During the Feb. 19, 2025, Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting:
The Board declared Feb. 27 – March 9 as Florida Strawberry Festival Days. Since 1930, the festival has united the community by bringing together people to honor farmers and celebrate the bountiful strawberry harvest, a $1.1 billion industry in Hillsborough County alone.
Commissioners presented a commendation to A Kid’s Place for its 15 years of compassionate dedication to foster children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, abandonment, or neglect.
The Board approved an interlocal joint project agreement with Tampa Bay Water for construction of the South Hillsborough Pipeline project. The project is aimed toward providing a cost-effective and reasonable solution to meet long-term potable water demands. The project consists of the construction of a large diameter drinking water transmission main, and a new treatment facility in the county’s south-central service area.
Commissioners received a staff report on activities proposed to investigate historic stormwater flooding that occurred during the 2024 hurricane season. Staff has completed interviews with the City of Tampa and is meeting with other community stakeholders and will begin public engagement this spring to discuss potential improvements for future storm seasons. Options include increased funding, new and upgraded pump stations, as well as capacity and flood storage improvements.
Staff will bring updates to the board monthly.
Commissioners received a report regarding the widening of Van Dyke Road. The project includes the widening from two to four lanes from Gunn Highway to east of Whirley Rroad, as well as multi-use paths and roundabout construction. The project is part of an effort to improve traffic and pedestrian safety. Commissioners directed staff to come back with funding source options for the $31.8 million for land acquisition.
The Board also received a report on the widening of Lithia Pinecrest Road. This project includes widening 7 miles of road from Fishhawk Boulevard to Lumsden Road with a goal to provide an overall enhanced corridor with congestion relief and safety improvements. Staff will begin looking into funding sources for land acquisition, and the County will be hosting workshops this fall to present proposed plans and gather public input.
The Board received a report regarding the Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery allocation. The County expects to receive a $709 million grant for disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, economic revitalization, and mitigation in the “most impacted and distressed” areas resulting from disasters in 2023 and 2024.
County staff will put together an action plan to bring back to the Board on how to utilize the funds while working with neighboring municipalities to identify unmet needs.
The next BOCC regular meeting is at 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 5, 2025. You can watch the meeting live on YouTube on the Hillsborough County Meetings channel.
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