[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[1:45] All right, good afternoon. We'll call to order the tourist development council meeting. Today is August 25th, 2026, it's 2 p.m., and we are meeting at the Gloria Roe Hayward Sumter County Service Center, at 215 Gloria Roe Hayward Way, in the boardroom, in Sumterville, Sumterville, Florida.
[2:05] Would you please rise and join me for the poise of allegiance?
[2:24] Thank
[2:28] you all right first item on today's agenda is public forum and we have somebody
[2:36] from the fairgrounds that has a time crunch so we're going to let them go first if you
[2:40] don't mind.
[2:50] Good afternoon. Press the button on the right so a little green light comes
[2:57] on there we go. Good afternoon. Today we want to talk about the future of Sumter County
[3:03] Fairgrounds and more specifically where that future creates an opportunity for tourism
[3:07] investment. For 72 years the Sumter County Fairgrounds have played a vital role in our
[3:13] community. My name is Kristen Hayes and I'm here today on behalf of the Sumter Fair Association's
[3:19] Board of Directors. This is not a new list of projects developed for TDC funding as
[3:24] strong community partners and the county has already established the direction for the
[3:30] fairgrounds through its approved planning process. Today we want to show you where that
[3:34] existing direction and the TDC's mission intersect and how the TDC could become a strategic
[3:40] partner in the fairgrounds future for tourism growth.
[3:46] When we look at fairground improvements,
[3:49] we want to evaluate them through a tourism lens. The question is not simply what would
[3:54] make the fairgrounds better. It is what improvements allow us to attract events and visitors that
[4:00] we cannot effectively accommodate today. Regional events bring competitors, spectators, families,
[4:07] vendors, and organizers into Sumter County. They spend money on lodging, restaurants,
[4:13] fuel, shopping, and other local services. Multi-day agricultural, equestrian, rodeo, and specialty
[4:21] events are especially valuable because they create overnight visitation.
[4:26] That is the connection we want to keep throughout this presentation.
[4:30] Capital investment should create measurable tourism activity.
[4:36] This is an important part of why we are here.
[4:39] The fairgrounds is not a standalone concept for the TDC.
[4:43] The Sumter County Board approved fiscal year 26 through 30 strategic plans specifically
[4:48] identifies implementation of the fairground strategic plans, goals, and objectives.
[4:55] The fairground strategic plan then establishes the direction for strengthening the property,
[5:00] expanding opportunities, and increasing outside visitation.
[5:05] The December 2025 master plan takes that direction and puts it into action by identifying the facilities,
[5:12] infrastructure, and visitor improvements that can be implemented over time.
[5:15] So, the progression is very clear.
[5:19] The Board of County Commissioners established the strategic direction.
[5:23] The Fairground Strategic Plan defined the goals and the master plan provides the physical
[5:28] roadmap.
[5:30] Our discussion with the TDC focuses on identifying which portions of that board supported direction
[5:36] offer the strongest tourism benefit and where the TDC can become a partner.
[5:41] The
[5:44] fairgrounds already host successful events, but limitations affect our ability to grow.
[5:50] Facility and utility limitations can restrict the events that we can pursue.
[5:56] Capacity affects our ability to accommodate larger equestrian, livestock, rodeo, and specialty
[6:01] events.
[6:03] The visitor experience also matters.
[6:06] Event organizers consider parking, restrooms, wayfinding, shade, ticketing, and air circulation
[6:12] when selecting a venue.
[6:15] When those limitations keep us from recruiting
[6:17] or growing regional events, they are not just facility issues.
[6:21] They become tourism barriers.
[6:24] Targeted investment gives us an opportunity
[6:26] to remove those barriers.
[6:30] The master plan gives us the roadmap,
[6:32] but we are not suggesting that every item
[6:34] in the master plan should be a TDC project.
[6:38] We want to focus on the improvements
[6:40] with the clearest connection to tourism.
[6:41] them. That includes the 60-stall horse barn and supporting the
[6:46] equestrian infrastructure which can increase our ability to pursue regional
[6:50] horse and livestock events. It includes full hook up and full hook up RV and
[6:56] expo RV parking. That is particularly important because it supports traveling
[7:01] participants in multi-day events. The plan also includes an amphitheater,
[7:06] concessions and restrooms, event parking, ticketing,
[7:10] wayfinding, shade, and other visitor improvements.
[7:13] Because these projects are part of an overall master plan,
[7:17] future investment can work together
[7:19] rather than become isolated improvements.
[7:22] These are the areas where we see strongest opportunity
[7:25] for TDC partnership.
[7:28] First is an RV and overnight infrastructure.
[7:32] If expanded RV capacity lets us host
[7:34] three-day horse show, livestock events, rodeo, that investment directly supports tourism.
[7:41] Second, is equestrian and livestock tourism.
[7:45] The plant horse barn and related infrastructure can help us compete for larger regional
[7:50] events that bring exhibitors, families, and spectators to Sumter County.
[7:56] Third, is the arena an outdoor event infrastructure.
[8:00] Improvements in this area can expand opportunities for rodeos, concerts, festivals, and other
[8:06] regional entertainment.
[8:08] Fourth is a visitor access and experience, including parking, ticketing, wayfinding,
[8:14] restrooms, and shade.
[8:16] These improvements help us accommodate larger crowds and make the venue more competitive.
[8:22] Agri-Tourism and Heritage Development are long-term opportunities that build on
[8:26] Sumter Counties agriculture identity.
[8:28] We would not recommend a project for TDC investment simply because it appears in the master plan.
[8:35] We want to prioritize projects that can demonstrate a tourism return.
[8:42] This is how we want to evaluate that return.
[8:45] Better facilities give us a stronger product to market.
[8:48] A stronger product helps us recruit and retain regional events.
[8:53] those events bring more visitors into Sumter County and those visitors spend
[8:58] money locally. Then we measure the results. The future TDC supported projects
[9:03] for future TDC supported projects we should be prepared to track event days,
[9:09] attendance, visitor origin, repeat bookings, new events generated and overnight
[9:14] stays when that information is available. The goal is to clearly connect capital
[9:19] investment to the tourism activity that it produces.
[9:23] The annual fare will always be an important part of this property, but the tourism opportunity
[9:29] extends well beyond fair week.
[9:31] Equestrian and livestock events can bring competitors and families from throughout
[9:35] the region.
[9:37] Concerts, festivals, and entertainment that can attract different audiences.
[9:42] Expose, specialty competitions, car shows, and consumer events broaden the calendar even
[9:47] further.
[9:48] that is where we see long-term opportunity taken in existing Sumter County asset and creating
[9:54] more reasons for people from outside the county to visit year-round. That increased year-round
[10:00] use is how the fairgrounds can become a larger part of the Sumter County tourism economy. We are
[10:08] not suggesting that the entire master plan be funded at once or that every project belong to the
[10:13] We see this as a continued phase partnership.
[10:18] Some projects are visitor-ready improvements that strengthen existing events,
[10:22] others, such as RV hookups and equestring capacity,
[10:26] our event-generated infrastructure that may allow us to recruit events we cannot accommodate today.
[10:33] Longer-term destination projects can broaden the fairgrounds tourism identity even further.
[10:38] For each potential TDC project, we want to follow the same process, prioritize the opportunity,
[10:45] determine eligibility, and the appropriate funding partnership.
[10:49] Deliver the project and the measure the tourism results.
[10:53] The last future investment decision we base, this lets future investment decisions be based on performance rather than assumptions.
[11:03] Today, we want to continue our partnership conversation.
[11:06] We are not asking the TDC to fund general fairground maintenance, and we are not asking the TDC to fund the entire master plan.
[11:14] The Sumter County Board of County Commissioners has already established the direction for the fairgrounds, and the master plan gives us a road map.
[11:22] We want what we want to do with the TDC is identify where that plan intersects with the TDC's mission.
[11:28] If RV infrastructure helps us recruit multi-day events, that is the tourism opportunity.
[11:33] If a question in facilities allow us to compete for regional shows that bring exhibitors and families into Sumter County, that is a tourism opportunity.
[11:43] If arena improvements allow us to attract rodeos, concerts and festivals with regional audiences, that is a tourism opportunity.
[11:52] We want the TDC to be a partner in identifying and advancing those projects with clear scopes and measurable tourism outcomes.
[12:00] We believe the fairgrounds can play a larger role in Sumter County's tourism economy while remaining rooted in the agriculture traditions that make this property important to our community.
[12:12] Thank you.
[12:16] So, or members any questions?
[12:27] One quick question.
[12:28] The RV area that you all talk about is that an area that is considered a campground here
[12:34] I may not know that that is such is that something that's going to also collect TDC dollars as folks pay to stay and they that you charge a fee to rent those
[12:44] Yes, ma'am on page
[12:48] Five
[12:53] a part of the master plan if you'll look in the left lower-hand corner
[12:59] that this little area down here.
[13:03] Okay.
[13:04] A little green lot.
[13:06] A little green lot, yes sir.
[13:07] That is for RV camping, the hookups.
[13:11] Can you turn on your mic?
[13:16] So that's a registered campground or licensed campground
[13:19] that would fall under a collection also of TDC dollars.
[13:21] So improving that and growing that would bring us additional dollars
[13:24] in the TDC collection.
[13:26] Yes, I would bring people overnight for a visitation.
[13:29] So on that, so you were reading my notes obviously because I had a similar question.
[13:37] So who is going to be in this RV park?
[13:40] Is it going to be the vendors or is it going to be participants or visitors?
[13:46] That's the question because we have a number of RV parks already.
[13:50] Yes, sir.
[13:50] there are several there's 18 hookups on the north side and so currently when
[13:58] the facilities host events those people traveling we just hosted a high school
[14:04] rodeo so those children traveling in from Miami in North Florida they came in
[14:10] with their livestock trailers to stay on the grounds with their animals and so
[14:14] they rented those out so that they were able to say for that three-day event so
[14:19] So it's the participants and the vendors that this will be for?
[14:22] Yes, sir.
[14:23] And then year round use for any kind of events that is there.
[14:30] So what I guess what I'm trying to figure out is,
[14:34] are these going to be open to the general public for use?
[14:37] So let's say there's nothing going on.
[14:39] Can somebody rent this or repark?
[14:41] I can get that information.
[14:43] We can ask those questions for that.
[14:47] I'm not prepared with that answer today because one of my concerns is you know if we build this up
[14:54] Are we then directly competing with the existing businesses that offer?
[15:00] Re-parking. And apparently, they're not at 100% capacity. That's just based on the whole fire assessment argument, but I'm getting sidetracked on that. But, you know, so I don't want to be in the business of taking business away from other businesses that are already providing these services. I understand, especially with the livestock issue,
[15:29] the need for something like this again I just want to make sure that we're not
[15:33] going to be taking away from our other businesses that are already providing the
[15:36] same services and I think we can have that for their conversation to determine
[15:40] I know if it's going to be open to the public for year-round use or only when
[15:46] we bring an event so and have you so for this let's just talk about the RV park
[15:53] have you already put together a budget and a proposed design, or is that too early in that state?
[16:03] It's too early. We would then work with the county to get this scope of the work and to see exactly so we could
[16:12] send it out to bid and get those numbers.
[16:15] Okay. Thank you.
[16:17] Thank you.
[16:18] Anything else?
[16:21] Thank you very much.
[16:21] Thank you so much and I guess next would be Chase, Chase, thank you very.
[16:43] Caroline Campbell 3586 County road 626 North.
[16:47] First of all I'd like to thank all the members of the council for volunteering your time.
[16:51] I've been asking for the TDT to be reinstated since 2022.
[16:56] I'm glad to see that it will be on the ballot this year.
[16:59] I do hope that the council or county can put out some education regarding who this tax
[17:04] will affect. I believe that is clearly explained to residents of Sumner County that this is not
[17:10] a tax that they will pay, that it will only affect and be charged to those on short-term
[17:17] rentals. It will make a difference. Unlike to also thank the businesses that I've approached
[17:22] and have taken the time to listen to me, as I believe the TD funds could assist in promoting
[17:27] their businesses and tourism in Sumner County. I have been met with some hesitation though
[17:34] from certain businesses.
[17:36] Due to the past, everybody seems to be stuck in the past.
[17:43] It wasn't spent correctly.
[17:45] It all went to one side.
[17:47] All I can continue to tell those folks is,
[17:50] this is a completely different board,
[17:52] a completely different council.
[17:54] This is now 2026,
[17:56] and we have different standards.
[17:59] Some of you may know me.
[18:00] Some of you don't.
[18:02] I will tell you this, I am very invested in this, and the good things that it can do
[18:08] for Sumpner County.
[18:09] I will attend meetings, I will ask hard questions, and I'll bring facts to the table.
[18:15] I'm not always the easiest person to deal with, as a couple of you know.
[18:20] But everything I do is for the betterment of Sumpner County.
[18:25] adding over a million dollars of funds for improvements in tourist-related
[18:30] promotion I think could be a win for everyone. I really appreciate your time.
[18:35] Thank you Miss Campbell.
[18:38] All right. Anybody else?
[19:24] Good afternoon.
[19:25] Good afternoon, commissioners.
[19:27] I want to thank you for letting me speak today and for volunteering your time for your important work.
[19:33] I know probably most of you don't know a lot about us.
[19:36] Probably you've been hearing about us more recently.
[19:39] Chase Animal Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservancy, we've become a pretty big draw for Sumpter County,
[19:46] especially over the last year, but I want to go a little bit over our history and over what I
[19:51] think we have to offer for the county. Basically, we are drawing people in from 55 states and
[19:58] territories and 34 countries. We advertise primarily in Florida, but we have sort of a
[20:07] a country-wide draw due to the uniqueness of some of our programs.
[20:13] Only 22% of our visitors come from within Sumter County.
[20:18] The rest come from the Outline counties in Florida from other states in the country and
[20:24] even from several states overseas.
[20:27] So I think the opportunity to bring in all different types of people to this area is
[20:32] tremendous given what we've been able to offer at the sanctuary.
[20:36] So basically this was founded in 2008 when my oldest son and I were driving through Sumpter County.
[20:44] We were looking for a very special piece of property for several years.
[20:47] We wanted the beautiful big oak trees. We wanted to be on a state forest.
[20:52] It was very hard to find, but we found it in Sumpter County and we bought it basically for the beauty and the nature and the overall environment of being out of the city
[21:01] and being able to experience something beautiful.
[21:05] From that, it sort of organically grew into what it is today.
[21:10] So we started out rescuing dogs and cats that were abandoned in the Wethlecucci State
[21:15] Forest, the dogs during hunting season, and we would stay new to and adopt them out.
[21:20] Purely by accident, we received a lemur donated to us, and we learned about them and their
[21:26] fate as one of the most endangered primates in the world.
[21:30] And this kind of grew out of that, just the need to want to help.
[21:33] and then from that a need to want to educate the public about the fate, not only of the lemurs but so many ecosystems throughout the world and in our own county and our own state.
[21:44] There's a lot of things people can do to help that are very simple, we just need to let them know what they are.
[21:50] But since 2008, we have invested $4.2 million in this facility, about $2 million of it, my own private funds, and about $2.2 million of it from donors and
[22:02] people who come to do our various events. We have 250 exotic animals in our care, 50 species
[22:09] across 20 acres. If you look at our reviews on Google, TripAdvisor, Yelp, 4.9 on Google,
[22:18] 440 reviews, 5.0 on TripAdvisor, TripAdvisor rates us as the number one attraction in Webster,
[22:25] 5.0 on Yelp, and we're investing right now, $17,000 a month in advertising what we do in
[22:32] in this county to Florida, basically outside of this county.
[22:38] So we don't advertise very heavily in Sumter County,
[22:41] but we take a radius of about 30 miles
[22:44] around where we are and advertise outside of that.
[22:48] Anyone who's gonna visit us from our immediate area
[22:50] kind of knows about us or has been there already.
[22:53] And the villages are the place
[22:55] where we get almost all of our volunteers.
[22:57] So we're very well known there.
[22:59] They cover us in their newspaper, a lot of their groups come out and visit us, so we kind
[23:06] of target the marketing where we think we need to get the awareness out.
[23:12] Again, the next page, $4.2 million invested of our own money for habitat construction,
[23:20] veterinary and medical facilities, the Hossienda, that's an Airbnb, that brings people in
[23:26] to it's an immersive animal experience actually.
[23:30] There's like glass walls and the bedrooms
[23:32] and on the other side are the sloths and lemurs.
[23:36] It's one of probably only two or three places
[23:38] like it in this country.
[23:41] So it's very attractive for people to come and visit.
[23:48] With respect to certification,
[23:51] very big thing in our industry.
[23:54] We are licensed by USDA Federal Licensing Agency, FWC, the State Licensing Agency.
[24:02] We are a registered Florida agritourism business in good standing with an underlying cattle
[24:08] ranching business.
[24:10] And we're in the process of American humane certification, which should be done in a couple
[24:14] months.
[24:15] It's going really well.
[24:16] I'm very confident we're going to pass, although we do have to withstand two or three
[24:22] auditors for two straight days looking at everything we've ever done but I'm
[24:27] pretty sure it's going to go well. The reason that's so important is the
[24:31] American humane certification is something that only the bigger more
[24:37] reputable places have. For instance in Florida it's Bush Gardens C world and the
[24:41] Florida Aquarium. So I feel like we have an opportunity to have a facility of
[24:47] that quality in our county which would really,
[24:52] I mean, these facilities draw from all over the world, really.
[24:59] Next page is about our Hasiander.
[25:02] Just some pictures of it.
[25:03] You don't get to see the animals and those pictures,
[25:05] but some demographics about our nightly rate, occupancy rate,
[25:09] how many room nights per year and the lodging revenue.
[25:13] We are looking to expand that over the next couple
[25:16] years significantly.
[25:17] One thing that we're working on right now is trying to find Airbnb's or places like the blissful getaway with the tree houses that's being built now where we can have people come in and stay there for the weekend or the week and do all of our experiences.
[25:38] Our experiences span the entire day from morning to night and they can kind of pick what they want to do.
[25:43] So if we can make arrangements with some of these local facilities, I think we can drastically
[25:50] increase who visits, because during the busy season, the Hosse end is booked and there's
[25:55] a wait list for it.
[25:57] So that's something I really want to look into.
[26:01] Again, the next page is just demographic from where people are coming from, 22.8% from
[26:07] outside Florida.
[26:09] We're having people fly in need to be picked up at the airport.
[26:14] We get reviews sometimes to the effect of we came on a family vacation.
[26:19] This was the best part of it, and we went to Disney by the way.
[26:23] So I can't say we're better than Disney.
[26:25] I love Disney, but I think we're of a similar quality.
[26:31] We have a slightly different approach, but I think we have a very high quality.
[26:38] Next page, trajectory. It talks about our growth from 21 through to 2026. And you can see it's kind of straight up in the air graph, especially this year.
[26:51] We're just growing tremendously. A lot of it is we do Google ads. We do meta ads. We're on TikTok. We have a television commercial running all the time.
[27:02] These days social media, in my opinion, it's really the only way to grow a successful
[27:08] business anymore, like you can't take an ad out on the paper, on the radio, and expect
[27:12] to fill your events.
[27:14] So we're very, we have a whole tech outreach team, and we have a social media team, and
[27:21] they're always filming content and getting it out there online and making sure people
[27:25] know who we are and what we have to offer.
[27:27] I think one of the things that also works to our benefit is we're 48 miles from Orlando,
[27:34] 62 from Tampa, 52 from Ocala, and only 22 from the villages.
[27:39] So although when we purchased this land almost 20 years ago, we thought we're in the middle
[27:45] and nowhere.
[27:46] But as it grew up, it turns out that all of these pretty significant markets can reach
[27:50] us within an hour or less.
[27:53] so again just a great way for us to pull in people for the county when they
[27:57] come see us they want to know where they can eat lunch where they can stay
[28:00] overnight any other attractions that they can attend
[28:08] media and press coverage
[28:11] so especially lately we've been on the news in the newspapers it's been several
[28:17] times a week for the last month I think that the events we do and the way we do
[28:23] them are so unique that they naturally capture the public's attention and the news teams want
[28:28] to be able to show that. So it's been ABC News, Fox 35. They're all listed here. People magazine
[28:35] did an article on this.
[28:39] And then when you actually get to social media, you can take a look at the
[28:44] kind of reach we have. This is over 60 days, 108 1.8 million views on Facebook, 3.76 million views on
[28:55] on Instagram, 511,000 views on TikTok.
[29:02] Be it right or wrong, whether we like it or not,
[29:05] this is where people come from.
[29:12] With respect to our property,
[29:14] this is just kind of a picture of some
[29:15] of my favorite animals, but also some of the animals
[29:18] that are very appealing to the public.
[29:21] The African penguins, that's an exhibit we had
[29:24] in just about two months ago.
[29:26] We are one of the very few facilities in the country
[29:29] That allows people to come visit and swim with African penguins.
[29:34] So these swims are booked up to capacity all the time.
[29:38] We do a similar thing with our otters.
[29:40] They're all booked up and they have a waiting list.
[29:44] But the monkeys are adorable, the sloths are incredible, people want to come and see these
[29:48] guys and meet them as well.
[29:52] Big cats if you look at the picture of the clouded leopard that is an exhibit we're adding later
[29:56] this month.
[29:57] We're very excited about that because
[30:00] They are very critically endangered. So are the lemurs, so are the African penguins. One of the things we do with part of the revenue that we bring in is we work very closely with boots on the ground in the native countries that these critically endangered animals come from. So we're sending money out to translocate lemurs from forest where they're being hunted to where they're protected. We're paying for nesting for the penguins because they lost all their nesting grounds.
[30:30] The cloud of leverage we're now researching which organization we will support because they're not coming for about another three to four weeks.
[30:39] But I think that's important. I don't know how important it is for some to county, but I know when visitors come, they want to see real work being done.
[30:47] They don't want to go to a petting zoo.
[30:50] You know, Sloth world I think showed us all the kind of damage that could be done if this isn't done right.
[30:56] We don't allow anyone to touch our sloths, sometimes we get complaints, there are a lot
[31:01] of freedom with tongs, some flowers, but it's really important to do this in a reputable
[31:07] way for everyone's benefit.
[31:11] And then the internship, we host about 19 interns a semester, fall, spring, and summer.
[31:21] They come from all the universities all over the country and several of them come from
[31:26] universities overseas and we work with them to try to get their bees as approved.
[31:31] These interns are usually completing or have just completed an animal sciences, a pre-Vet
[31:37] med or a biology degree and they have to have hands-on experience in order to be able to
[31:43] get a job so we provide that for them.
[31:46] During the time they're here, their family are visiting, they're staying in hotels.
[31:52] The interns are staying off site, usually renting air B&Bs or hotels or apartments, so I think this helps spread not only awareness of Sumter County, but
[32:04] people from all over coming to see it and experience it.
[32:08] And a lot of them do, well, not a lot, but we take the best interns and hire them so then they wind up moving here.
[32:16] Again, this is just the global conservation reach.
[32:21] These are the programs that we support overseas.
[32:24] There's a lot more information on them in our website.
[32:27] We also send our staff to Costa Rica two weeks out of the year to work with a sloth veterinarian
[32:36] there in the field, sloths, tapiers, jaguars, and to get the hands on experience.
[32:42] They bring it back to the county.
[32:44] it helps us and it also helps some of the veterinary clinics around who are
[32:48] learning to take care of exotics.
[32:54] So in Florida promotion this has been what
[32:57] we've done so far.
[33:00] It's social media that we spoke about but we want to
[33:04] increase it some more targeting Orlando Tampa, Ocala and the villages, visit
[33:09] Florida and regional tourism listings, hotel RV parking and campgrounds and we
[33:16] We would love to try if the Taurus development tax goes through, and if we're lucky enough
[33:23] to be a participant in it.
[33:25] We'd love to try some out-of-state promotion, particularly for the states that come here
[33:30] in the winter, to try to grab those Taurus and bring them into the Hossienda, let them
[33:36] do our experiences, maybe bring them into some of the other Airbnb that we could partner with.
[33:42] We only have one hussie end and it fills up pretty quickly.
[33:49] And then the next page is just how many guests we're hosting per year right now.
[33:54] What our target is two or three years down the road.
[33:58] The percentage of guests from outside Florida, room nights, overall spend at the sanctuary.
[34:07] So there's a good bit of money being spent there.
[34:10] The revenue right now is probably running about 2 million a year.
[34:14] Of course, the operating expenses are not much less than that.
[34:20] And the next page is operating expenses.
[34:23] Right now it's about $3560 a day, $1.3 million a year.
[34:30] We are sustaining ourselves through admissions, lodging donations.
[34:36] We just started a membership program.
[34:37] So we're financially solvent and we're able to exist and grow as we are today.
[34:44] So we wouldn't be asking for Taurus development funds to survive.
[34:48] We'd be asking for them because we feel like we're a well oil machine ready to grow.
[34:54] And with somehow from the county, we could have maybe a better road, better paths for people
[35:00] who may be disabled, improve some of the exhibits for what people really want to come and visit,
[35:06] it and be more of a presence for some of the county.
[35:11] And then this is our park map if you're curious what all we have.
[35:16] It's a pretty nice range of animals from kangaroos, two kins, big cats, giant ant eaters,
[35:23] sloths.
[35:26] I know Commissioner Wiley visited recently.
[35:30] If any of you want a visit we'd love to have you.
[35:32] We have a big festival on September 13th if you want to come just let me know
[35:38] Well, obviously get you in for free, but it would definitely be worth it for you to see what we do
[35:43] Because it's very unique and very different to what you may think a facility
[35:48] Describe like this might look like and
[35:53] lastly
[35:57] just basically
[35:59] Another invitation for you guys to see why people are traveling to see us from all over the country and sometimes outside of the country
[36:07] I think there's a huge opportunity here to make this into something even more special
[36:13] that can serve the county even more than it does today.
[36:19] So if you have any questions, I'd love to answer them.
[36:24] Thank you very much for your presentation.
[36:26] I will say I did make the trip out there.
[36:28] It was enjoyable and enlightening.
[36:31] And I was impressed with what I saw.
[36:36] I also saw that Mother Nature has a weird sense of humor looking at an ant eater.
[36:41] right? I know. Well, some of the other things. Like what? What were they thinking, you know? Yeah, like a plot of a part, awesome, part, art, art, art. Yeah. Um, so just curious, what is your prior, your number one priority project that you'd like the Tourist Development Council to help you with? Yeah. So, you know, when we speak of the Tourist Development Council, right? I think we have to look at projects that ultimately helped the county as opposed to what we want, right?
[37:11] I'd like to get 20 more penguins, but I think improving the road would be a big deal.
[37:19] It's not a huge endeavor.
[37:21] We do asphalt millings and we have the tractors and the maintenance staff to spread it.
[37:25] So we just need some supplies for that.
[37:28] I think more pathways so that ADA people can get around better and guess in general we'll
[37:33] stay on the paths.
[37:36] I actually wrote some things down, I anticipated that question.
[37:41] Okay, let's see.
[37:43] I think we can use some shade so that some strategically placed shade areas,
[37:49] maybe with Mr. so that guests can stay cool in the summer.
[37:53] We would like to build some cabins or glamping tents
[38:01] so that we can have more ability for people to sleep overnight.
[38:07] My understanding is bringing in RVs or an RV pad, I think permit-wise and zoning-wise is probably prohibitive but I think possibly cabins or glamping tents would be, at least from what I'm learning talking with the folks who control those pieces in the county would be doable.
[38:28] So we would definitely want to look at that.
[38:32] We have an opportunity to lease the 70 acres of conservation land that is directly next
[38:42] to the sanctuary.
[38:44] It is a state-owned property, part of the green swamp, I believe.
[38:50] And it's going up for what's called a grazing easement, and we do have cows to put on it.
[38:55] We're looking into that because we think we might be able to make some walk-through hiking trails
[39:00] for
[39:01] Sumter County residents and maybe even people who travel and like to watch birds
[39:06] Because it's it's a huge piece of property and it has some natural wetlands on it that attract birds from
[39:12] I mean, I'm a birding enthusiast. I've traveled all over the world watching them
[39:16] Some birds come there that you very rarely get to see other places. So
[39:21] So we're looking into that, whether it's going to be cost effective for us or not, we don't
[39:26] know yet, but we shouldn't know in another month or two.
[39:30] You know, and then again, just making some general improvements that make the property
[39:35] more attractive and easier to navigate for guests.
[39:39] Yeah, I will say that your entry road, I mean, I have a four-wheel drive truck and I was
[39:44] I was just loosening my fillings on that road, especially after it rains.
[39:52] Okay, members, anything?
[39:56] How large is the property now without the 70 acres?
[39:59] Twenty acres.
[40:01] And it borders the Whithley-Couche State Forest on Tucson, the front and back.
[40:11] I'm sure if I know you mentioned cabins, I'm not sure if tiny homes will work.
[40:17] I don't know what I'm sorry.
[40:18] tiny homes. You know my understanding from talking with the county I was told
[40:25] Sumter County is not at all interested in tiny homes. I don't know if that's
[40:30] changed but it was very negative when I approached that and that's why we kind of
[40:35] went to the cabins but might be worth looking into again. To me that makes it the same
[40:41] thing. You would think right but there's something about glamping cabins that
[40:47] that fall into a different category, I think.
[40:50] I mean, when I was young and we went for eight,
[40:53] we stayed in the cabins with like military vult beds,
[40:57] so you probably could do the same thing
[40:58] with a car or something in a tiny house.
[41:01] Yeah, I mean, that would be great.
[41:02] This is something we have to,
[41:04] we speak with Jared and David Rodriguez,
[41:08] and they're kind of guiding us through
[41:09] what would make sense for us.
[41:12] Those are definitely two very good sources.
[41:14] Yeah, yeah, they've been great.
[41:16] I'll find out from Jerry when he comes to the city council meet
[41:23] Well, thank you very much. Appreciate your time. You're very welcome. All right. Is there anybody else who'd like to speak?
[41:33] List I'm from the villages polo club made arrangements to come and speak is this the time I would yeah
[41:40] Where were I mean, I believe this lady was coming out. Okay, but all right
[41:44] Good afternoon. My name is Mike Bush. I'm the fan service the supervisor at the villages polo club
[41:49] I'm a company today by Teran Siler.
[41:52] She's the event coordinator at the Village's Polo Club.
[41:57] We truly appreciate this opportunity to speak at today's tourist development council
[42:00] meeting about our proposed holiday magic light show and the poppies possibility of matching
[42:06] funds tourism grant for this event.
[42:09] The Village's Polo Club is a 250 acre property nestled in Sumter County.
[42:13] The property has an abundance of manicured grass fields surrounded with numerous mature
[42:17] oak trees.
[42:17] If you've not been there yet, please add a to-year to-do list as it is beautiful property
[42:22] and certainly worth the trip.
[42:25] Our vision for the holiday magic light show is a nighttime drive-through experience on
[42:30] the Polo property.
[42:31] Guests would navigate roughly 3-quarters of a mile on the wild passing theme flight displays
[42:36] to arrive at the Bavillion parking area.
[42:39] They would then be able to walk through Cannecane Lane, which is 300 feet of lighted display
[42:44] with several photo opportunities.
[42:45] That walk would bring them to the Bavillion Decorated Holiday theme where they can enjoy holiday
[42:51] music beverages and snacks.
[42:54] The dates for the Holiday Magic Light Show would be Friday, Saturdays and Sundays, 6 p.m.
[42:59] till 10 p.m., starting November 27th and running through December 27th.
[43:04] Our goal is to charge an affordable mission of $20 per vehicle, the more the merrier.
[43:10] The village's public club is fortunate to have the village's marketing department as a direct resource.
[43:16] I can't think of anyone to get the word out better than them as they are able to track people from all over the country to purchase homes in the villages.
[43:24] Our light show marketing will be designed and organized by them and we plan to include information about the numerous other activities going on in the village's area during the holiday magic light show.
[43:35] That's encouraging folks to make a weekend of it.
[43:39] Our research of other regional light shows has purported large attendance figures such
[43:44] as leak-ardons dazzling lights exceeds 115,000 guests during its multi-week run.
[43:50] Kissing the Gaylord-Pone's ice exceeds 200,000 guests annually.
[43:55] St. Augustine night of lights touts hundreds of thousands in attendance per season.
[44:00] Tangled Park Festival of Lights advertises 300 guests annually.
[44:04] Those attendance numbers present a lot opportunities for stays at local hotels, and fairly certain
[44:11] the three-hole hotels owned by the villages would welcome that opportunity as well.
[44:16] Commercial lighting is not cheap.
[44:17] Current expected costs for the least displays are in the neighborhood of 130,000, combined
[44:23] with staff costs of 14,000 for the duration of the event, and 10% contingently buffer that
[44:30] brings the event budget to 158,000.
[44:33] Break even attendance numbers would be 527 vehicles per night for 15 nights at $20 per vehicle.
[44:41] We're hoping you're willing to partner with us on this event as that funding assistance
[44:45] would really help us make this event a reality for 2026 and going forward.
[44:53] Can I answer any questions?
[44:55] All right.
[44:56] Thank you, sir.
[44:57] So, 2026, that's this year.
[44:59] Yes.
[45:00] I'll be honest with you, that's not going to happen because we don't have the funds. It hasn't been approved yet. We won't start collecting and it won't be active until after the first of the year. So for next year, it's definitely worth considering. But I don't think there's anything we can do this year.
[45:21] But getting your information now gives us just as with chase and with the fairgrounds.
[45:29] It's giving us more to work with to
[45:34] For lack of better terms help sell this to the people
[45:38] But but I don't think there's anything we're going to be able to do this year
[45:42] Okay, so thank you for your time. Thank you, sir. Good
[45:49] afternoon
[45:49] Good afternoon. My name is Latissa Hill
[45:52] I am the owner of Blissful Giddleway Tree Hush Resort and I just got approved to start developing
[45:58] being this May.
[46:00] So I have to have it developed by 2028, May of 2028.
[46:04] And being a new developer, I think the big thing
[46:08] that I see this fund being very personal about
[46:12] is the process of building when it comes to permitting.
[46:16] Florida is a very distinctive state
[46:18] where our climate supports a lot of wildlife.
[46:21] And so as I'm transitioning building,
[46:23] My property hasn't been occupied since the early 1900s.
[46:29] So the gofers are having a great time.
[46:31] So I've got 36 barrels on there.
[46:34] And based on where you can take them, it's approximately like $6,000 a pop.
[46:40] So I have an initial bill between over $100,000 to probably $200,000 just to clear the area to make sure that the gofers are protected.
[46:51] And I'm pretty sure there are other wildlife that go for tortoises?
[46:56] The tortoises, yep, yep.
[46:58] And so the standard, the practices for every burrow
[47:02] is actually divided by two.
[47:05] So I potentially got 18 turtles that I have to relocate.
[47:10] And one of the things when it comes to constructions,
[47:14] that's what the general contract just kind of do shady things
[47:19] and hurt wildlife and that's not what we should be about, right?
[47:24] So this phone would be very critical because that will fall under the building umbrella.
[47:30] And so also, of course, advertisement.
[47:33] One thing about Webster, what I love, it's a quiet, quaint town, really support agricultural tourism.
[47:41] And one thing that helped me is to be able to get selected, to get approved, and lenders to be interested
[47:48] that is that we have a beautiful wedding venue hub,
[47:52] and we have five within four miles of my facilities.
[47:55] There's no hotels or motels there,
[47:58] so it will maintain my theme of welcome to paradise
[48:02] for people who have taken putting a lot of time and effort
[48:06] to be with that special person,
[48:08] and they want to go to a beautiful place,
[48:11] and it will help with me maintaining my property
[48:13] to a significant standard,
[48:15] because I'll be competing against Disney, et cetera.
[48:19] We're having them another alternative place to stay.
[48:23] And you know, other things in Tampa.
[48:26] And so, you know, Sumter County is just beautiful overall.
[48:29] And having this tax approval will help small business owners
[48:33] in so many ways because there's so many unforeseen costs
[48:36] that we have to deal with to start developing
[48:39] and to be able to safely do that and having a fun to tap in,
[48:43] which is offset by the tax of people.
[48:47] If you can tax cigarettes and all kind of other stuff,
[48:51] we can do a tax that supports the everyday worker
[48:55] to be able to come to a facility
[48:57] that's really nice for them to relax and decompress.
[49:01] And that's the beautiful thing about this area
[49:04] because a lot of areas are overrun with too much activity
[49:10] and we need to have a sanctuary essentially for everybody to come.
[49:17] And so, yeah, just repairs and stuff like that.
[49:19] It takes a lot to maintain nature, and this will really adequately help.
[49:24] That's all I have.
[49:26] Thank you very much.
[49:28] So I know you're, I remember seeing you when you came before the Board of County Commissioners
[49:32] on this.
[49:34] where is this your facility located in relations to chase sanctuary because you're both in Webster, right?
[49:42] Yeah, how many?
[49:47] Okay, yep, two and a half long space.
[49:49] Yeah, a lot of space, 39 acres.
[49:51] It's a $5.1 million project.
[49:54] Projected revenue was $1.3 million and again, it will be making a hotel, you know, a motel facility for that area
[50:03] because there's no hotels and motels in the city of Webster.
[50:07] And again, supporting the wedding venues,
[50:09] that's the big hook.
[50:11] Why this would be a great opportunity
[50:13] to have this type of source of funds
[50:15] whenever it gets approved.
[50:17] It just helps a lot.
[50:20] Okay, thank you.
[50:21] Okay.
[50:22] Board members, anything?
[50:24] Anybody else for public forum?
[50:27] Okay, so thank you.
[50:29] I wanna thank everybody for attending and presenting.
[50:33] So I've spoken with staff, county staff on this, and basically, we're looking at it, we're waiting for the people to make a decision, the voters to make a decision.
[50:43] Once that happens, then we will have to establish some processes and some rules and some policies associated with the funds and get that approved by the county commission.
[50:57] and at that point we would start taking applications
[51:02] and evaluating for the tourism development dollars.
[51:07] It may be possible to borrow from the general fund
[51:14] so that we can have money early on in the year
[51:17] to start things rolling based on the anticipated revenues
[51:23] that the tourism development tax could bring in.
[51:27] But at this point, this is an exercise in trying to understand what our opportunities are
[51:34] for these tourism development dollars and between the light show, which sounds pretty
[51:46] cool.
[51:47] And Chase, I can't say enough, great about that.
[51:51] It was phenomenal.
[51:53] And I've been to the fairgrounds.
[51:54] I really think it's a wonderful place,
[51:56] so I think we have some great opportunities.
[52:01] I've heard some talk about, well,
[52:04] it's gonna go to the villages,
[52:06] well, because people are thinking
[52:08] it's gonna go back to the town square entertainment.
[52:12] Well, they haven't had the money for five years
[52:14] and yet the entertainment's still the band played on.
[52:17] So I don't see us having to fund that anymore.
[52:21] So that obviously leaves money open on the table for other projects.
[52:28] That's all I have board members in any comments?
[52:33] All right.
[52:34] Yes.
[52:35] Go ahead, Chase.
[52:37] Is that a city or county road?
[52:45] If it's a county road, we can get the county to work on that without teasing some folks.
[52:49] Well, you know, and one of the the edicts that was put down by the the county commission
[52:57] was they wanted to focus partially on infrastructure projects.
[53:03] So you know, improving, what is it, 7-11 or 7, what's the, the road that comes up all
[53:09] for 50?
[53:12] Okay.
[53:15] No, not the bumpy dirt road, the road, the paved road, yeah, so 7-11, so you know, that
[53:21] But that would be an infrastructure project that might be considered and that would help
[53:29] you know, if we can get the whole road redone from one end to the other.
[53:36] But again, these are just early ideas that were bouncing around.
[53:41] Hopefully this will go through and we will make some good progress.
[53:47] Anything else?
[53:49] All right.
[53:50] Can I ask one question?
[53:52] Please step to the podium, Ms. Campbell.
[54:04] Does the council or the county have any intention on trying to educate the public before it goes on the ballot?
[54:15] Because people see the word tax, and the automatic word is no, we don't want to pay more taxes.
[54:23] this. What does the council or the county plan to do to educate folks to let them know
[54:30] that this is not a tax that we as homeowners or year-long renters are going to pay? I think
[54:39] education is key. And if we educate the folks, then we've got a better chance. I hear a lot
[54:48] of people in the villages. They don't want Airbnb's out there. So maybe if we tell them,
[54:55] hey, your Airbnb's are going to get charged an extra 2%, they might say, oh, maybe they
[55:02] won't get rented as much. Even though 2% is nothing compared to something or citrus,
[55:08] just Mary and Lake, which is at four and five percent.
[55:12] So I'd like to know if there is any plan to educate the public on what the tourist
[55:21] development tax actually does.
[55:25] So we are constrained on how we can pursue this education process because we cannot,
[55:38] the
[55:38] in one direction or another, all we can do is inform.
[55:42] We have the same issues with amendment three,
[55:46] as well as the gas tax renewing it.
[55:51] So, obviously if local businesses get on board,
[55:58] then they can expend their resources how they see fit.
[56:03] But we have some issues, and I'm sure
[56:07] So the county attorney can expound upon this a little bit more than I can but we are
[56:13] very tightly limited on what we can say and do in this case.
[56:19] Thank you.
[56:21] You're welcome.
[56:23] I want to offer some help if it's appropriate.
[56:27] We have an outreach team of five full-time individuals and a tech team of another five.
[56:32] And we had been planning to mobilize them to get out the vote in the villages.
[56:38] We've been working with the gentleman there who directs a lot of the programs and clubs there.
[56:47] But if somehow we can help with emails, phone calls, in-person visits to try to get the vote out, we can make our 10 people available.
[56:57] Well, I don't think the the county can direct that, but so the county can only provide information
[57:07] related to referendum initiatives on the ballot. They cannot advocate nor expend any funds
[57:15] to either encourage or discourage a vote on a referendum. They, I'll just for example,
[57:21] all use the gas tax. There is an education campaign that says the county
[57:27] currently levies the fifth and sixth cent. It generates 2.8 million in revenue.
[57:32] Gas tax funds have been used to pay these roads. That's it, right? So they
[57:38] can't really engage in any type of advocacy of any of the referendums,
[57:43] including rallying support for getting the word out that this is on the
[57:48] But we could do it.
[57:50] Constituents can do whatever they choose to do as to those amendments but the county cannot facilitate that.
[57:57] And the language on the ballot is purely statutory, isn't it?
[58:03] So the commission sets some framework for what they want it to say but it's bound by 75 word limitation.
[58:09] Okay. All right. Because I've seen sample it reads like a statute but we can certainly use that to help educate.
[58:14] Okay.
[58:15] That is correct.
[58:16] There's an ordinance that outlines that puts the request on the ballot.
[58:20] You can use that information, as information of what the tourist development tax is for,
[58:26] how it can be limited, and then there is an actual ballot question.
[58:30] And I think the supervisor's office is in the process of formulating the ballot now.
[58:35] So in the next week or two, that language will be affirmed.
[58:38] Okay.
[58:39] All right.
[58:39] Thank you.
[58:40] Thank you very much.
[58:42] All right.
[58:42] I ask a question.
[58:45] Yes, ma'am. Step to the podium. Please state your name.
[58:46] I'm sorry.
[58:47] Step up.
[58:48] I know I was having a hard time hearing you legally.
[58:52] But aren't you allowed to say that you're...
[58:56] This is a new endeavor for all of Sumter County
[58:59] and that there will be rules and regulations involved
[59:03] and that you're taking applications or anything like that.
[59:07] That can't be put in a newspaper
[59:11] That's not just a village newspaper, but a regular newspaper that we get in South Sumter.
[59:18] That would explain that this is not going, you don't have to say anything about the last terrorist taxes from 2004 to 2020.
[59:30] But you're just saying that this is a new endeavor with new information, new regulations and rules.
[59:38] and that we will be taking applications for usage.
[59:42] And that would be cover all of Sumter County, doesn't matter, it would cover offer.
[59:47] I don't know legally what you can say, but-
[59:51] So, first of all, would you mind stating your name for the Reversal League?
[59:53] Oh, I'm sorry, Susan DeHaven.
[59:55] Okay.
[59:56] And the only reason I ask is because so many people have-
[1:00:00] A very bad taste in their mouth about the last tourist tax. And it needs to be stated that it would be all for Sumter County and that applications will be taken from all of Sumter County. So what the county can do is to share information from the adopted master plan that the tourist development plan that this committee has recommended and that the commission has adopted. And those any use of the resources.
[1:00:29] are bound by what's in that plan and how those funds would be used.
[1:00:34] Beyond that, as of right now, there's no mechanism or process in place to allocate the funding until the voters vote on whether they wish to have the tax or not.
[1:00:46] They can put something in the newspapers, all the papers, stating this according to the plan, correct?
[1:00:53] I haven't seen that. I might have missed it again.
[1:00:56] It is in the ordinance that the commission adopted to place the tax question on the ballot.
[1:01:05] And I believe the ballot question itself indicates that the tax within 75 words.
[1:01:12] It indicates that the taxes can only be spent based on the church development tax plan that was adopted.
[1:01:18] Okay, but they can't just stress that there was new plans and regulations, that's all.
[1:01:25] There would be, I guess you would say, but thank you for explaining that.
[1:01:30] Thank you.
[1:01:32] All right.
[1:01:33] Anybody else?
[1:01:34] I think it's everybody in the room.
[1:01:36] Okay.
[1:01:37] We'll close public forum.
[1:01:39] Next up is Old Business and we have the minutes from the July 7th meeting.
[1:01:45] Is there a motion to approve the minutes?
[1:01:50] So I have a motion and a second to approve the minutes for July 7th, 2026.
[1:01:56] All those in favor indicate by saying aye.
[1:01:58] Aye.
[1:01:59] Opposed?
[1:02:00] Hearing none, motion carries unanimously.
[1:02:02] Next up is new business.
[1:02:05] Board members, council members, any new business you'd like to bring out?
[1:02:14] So the county attorney sent me an email concerning the collection of the tourism
[1:02:23] from development dollars, going through the Department of Revenue, and I shared my opinion
[1:02:32] with her. My personal preference is to have Mr. Mask, our tax collector, collect those
[1:02:39] funds because he is committed to finding the Airbnb's and Vermo's or whatever they are
[1:02:48] that are doing the short-term rentals and not collecting the tax.
[1:02:54] So but apparently we can make that change after the which is called the TDC or the tourism development tax is approved.
[1:03:07] Is that correct, Madam Attorney?
[1:03:09] Yes, so the ordinance that the commission adopted was silent as to specifying a particular entity for
[1:03:16] or the collection and administration of the tax.
[1:03:20] And by statute, when their ordinance is silent,
[1:03:23] the default is the taxes collected administered
[1:03:26] by the Florida Department of Revenue.
[1:03:28] So you can proceed under your existing ordinance.
[1:03:30] It simply means that the State Department of Revenue
[1:03:33] will be collecting and ministering the tax.
[1:03:35] At any point in time, you can move forward
[1:03:38] with an amendment to your ordinance
[1:03:40] and to modify the ordinance to designate
[1:03:43] the local tax collector to be the entity
[1:03:45] that collects the tax.
[1:03:47] You have to do it on a certain timing
[1:03:49] so that it's some easy to transition the administration.
[1:03:53] And so the question was whether or not you wanted
[1:03:55] to revisit the ordinance to modify it
[1:03:58] so that you add the provisions
[1:03:59] allowing the local tax collector.
[1:04:04] Recognizing that the ordinance had to be adopted
[1:04:07] prior to this week, I believe,
[1:04:09] maybe last week, in order to have
[1:04:11] of the referendum question on the ballot in time
[1:04:15] for the general election in November.
[1:04:19] Okay, so I'm honest.
[1:04:22] So folks, the way I look at it,
[1:04:25] Tallahassee, they're just there to collect the money.
[1:04:28] They don't have a vested interest in Sumpter County
[1:04:31] in my opinion, but Mr. Mask is a resident.
[1:04:35] He is a long-term resident of Sumpter County
[1:04:38] and he has proven himself both resourceful and very creative in his approaches to doing
[1:04:46] things.
[1:04:47] So I'm putting a lot of faith in Mr. Mask.
[1:04:50] So hopefully we'll make that change after the skit's approved.
[1:04:54] Any other new business?
[1:04:57] All right.
[1:04:58] Hearing none, then we will adjourn the meeting.
[1:05:02] Thank you very much.