office ever since. Now, one of the requirements for that job was typing 30 words per minute accurately. And I'm happy uh to report that Tony passed that test, and thankfully his
leadership skills far exceed his typing speed. Over his 39-year career, Tony's passion has always been helping people and strengthening his community. His accomplishments speak volumes and include. He proactively worked with the criminal justice system to improve outcomes for delinquent juveniles,
substance abusers, and those struggling with homelessness and serious mental illness. Worked to improve the probable cause violation of probation procedure to enhance prosecution and reduce the likelihood of legal challenges. He served as the vice chair of the Lake County Public Safety Coordinating
Council, which provided oversight to reduce jail overcrowding and helped identify safe alternatives to incarceration. He served as a member of the Lake County Workforce Task Force to promote economic workforce development opportunities for those who utilize the services of county probation. Served as
a board member of the Florida Association of Community Corrections, which facilitated professional training and development opportunities for probation agencies throughout Florida. He played a key role in shaping the Lake County Opioid Task Force and implementing the county's drug court.
Tony and county probation personnel provide a significant role in staffing the county citizens information line before, during, and after when the county's emergency operations center is activated in response to the hurricanes and significant rainfall that has impacted Lake County. Truly, Tony has
truly left his mark on the county, but after nearly four decades, he's reached an important conclusion. Work is cramping his style. So, he's turning over the reigns to a talented team and leaving the probation office even better than he found it. So, what's next for
Tony? He has big plans starting with fishing, kayaking, and family time. He's aiming to visit 30 lakes in 30 days to figure out which of his fishing rods really does work best. He'll spend time with three children and has planned trips to New Mexico and
Scotland and visit his dad back home in Maryland. Tony, thank you for your hard work, your dedication, and your leadership. You made a lasting impact on Lake County and will be greatly missed. We wish you the happiest and healthiest next chapter. >> Thank you. Congratulations.
Right. Next up would be our employee quarterly awards. We'll have an employee of the quarter, a supervisor of the quarter, and also a team of the quarter. So, we're going to start with Mary Cook. Mary serves currently as an office associate three and parks and water
resources. Parks and water resources nominated Mary Cook as this employee of the quarter. She became an employee two years ago during the transition of the Lake County Water Authority to the Lake County Board of County Commissioners. She has been instrumental in helping the
transition and a tremendous asset to both staff and upper management. She now supports not only the Lake County Water Authority, Office of Parks and Trails, but also mosquito management, aquatic plant management, the water lab, and facilities management. From managing
camping, kayak, canoe, pavilion, and ballfield rentals to fielding phone calls from staff and residents with questions. She continues to maintain a strong customer service focus, continually and consistently providing excellent service to both external
customers and internal staff. They've come to rely on her kindness, helpfulness, and deep institutional knowledge. Congratulations, Mary. Would you stand? Okay. We give you not one but two supervisors of the quarter. We recognize
them. Jeff Johnson wrote superintendent public works and Adam Shurk wrote assistant superintendent public works. Together they help anchor the daily operational effectiveness of the public works department with road operations providing essial essential frontline services that support county
infrastructure. While supported by an exceptional group of area maintenance supervisors, field and administrative staff, they consistently set the tone and standard for how the road operations division performs. They are known for their exceptional customer service both internal and externally. They assist
other county departments by providing timely support, collaboration, and practical solutions. In the field, they handle some of the most difficult and emotionally charged situations with residents, consistently demonstrating patience, respect, and clear, open communication, even under pressure.
Their ability to balance firm decision-making with empathy reflects the highest level of professionalism. With more than 40 years of combined service to Lake County, Jeff Johnson and Adam Sherk exemplify unwavering dedication, institutional knowledge, and pride in public service. Thank you for
all your hard work and congratulations to your beloved. Okay, last but not least, uh you've seen their work. The team of the quarter is the state of the county communications staff. So, we're recognizing Jeff Foley,
communications manager, Jason Andrews, videographer editor, Lexi Farmer, public information officer, Paul Long, creative services manager, Brian Peterson, videographer editor, and Chelsea BZ, public communications and outreach coordinator. This talented group of
individuals are the recipients of the team of the quarter award based on their extra extraordinary work on the state of the county video. The video was presented at the board of county commissioners meeting on the 16th of December, 2025 and was extremely wellreceived.
The team's commitment to showcasing the very best of the county's values of leadership, customer service, dedication, teamwork, and professionalism made them highly deserving of recognition as team of the quarter. Would you all stand, please? Thank you very much and this concludes
our presentation this morning. Thank you Janine and thanks to everybody who received recognition this morning and um the state of the county uh work was really exceptional. You guys did a great job at
Excellent job everyone. >> I know. >> All right, we're going to move ahead to our minutes approval. We've got minutes from December 2nd, 2025 and December 9th, 2025. Oh, I should have said >> you're good. Good morning. >> Call on the clerk of courts.
>> I do have those two sets of minutes for your approval this morning. >> Thank you, Mr. Cooney. Second, >> that was a second from Commissioner Smith. All in favor say I. I. >> I. Any oppose? That passes for O. Moving then to citizen question and comment
period. Um, we're entering the portion of our meeting. Um, when the public can discuss items that are on today's agenda, with the exception of any zoning items, uh, anyone who's joined the meeting through Zoom using their phone may press star 9 to virtually raise your
hands. If you are participating through Zoom, we would ask that you would click the raise hand button to let us know that you wish to speak. And also, we do um provide for three minutes of speaker time. So when the alarm sounds, we ask that you wrap it up and uh we try to
honor that as best as possible. Um so moving along with the cards that we do have that are under general um general comments and then we have a couple on items that will come up a little later.
Tab 14 and 16. Um Farmer Banks Hellfrick Farmer Banks Hellfrick. I live in the Clay Road District, South Lake County. Farm tip of the day. There are two types of crops, perennials and annuals. Perennials uh live year after year after year, usually four or five years. Uh uh
annuals only live one season and then they die. Uh and did you know that eggplants and peppers are uh perennials? Um, madame chairwoman, um, board, distinguished guests, I brought with me,
uh, the bucket. Um, over 200 years ago, we all carried a bucket around with them, with ourselves, uh, because we were all firefighters. Um, today, uh, up in Tallahassee, they are talking about eliminating property
taxes. and property taxes basically fund fire uh police um they fund uh parks and uh libraries and education. So let's take that part and see how we how we do that. Um some of the ideas they have on
the table first and foremost uh to eliminate property taxes for those over 65 years old. Another one is to eliminate uh property taxes for those who have lived in their house at least 10 years. Um, another one is to freeze the property tax when you buy the home
and it only goes up 1 to 3% per year. This is not an elimination of property taxes. This is uh just to keep it at the same level and it always comes back to the same level every year. Another one is to increase the homestead exemption to $250,000
from 25,000 we have now to um 50,000 that we have now. Uh which is which is a a pretty equitable uh cut across the board. It is not elimination of property taxes mind you. Now if we eliminate property taxes completely um we might
have to all carry buckets around with us because we have to um find ways to find the revenue. Uh so what are some of the ideas for bringing the revenue back? One is to increase um tolls for non Florida residents. One is to eliminate tolls for Florida residents. Another one is to
increase uh tourism tax uh and have it expand to be used on roads, on fire, police uh and whatnot. Um and then the fourth one, which always uh escapes me, yes, to
increase u uh consumption taxes. Um now, with all that said, nine out of 10 of us in this room um basically do not like to pay taxes. We hear it all the time. 10 out of 10 of us like what taxes give us.
My mom always said, um, you pay for what you get. So, in the meantime, right now, we can all go to Tractor Supply and buy a bucket. It cost $4.99 or two for $8. Or we can think of
a way to make sure we have fire and not carry around a bucket with us everywhere. I am Farmer Bank. May you all be blessed. Thank you for allowing me to speak. Thank you. Um Joe Famazi.
Good morning, commissioners. Uh I'm here to speak about the MSTU tax. Uh I got an update from the Lake County Road Department. I thank them for that. Uh I still don't understand uh about the spending. We have the several poles that were probably paying rent to Duke Energy
that are not activated. So, we put the poles in before we knew we had the power. That wasn't the uh physically efficient. Also, if you go down Hook Street, there's several poles that we're paying rent on down there. Also, when is the Hook Street going to be finished? I
know Nars already got their credits. So, uh when are they going to finish the Hook Street? I don't see anybody out there working. I don't see anybody doing any kind of things. So, we're paying for things out of the MSTU tax that uh are
waiting on other things and that's kind of putting the cart before the horse. So, maybe we could have some answers about that. Also, landscaping down there, I think, is interfering with possible commercial um development in
this situation. uh you can make no turnoffs from there because all the palm trees and the pretty plants you put in there was making it uh difficult for commercial to apply to make turnings off of Wellness Way, which is supposed to be an economic development.
So, thank you for your time. >> Um Joe, I see that you've got a card on tab 14 that's on our consent agenda regarding the wildlife corridor deed. >> Um I didn't know if anyone's going going to pull that off of consent. to you. >> Well, I was going to ask him to make his
comments and that way we wouldn't necessarily have to. >> Okay. Uh, so my comment is is that I'm worried about this as a way for the developers to get more impact fees creating a well or the U wildlife area or an escapegoat to say that, hey, look,
we complied with the Florida law as far as making spaces for wildlife. when actually it's a trail sidewalk cutting through a uh area that would be considered a wildlife area. Um so I think I'm just kind of concerned
that is this going to be a scapegoat for them to uh take an open space that's supposed to be conserve area and turn it into some high-end uh selling point for the homes. I just want to make sure that the developers are not getting the
advantage on this particular thing. So, uh, I'd like you to look at that. Thank you. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. Um, do we have anyone online? No. Okay. All right. So, we will bring it back um to the board
and we have um the clerk of court's consent agenda, Mr. Key. >> And I have four items in my consent agenda this morning for your approval. >> All right. Do we have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. All right. All in favor say I.
I. >> All right. That passes 40. Moving then to consent agenda tab 3 through 14. Um that includes the one that was just discussed. >> I'd like to pull tab 14. >> Okay. So we'll pull 14. Any other items that need to be pulled.
>> I'm sorry. >> Pull 14. >> 14. >> All right. So this is tabs um three through 13. Do we have a motion? >> Move to approve. Second. >> Thank you. All in favor say I. I. Any
opposed? Moving then to tab 14. >> So since I since I um pulled this, I just have one simple question. Um this is for the wildlife corridor. Is there any possibility that we can um convey this property over to St. John's Water
Management? So, we are looking for a long-term solution as far as ownership and ongoing maintenance of the wildlife corridor since this is a state effort to identify areas throughout the state to be used as the wildlife corridor. First, we want to get the transfer over to the county and
then Kathleen will be working with stakeholders to identify long-term solutions. >> Okay. So, this is a couple step process. First, we have to own the land, then we can approach St. John's. Correct. >> Correct. And question though on that, would St. John's be the owner of the other
portions or are is it just are there a variety of owners through the corridor? >> Yeah, it could it could be uh it could be St. John's. Um it could be Florida Fish and Wildlife or the State Park um system. They're
all all have similar missions, but believe it or not, sometimes they're a little bit isolated and work in silos, so it takes a little bit of time. Who would be the most who would be adjacent in this case? >> I mean, I think we're just will it's just whoever is going to uh be willing to take it. It's probably going to be in my opinion probably be fish and wildlife
or um uh or the state park system. I think >> what uh so a little bit of perspective on this. Um it has always been the intent that um that uh this would be uh the idea was to get the land first, which is very much needed. It is uh a
pinch point in the Florida Wildlife Corridor uh that's been identified. Um concerns were can it get you know can wildlife actually move underneath the road. So now that's built into the design under the 516 and then over to the uh over to the green swamp, the
state park and Hiluchi reserve. So all that's been worked out. There was some reservations from uh fish and wildlife as well as um the state park about um having land on the other side but not having access and it sort of being a dead end. All those issues have been
worked out. Um the the plan is to you know keep the corridor going. It would be access for wildlife into the green swamp underneath the roads. Um the idea has always been to get the land first and then uh yes transfer it over. Um it'll be the question that came up um
during public comment about access. Uh it is passive so there won't be trails or you know active fields or anything like that for amenities for people to use. There'll be a trail that's uh traversing or paralleling 516 that will
provide you know the um the I being close proximity to the to the wildlife quarter. You'll be able to view it of course but it'll not be something that people are walking through and um requiring a lot of um maintenance. So >> uh correct and that's the reason why I
was kind of wondering if we were going to get the land person to convey it over to the state because it's a state initiative. So, >> yes. >> Uh, with that, I'd like to make a motion to approve. >> Second. >> Yeah. >> All right. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? That passes. 40.
>> Um, moving along then to presentations. Meg Brew, economic development director. We have a presentation today with Career Source. >> Good morning, commissioners. For the record, Meg Brew, director for the Office of Economic Development. This
morning, it is my sincere pleasure to introduce Pam Neighbors, the president and CEO of Career Source Central Florida, which is Florida's second largest workforce development board, serving Orange, Oyola, Seminal, Sumpter, and of course, Lake County. Career Source Central Florida is charged with
curating local talent for high demand industries, meeting local business and workforce needs, and cultivating economic growth and prosperity in the communities that they serve. Our local career source office, which is located on the Lake Sumpter State campus in Leburg, has been a phenomenal partner to
Lake County, working hand and glove to provide assistance to individuals, solve complex problems, and elevate the entire community. Their collaborative and proactive response to the loss of three major employers over the last year and a half has been instrumental in mitigating disruptions both an individual and
community level. So, without further ado, it is again my pleasure to introduce Miss Pam Neighbors. Okay, good morning. >> Thank you very much, commissioners. It's so nice to be with you this morning on this very chilly morning. I feel like I'm back up north,
but um it's my privilege to just spend a few minutes with you to tell you a little bit about the impact that Career Source Central Florida has had on Lake County in the last year. I was with you not too long ago as we talked about our services to the Kroger employees and I want to tell you a little bit about that
as well as more generally about what we have done in Lake County in partnership with you all this past year. So, first of all, our mission is to connect Central Floridaidians to careers and develop skilled talent for business. And we really dedicate ourselves to ensuring every day that that is a customized
process both for our businesses here in Lake County as well as for all of our career seekers and job seekers as they are navigating new waters or different waters. And so just generally what we do um at a high level for career seekers, we do a lot of very in-depth employment
services, career coaching, job training, as you know, I'll talk a little bit about upskilling, job readiness, and um employment connections for businesses, particularly for small businesses. We really can be their human resources department. We provide customized
recruitment and placement. And I'm very proud to say that for every three individuals we refer um for a position, we know that our employers are hiring one. It's a pretty good and uh great standard as you look at also staffing agencies.
So, in 2024 25, which would go through June 30th of 2025, we know that we served uh just under 4,000 Lake County residents, both through our on-site career center at the Lake Sumpre State College office, but also through our
virtual services centers and in community locations where we're we're meeting those career seekers who need support. 1465 1,465 individuals actually worked one-on-one with our career consultants,
provided an employment plan, and were on a path either through direct placement to work or through training. And 122 of those received a training scholarship to go to training at many different training providers in Lake County and beyond. Um an example of that are one of
our other large partners is Lake Technical College where we provide a lot of training but also um in Lake Sumpter State College air conditioning contractors. We have a lot of work with apprenticeship first response training group Apple 1 Valencia College uh just
to name a few. for our employment and wages. We know that so far as measured through the employee Florida system where we actually know of wages earned. We have 340 individuals placed who are making an average wage of $18.20.
Our target wage is $18, but we know that many people are going to work beyond 18 and more in the $20 range, especially if they've gone through training and have a new skill. Key population highlights are that we also prioritize services to veterans.
And so we know that 42 individuals served were veterans as well as youth and this is youth who are out of school, not engaged in um high school, college or work. Those are 109 out of school youth that are actually getting a trade
or a skill and going to work um in this last year. for summer youth. Some of you are familiar with our summer youth employment and training program. We actually trained 86 individuals beyond the 109.
And you might ask, what are the top targeted training sectors that you are providing apprenticeships or scholarships or internships? Well, health care, of course, as a top employer here in Lake County, 43% of the training that we do is in healthcare. Construction and utilities, 21%. And
then trade and logistics um for warehousing as well as uh truck driving, CDL and so forth is 14. And for our business community, we actually had accounts working with 153 businesses. The services I provided uh before hiring
and recruiting workshops, career flare fairs and also human resources services. For example, if a business asks us how can I hire competitively, what would be a good wage? we can provide them a lot of business intelligence to kind of shape that hiring process as well as
work with them uh to recruit appropriate candidates. Here are just some of our business partners and also our training partners on this slide. Um but we also have worked with a number of other businesses. Spirion, City Electric, PI
uh Primis Pipe and Tube, which is actually in Sumpter County, and Insight Credit Union, great partner. As we talked about earlier, we also provided immediate rapid response to the Kroger closure. We have already hosted
two dedicated job fairs um since we last spoke. We coordinated employer and nonprofit and training provider um outreach. We've had a lot of response from businesses as well as from our other public and uh community partners to hire individuals. We know that to
date we've had just about 460 individuals who have attended and registered in Employee Florida. That's really great because that's almost half of the the impact before actually the closure has happened. So that is really
good news. We know that the participants are completing eligibility and going through the next step in getting appointments. We've had 35 employers involved in the job fairs and direct hiring and six training providers who have provided information and and
credential um pathway information to make individuals understand what might be the next step for them. And then we've already registered 104 dislocated workers into services and continuing to provide that service as they transition from Kroger.
I want to tell you a little bit about a success story with a business here. You are probably all familiar with Intellast Steel, but I was not familiar until this last year that actually Career Source Central Florida had a big hand in actually staffing up that organization
initially when they were not even in a actual location. They were in a a trailer. Um, so I want to show you a little bit about an individual that we placed there who is now on an incredible career path. >> Mark Likely, tech specialist from Intellast Steel. Basically, I'm a
training specialist. I'll train either the labor ready workers that we have from a temp company or something or if we get sourced out from a subcontractor, I'll train them up on what we do with the metal. Career Source Central Florida was helping me out a lot because when I was looking for the job, I couldn't find
a job. I found a flyer at my apartment complex saying there was a career sourcing job. Within an hour or two of me being there, I had a job with Intell. So, basically, I'm making sure all these studs are in the right place. I'm making sure we got the right strap connections.
So, we did a house in the Bahamas and within I want to say a month of that house being built, a hurricane ran through the Bahamas. The only thing that we fell down on was just shingles and that's how we got like four or five more jobs from the Bahamas. Feels good contributing to society by making structures for people, safe houses from
hurricanes. So, it does definitely feel good helping people out where they need it. Oh, it's been instrumental in my future. Ever since I took this job, now I'm getting certified for my builder's license so I can just be even more in tune with building houses and helping out my company as they help me out. The
jobs last around from 2 to 6 months, maybe a year. So when you get finished that job, it's no better feeling because all that work for that 6 to 8 months all comes to a culmination of just you finishing it. I would say the benefits of Career Source Central Florida is that you're going to have a job and it's going to be consistent hours and you're
going to be put in a spot where you want to be at. So, wherever you want to progress in your life, you actually tell Career Source Central Florida where you want to be at and they'll put you where you want to be. >> Nice. >> So, just a few more highlights in this last year. Yes, we have been responding
to the Kroger closure, but uh we also had uh FEMA disaster center at the career center at the uh Lake Sumpre State College office that actually supported a thousand residents um in the in the past back when we had um some
hurricane impacts. We also co-hosted a career expo with Lake County schools. Have a great partnership going with them. We have expanded our low in in lowincome resident services through the Eustace housing authority. We provided uh monthly career services at Kagan
Crossing Library. We also have a great partnership with South Lake Chamber staffing. They feel like we are the staffing company of the year which was very great honor. and we co-led a countywide HR summit with the lead office here and Lake County EDC uh to
provide more information about our businesses and or to our businesses and provide that outreach. We have continuing partnerships as I mentioned before with Lake Tech Lake Sumpre State College. We're looking at expansion into locations in the south part of the county in this next year and a community
hub approach. And we're very proud of the work that we do with all of you. And I really want to recognize also um Gustavo Henrique, our career center manager, and also Yolanda Green, who is our business uh representative. They really do amazing work every day in the
community here for you in Lake County. And that is my presentation. If you want to learn more about us, there's great QR codes. Um and uh I will uh take any questions at this point. Thank you. >> Thank you, Pam, for being here and all
the great work and the update. Um, and thanks so much for your help with the Kroger situation. I know a lot of people are very appreciative of um, you all stepping up and helping us with that. But, um, excellent. I love the Intell
um, you know, video there. It's a great Lake County that's out at the Ford Commerce Park and um, >> incredible work they do there. I had a chance to tour in this last year. I was really impressed and and so we should be telling this story for Lake County as well as for Career Source Central
Florida. So, yes, I'm also really encouraged that we have such a good outreach from the Kroger population already before they've actually um left their jobs. That's really encouraging. >> Thank you. >> All right. Any other any questions or comments? All right. Great.
>> Thank you again. Appreciate your support. Yes. Yes, I will. Thank you. >> All right. Um, moving along to tab 16 and Mike, I see that Mike Stevens has a comment card on and do you want to wait until after the presentation? Mike,
>> what's that? You go first. >> Okay, sure. Excellent. >> Good morning. Thank you for having me. I'm Mike Stevens, chairman of the Friends of Lake County Trails and also I'm the chairman of the Florida Greenways and Trails Council for the state of Florida. I come today to support the Wakiva Trail and the Wakiva
Trail presentation you're about to hear uh the announcements you're about to hear. Uh this trail really has a possibility of being transformative for Lake County and it's something that I hope we all really get behind and support. Um it'll not the trail will not only link Lake County communities like Seno, Mount Dora, Tvaries, Leburg,
Wildwood, but it'll also like all it'll link all those communities to all the trails that have already been built in Simol County, Orange County, Valuchia County, Bvard County. You can actually go right now from Sarrento, where the trail dead ends, all the way to Titusville by trail uh without getting
on a road and it's already complete. So, this trail and this extension will link us to all those communities and link us to all that economic benefit. Um, and that's really what I want to focus on is everybody understands the quality of life, what trails do, and people want the quality of life. And if you look at
National Homebuilders Association, National Realers Association, they write reports on trails all the time about how important they are for quality of life. But really what I want to focus on is the economic benefits and economic impact of trails. I've brought you that information before. I've sent it to you. Probably day lose you too much with all
those economic reports and so forth. But I can't I can't emphasize enough how important that is because it's one of the only investments that um government can have an expense or an investment in where you can actually return you can actually measure that return. Uh so there is a positive return on those kind
of things and it doesn't take uh much. You can go out and just look at some of the trail towns like Winter Garden, Dun Eden, downtown St. Pete, Inesse. You can just go to those communities and see what that municipal investment has brought in terms of private investment because it's not just the initial
investment that you're bringing in there. It's the private investment that follows it because they understand what's going to happen and what those uh communities how they've been regenerated by that trail. Uh so I think that's that's really important. That's one of the things I really wanted to focus on. Um,
you know, if you look at it, uh, not only have, uh, the communities invested in it in terms of bond referendums and special, uh, sales taxes and other things, but communities around us that have been doing this for 20 or 30 years now have made it a part of their general
fund. It's not just a bond referendum. It's not just a sales tax investment. It's not piece mealing it together. it's actually a part of their general fund so that every year they're investing in those trail systems because they see that return. They see what it's doing for their communities and the money that it's bringing into the community and the
retail and so forth. Um if you haven't if you haven't gone to some of those communities like downtown Winter Garden, downtown Duneden, downtown St. Pete, some of those things, I really encourage you to do that because you can visually see that impact. I can bring all the numbers to you. I can bring all the studies to you
and most of them quite frankly are very old. uh most of them are 10 or 15 20 years old because they invested in these trails 20 years ago. So we're kind of behind that ball. We kind of missed the boat initially. We're like 20 years behind. So we're kind of making up time. So I think again this trail can be
transformative to get us there because once we extend it from Sarrento into downtown Mount Dora, downtown Taris, it's already built halfway to Leburg and Leburg's already studied the other half to get it there. Then they're going to Wildwood. That'll all connect. It'll all connect to completed trails. not only
for our residents but to bring people into downtown Mount Dora, downtown Tavarius, downtown Leburg, Sarrento. So again, it's I want to really I can't stress enough the economic impact of this thing. Trails are expensive. We all know they're expensive. Uh but when you turn around and look at what they're
doing for those communities when they're bringing in $40 million a year in Orange County, when they're bringing in 20 or 30 million, I forget the number in Semino County, it doesn't take long to get back that initial investment and then you're working on that return on investment. So I want to stress that. Um, I urge you just just to support the
uh, Wakiva Trail and move it forward as quickly as you can through construction. Um, I can't wait to hear the presentation. I met Melissa last week and we had a good conversation, but I think it's important to Lake County to go ahead and get this done. We've been working on it for 20 years and people before us have been working on it before
that. So, we're at a point now where we can move it forward and I urge you to do that as quickly as possible. Um, and that's really it. And I I also urge you to consider as we're moving this forward. I know we we've done peace meal things. We've done, you know, state appropriations that we've got for you.
We've done sales tax stuff. We've done other stuff. We've we've kind of every year we're fighting for those funds to try to get these things done. But let's make a conscious effort like other communities around us that have already done that and make it a part of our general fund. Make it a part of our investment so that we're putting money
in it every year so we're not fighting for peace meals here and there. So I appreciate your support of trails. Let's appreciate uh meeting with every one of you and what you've done for trail. So I encourage you to continue to move forward and push hard to get what kind of a trail done as quickly as we can. >> That's it.
>> All right. Great. Mike, you're doing a great job too with all your work on the state level and representing us there and just being >> I'm just trying to move the ball forward. I mean, there's people before me. There's some people in this audience before me that did this before me. So, I'm just trying to help push it forward. if we can get it done and get some
things done, uh, at least for my kids or my grandkids, uh, I'll be happy. >> Well, we appreciate you and, uh, I was thinking about, you know, you're talking about bringing people into the downtowns, and I thought you what what a great thing. They come in on a bicycle or on foot, not on a car. That might help alleviate some of our pressures
we're feeling right now. >> I do that all the time riding trails. I mostly ride mountain bikes, but if I'm riding paved trails with my kids, we go to downtowns, we eat ice cream, we eat dinner, we do whatever. We're spending money every time we go there. We're stopping at bike shops. We're doing all kinds of things. So, there's all kinds of studies, again, I've sent them to you
before that show how much is spent. If somebody spends a day on a trail, if they spend overnight on a trail, it just brings that much more into those communities. And again, without parking, uh, without those kind of concerns, you're just riding a bicycle into town and spending money. >> Well, thank you. >> Thank you.
>> All right. Um, well, Melissa Hill is here today. She's a senior project manager. um she's with the trust for public lands and she's going to give us a presentation. Melissa was there when we took our group to uh DC recently
along with the city of Mount Dora and um Tavaris and um they've been instrumental in being a catalyst on this project getting organized. Good morning. It's a pleasure to be here. As Commissioner
Chairwoman Campio noted, my name is Melissa Hill. I'm a senior project manager for trust for public land and it's such a pleasure to be here to give an update to the board of county commissioners staff as well as the public on the progress that's being made on the Wakiva trail segment one and five acquisition and you know really the goal
of that is to work in partnership with Lake County to various mount dora to acquire and ultimately see an 11mi multimmodal infrastructure corridor completed for this community. So, I would like to give a quick reminder of who Trust for Public Land is, give some
background to the long-standing planning that's been going around on this project, as well as the benefits for completing something of this nature, and then I'll share an update on our progress and some of the grant programs that we've been actively pursuing to date. Trust Republic Land is a national
nonprofit. We've been around for over 50 years, and our mission is to connect everyone to the outdoors. We do that by working as a trusted acquisition partner for parks, trails, nature, preserves, um, with partners like the federal government, state government, local governments, as well as nonprofit
partners. And this model of work has led to some pretty incredible wins for public access across the country. We've completed over 5,500 projects to date across the United States. That's resulted in 4 million acres of public access. And we've also helped to
generate over $ 1111 billion of public funds across that 50-year period for local governments, for state governments to actually be able to acquire properties. Here in Florida, that looks like about 430 projects. We have completed and
closed over a billion dollars in fair market value transactions as that acquisition partner. And this has resulted in over 185,000 acres of publicly accessible land. And if you're like me and you say, "Well, that's wonderful, but what about in Lake County?" Well, we've been a partner
here, too. Um, we were a partner on the most recent bond referendum that passed this past November at an 80% success rate, and we also partnered on the predecessor to that, both in 2001 and 2003, both of which also passed with an overwhelming support from the public. When it comes to partnering on
properties themselves, we were also the trusted acquisition partner for Ferndale Preserve as well as um Palatkaha Environmental Agricultural Reserve, also known as Pear Park, which the county of course both owns and manages both of those properties. And we are a partner
on the Wildwood Leburg Bike Trail. Speaking of bike trails, Trust Republic Land is the national leader when it comes to acquiring railto projects. Um we have completed over 48 projects to date and that's resulted in nearly 300 miles of railtorail projects across the
country and um now I would really love to kind of shift focus and talk about segment one and five and some of the planning that's been done to date. So segment one and five are located on this map in the B which is orange that
Wakiva segment. Um you can see that this primary trail corridor is a key east to west connector in the Lake County trails master plan. Um and as Mike noted um these trails plans have been ongoing since the early 2000s and represent a very clear and connected Lake County.
Zooming in a little bit and this is a busy map so I'll walk you through it. Um you can see segment one and five. It's the dotted red line that starts in downtown Tavaris right at uh Lake Dora Avenue and works its way east into Sarrento. Um the property itself is an
inactive rail corridor that has already had project development and environmental studies completed to confirm the location of this trail network. And acquiring both of these segments would ultimately close an 11mi gap in the existing trail network while aligning with regional and state
infrastructure plans by addressing critical transportation, economic and health challenges. This acquisition would ultimately create a 26-mi multimmoal trail connecting the city of Taris and Mount Doris and their community redevelopment areas over into Mount Plymouth Sarrento's community
redevelopment area all the way over then into Simol County Simol Wakiva Trail and Orange County's coast to coast trail and the heart of Florida trail loop. Um so as Mike noted this is really connecting important areas within the county but also extending into other areas across
the state. And um initial engagement with this corridor began in the early 2000s. The public overwhelmingly supported inclusion of the Wakiva corridor and the Lake Center Metropolitan Planning Organizations long-range transportation planning update in 2005. And it also
aligns with the statewide shared use non-motorized also known as Suntrail network. So cleaning up the map a little bit. This is the area that we're looking at. You can see it in that orange line. Once again working from Tavaris over into Sarrento and the footprint for this
project is for acquisition of like I said 11 miles of corridor and it totals approximately 110 acres com and ultimately completing this vision of trail provides really strong benefits for the community. First and foremost is safety. Kimley
Horn determined based on bike and pedestrian crash data from 2020 to 2024 that there have been 289 pedestrian and bicycle crashes and unfortunately 14 of those were fatalities. Over 75% of these crashes occurred along the road as
opposed to at intersections and 100% of them happened where there was no pedestrian or bicycle facility. And you can see where those occurred um within a half miles um buffer around the Wakiva trail segment. And these crashes are
also on an upward trend showing increasing need for a safe designated multimmoal pathway. In terms of economic benefits by completing this type of project, um it really does provide safe, affordable, and healthy transportation. Currently,
there's no reliable driving alternative options for the residents of unincorporated county communities traveling into the cities of Tavaris and Mount Dora. This project will improve access to daily destinations like jobs, healthcare, grocery stores, schools, churches, places of worship, recreation,
and parks. And this is really important because two of the census blocks served by this trail are considered communities with transportation transportation disadvantage and have rates below the national average for car ownership. This trail will also connect historic downtowns, four community redevelopment
areas, and three major employment centers which include Tavaris, Mount Dora, and the Wolf Branch Innovation and Development Employment Center District. The trail also has potential to provide increased value for properties. The National Realators Association estimates
an immediate 10 to 20% increase in the value of homes when located in close proximity to trails. The trail will also provide easy additional access to businesses. Based on a mapping analysis, approximately 618 businesses are within a quarter mile of the Wakiva Trail,
providing ample employment, healthcare, education, fitness, and shopping opportunities. And finally, in terms of economic benefits, the benefit cost analysis completed by Kimley Horn in 2023 for a federal grant application show the project will improve public
safety by reducing accidents, boost tourism spending, and increase property values. Overall, the substantial positive impacts from this project were monetized at $92.9 million in benefits over a 20-year period. Also,
acquiring a corridor of this nature creates a multimodal transportation corridor certainly, but it also gives infrastructure improvement possibilities for the county and the city. Those include both crossing safety enhancements and trail amenities to be installed at portions of the corridor
that currently lock lack those safety features. It also allows for the installation of intelligent transportation system which integrates fiber for real-time traffic management and emergency responder deployment. It also allows for high-speed Wi-Fi within the corridor to improve opportunities
for local agencies and private developers to provide widespread broadband. Also, in terms of utilities, you have the opportunity to underground electric improve water existing systems and wastewater transfer. And as the county well knows, um based off of that
most recent thousand-year flood event, being able to um mitigate for flood risk is increasingly important. Um, utilizing this acquisition could provide an opportunity to uh improve existing conveyance systems and also lessen flooding through swale installations in
the corridor itself. Recreational benefits. Um, this is a fun one. So, Trust Public Land does a 10-minute walk analysis which calculates the number of residents that live within a 10-mi walk of a proposed park or conservation project. So TBL has
analyzed that this will serve approximately 12,650 people within a 10-minute walk. So that's just only the folks who can get there by foot and that will serve approximately 6,000 households um by completing this project. Also, there was
a study done in 2019 that concluded that spending as little as two hours a week outside has a really positive measurable impact on mental health. And a study on the health benefits from bike pedestrian trails found that every dollar invested in trails results in $3 of saving on health care costs, showing that trails
are a cost-effective health intervention tool. Also, the Florida Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan has found that trails are a top recreational amenity and Central Florida has the second highest regional concentration of potential tourists in
the state for this type of amenity. Thank you for listening to those benefits to understanding the work that's been done. I know you all staff, many people before you have been working hard on seeing this plan to come to fruition. So, I just wanted to take the time to highlight some of that and the benefits of this project. Um, it's truly
a compliment to the leadership and vision of county staff and partners on the effort that's been put in place to date. Now, the purpose of my real update. What progress has Trust Republic Land made? And what progress is being made in working to acquire the corridor in partnership with Lake County, Tvaris,
and Mount Dora? In late 2024, Trust for Public Land, Mount Dora, Tares, and Lake County entered into a memorandum of understanding to outline how we would partner together, work together through pre-acquisition efforts, and ultimately seek to acquire this rail corridor. Since then, we've been working closely
with partners on pursuing public funding opportunities and to negotiate an option agreement between Trust Public Land and the owner of the rail corridor, which is CSX Transportation, Inc. and their lease holder, Florida Central Railroad. I'm pleased to share that TPL has successfully negotiated an option
contract which is currently being routed for signatures by Trust Republic Land entering into the contract directly with CSX and Florida Central Railroad. partners are not obligating themselves to the purchase until they are able to have funds secured. This model helps alleviate risk to our partners, the
county to various and mount dora while simultaneously allowing for the pursuit of grants and local funding with a strong timeline and cost for budgets. TPL has negotiated an option term of 24 months, meaning that we would ultimately look to convey the to the county by
early 2028 at the latest. At this time, the anticipated purchase price for the corridor to to be conveyed is $27 million. The price to acquire will need to be supported by two appraisals, of course, before closing on the property. And before diving into potential funding
sources, I would just like to make it very clear that this is the cost for acquisition of the corridor. It's not for the cost of the installation of trail or for any of those uh infrastructure amenities that I discussed earlier. Now, on to the funding strategy.
The first grant that I would like to highlight is a federal department of transportation build grant which stands for better utilizing investments to leverage development. This is not the first application that the county has made to this program. Um Lake County to
Mount Dora actually applied last year for this grant in partnership with Kimley Horn and we put forward a request for fiscal year 25 in a round two proposal. There were over 800, sorry, there were exactly 815 applicants.
Of those, there were only 30 selected for funding. However, this project met the criteria so well that we were moved onto what is known as a project of merit list. This means that the project scored high in all the categories needed for build and it also made it to the
Secretary of Transportation Sea Duffy's desk. This means that we are well poised for this year's application. This year there's $ 1.5 billion available to compete for and the grant allows for a maximum request of $25 million
which um the county and partners are poised to ask for that amount and mirror last year's application which had more than a onetoone match. Part of why we scored so well last year. Um currently we expect for the budget to have within that $25 million total 16 million being
requested for acquisition in particular. You can see based on the timeline, it's due the end of February. So, we are all very busy working together on that grant application. Between March and May, they will review and score and then we will know by the end of June um who has been
successful for this year's build grant application. The second grant that I would like to highlight is a state-based funded program called Florida Communities Trust, also known as FCT. Lake County is also no stranger to this funding source. you have had multiple successful
applications for this for acquisition funds in the past and um this fiscal year 25 to 26 there is a total of $6.8 8 million available um for Florida Communities Trust Grant. The board approved the transmitter letter for the
application this past December and Trust Republic Land authored the application and exhibit resources in partnership with county staff to various and Mount Dora. Um we've put together a strong application and we submitted the grant uh last Friday in advance of the January 19th deadline. The funds we requested
total $3.5 million to be put towards acquisition. As you can see on this timeline, starting now through March, they will be each application will be scored and staff will visit each site. In April, we will have a tentative score
awarded to us. And then in May, the FCT governing board will rank and approve with formal award announcements coming out in June. The additional program that TPL has nominated the property for is the Lake County's bond referendum program. TPL nominated this project in on
December 15th of last year. The project has been submitted to the public lands and trails acquisition advisory committee which I will refer to as PLA TAC from here on out. So it has gone for their review and for the county staff's ranking. The PLAC is established to
advise in the implementation of the land acquisition tasks under the bond referendum and um as prescribed by the parks and trails master plan. So my understanding for the workflow on this is that once it's ranked by staff, it will then come to the board of county commissioners for your consideration.
The bond referendum program itself has $50 million available with a direction from the PLA TAC from the ordinance to work to recommend spending policies um that generally achieve a project 5050 split between natural passive use lands
and trails used for connectivity. My understanding is that the meeting for the PLA TAC, the next one is scheduled for April. So by this summer, we will know what the success of our build grant application
is as well as as our Florida communities trust grant application. I would love to come back in the summertime and provide an update in terms of the funding amounts that we've requested, what we've been awarded, and what gap remains. So you all can have thoughtful discussion and consideration on the best way to
proceed as partners. With that, I would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have. Okay, does anybody have questions? >> Great presentation, really thorough. Appreciate all your hard work and dedication to this effort.
um as well as our partners Mount Dora and and Tavaris and um yeah, it'll be we'll just cross our fingers and I know a lot of us are trying to do some leg leg work continuing to work with our our
um Congress people and our state our US senators. Um we had great meetings with them. We've done a lot of follow-up with them. We're hoping that they will help us uh draw attention to this with Secretary Duffy. So, um we'll just keep working hard on it.
>> Thank you so much. It's a real pleasure to get to partner with county staff and and with you all and with Taris and Mount Dora. It's really impressive what you've all accomplished to date. >> Thank you. Thanks. All right. Um okay, so we're moving on
now to tab 17. This is with regard to the um Silver Glenn Springs Run uh noise sensitive zone ordinance. And I'll call on the county attorney. >> This will be an ordinance to the board of county commissioners of Lake County, Florida renumbering section 3-5 Lake
County Code entitled Silver Glenn Springs Run to section 5-4 Lake County Code. Amending the section to designate Silver Glenn Springs Run as a noise sensitive zone. providing for enforcement, providing for severability, providing for inclusion in the code, providing for filing with department of state, and providing for an effective date. If you choose to approve this
today, it'll become ordinance 2026-3. Okay. All right. So, um this is a public hearing and so we're going to um open it up. Do we have anyone online that's weighed in or called in? Anyone in the public who wishes to speak on this
particular item? Okay, I see that we do have um Major Misinger. Um and um I'm going to get my rank right on
Matt Farmer. Right. >> Is that okay? >> All right. >> Captain Farnner, >> move to approve. >> Okay, we have a motion to approve. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. And just before we >> now we're in discussion
>> in as we go into discussion um I just want to say thank you to um sheriff's department and marine patrol and the um the hard work that you put into this the outreach to Marian County. Um we're really thankful to our partners in Marian County as well for um adopting
this identical ordinance first since we both sort of share this this area. Um, one thing I don't know if the rest of the board knows is that the forestry services put in again for consideration by FWC in the state of Florida um to set
um this area up as a spring protection zone. Kind of what we went through last year, but now we have a new statute in place that governs the criteria on that. So, we'll probably be having more discussions in the future about um taking a position on that and being involved in that discussion. Um,
another, um, along the same lines, um, I've reached out to Senator Trun now about the possibility of working with Forestry Service, FWC, Marian County, and Lake County to um, potentially have a restroom facility that could be used
by Boers in the Silver Glenn area in order to address a ve a very obvious problem. um since the existing park that's there is really only for people who who arrive by land, not by not not for Boers. Um so he's indicated support
for that. Um we just have to kind of start working on we have to work on the details at this point. Um, but this is a step in the right direction as far as the promises that we made to the state last year when the spring protection zone came up that we would do whatever we could on a local basis to try to tamp
down on behavior that was really inconsistent with the natural um surroundings and the protection of that area. And it had the the noise issue had become such a problem that it just
seemed to all sort of wrap together with with bad behavior and a lack of appreciation for protecting that really important natural resource. So, um I'm just super pleased to have um this opportunity for this to be before us and
to be moving forward hopefully um with adoption of this ordinance and then working in partnership um with sheriff's department and marine patrol on the implementation phase which I'm sure will be fun. Um it's going to be a challenge but but it's going to be uh well worth
it. Um I believe so. We do have a motion to second. Any further comment or discussion? Yeah, I would just like to say um I I think that your work with the with the state on making making it where the voters can also access the Glenn property itself on land for the for the
restrooms and for the picnic tables would be um enormously helpful in the cleanup of the whole area. So, >> and thank you to the sheriff's department uh for all the work you've done out there.
Um, I was going to mention too, there's a really great video. I'll I'm going to send it through the county manager's office to everyone that water management district put together on the St. John's River. Um, about 22 minutes into the video, there's a whole section that's on
Silver Glenn Springs and divers go down into the springs and they go way way down through all these cracks and crevices. And I don't know how they they do that, but the I mean it's just it's incredible. The the current is so strong and they're having to to mark where
they're at so they make sure they can get back out. Um but um but they've been in springs all over the state of Florida and they all they they noted that of all of the springs in the state of Florida, this is by far the most magnificent. Um it's got so many valuable features and
it's just very unique in um in with with a lot of the different characteristics that go along with Silver Glenn Springs. So um so yeah, this is exciting time I think in Lake County be taking a step in the right direction. Any further comments or questions? All
in favor say I. I. Any opposed? That passes unanimously. So thank you guys for being here. appreciate you and what you do. All right. Thank you. Okay. Um, moving ahead to tab 18. Was
everybody okay if we just take like a five 10 minute break before we move into the next part? Okay. So, about five five to 10 minutes. We'll be seated by 10 minutes from now. Commissioners, this meeting is being We're back
on to tab 18. Um, Miranda Good morning, chairman, commissioners. I'm Miranda Lenu, budget manager with the Office of Management Budget. >> Welcome. >> The purpose of today's presentation is to hold a public hearing for the
mid-year budget amendment. >> First, I will provide an overview of the mid-year budget amendment process. Next, I will discuss the general fund reserves. I will also outline a summary of changes to the fiscal year 26 budget and finally present the requested
action. The purpose of the midyear budget amendment is to make adjustments to the fiscal year 26 budget to add previously unanticipated revenues and expenditures and to include any necessary changes that have been identified.
The current countywide budget, which includes previously approved unanticipated revenue resolutions, is 1.068 billion. The proposed changes to today are 47.9 million, which will bring the
supplemental budget to 1.16 billion. The total mid-year adjustment for the general fund revenues are approximately 22 million. They include a decrease of 197,000 in advorum revenue due to the adjustment for the final property values
as of October 1st which include value adjustment board adjustments. An adjustment for changes to the beginning fund balance of 20.5 million attributed to additional revenues received and cost savings over projected spending in fiscal year 25. 1 million in grant
reward award reconciliations and 460,000 for the Kroger termination agreement. Adjustments to the general fund for expenditures are a reduction of 1.1 million to CRA payments due to final property values as of October 1st,
including any value adjustment board adjustments. The filing are adjustments impacting the constitutional offices. For the sheriff, there is a $566,000 adjustment for service agreements and capital equipment. For the clerk, there is a $161,000 adjustment for network
cabling and fiber installation. For the supervisor of elections, there is a 635,000 adjustment for leaseold improvements. There is an increase in 1.7 million in anticipated inmate medical cost. There is an increase of 4.4 million in
transfers to other funds, including 3.4 4 million for opioid settlement funds that were received in fiscal year 23 and fiscal year 24 to the drug court reserves and 979,000 to support the employee health fund. A 14.6 million
increase to reserves which includes an increase to road resurfacing reserves of approximately 1.4 4 million and 793,000 in other miscellaneous adjustments, including approximately 234 for wage adjustments, including final rates
provided by the state for FRS and elected officials and overtime estimates, 355,000 for an increase in anticipated planning and zoning professional services, and 169,000 for labor laser gray sky funding due to the
October 2025 flooding. The current adopted general fund operating reserves are 25.3 million representing 9.5% of the operating budget. The 3.4 million decrease from the adopted budget represents the use of
the resurfacing reserves for resurfacing projects since the budget's initial adoption. After approval of the mid-year adjustment, the total general fund operating reserves will be 41.5 million, which represents 15.4 of the operating budget. The long range target for
reserves is 16% or two months of regular operating expenses which is the recommendated recommended minimum by the government finance officers association for counties. The total adjustments to other funds are approximately 26.1 million. 5.3 million
of this is in grant rec reconciliation adjustments. Approximately 17.4 4 million in beginning fund balance adjustments for revenues that exceeded actual expenditures over was projected for fiscal year 25. Major adjustments here were included in the transportation fund
of approximately 2.4 million, EMS fund of 3.5 million, county fire fund of 8.2 million, and the resort development tax fund of 2.2 million. Under capital projects, there was an increase to infrastructure sales tax revenues over projections which resulted in additional
funding that has been allocated for the North Wing Judicial Center roof replacement project, the Butler Street Boat Ramp parking lot improvement project, the Brit Road Construction and Construction Inspection Agreement, and the purchase of additional ambulances,
and approximately 990,000 other adjustments that were primarily related to the final property value adjustments and rebudgeting of the Udora road roundabout utility relocation project. I will now turn it over to the chairman to open the public hearing. >> All right, we're going to open this to
the public. Do we have anyone here that wishes to discuss these budget adjustments? Anyone online? All right, we'll bring it back to the board. Okay, any any questions? >> Approve. >> Second. And I would like to say thank
you for concentrating on reserves. Uh for the record, the requested action is approval of an amended budget for fiscal year 2026 to include a reconciliation of beginning fund balance and other adjustments and the approval of the resolution adopting a supplemental budget of 1
billion115,630,621 for fiscal year 2026. >> All right, >> that was incorporated in your motion. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate that. Um, >> yeah. And I thought it was interesting, too. So, we've already begun using the money for resurfacing,
>> so we had to make that adjustment. >> Good. >> That's good news. >> That's good news. >> All right. >> We added an additional 1.4 towards new resurfacing. >> New resurfacing. >> All right. All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Okay. Great. That passes 40.
Appreciate that. Um, now moving on to tab 19. Uh, this is Jeff. Hehart Airheart on um what did you >> Good morning Jeff Jeffhheart with um
public works. Um we're here to talk about uh vacation today. This is vacation 1309. It's related to the the Dora Pines area which we've seen some in this area before. It's being brought forth by the the Malcolms. Um it's uh east of 441 near the Mount
Dora area in commission district 4. The proposed vacation it's north of limit west of Brit and east of 441. As we zoom in a little bit closer, it is to make these lots buildable. It's removing the um the culde-sac, sidewalk, and driveway
um easements that are part of the uh historic plat. With that, I'll open the public hearing. >> All right. Do we have anyone online on this one? No, we have no cards. Um, so we'll bring it back to the board. Um,
we've done several of these before >> in this area. Move to approve. >> All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? That passes 40. Moving ahead to tab 20.
have 20 Jeff Hehart on public works. This is another vacation related to um Manor Oaks up in the Leburg area. It is um being brought forth by Maritage Homes. The um the vacation is it's within it's
a development within the city limits of Leburg. It's east of um 33 Commission District Three. It's part of the Manor Oaks subdivision is north of Manor Oaks Court and west of US 27 and east of 33. Got a couple
graphics here that kind of zoom in a little bit a little bit closer. The existing basically we're talking about an existing ditch or canal. It's you can see the the red is what is where it currently flows. Then it flows north through other property where we have an
easement that's in blue. And then it continues up through Arlington Court and out towards towards the the lake. So that's where it ex flows. You can see in green here, the green would be to relocate that triangle
canal. I mean the the hypotenuse of the of the triangle. There we go. Nice word there. And then do um do the two perpendiculars in green in order to go around the site. the the the purpose is primarily to make the property more conducive to the developers subdivision
that they're developing. Just kind of want to focus on that there are some flood planes in the area. You can see that the that the existing canal does go through the the flood plane and there's also a flood plane in the middle of their site that they are maintaining. Kind of showing it all together in in
one place. Once again, you can see where it flows. It will flow north. It will go through the property that we have an easement over and then it flows through Arlington and out toward towards the lake. We will the the request is to vacate what's in red and then they will
dedicate what's in green where they will where they will construct a new drainage canal. Wouldn't be an engineer without showing you some nice plans. So, here you can see the the pond that they're constructing. You can see in the middle there's that shaded area in the middle of the pond. That's where the existing drainage ditch is. They'll be building a
pond in that that location and they'll be building a ditch that goes around the perimeter of it. We have added some rip wrap at the at the corners of that in order to make sure that erosion doesn't try to limit the erosion as much as as we can. Um, as part of this, we did ask the
developer to go this is the property to the north that we have an easement on. Um the developer did go out and they they helped clear some of this because there was some blockages from for some storm drainage and we worked with the city of Leburg in order to have them clear some of this property that's not
on their property but it helps our our drainage system. They also went further and actually got permission and worked with Arlington in order to clear some of the blockages that were in their area as well to hopefully we had a it it it took a very long time to drain after after Milton. So this should hopefully clear
that up. Just wanted to kind of show you the the plat that they are putting some this is they're doing subdivision with um houses in this particular area. Zooming in on the area where where the pond is and there is also in addition to the vacation that that's being requested.
There is a development agreement to go along with this. Um basically we're requiring the right of the developer will retain a right ofway use permit in order to construct the new ditch. They will also required to dedicate that new ditch right away, that green area.
They'll require to dedicate that. They're also will be providing a perpetual maintenance of the ditch. So, the ditch will be maintained by them in in perpetuity. In addition, we're asking them for them to indemnify the county for 20 years. that while we believe that
this will give the same level of flood protection as the existing ditch does, we did want to put the onus on the developer that if something did go wrong in the next 20 years that they would um be be responsible. The we were we we did request that in perpetuity. The
developer requested that we limit it to to 20 years and in 20 years we'll be able to see whether it's whether it's working or not. So with that, I'll open it up for the uh public hearing and with any questions. >> All right. Do we have anyone online? We have no cards. What's that?
>> Um, has any one had I mean it's a legislative act, but if you've had any exparte discussions you want to disclose. >> Okay. >> Meritage is here if you want. >> All right,
Dan. My only concern is that I want to make sure that the residents know that they have this easement in there and they're responsible for it. So, would that be in their contract?
>> Well, it would be in the it' be on the plat. It'd be in the HOA documents that they're responsible for ongoing maintenance of any storm water facilities that are on that plat. Is that correct? >> Yeah. Yes, that is correct. And for the record, my name is Dan O'Keefe with
Shuts and Bowen. I'm here here on behalf of Meritage Homes. My address is 300 South Orange Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32801. Uh, thank you, chairman, commissioners. And yeah, that that will be in the HOA documents and on the plat. And just a
couple of points. So, right now, the the ditch really is insufficient and overflows the the water onto the adjacent property. the realigned easement uh is engineered to to do better and to to accommodate all of that water and for a 100red-year storm event.
Also, Meritage has agreed to offsite swale improvements to help the whole system function better. So, I think as part of this, the whole system is going to function better as they mentioned, but then clearing off uh helping to clear the easement downstream and the county is protected and indemnified. I
think if if anything's going to go wrong with the with the realigned easement 20 years certainly they're going to they're going to know if if if there's a problem and and Meritage and the HOA are fully uh responsible for that. Um we have our engineer here and representatives from
Meritage to answer any questions or concerns you might have. It looks like um on the map that we'd seen before the um design that there's a storm water drainage like actual pond retention pond down there in that area.
>> Correct. And then the the the realigned easement would go just outside >> outside of that. >> So I mean if there was some sort of problem it's going to be arguably isolated to that area as opposed to in somebody's backyard. >> Yeah. This should be an improvement to the overall system and and our engineers
are confident that that they're they're fixing and improving the situation. >> Well, that's what we like to hear. Fixing a problem, coming up with a solution. Um, and I agree. 20 years, that's good. If anything's going to go wrong, we're
going to know it within that period of time, I would think. So, any other questions? Yeah, I I have I have several questions and concerns is and one of the questions I brought up during my meeting was um our our drainage goes right
through the middle of their pond. I don't know why they just don't increase the pond size to um take over the excess water. That's number one. I'm gonna ask all my
questions first and then you can answer them however you want to answer them. Uh, number two, um, I guess this is for Melanie or the developer. Uh, you gave us 20 years. Um,
is there a bond included with that? And why is this not in perpetuity? what uh because we've had properties that um have had some changes done to it and longer than 20 years ago and now
we're having issues today. Uh Wolf Branch is a good example of that. So I would like to see that this agreement be in perpetuity for the county to adminify the county in
perpetuity. And third, I understand that once the developer is finished, it's going to move back over into the HOA agreement. What happens if the HOA dispands?
then what happens to the agreement or what happens if there is a bond there should be a bond um what happens to that if I can get those answers it would be helpful um I understand that this as a natural flowway and thank you
very much for the work that you have done to uh clean up the ditch I know it wasn't your responsibility and you've done that so that has also um I I just want to say thank you very much for that because it's going to help
the overall scheme of the water flow in this area. But if we can get those three questions answered, I would certainly appreciate it. >> Uh Lee Suswit, Meritage Homes. I live at 1114 Country Club Roades, Florida. Um so first off, thank you for hearing us out.
Uh the first one is why we couldn't combine them. So the drainage ditch was a conveyance swale. So through St. John's, we have to keep it separate. So we have on-site retention and then conveyance for the natural flow of the water going through. Um so you wouldn't be able to account for that capacity in our pond on site regardless. They would
have to stay separate totally. And then we kept the central wetland area. We wanted to keep that natural and preserved. So we avoided that area to keep it natural to help for preserving the wetlands overall which I know is important for everyone. Um and so we thought shifting the conveyance swell around the pond was the best use of the
property. One of the lowest line areas which is where you want to put your storm water. Um, so that's how we designed it to try to get amount of lots we could. We started 141. We went down limiting because of the drainage and the central wetland. So we ended up at 113. So originally did lose lots and this is
where we landed and feel improving off sites is going to help everyone in the long run. >> So that was why not bond and then do you want to talk about the 20 years versus perpetuity? >> Yeah. So we kind of thought this might come up regardless. So, we do have the okay to go ahead and we can do it in perpetuity if that's one of the lunch
pins here. We came up with 20 years as a negotiation cuz we didn't want to hold it up forever, but if it's what it takes to get it done, then I have the approval to do that. So, we can and then the bond is something that's required to stay in place with the HOA or Meritage that'll carry over. Um, and then it's something
we had said we could put up the reserve to cover it for them if needed. So, the money is there to cover the bond regardless for the years. So, just looking at the agreement, the agreement doesn't actually require a bond that I see. It requires it requires insurance,
>> right? So, they have to maintain a million-doll insurance policy for the term of the agreement. If we change that to in perpetuity, they'd have to maintain it. To respond to your question, if the HOA becomes inactive, we have no mechanism in order to go back against them if there was a failure of
this drainage system. This development is in the city limits of Eusta. So we can't levy in MSBU without I'm sorry Leburg um without Leberg's permission to allow us to do that. So that is a risk that we do take. Um my understanding is
that um Meritage is going to turn it over once it's built out like they do with their other subdivisions and they would assign this agreement to the HOA and then they would no longer be responsible for it. >> But but I I will also note Thank you Melanie. I will also note that the HOA
is going to own the the contracts in the community. They're going to have the million dollars of insurance. Um, and right now the the the county pays for the maintenance of the of the ditch that's not functioning as intended. And so it might not be 100% perfect, but
it's a lot better than what exists today with, you know, in in our in our assessment. >> Okay. I think you answered um some of my major questions as if you're willing to put this in perpetuity and then there's going to be our insurance on it.
>> Yes, Commissioner. >> With uh how do we make those changes to make sure it happens? >> So, you would include it in your motion and then before the document is signed, we'll have them resign a corrected document and then process all of them for signature on our side. >> So, go back to those conditions if you
could on the map. Are you doing Are you doing the 100red-year flood flood plane or >> Yeah. Yeah. It's designed for the hundredyear. Yes, sir. >> No, you're not planning for the thousand-y year flood. One in a thousand.
>> I have a question. >> Uhhuh. Yeah. >> All right. So, everything I've heard um sounds good. Uh looks like you got a lot of the details worked out possibly with this issue of being in perpetuity and you know in theory the longer the water's running actually the better it
is. You're you know adding the little curve which lengthens the distance and that's better for water flow and flood protection. So, I get all that, but maybe more of just a process question of how did you why did the how did you get to the point where the lot layout though
was done first before you've got to this decision because that and I'm I'm I'm sure I sound a little negative here, but it seems a little backwards, >> right? So, we had been in conversation through the entirety of the project. Um, we had an on-site permit originally approved to shift it around. Um, and
then we went through the process of vacation dedication after that, but it's been in the conversation the entirety of the project of how to handle the drainage and to help offsite and on-site function better. Um, so it I understand this is coming later. Fully agree. Just
it's been a conversation the entirety of the time. Um, it's been over a year uh finalizing everything. I'd also add I think a little bit of it commissioner was because >> it's not a county it's not a county project it's a city project and this one piece of it was the county and you know
we quite honestly we could have coordinated better than we did but um that that's why we're here today. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I know it's um and again it sounds like we got a lot of it worked out but and far be it for me to tell you how to do business but when you have a lot expectation you're trying to
get a number certain number of lots and that could change and it's changed obviously here it's you know it um >> it it seems a little >> it's not the best process >> timing was not coordinated very well and and uh we we live and learn and try to
get better. Thank you. >> All right. I'd like to make a motion that we approve with the changes of the development will take on the responsibility of this easement in perpetuity with the guarantee of a
million dollar um insurance required >> and that would include indemnification. >> Yes. >> Okay. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> All right. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? >> All right, that passes 40 with those modifications. And
>> madam chairman, if I can just clarify, that is with the agreement currently being assignable to the HOA the board's. Okay, perfect. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right, moving now to >> Can I confirm that was the vacation and
the developers agreement that was >> correct? All right. So, now we're moving to tab 20. Um, >> Oops. I'm sorry. Did I just jump over? That was That's what we were just doing.
Okay. 21. And I'm going to call on Melanie. All right. So, this is a followup to the joint meeting that you had with the city of Mount Dora. This is regarding the litigation we have for the Mount Dora Northeast CRA expansion. Um that's
currently uh pending with the court, but it's in abatement because we were going through the intergovernmental dispute resolution process. So at your last meeting held in December, um Mount Dora had requested that the county make the next offer. Um, so and allowed about 45
days for us to do that before we go into what's what would be considered a formal mediation process. Um, I think the two boards are close um with having a couple of various concerns. So, in the interest of offering options to Mount Dora, what
I have before you today are two proposals. Uh my recommendation would be that you approve both and send them both to Mount Dora and let Mount Dora choose if one of those would would work for them. Um the first proposal would be that we would split the incremental
revenue for the expansion property only at a 5545 split. 55 to the city of Mount Dora, 45 to Lake County. And then that document would include language that would commit the county to taking its 45% of the incremental revenues and
using it for transportation improvements in and immediately adjacent to the CRA boundary. The second proposal would be a slightly different shift in the percentages so that the expansion property um the incremental revenues for expansion
property would be 60% to the city of Mount Dora, 40% to Lake County, but Lake County would request that the city of Mount Dora take over certain identified roads that are within the city proper. Um, one of the segments would be from
Highland Street, uh, First Street from Highland over to just shy of the 441 intersection. Um, there's two segments of Fifth Avenue that are still countymaintained that we would ask the city of Mount Dora to take. We would ask them to take Limit Avenue as well, um,
since the county has already invested a significant amount of money in making improvements to that road, including the addition of the roundabout to help that traffic flow through that area easier. Um and then we would also ask that they take Highland Street from Fifth to the
um the Orange Lake County line. Um we do have maps that we can pull up if you want to see those maps. But again, there two slightly different percentages, slightly different proposals. um you can approve one, both, none if that's your preference. Um for us to at least
communicate something over to the city of Mount Dora and then that way they will have a an approved document that they can choose from or not choose to accept at that time. So on your screen, this is um these are the the segments. So this is um Highland
Street from Fifth Avenue to the county line that's still county maintained. Then we have Fifth Avenue from Alexander to McDonald. And then we have Fifth Avenue from Tmaine to Highland. This is East 1st Avenue to Pinerest from
Highland. And then of course all of Limit Avenue between 441 and Donnelly Street. And again, those those would be what we would ask them to take ownership, maintenance, and jurisdiction of in exchange for the county accepting 40% and the city keeping 60% of the
incremental revenues of the expansion property. I think it's very creative approach um to offer the two options and they can look over and decide
what works best for them. And and in addition, just to clarify, Jennifer just reminded me, in addition to the split on the expansion property, the city of Mount Dora has consistently agreed that they would give us back 100% of the EMS um incremental revenues that they
received for the entire CRA area, including the expansion properties. So, that's also written into these agreements. And do you feel it's pretty clear the 45 if if they were to go with the 4555 when we use the phrase transportation improvements in and around the CRA area
that would it it doesn't say immediately adjacent right I mean I think in and around it should be it should be loose enough. So the current language for that proposal says that Lake County hereby agrees to the extent possible and were warranted to use its share of the
retained incremental general fund revenues for intersection improvements, sidewalks, and storm water management associated with county own and maintained roads within, near, or adjacent to the redevelopment area, including but not limited to State Road 44, also known as 44B and US 441.
>> Perfect. So I think either one is a good is a if they pick either I think it's a good >> resolution and it is a res resolution. It's not perfect. Perfect would be that the CRA
doesn't occurate >> commercial >> right I mean that's how it should have been. it should have never been included and that would be the ideal scenario. But we've been told that there is case law that says that a city is is a
legislative decision and if discretionary and if they think it's blighted then the court to a certain degree might agree. We don't know if a court would would agree or not but we're kind of rolling the dice if we um move
forward and as as would they. So, they may not accept either one of them, but I think this could be a decent resolution. >> You need a motion. >> We do. I I was just hoping that Commissioner Smith would make the motion.
>> He's going to make it. >> He said he's not making the motion. And And I have to say my preference is to not approve either one is to stick with where we've been. That's my preference. But in the
essence of saving attorney's fees >> and time >> and time and you know putting this to rest and the city of Mount Door has its hands full right now with a lot of issues with Donnelly Street and drainage and so forth. I'd like to just get it
resolved and consider it it it a it a compromise in the best interest of interest of intergovernmental coordination and cooperation >> and that is why for that rationale I will make a motion to approve >> I'll
all in favor say I >> I any opposed >> I >> and we may be back here again if they don't accept either one of them. But >> and just to clarify, that motion is to send both proposals over and let them choose. >> Perfect. Thank you.
>> All right, moving along then to tab 22. Uh Jeff, this is vacation petition 1310. >> Good morning. Jeff Airheart with public works. Um I guess just to clarify, this isn't a this is not a public hearing. This is um a little some information to
to share to share with you. This one's a little bit different than than some of the other ones. This is a request to advertise and we wanted to bring it to you. Normally, this just goes through on a consent item, but the um we're recommending that staff is recommending the denial. We haven't be able to come
to an agreement with the uh with the developer, which is related to the the Bailey's um Esquire, Brett, Brett Jones, and some others associated here. Um this is located in commission district one um south and west of Mono Vista Vista Road.
Zoom in a little bit closer. It is located north of Pine Island Road. It's um south and west of Monav Vista and east of East Redwing Road. Um this the area the the line in red is
the proposed vacation area and I I put the inset to the right or that that zoomed in area. Um, essentially the uh the county is just requesting that they provide us 33 feet from East Redwing and currently
they only want to provide 25 ft. So basically we're talking about an 8 foot difference in what we're requesting and what the the developer is wanting to to to provide. Um the county is open to vacating the area to the um
west in the in the in the red. That's about 1,275 feet. So the area to the so the majority of it we want where we're okay vacating is just additional 8 feet. And the reason that is is because the road requires 33 feet from from center line
and we would we're looking into the future that we want to make sure we maintain the appropriate right ofway. When the developers when the developments to the north or the south come in, they would have to give that 33 feet as well. Currently, it only has 25 ft, but they would be required to give the 33. So the the the concept is we
didn't want to give away something that we already own that we're going to need and we don't want have to buy it back in the future if something happened. So, I hope that makes sense. I can go over it again if it if it doesn't. Um, this is a u I guess Melanie, I'm not 100% sure. So, the um the vacation
petition filed is to vacate all but 25 ft of rightway from the center line of East Redwing. Um public works staff is recommending denial as staff wants to retain 33 feet of rightway from the center line of East Redwing Road to meet current roadway classification. The applicant does not agree with staff's
recommendation of preserving the 33 feet and is still requesting to proceed with their application with Lake County keeping only 25 ft of rightway. Therefore, the resolution is based on the applicant's request to continue in spite of the recommended denial. So, in other words, we would generally not
bring something to you if we don't have an agreement. But we are we we're required to bring these. And I guess Jennifer um or I'm not sure. Are we requesting denial based on we aren't going to advertise it or are we requesting denial
just because we can at this point? >> If if the board denies the request to advertise um that would close out the vacation petition, no further action would be taken. The right of way would remain under the county's control. If you choose to move it forward to public hearing, you have the option of moving
it forward as the applicant has requested with the county only reserving 25 feet of rightway. Or you could move it forward to public hearing with the county's request of retaining 33 feet and at which point you could go to the public hearing and then move forward with vacating all but either the 25 or
33 feet depending on how you wish to proceed. >> And the representative is is here, but I can answer any questions. Just uh clarification on the process then you we could table >> there's a decision you're asking for today.
>> Correct. >> No, the decision being asked for today is is to deny it for advertising which then closes the petition and the process is over. >> Right. Right. But if you tabled that decision to deny it today, is there more
time? T table it to when that the applicant does not want to give the 33 feet is our understanding from dealing with >> All right. I guess we'll hear from the Okay. >> Um >> uh before the applicant comes up is it can question. I
>> I'm just kind of wondering how this conversation >> even happened. So, we have an easement that goes up to the hard road currently and the applicant would like for us to
vacate that easement. We already own or we already have access to the easement. Correct. So why don't we just say okay from this point to this point you can have we're retaining from that
point to the road. I I don't I don't get it. I I don't get how this even is plausible that someone, hey, I want you to give me an easement free and clear
and then but I'm going to dictate 8 feet. There's something just off here and I can't understand what's off. >> Is the is the question the eight feet of
I would I would agree. I don't understand the the developers reluctance to to provide the 8 ft when we're willing to vacate the the 1200 ft to the west. I would I would agree. I don't we don't understand it as well. >> And and just for background purposes,
>> so is the he's got a fence currently all the way down even across his easement at 25 ft. Right. So maybe maybe it's the that he doesn't want to have to move his fence. Is there some way that we can make an agreement? Say, okay, you don't
have to do anything to this planned until the county has a use for it and then at that point you've got to move it. Is that possible? >> That could be included in the vacation petition. >> Then I don't see
I don't see I'm just something's not clicking here for me. And and just for background purposes, for the record as well, this is uh Groveland Farms. So this was platted in 1911. So this has been a publicly dedicated easement since
1911. >> And and the applicant owns a bunch of land across it. And he knew that this easement was here. He knew it went through the road. He wants us to vacate this easement, which I'm fine with,
but then dictating that, oh, no, you you you can only go 25 ft from just something just doesn't make sense. May maybe you can help help me. >> Hi, my name is Maline Damon. I'm the attorney for the property owners who initi initiated this vacation. U my
address is 700 Almond Street, Claremont, Florida, 34711. The property owners are seeking to vacate the public ride ofway as you can see on your screens which currently serves no practical purpose. East Redwing Road currently has a 25- ft
rideway as recorded in public records and that is also evidenced on the sketch of legal description that we had a surveyor prepare. The county is requesting that the property owners dedicate the additional 8 feet um as a condition of the vacation, effectively transferring a portion of their property
to the county without just compensation. And I'll explain this further. Um so the county has indicated that the property owners refused to dedicate this additional rideway being the basis for denial in discussions with the county. Um the purpose of this request is also
um to come in line with the roadway classifications. However, they provided that as a policy matter in the interest of conserving taxpayer dollars, we would not want to vacate public rideway and then have to turn around and buy it back to improve a public road. So, in other
words, the county is seeking to acquire that right of way now to avoid compensating the property owner um all or all property owners in that case along East Redwing Road should they ever wish to improve that ride of way. However, we would like to note that East Redwing Road and the surrounding
property is entirely within the Green Swamp area of critical state concern, making future improvements to this ride ofway highly unlikely. And there's also no current plans to improve that road um at the present. Um so providing that additional 8 ft of rideway would also
create an inconsistency along East Redwing Road. Um because as you can see on the screen in blue, the entirety of that rideway is 25 ft. So the only portion of that road would be uh where the proposed vacation is. Um that would
be the only area where that additional 8t would exist. So, the county would still need to obtain that additional 8 ft from all of the property owners along East Red Wing both on the east and the west. And lastly, I would like to emphasize this is just approval to
advertise. So, um the commission doesn't need to come to a decision today as for the vacation. Um we would respectfully request the approval to advertise and we can plead our case further at public hearing. >> Okay. I got a couple questions on your statement. Do you mind? >> And the property owner is also here
>> if I ask. Sure. >> Follow-up questions. So, you said something about that the property owner that we're asking a property owner to give up 8 feet of his property. >> That was a that >> uh we're not asking him to give up 8
feet of his property. >> Correct. So, that would be >> it just we're asking him we're telling him that we're going to stop at 8 feet short of where he would like to go. >> Correct. >> Okay. I mean, we're just going to shop
at stop at 8t short. He owns 20. He owns the rest of that 8t on both sides. >> Correct. >> Not on the uh western side. >> No, on the both sides of on the north side and the south side of the easement currently. He owns all that land.
>> This currently his >> in the map here. Um the owners are the Bradley Bailey to the north and Jason Bailey to the south. So it's not >> across the street there is also where we vacated an easement and I'm I'm
understanding that on that vacation of the easement we required 33 feet from the rideway. Is that correct? >> That's what I was told by public works. Yes. >> So it's consistent from what we've done
just to the west. If this if this map is actually facing north and south just just the west of his easement is completely consistent. Again, I don't I don't understand it if if if there's a if there's currently a
fence there, which I believe there is because I I looked I couldn't quite tell where this was, but I looked. um and he wants to keep his fence there, which I get, we'll just have him sign an agreement with the county that he can use that
property up until the time the county needs it for roadway improvement or storm water improvement. >> Easy, easy done. >> Our position is that because this road is in the green swamp, >> so it's either all or nothing. Is that your position?
>> That's the property owner's position. I can let the property owner speak. I I certainly would like to hear from the proper because we're giving up I don't know 2500 square feet for 200 square feet. >> Yes sir.
>> That doesn't make any sense. If Commissioners, how are you doing? >> Good. >> Um, this is part of a 100 acre farm, cattle farm, and I think what has complicated
is I tried to get this done earlier when it would have been a lot simpler. But I've given each the two sons I've given them 30 acres and that 30 acres is part of that and I
wanted to clear that and they they also I reckon it's originally that whole road just about on both sides I gave the 50 foot to have to do the road initially and I don't know I reckon
we they don't want to give it up. And uh that's the reason if I'd like for you to at least approve the hearing and we'll try working it out cuz I think there's still questions as as why we're giving
the land up this early when I don't I don't know when it's going to is it on is the road on any kind of one year fiveyear 10y year. I think it's going to be a long I don't know if it will ever be widened other
than the what it is right now. So, let me just ask, there might be a little confusion. Um, do you realize that the only part that the county is asking to be is just within that easement that you're asking be vacated? It's not the whole >> It's not the whole thing because I own
probably >> uh at least probably 3/4 mile of that road uh of and if you if you include uh the whole road all the way over to 33 is only probably a couple of miles. So I
own a big portion and I reckon uh I'm just curious what's planned for that area. Uh, I I don't want to I don't want to give up anything when it it it will help me. >> I think what Commissioner Smith is getting at is that the vacation is
discretionary. It's owned by the public. Basically, the the easement that's there now. It you it encumbers your property. And so from the public's interest, and we have to sit here and look at the public's interest. Um, if we were just
to give that up, um, I think the argument is that it's in the public's interest for us to at least keep the part that we may need one day if that road ever has to be widened. Um, that nobody's trying to take any more on the
north or the south, just right in that area. Otherwise, from the public standpoint, it would make more sense just to leave the easement in place because then we know we've got at least that part of the road in public ownership.
>> Okay. >> So, so you keep saying your property, but this is an easement. This is actually the public, >> right? Yeah. I I >> And that's all we're trying to do is get 8 ft of the 25 ft. We're and then give
you the rest. >> Okay. I I I think if we could do the advertisement, I'll work with my sons and see if we can't correct take care of it. Okay. >> So, why don't we move forward? Why don't
we advertise for the vacation and everybody's full disclosure that if we get to the next meeting and we don't have the votes then we don't have the votes and it dies. >> And I can tell you I'm not going to vote for 25 ft.
It's fiberglassing. So for me, I'm okay to advertise it, but just know that if we but if you're going to bulk on this eight feet or your sons are which you don't own currently and
we're just trying to give you the rest of it, I'm going to be a a hard no because I it's for the public's good to keep it. And that's my job up here is to do what we can do to help all of Lake County, whether it's 10 years from now
or hundred years from now. You're saying this is in the green swamp. Well, so was Dewey Robbins Road. Dewey Robbins Road was an orange grove road back when I was a kid. Now look at it. There's no telling what this is going to be in 50 years. It's our responsibility to look ahead and look at future and that's what
I'm trying to do. >> Yeah. And I and Mr. Bailey, I certainly appreciate your phone call and I'm I'm sorry that we're on different ends of this, but for this 8 ft, I can't waver my my thing. Sorry.
>> And just uh just to also make it um give you in fairness an indication of where I stand for the next meeting. I I wholeheartedly agree with uh Commissioner Smith and Commissioner Campion. I think I'm kind of wondering 8 ft is causing all this a big of an
issue. I don't I don't so I respect you got to go back and talk to your sons and that's fine but you know for me it's going to the dedication needs to be there. So, Commissioner, a lot of it is is if you know people in farming and in
agriculture, uh it it doesn't sound like much to you, but you know, people are funny about giving up anything. Okay. But I do appreciate the discussion, huh? >> You don't have it now.
>> Well, yeah. Yeah, I I don't know if there's like somebody was advising there may be economic gain from it or not, but that that was a question maybe because I'm a little cynical about that, but but you know, because I don't know. I just I was wondering why
it was just 8 feet was holding holding up um all this. So, I think the key is that we got to talk about it some more and I'm happy to meet with you and your sons. Um, the only part that the county is asking to keep is inside that easement area, not any other part of the
property that you own outright without the encumbrance of an easement. The only thing that's being requested is if the county is going to get rid of the public's interest on that easement that encumbers your son's property that the county wants to at least keep enough
feet uh next to the road that eight feet. But I'm I'm glad to sit down and and and and and meet with your family and >> me too. And I'll be glad to go out to your property and look at this exact >> Well, I appreciate it. Thank you. >> Yeah. Okay. Let's let's move forward and
get it get it advertised if we can get a motion >> with with 33 feet or >> you're just going to advertise it the way it was requested. >> Well, my recommendation is that you move it forward to advertise it with the county retaining 33 feet. >> All right.
>> Okay. because then they can come back and they can resubmit if they think that. >> Right. Because remember, you can always go less. You can't go more once you advertise. >> Okay. >> All right. I'll make that motion. >> I'll >> All right. All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Okay. We're moving forward with
the advertisement. >> Um moving then to reports. County attorney. >> Nothing. >> County manager. >> No reports. >> Um Commissioner Parks. Yeah, I'm happy to report uh that we had uh the next um
um public lands and trails acquisition committee meeting this past Thursday. Uh happy to uh report that the um the team the uh the B this board uh did
has done a wonderful job. They're doing a great job. They're working very hard. There was a lot of great discussion when I think what we thought would be an hour or two hour meeting went um several hours longer probably could have continued to go longer. A lot of discussion about philosophies and uh
some of what some of I'm sure was tedious for staff because they look at review criteria and it's it's something that uh is they do on a regular basis. So it seems fairly routine but to a a citizens advisory board they really got into the philosophy and is this one is
this certain points percentage should it be worth more or should it not be so there was a lot of discussion about that ultimately uh there was some some changes made to the review criteria and then the uh the PLA TAC as we're going to call it uh recommended approval of
the sort of revised review committee both for the the uh the trail side uh and and the public lands outright uh categories. Um an issue has come up I think uh and there's several recommendations they already made. They made motions uh to present to the county
commission which I thought was good. They wanted to make it so there was no ambiguity to anything. So I think we'll get a report on those uh motions and what was decided here uh fairly soon. big issue is timing
um because uh the next time the meeting their meeting is in April. So a big part of the discussion was can we meet more often. So I'm going to lay something on the table today that I think we need to think seriously and very uh diligently about and that is uh staff has expressed
a concern about um meeting more often and the constraints that they have being that there's very few staff that are actually dedicated to it. So, I'm not asking for an answer on that today, but it's something I think this board needs to be very uh considerate and think
thoughtful about trying to help staff and their efforts uh to get the applications done quickly. I can tell you and I'm not exaggerating here that uh we had a pretty decent sized room um people with properties that you know people in Lake County that had interest
in their properties and uh literally one or two I know walked out because they when they started hearing about the time frames of properties taking a year or more to close on they these these property owners already have uh developer offers on the table or
interest at least. So, it was a little disheartening to to hear about that. There is a bit of a race of time and the time value of money to try to get those properties uh into the system as quickly as possible. So, one of the things I was going to ask for is if we could move and I've I've talked with Jennifer about
this as well was seeing if we could um open up the application period again on February 10th or somewhere around that time. I think there's a commission meeting where we could talk about it that day and make a decision. So maybe what I'm asking right now is that that be put on the agenda for us to open up
immediately the application period based off of the new review criteria that the uh PL the PLA TAC approved and then move forward. That would uh maybe speed things up a little bit uh in terms of when some properties could be purchased. You can still there's still big
decisions to be made about how many how many tranches of the bond you know is it all is it 25 here and then 25 in a couple years or is it split into a third or do we just do small amounts um there's still plenty of time to discuss that but in the meantime if we got the
application period open um sooner than later instead of waiting till April again that could make a make a big difference maybe perhaps on some of these properties ultimately again the decision to purchase these lands does come back to the county commission, but at least this uh PLA TAC can start reviewing some of these applications as
they come in. >> Okay, >> so that's that's a >> Can we do agenda? >> Yeah, put it on the agenda. >> Yeah, I just wanted to give you an update and again can't emphasize enough. I think it's a great committee. They were asking every all of them were asking a lot of good questions, a lot of good uh discussion on it. There's a lot
of work to be done and I do think the other side of that again is helping staff. Uh so they did they did so that they can meet more often. They the the PLA TAC did want to meet more often. They made a a motion to actually do that starting after April, every other month,
but it might it might require even more. So, it just depends. And I So, I see both sides of it, and I think we have to help them as well uh get through this. So, you're smiling. I mean, that's good then. Okay. >> Okay. >> All right. Um that's my report. Um
that's it. >> Commissioner Smith, >> I have no report. >> Commission Morris. Um just real quick on mine. Um last week we had three meetings uh public meetings on the comp plan update. So I attended the one in Umatillaa and then attended the one in
Leburg and then the last one was in Claremont. Commissioner Parks and I were both there. Um all three meetings were really um um really good meetings. Um good attendance um really good attendance over in Leburg. We had a lot
and we also had a lot over in um Claremont and that school is fabulous. >> Oh, Aurelia Aurelia Cole. >> Yes. Wow. That's beautiful. Beautiful facility. Um so the staff did a great job. Consultant did a good job. Um Glenn
did an excellent job. Um yeah so um you know frustration heard all a lot of the same frustrations about um development orders developments being approved the distinction between the city approved projects versus county approved projects
where our jurisdiction ends in that regard. Talked a lot about transportation congestion. Um, you know, it was an opportunity for residents to talk about all their their concerns about, you know, whether we have the
public facil facilities to handle everything that's coming down the pike and whether um, you know, we heard everything, water issues, trails, roads, um, talked somewhat about
concurrency, explain that, but essentially really walked through the fact that this is a requirement by the state growth management act that we have to do this update and we have to go out x number of years and um and we don't have a map yet. So we don't know what
that map is going to look like or be proposed to look like and to what extent the inventory that exists already is going to be sufficient to handle the inventory that's projected. although those population numbers like really go up significantly between now and the
horizon on this plan. So, um yeah, a lot of lot of difficult issues in the future questions. >> Thanks. >> Can I tag one comment to that and I appreciate you being there? Uh the the Claremont one. Um I would I would like to just be very positive and reinforce
the staff's efforts to reach out to the Gen Z as we had talked about it. Um, and that was discussed at that Claremont meeting. So, I thought that that was great. I loved hearing all the input is very valuable uh to how we write this comprehensive plan. So, thanks.
>> You did have a resident there who did not agree with you about that. >> They did. I'm not going to mention that, but that's why I was going to be very positive and stay above that and say I think that that is a great thing because I think that that's uh part of what we're trying to do is think about uh where we go 20 years from now. >> Well, yeah. And I think the issue was,
you know, you're they're the ones that we're passing this off to the next generation, so we want to hear from you. But the flip side of that is, hey, we're the wise older folks here, and we need to make the decision so that you do have, you know, what you need. >> They're not going to live here. Well, we
want them to live here. Wait a minute. I want my kids to live here. >> Yep. >> No, it was a good discussion. It was an interesting perspective. I had not thought of it that way until we heard that that night. Um so okay and then the other thing is I
attended a meeting in Mount Dora last week um regarding the Dogwood Mountain the Donnelly street collapse Dogwood Mountain flooding Lake Gertrroot that whole area um we had public works staff there um let's see Bobby was there and
um the the city was going over a lot of the things that they've done through the years things that they knew that they should have done through the years um things that were supposed to be done and maintained and so forth. And they talked about what they were going to try to do in the future. They're going to come back with sort of some time um frames on
getting some maintenance and so forth done. But they still have the issue of the storm water um uh structures that collapsed and and what they're doing to get those um built back better, so to speak. Um because that was really the
big concern was if you're going to rebuild it and it collapsed before, what are you going to do to make sure that it doesn't collapse again? Um and one request I did want to put in to public works was that um we take a look
at the structure that outfalls from Lake Gertrude. Um because if I mean the flooding that happened was primarily along those areas where um there was a tremendous amount of velocity and volume of water coming
through these hills and so forth and washing out areas and um but if the lake gets so high and let's just say we had another storm on top of the storm that happened on the
26 um the outfall. I don't know that there's enough outfall from Gertrude to get the water out of there fast enough. Not that you want to take Lake Gertrude down too far, but just that you need to be able to move it if you do have a situation
where it's actually starting to flood. We didn't have flooding of the people that lived around the lake. We had people that were all around the area in the hills and so forth that were flooded, but we didn't actually No, it docks underwater, but we didn't have houses underwater. But if if that basin
fills up and can't empty out to Lake Dora, then you could have flooding around the lake. Anyway, that was one thought just kept coming back to me throughout that um discussion um was they could get all of their drainage areas cleaned out. They could get everything put back in order. they could
get these um structures in place um and then we could continue to see, you know, too much water that eventually gets down to the lake that has nowhere to go. So, I just want to see if we could reach out to St. John's and look at from our because it's the county's um outfall
structure from Gertrude to Lake Dora. Um, in years ago, I remember when Jim Styer was the public works director, they actually went in there with cameras, discovered that the pipe was clogged, they they revamped it. Um, but I just don't know that it's large enough
to handle the amount of water that would need to leave there um to prevent flooding. So, anyway, so those are my those are my comments and um we're getting out of here by 11:30. Um, so
and do you have a uh thing to share with us today? >> I I do and as I look around the room, I think everybody here is going to understand this. I was kind of wondering we might have some of the younger generation here, but >> they would they didn't they wouldn't quite understand what's going on here,
but today is National Disc Jockey Day. >> That's all I have. those ones ride on horses >> and and listen to music at the same time. >> Okay. All right. So, we um will convene next Tuesday. We have a meeting next
week, >> correct? >> Yes. Um >> February. >> Wait, >> no. No, it's the 28th. >> Yes. So, it' be it'd be February 2nd, correct? >> When is our next meeting? >> February. >> Third. >> February 3rd. Okay. So, we will be
reconvening on February 3rd. Um so we stand adjourned. >> Recording stopped.