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City Council · Tuesday, August 11, 2026 · 9:00 AM

Regular Council Meeting

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Summary

The City of Freeport council met on August 11, 2026, to address budget matters, infrastructure projects, and routine city business. The main focus was a discussion of turn lanes on Highway 20, which the city is considering funding itself because the state Department of Transportation cannot fit them into the current resurfacing project due to constraints and design conflicts. The council approved the third budget for August 18, set a tentative of 4.7302, switched disability insurance to Humana, approved several equipment and renovation purchases, and appointed a new planning board member. Two council members were absent.

Why it matters

Freeport residents face severe traffic congestion on Highway 20, the city's main throughway, and the city is now spending its own money to add turn lanes on state roads because the Florida Department of Transportation cannot fund them in the current resurfacing project. The infrastructure decisions and budget adjustments reflect the council's ongoing struggle to address growth and traffic without adequate state support.

What happened

Development & zoning1 item

  • Planning Board Appointee

    Passed 3–0 · unanimous

    Councilman Farris recommended and the council approved appointing Trinity Inabinet to the Planning Board. Planning Director Hughes-Neel will provide training.

Budget & taxes2 items

  • Third Budget and

    Passed 3–0 · unanimous

    Approved setting the third budget for August 18 at 5:00 p.m., ratified moving the initial budget hearing to September 9 at 5:01 p.m., and approved setting the tentative to 4.7302.

  • FY27 Employee Insurance Decisions

    Passed 3–0 · unanimous

    Approved switching disability insurance coverage to Humana and approved staying with Blue Cross and Blue Shield for medical insurance.

Roads & infrastructure1 item

  • Highway 20 Resurfacing Project - Turn Lanes Discussion

    Engineer Jordan Burnett presented the Highway 20 resurfacing project (Business 331 to State Road 81) and discussed city requests for turn lanes. The project includes a second northbound left turn lane on US 331, a westbound left turn lane at Black Creek Boulevard, and an eastbound left turn lane at Windswept Boulevard. A requested eastbound left turn lane onto Blueberry Road is outside the project scope and requires a traffic study. Jackson Street turn lanes are warranted by a 2018 study but face misalignment issues that would require road realignment. A separate 4-lane widening project from East Bay Loop to US 331 is under study with no timeline. The city is considering funding turn lanes independently at approximately $872,000 per lane. Engineers discussed municipal SCRAP funding and utility relocation coordination.

    • $11 million · total cost of Highway 20 resurfacing project
    • $872,000 · estimated cost per left turn lane if city funds separately

    Where: Business 331 to State Road 81; East Bay Loop to US 331; Blueberry Road; North Jackson; South Jackson; Black Creek Boulevard; Windswept Boulevard

Utilities4 items

  • Two 5-Ton A/C Units for Sewer Control Room

    Passed 3–0 · unanimous

    Approved purchase of two 5-ton air conditioning units from Green Air for the Sewer Department control room.

    • $18,600 · cost of two 5-ton A/C units from Green Air

  • Utility Billing Department Renovation

    Passed 3–0 · unanimous

    Approved renovation of the Utility Billing Department space after CHELCO moves out. City maintenance will perform the work.

    • $15,500 · total cost of Utility Billing Department renovation

  • Lagrange Road Bore Installation - Pipe Purchase

    Passed 3–0 · unanimous

    Approved purchase of 300 feet of pipe for the Lagrange Road bore installation.

    • $8,885 · cost of 300 feet of pipe for Lagrange Road bore

    Where: Lagrange Road

  • Lagrange Road Bore Installation - Boring Work

    Passed 3–0 · unanimous

    Approved awarding the boring contract to Walton Construction.

    • $12,500 · cost of boring work by Walton Construction for Lagrange Road

    Where: Lagrange Road

Parks1 item

  • Fall Coed Softball

    Passed 3–0 · unanimous

    Approved Fall Coed Softball program to use fields 4 and 5 at city parks.

Other3 items

  • (Bills and Minutes)

    Passed 3–0 · unanimous

    Approved on the , including bills and meeting minutes from July 14, July 23, and August 3, 2026.

  • Deletion of Painting Outside of Blount House and Shed from Agenda

    Passed 3–0 · unanimous

    Councilman Farris requested deletion of the item on painting the exterior of Blount House and Shed. The deletion was approved.

  • Employee of the Month Award

    Mayor Barley presented the Employee of the Month Award to Phillip "Bo" Bishop for dedication and hard work serving the city. The award was presented through Parks Director Bartlett.

Coming up

  • Third Budget · August 18, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
  • Initial Budget Hearing · September 9, 2026 at 5:01 p.m.
  • Highway 20 resurfacing project letting date · December 2, 2026
  • begins work on Highway 20 resurfacing · January 2027

Summaries are AI-generated; each meeting links its original documents · Independent, not an official city site · Source · Updated Sep 28, 2026 · Privacy · Terms