Hardee County Board of County Commissioners

MINUTES Hardee County Board of County Commissioners REGULAR MEETING March 5, 2026, at 8:30 AM COMMISSION CHAMBERS 412 WEST ORANGE STREET, ROOM 102, WAUCHULA, FL 33873DRAFT

Hardee County Board of County Commissioners March 5, 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 Absent Doug Baber Assistant County Manager Present Christopher Simpron Assistant County Manager Present Holly Smith Administrative Services Manager Present Brandy Crawford Executive Assistant Present Jessica Santibanez 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 Wells and second by Commissioner Melendy Motion carried unanimously. Ayes – Wells, Flores, Chancey, Melendy, and Miller 4. MINUTES FOR APPROVAL A. BCC Workshop Session Minutes of May 1, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. BCC Regular Meeting Minutes of May 15, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. BCC Workshop Session Minutes of June 5, 2025, at 8:30. a.m. BCC Regular Meeting Minutes of June 19, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. BCC Workshop Session Minutes of July 14, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. BCC Regular Meeting Minutes of July 17, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. Chair Flores Motion by Commissioner Chancey and second by Commissioner Melendy to approve the meeting minutes as presented. Motion carried unanimously. Ayes – Wells, Flores, Chancey, Melendy, and Miller B. BCC/Hardee County Sheriff's Administrative Complex Site Selection Review Committee Special Events Meeting Minutes of August 5, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. Motion by Commissioner Miller and second by Commissioner Wells to accept and acknowledge the Hardee County Sheriff's Administrative Complex Site Selection Review Committee meeting minutes as presented. Motion carried unanimously. Ayes – Wells, Flores, Chancey, Melendy, and Miller 5. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR NON-AGENDA ITEMSDRAFT

Hardee County Board of County Commissioners March 5, 2026 3 Chair Flores called for general public comment. The following person addressed the Board during public comments: Joshua Exendine, serving as President of the Hardee County Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 3471 Chair Flores County Attorney Johnston 6. PROCLAMATIONS A. American Red Cross Month Proclamation: Tina Sweeten, American Red Cross of Mid-Florida, Motion by Commissioner Miller and second by Commissioner Wells to approve the proclamation declaring March 2026, as “American Red Cross Month” in Hardee County. Motion carried unanimously. Ayes – Wells, Flores, Chancey, Melendy, and Miller B. Flood Awareness Week: Community Development Director, Todd Miller, Motion to approve the Proclamation declaring March 9-15, 2026, as Flood Awareness Week in Hardee County. Motion carried unanimously. Ayes – Wells, Flores, Chancey, Melendy, and Miller 7. CONSENT AGENDA Chair Flores requested the discretion of the Board. Motion by Commissioner Wells and second by Commissioner Miller to approve Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously. Ayes – Wells, Flores, Chancey, Melendy, and Miller A. Motion to approve Resolution 2026-16, a resolution of the Board of County Commissioners of Hardee County, Florida, authorizing the execution of Florida Department of Environmental Protection Agreement Number L0209 for funding under the Statewide Water Quality Restoration Projects Program for the Hardee County Fairgrounds Utilities Infrastructure Improvements Project; providing for severability, and providing for an effective date. B. Motion to approve Resolution 2026-17, a resolution of the Board of County Commissioners of Hardee County, Florida, authorizing the execution of Florida Department of Environmental Protection Agreement Number L0210 for the Hardee County Pioneer Park Infrastructure Improvements Project; providing for severability, and providing for an effective date. C. Motion to approve the interlocal agreement between the County and the Central Florida Regional Planning Council for services outlined within the Federal Highway Administration Grant Agreement Number 693JJ32640309, 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. D. Motion to approve the fixed asset transfers as presented. 8. PRESENTATIONSDRAFT

Hardee County Board of County Commissioners March 5, 2026 4 A. Hardee 311: Parks, Recreation & Marketing Manager, Lacey Webb, 9. BUSINESS AGENDA - Quasi-Judicial Items: No business agenda quasi-judicial items were presented. 10. BUSINESS AGENDA - Ordinances: No business agenda ordinance items were presented. 11. BUSINESS AGENDA - Action Items: A. Resolution 2026-13 - Jersey Lane Road Vacation: Project Coordinator/ROA, Tara Holton, Motion by Commissioner Melendy and second by Commissioner Wells to approve Resolution 2026-13, a resolution of the Board of County Commissioners of Hardee County, Florida, approving a petition to vacate all of Jersey Lane, as more particularly described herein, subject to the conditions set forth herein, providing for authorization, severability and for an effective date. Commissioner Miller County Attorney Johnston Commissioner Chancey Chair Flores called for public comment. None given. Motion carried 4 to 1. Ayes – Wells, Flores, Melendy, and Miller Nay - Chancey B. Resolution 2026-14 - Awarding ITB 26-001 for Airport Road & Sweetwater Road Bridge Repairs: Assistant County Manager Simpron Motion by Commissioner Miller and second by Commissioner Melendy to approve Resolution 2026-14, a resolution of the Board of County Commissioners of Hardee County, Florida, approving the Award of Invitation to Bid (ITB) number 26-001 for the repairs to Airport Road Bridge at Max Branch and Sweetwater Bridge at Charlie Creek; and authorizing the County Manager or Chair to execute an agreement with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, Thomas Marine Construction, Inc. in an estimated amount of $372,115.80; providing for authorization, and providing for an effective date. Motion carried unanimously. Ayes – Wells, Flores, Chancey, Melendy, and Miller C. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) First Public Hearing: Grants Coordinator, Stacy Smith, 12. APPOINTMENTSDRAFT

Hardee County Board of County Commissioners March 5, 2026 5 No appointment items were presented. 13. COUNTY MANAGER NON-CONSENT County Manager Atchley 14. COUNTY ATTORNEY A. BOCC Policies & Procedures: County Attorney Johnston 15. COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS OR OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS Commissioner Miller County Manager Atchley Chair Flores Commissioner Chancey Chair Flores Commissioner Wells Commissioner Miller Commissioner Chancey Assistant County Manager Simpron Chair Flores County Manager Atchley County Attorney Johnston Commissioner Chancey County Attorney Johnston Commissioner Wells County Attorney Johnston 16. REMINDERS Chair Flores reviewed the following reminders:  March 10, 2026 – BOCC Utilities Workshop at 8:30 a.m.  March 19, 2026 – BOCC Meeting at 8:30 a.m.  March 26, 2026 – State of the County Event at 11:00 a.m.  March 26, 2026 – BOCC Budget Workshop at 2:00 p.m. County Attorney Johnston Ricky Wiggins, Hardee County Firefighter, addressed the Board concerning the County Road 663 intersection.DRAFT

Hardee County Board of County Commissioners March 5, 2026 6 17. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:29 a.m. X Noey A. Flores, Chair Board of County Commisisoners X Victoria L. Rogers, Ex-Officio Clerk Board of County CommissionersDRAFT