Capital projects in Polk budget plan

(This story was revised to correct the total cost of 33 capital projects.)

A workshop on Aug. 5 in Bartow highlighted an extensive portfolio of Polk County capital projects in various stages of planning and construction throughout the county that are funded mostly through the Community Investment Program.

The impetus for most of the multi-year capital projects is to address explosive growth in Polk County, with many desperately needed transportation, solid waste, water and public safety projects, environmental stewardship, among others.

Several other projects touch on demand for quality of life for needs such as parks and athletic fields, economic development, healthcare and affordable housing.

The purpose of the Aug. 5 workshop Aug. 5 in Bartow before the Polk County Commission was to update the status of the many projects that in some cases have taken years to come to fruition, including some projects that have been funded in previous budget years and may continue to be funding in upcoming budget years.

The workshop included a video presentation now available on Polk TV.

Most of the projects are driven by demand for more and better services by a rapidly increasing population of people in Polk County, as once rural areas transition to more suburban and urban areas.

In all, for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1, the county staff’s proposed budget will contain a recommendation of 33 capital projects costing $68 million, County Manager Bill Beasley said at a July 11 agenda review.

Some projects will cost in the $10,000 range with others in the $10 million-plus range, he said.

The list was whittled down during an annual review of as many as 59 projects estimated to cost $200 million.

“We believe those 33 capital projects are consistent with the spirit and intent of the Board’s longstanding commitment to public safety, public health, active recreation and other various operational efficiencies, especially, I think, in light of how population growth continues to place demands and expectations on a wide range of our public services,” Beasley said at the agenda review.

The following is a list of one-time capital projects arranged by county division, and by the estimated project cost, available funds and the proposed funding for fiscal year 2025-2026, which starts Oct. 1.

Table of Contents

Facilities Management – $23.22 million

Agricultural Center: Estimated cost: $21.27 million; available funds: $16.27 million; proposed funding for 2025-26: $5 million
Courthouse electrical upgrade: $4.7 million; $700,000; $4 million
Central County Jail chiller: $1.3 million; $0; $1.3 million
South County Jail chiller: $1.7 million $0; $1.7 million
Sheriff’s Office joint warehouse/facilities administration: $21 million; $18.5 million; $2.5 million
Fleet masterplan: $200,000; $0; $200,000
Medical Examiner expansion: $15.5 million; $12.5 million; $3 million
Tax Collector Bartow Office renovation: $700,000; $200,000; $500,000
Fire Rescue Administration HQ: $10 million; $0; $5 million

Roads and Drainage – $26.25 million

Power Line Road Phase 2 ROW: Estimated cost: $26 million; available funding: $7.5 million; proposed in 2025-26: $3.75 million
Deen Still Road/US 27 intersection: $10 million; $0; $10 million
North Ridge Trail connection between Deen Still Road and Waverly Barn Road: $7.5 million; $0; $7.5 million
Medulla and Hamilton roads drainage improvements: $5 million; $0; $5 million

Parks and Natural Resources – $11.05 million

Passive park improvements – East/Southeast Bartow (TBD) $2.7 million; $0; $2.7 million

Lighting Renovations – Total $3.36 million (17 fields at five locations)

East Central (four baseball fields) $850,000; $0; $850,000
East Central (three multipurpose fields) $600,000 $0 $600,000
Fort Meade T-ball $115,000; $0; $115,000
Hunt Fountain (two baseball fields) $400,000; $0; $400,000
Hunt Fountain (two football fields) $425,000; $0; $425,000
Wahneta Park (four baseball fields) $850,000; $0; $850,000
Strickland Pit (Sr. baseball field) $125,000; $0; $125,000

Fencing Renovations – Total $1,49 million (20 fields at four locations)

Simmers/Young Park (seven soccer fields) $475,000; $0; $475,000
East Central Park (four baseball fields) $475,000; $0; $475,000
Fort Meade Park (five baseball fields) $300,000; $0; $300,000
Aldine Combee Park (four baseball fields) $240,000; $0; $240,000

Artificial Turf Conversion

Simmers/Young Park (seven soccer fields) $10.5 million; $7 million; $3.5 million

Real Estate – $1,8 million

North Lakeland Government Center additional funding for property acquisition $5 million; $3.2 million; $1.8 million

Emergency Management/Fire Rescue – $5.3 million

Radio repeaters (federal appropriation) $300,000; $0; $300,000
Equipment and hardware upgrades at communication towers $20 million; $0; $5 million

Emergency Preparedness Items – $725,269

Parks Tandem flatbed trucks with piggyback forklifts: $420,000 ($210,000 each for two); $0; $420,000 (5,000-pound forklifts with two spare)
Propane tanks: three at $41,923 each (for $125,769); $0; $125,769
Roads & Drainage sandbag machine: $54,500; $0; $54,500
Emergency Management box delivery truck: $125,000; $0; $125,000

The next budget-related meeting will be a hearing Sept. 8 in Bartow before the County Commission.

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