Decisions › County Commission meeting of Aug 25, 2026
Approved moving forward with the public-private partnership for the Lake County Sports and Expo Center, hiring Scott Cole, and issuing a design request.
The result is from the Clerk's Board ActionThe Clerk's same-week record of what the County Commission decided on each agenda tab. Vote tallies and discussion come later in the Board Minutes. Clerk of Court, Board Action and Board Minutes on Municode. The vote by name appears here when the official minutes are posted, usually a few weeks after the meeting.
Watch this part of the meeting (starts at 2:37:37)
The county's own recording.
In plain words
A public-private partnership agreement to design, build, operate, and maintain the Lake County Sports and Expo Center, plus hiring attorney Scott Cole to ensure legal compliance.
What changes The county will move forward with the partnership agreement, send it out to bid, retain Scott Cole for legal assistance, and issue a request for proposal for design services for an open-air arena and event center.
Who and the money The Lake County Sports and Expo Center project; attorney Scott Cole charges $400 per hour as shareholder, $275 as associate, and $175 for paralegal work. No fiscal impact stated for the agreement itself.
Stated reason (staff, quoted): "the P3 Agreement will need to move forward on an expedited basis to meet state grant requirements"
Where Lake County Sports and Expo Center
Why (staff, quoted) "This is to provide an update on the Public-Private Partnership (P3) Agreement for the Design, Build, Operation, and Maintenance of the Lake County Sports and Expo Center."
Backup in the packet: Fairgrounds_Presentation_10.14.25 (p. 991), Letter of Intent (p. 991), The Lake County Expo Center - Ground-Lease P3 Proposal (p. 991)
Written from the Board Action and the staff cover sheet, checked by script: every number appears in the record. Staff memo
From the record
Discussion and direction: 1. Regarding Public-Private Partnership (P3) Agreement for the Design, Build, Operation, and Maintenance of the Lake County Sports and Expo Center. There is no fiscal impact. 2. Retaining Scott Cole with GrayRobinson to assist with ensuring statutory compliance with Section 255.065, Florida Statutes, if direction is given to move the P3 Project forward, and authorize the County Attorney to sign the Engagement Letter. The fiscal impact cannot be determined at this time. The Board approved the following: moving forward with the P3 agreement, sending it out to bid rather than placing it with a registry; securing the services of Mr. Scott Cole, with GrayRobinson, to assist with the P3 agreement; and putting out a request for proposal (RFP) for design services for the site plan for an open-air arena as a parallel track as well as an event center.Clerk of Court, Board Action, Aug 25, 2026, page 8. Open the official document
The rest of this meeting
- Previous item: Approved a temporary moratorium on building or expanding data centers in unincorporated Lake County areas.
- Next item: Approved an agreement with Citrus County to issue bonds for behavioral health treatment facilities.
- All 26 items from Aug 25, 2026
More on growth and zoning
- Oct 27, 2026 Approved a change to the rail-trail extension agreement to hire a professional appraiser to review the value of the rail corridor for about $11,000.
- Oct 27, 2026 Approved a resolution to advertise a public hearing to vacate a portion of the Village Green plat, with a fiscal impact of $2,295.
- Oct 27, 2026 Approved a plan to hold a public hearing to remove driveway, walkway, and cul-de-sac easements on lots 174-177 in Dora Pines, Unit 1, for $2,295.00.
- Oct 27, 2026 Approved vacating a 330.65 feet by 15 feet right of way in the Clermont area, with a fiscal impact of $2,295.
- Oct 27, 2026 Approved a new rule in the Lake County Code requiring property owners to confirm if historical or archaeological resources exist on their land before development begins.