Hardee County Board of County Commissioners

1 MINUTES Hardee County Board of County Commissioners REGULAR MEETING March 19, 2026, at 8:30 AM COMMISSION CHAMBERS 412 WEST ORANGE STREET, ROOM 102, WAUCHULA, FL 33873DRAFT

Hardee County Board of County Commissioners March 19, 2026 2 1. INVOCATION, FOLLOWED BY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 2. CALL TO ORDER Attendee Name Title Status Arrived Timothy E. Wells Vice Chair Present Noey A. Flores Chair Present E. Donald Chancey, Jr. Commissioner Present Russell A. Melendy Commissioner Present Kenneth A. Miller Commissioner Present Terry Atchley County Manager Present Victoria L. Rogers Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller Absent Sarah Johnston County Attorney Present Kristin Ottinger Attorney Present Doug Baber Assistant County Manager Present Christopher Simpron Assistant County Manager Present Holly Smith Administrative Services Manager Present Brandy Crawford Executive Assistant Present Joley Pleger Deputy Clerk Present Chair Flores called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. 3. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA: ADDITIONS, DELETIONS, AND AMENDMENTS Chair Flores Motion by Commissioner Melendy and second by Commissioner Wells Motion carried unanimously. Ayes – Wells, Flores, Chancey, Melendy, and Miller 4. MINUTES FOR APPROVAL No meeting minutes were submitted for Board approval. 5. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMS Chair Flores called for general public comments. The following person address the Board: Mr. Travis Maldonado 6. PROCLAMATIONS A. 250th Anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence Proclamation: Mr. Jim Beckley Motion by Commissioner Melendy and second by Commissioner Wells to approve the proclamation commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence. Motion carried unanimously. Ayes – Wells, Flores, Chancey, Melendy, and Miller B. Child Abuse Prevention Month: Ms. Tyiesha Ghent, Heartland for Children,DRAFT

Hardee County Board of County Commissioners March 19, 2026 3 Motion by Commissioner Melendy and second by Commissioner Chancey to approve the proclamation declaring April 2026, as “Child Abuse Prevention Month” in Hardee County. Motion carried unanimously. Ayes – Wells, Flores, Chancey, Melendy, and Miller 7. CONSENT AGENDA Motion by Commissioner Miller and second by Commissioner Chancy to approve the Consent Agenda Items A through H as presented. Motion carried unanimously. Ayes – Wells, Flores, Chancey, Melendy, and Miller A. Motion to approve amendment #3 to the State of Florida, Division of Emergency Management Grant Agreement number F0117 for the Emergency Operations Center; authorizing the County Manager or Chair to sign any necessary documents, in furtherance thereof, and to expend funds as provided for in the grant application and agreement. B. Motion to approve State Financial Assistance Agreement SC00DIN renewal with the State Courts System of Florida, Office of the State Courts Administrator for renovations of the Courthouse Annex 1; authorizing the County Manager or Chair to sign any necessary documents, in furtherance thereof, and to expend funds as provided for in the grant application and agreement. C. Motion to approve modification number two to the Florida Division of Emergency Management HMGP Contract number H0987 for the Hardee County Building Department Facility Generator; authorizing the County Manager or Chair to sign any necessary documents, in furtherance thereof, and to expend funds as provided for in the grant application and agreement. D. Motion to approve Modification Number Two to the Florida Division of Emergency Management HMGP Contract Number H1003 for the South Florida State College Lift Station Generator; authorizing the County Manager or Chair to sign any necessary documents, in furtherance thereof, and to expend funds as provided for in the grant application and agreement. E. Motion to approve Modification Number Two to the Florida Division of Emergency Management HMGP Contract number H1004 for the Vandolah Wastewater Plant Generator; authorizing the County Manager or Chair to sign any necessary documents, in furtherance thereof, and to expend funds as provided for in the grant application and agreement. F. Motion to approve Amendment Number One to the National Resources Conservation Service Hurricane Milton Agreement #NR254209XXXXC004; authorizing the County Manager or Chair to sign any necessary documents, in furtherance thereof, and to expend funds as provided for in the grant application and agreement. G. Motion to approve the submission and acceptance of the State of Florida Department of Commerce Competitive Florida Partnership Agreement #P0555 for a Planned Unit Development application to the City of Wauchula in an amount of $32,930; authorizing the County Manager or Chair to sign any necessary documents, in furtherance thereof, and expend funds as provided for in the grant application and agreement. H. Motion to approve the operating and capital budget amendments as presented. 8. PRESENTATIONS A. Hardee County Vulnerability Assessment: Curtis Knowles, FPEM, Emergency Management and Community Projects Director, Central Florida Regional Planning Council (CFRPC), 9. BUSINESS AGENDA - Quasi-Judicial Items: No business agenda quasi-judicial items were presented.DRAFT

Hardee County Board of County Commissioners March 19, 2026 4 10. BUSINESS AGENDA - Ordinances: No business agenda ordinance items were presented. 11. BUSINESS AGENDA - Action Items: A. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Second Public Hearing: Grants Coordinator, Stacy Smith, B. Resolution 2026-19 - Hardee County 2026 Mass Casualty Incident and Reunification Plan: Grants Manager, Martha Felix, Motion by Commissioner Melendy and second by Commissioner Wells to approve Resolution 2026-19, a resolution of the Board of County Commissioners of Hardee County, Florida, approving and authorizing the execution of an interlocal agreement between Hardee County and the Central Florida Regional Planning Council for the development of the Hardee County 2026 Mass Casualty Incident and Reunification Plan; providing for authorization, severability, and providing for an effective date. Motion carried unanimously. Ayes – Wells, Flores, Chancey, Melendy, and Miller C. EDA (U.S. Economic Development Administration) Readiness Grant Application: Grants Manager, Martha Felix, Commissioner Chancey Motion by Commissioner and second by Commissioner to approve the submission and acceptance of the U.S. Economic Development Administration grant application for the RECOVER Hardee Project in an amount not to exceed $198,594 with an in-kind match of $49,649; authorizing the County Manager or Chair to sign any necessary documents in furtherance thereof; and to expend funds as provided for in the grant application and agreement. Motion carried unanimously. Ayes – Wells, Flores, Chancey, Melendy, and Miller D. Resolution 2026-15 - Approval of Charitable Donations to Certain Organizations: Grants Manager, Martha Felix, Motion by Commissioner Melendy and second by Commissioner Miller to approve Resolution 2026-15, a resolution of the Board of County Commissioners of Hardee County, Florida, approving charitable donations to certain organizations for the valid public purposes in amounts as provided for herein subject to compliance with county and state guidelines and execution of a grant agreement; providing for authorization, and providing for an effective date. Motion carried unanimously. Ayes – Wells, Flores, Chancey, Melendy, and Miller E. Budget Amendment: Budget Manager, Diane Moore, Motion by Commissioner Wells and second by Commissioner Melendy to approve the budget amendment as presented.DRAFT

Hardee County Board of County Commissioners March 19, 2026 5 Motion carried unanimously. Ayes – Wells, Flores, Chancey, Melendy, and Miller Chair Flores recessed the meeting at 9:53 a.m. Chair Flores reconvened the meeting at 10:04 a.m. F. PaveConnect Logistics Inc: Capital Projects Manager, Bobby Keene, Motion by Commissioner Miller and second by Commissioner Melendy to approve the Cooperative Agreement between the County and PaveConnect Logistics Inc in substantially the attached form, subject to approval by the County Attorney, and authorization for the County Manager or Chair to sign any necessary documents, in furtherance thereof. Motion carried unanimously. Ayes – Wells, Flores, Chancey, Melendy, and Miller G. RoofConnect Logistics Inc: Capital Projects Manager, Bobby Keene, Motion by Commissioner Melendy and second by Commissioner Miller to approve the Cooperative Agreement between the County and RoofConnect Logistics, Inc, in substantially the attached form, subject to approval by the County Attorney, and authorization for the County Manager or Chair to sign any necessary documents, in furtherance thereof. Motion carried unanimously. Ayes – Wells, Flores, Chancey, Melendy, and Miller H. Hardee County Sheriff's Office Admin Building – Lunz Group, LLC, Change Order #1: Assistant County Manager Simpron Motion by Commissioner Melendy and second by Commissioner Wells to approve Change Order #1 between the County and the Lunz Group, LLC for the Hardee County Sheriff's Office Administrative Building; authorizing the County Manager or Chair to sign any necessary documents, in furtherance thereof. Motion carried unanimously. Ayes – Wells, Flores, Chancey, Melendy, and Miller I. Resolution 2026-18 - Award ITB 26-003 for Ten Mile Grade Phase 1 to Ajax Paving Industries of Florida, LLC: Assistant County Manager Simpron Motion by Commissioner Melendy and second by Commissioner Chancey to approve Resolution 2026-18, a resolution of the Board of County Commissioners of Hardee County, Florida, approving the award of Invitation to Bid (ITB) number 26-003 for the Ten Mile Grade Road Phase 1 roadway improvements (FPID NOS 445076-1- 54-01 & 445066-1-54-01); and authorizing the County Manager to executive an agreement with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder Ajax Paving Industries of Florida, LLC, in an estimated amount of $1,452,356.13; providing for authorization, and providing for an effective date. Motion carried unanimously. Ayes – Wells, Flores, Chancey, Melendy, and Miller J. Public Private Partnership Opportunity for Climate Controlled Facility at Hardee County Fairgrounds:DRAFT

Hardee County Board of County Commissioners March 19, 2026 6 Assistant County Manager Simpron County Manager Atchley County Attorney Johnston Commissioner Wells County Manager Atchley Commissioner Chancey County Attorney Johnston Motion by Commissioner Miller and second by Commissioner Wells to reject all proposals and go out for new proposals for this project. Chair Flores noted the motion need to reference “RFP” not “RFQ.” Commissioner Miller changed his motion to read “RFP” instead of “proposals.” Commissioner Wells confirmed his second to the motion. Commissioner Melendy Commissioner Chancey County Attorney Johnston Commissioner Miller Commissioner Melendy Commissioner Miller Chair Flores called for public comments. The following persons addressed the Board: Mr. Clay Cobb Mr. John Wiseman Motion carried unanimously. Ayes – Wells, Flores, Chancey, Melendy, and Miller Chair Flores noted the goal was to amend the process at the state level, staff and the county attorney would collaborate with the Hardee County Fair Board to attempt to amend the error at the state level in order for the fair board to regain control of the project, and it was the consensus of the Board was to move forward in that direction. Chair Flores recessed the meeting at 12:02 p.m. Chair Flores reconvened the meeting at 12:12 p.m. 12. APPOINTMENTS No appointment items were presented. 13. COUNTY MANAGER NON-CONSENTDRAFT

Hardee County Board of County Commissioners March 19, 2026 7 County Manager Atchley Chair Flores 14. COUNTY ATTORNEY A. BOCC Policies & Procedures: County Attorney Johnston B. Announcement of Attorney Client Session to be held on April 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.: County Attorney Johnston announced the following: Pursuant to Fla. Stat. § 286.011 (8)(a), governing public meetings, the County Attorney for Hardee County, Florida, is requesting advice concerning the litigation of Wauchula Sun, LLC, v. Hardee County and is asking that an executive session be held on April 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. during the regularly scheduled Board of County Commissioners meeting. Attending this session will be the Hardee County Commissioners, Noey Flores, Russell Melendy, Timothy Wells, Kenneth Miller, Donald Chancey, County Manager-Terry Atchley, County Attorney-Sarah Johnston and special litigation counsel Kristen Ottinger and Carlos Kelly. 15. COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS OR OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS Commissioner Melendy Commissioner Chancey The following person addressed the Board: Mr. Travis Maldonado 16. REMINDERS Chair Flores reviewed the following reminders: March 21, 2026 - Easter Egg Drop & Pancake Breakfast at 9:00 a.m. (Pioneer Park) March 25, 2026 - Tanker 3 Push-In Ceremony at 8:30 a.m. (Fire Station 3) March 26, 2026 - State of the County at 11:00 a.m. (Agri-Civic Center) March 26, 2026 - Budget Workshop at 2:00 p.m. March 27, 2026 - Florida Fishing Trail Grand Opening at 10:00 a.m. (Lake O'Rourke) April 2, 2026 - BOCC Meeting at 8:30 a.m. April 3, 2026 - County Offices Closed in Observance of Good Friday 17. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:53 p.m. X Noey A. Flores, Chair Board of County CommissionersDRAFT

Hardee County Board of County Commissioners March 19, 2026 8 X Victoria L. Rogers, Ex-Officio Clerk Board of County CommissionersDRAFT