Residents Raise Flooding Concerns Over New Polk County Government Center

Locals worry the Kathleen area can't handle the infrastructure demands of the planned facility.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Polk County commissioners have approved a $5 million land purchase for a 28-acre plot east of Kathleen Road to build a new North Lakeland Polk County Government Center. However, some residents in the surrounding Kathleen neighborhoods are pushing back, concerned that the area's infrastructure cannot support the new government facility, especially after flooding issues during Hurricane Milton in 2024.

Why it matters

The construction of this new government center is a major development project for Polk County, but local residents worry it could exacerbate existing flooding problems in the Kathleen area. Their concerns highlight the tension between infrastructure needs and community impact when it comes to siting large public facilities.

The details

The new government center is planned to be modeled after the one in Lake Alfred and will aim to serve residents in the northwest portion of Polk County. However, homeowners like Destiny Anderson, who live in the Willow Ridge neighborhood directly across from the proposed site, say the area's infrastructure is not equipped to handle the additional demands. They point to the severe flooding that occurred in their neighborhood during Hurricane Milton in 2024 as evidence that the land cannot support further development.

  • On February 3, 2026, Polk County commissioners approved a $5 million land purchase agreement for the 28-acre plot.
  • A community meeting hosted by Polk County Commissioner Michael Scott is scheduled for February 17, 2026 from 6-8 p.m. at the Kathleen Baptist Church to discuss the new government center.

The players

Polk County Commissioners

The governing body of Polk County, Florida that approved the land purchase and plans for the new North Lakeland Polk County Government Center.

Destiny Anderson

A homeowner in the Willow Ridge neighborhood near the proposed government center site who is concerned about the area's ability to handle the additional infrastructure demands.

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What they’re saying

“We're more on the quiet side. Kathleen's more quiet than US-98 N so we just like our property and land and that's why we moved out here.”

— Destiny Anderson, Homeowner (fox13news.com)

“The infrastructure is not there. It's such a quiet side of Kathleen that everybody, nobody wants this building there. It's surrounded by neighborhoods. We're in a drought, a water shortage, and if it rains, it's going to flood out the neighborhoods around them.”

— Destiny Anderson, Homeowner (fox13news.com)

“Anything around it will flood if you build anything up in that area. I was telling my husband essentially it would be better off as a retention pond or some sort of water management area because the surrounding area can't support that.”

— Destiny Anderson, Homeowner (fox13news.com)

What’s next

Polk County Commissioner Michael Scott will be hosting a community meeting to discuss the new government center from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at the Kathleen Baptist Church.

The takeaway

This dispute over the new Polk County government center highlights the challenges of balancing infrastructure needs and community impact when siting large public facilities. Residents' flooding concerns raise valid questions about whether the Kathleen area can adequately support the additional demands of the new center, underscoring the importance of thorough community engagement and planning before major development projects move forward.