Board of County Commissioners 2 p.m. Regular Meeting & 6 p.m. Public Hearing 10-27-26

The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners’ regular meeting and public hearing on October 27, 2026, included several procurement and spending actions. The board unanimously approved amendments for St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport terminal design and construction-administration services with CNS Engineers, alongside a rescope prioritizing aging infrastructure. Commissioners discussed an airport project budget of roughly $140–145 million, compared with an earlier concept exceeding $220 million, and a roughly $7 million increase in related fees to about $21 million. The board also approved a time-sensitive grant application supporting an existing capital project, an amendment to CDBG disaster-mitigation funding for a restoration project, and a renewal for the Pinellas County Technical Rescue Team. A surplus parcel was approved for sale to an adjacent owner at appraised fair market value. A hurricane-project item involving a Home Depot contract was pulled for staff follow-up; no approval was taken on it at this meeting.

Other approved actions included a replacement agreement for proprietary TheoGuard magnesium hydroxide used in the sewer system, with staff conducting a multi-year pilot to assess alternatives because of cost; an update to the utilities policy manual; and termination of a fiber-analysis services agreement citing budget constraints. The board approved a Medicare Advantage agreement moving coverage from Aetna to UnitedHealthcare, with about a 10% increase and a two-year rate guarantee; the county pays approximately 31% of the cost. The board also approved staff’s recommendation concerning an SPCA settlement demand of $250,000. Commissioners discussed automated license-plate readers and possible safeguards, but took no county action, anticipating potential state legislation. The transcript ends after a motion on a FY2026 budget-reserve realignment without recording the vote result.