Renewing vehicle registrations or obtaining a marriage license should become more convenient in the future for residents of Polk County’s northwest region.
A new government center, which would replace the current center in Lakeland, took a giant leap forward with a vote Feb. 3 to buy the land for the project at $5.5 million in the Kathleen area of unincorporated Lakeland.
The County Commission unanimously approved a land purchase agreement at its regular meeting in Bartow between Wynona Serenceses and Polk County. The new facility is expected to be similar to the Lake Alfred-Haines City Government Center with some modifications to fit the aesthetics of the Kathleen area.
The 26.79 acres are currently vacant and located on the east side of the four-laned portion of Kathleen Road south of Duff Road.
The new government center will replace the existing leased facility known as the Lakeland Government Center, a former retail building at Parker Street and Ingraham Avenue that no longer serves the needs of residents seeking convenient government services.
“The county has a need for a new government center to service the northwest portion of the county,” County Manager Bill Beasley said prior to the vote. “To accommodate the increased growth in the northwest portion of the county, the new government center would need to be located to the north and west of its current location.”
A review of available properties in the area, factoring in certain necessities such as size, location, access, transportation and utility accommodation, narrowed the sites down to only one that was suitable for a government center.
The county hired an independent appraiser to establish a value for the property, and the owner rejected the county’s original offer. As negotiations continued, the two parties arrived at $5.5 million for the property.
The Polk County attorney’s office and the real estate services director reviewed the land purchase agreement and recommended its approval.
The actions by the board also authorized payment of the closing costs and the hiring of American Government Services Corp. to close the transaction.
A project budget of $5 million was included in the county’s 2025-2026 fiscal year budget within its general capital improvement fund.
As some project expenditures have already occurred during the current budget year, a CIP amendment in the amount of $569,500 was needed to cover the land and closing costs.
Beasley said the county’s 2026-2027 budget will likely contain engineering and design funding for the next step toward construction.
So the property that was just assess for 342,000 has now been purchased for 5.5 million? The math is not mathing!!