The town of Windermere received a clear audit for the 2025 fiscal year.<\/p>\n
Tammy Campbell, an audit partner with McDirmit Davis, gave a presentation on the audit findings to Windermere Town Council during its meeting Tuesday, May 12.<\/p>\n
She said the town received an unmodified audit opinion, which is the best type of audit the town can receive.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Although the town\u2019s General Fund balance decreased $1.7 million, Campbell said a large portion of the decrease is because of the town\u2019s numerous capital projects. Some of the decrease is expected to be refunded with grant monies this coming fiscal year, she added.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Campbell said the stormwater fund balance increased by $101,600, and the town had $401,000 in payments on existing debt. The town also had a $2.9 million increase in capital assets due to the infrastructure construction throughout town.<\/p>\n
The town also was subject to a federal single audit to ensure it was in compliance with grant requirements from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and other federal grants, and there were no issues.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
2045 Comprehensive Plan<\/p>\n
Windermere Town Council unanimously approved the town\u2019s 2045 Comprehensive Plan.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Town Council previously adopted the plan in October 2025 after the Florida Department of Commerce said there were no objections to the plan.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, the Florida Department of Commerce in December 2025 sent a letter to town staff stating because there was a word change in one policy and one objective in the plan, the town was in violation of Senate Bill 180 and Town Council would need to readopt the plan after removing or changing the verbiage.<\/p>\n
Brad Cornelius, Windermere\u2019s town planner, said the word \u201cdiscourage\u201d was changed to \u201cprohibited\u201d in a transportation policy. He paraphrased the policy as \u201cthe town shall discourage the conversion of residential properties to commercial properties on your major highways, thoroughfares, mainstream,\u201d and the adopted plan in October 2025 changed \u201cdiscourage\u201d to \u201cprohibit.\u201d<\/p>\n
The other portion of the plan with the same objection was \u201cthe town shall prohibit the conversion of residential properties to commercial properties on Main Street and Sixth Avenue.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reason why we changed that was there\u2019s other policies within your comp plan that already did the same thing,\u201d Cornelius said to the Town Council. \u201cYou had a policy that says the town will prohibit strict commercial development along your major roadways. That\u2019s saying the exact same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ultimately, town staff agreed to go back to using \u201cdiscourage\u201d and have Town Council re-adopt the Comprehensive Plan.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cornelius said he will send the plan to the Florida Department of Commerce for review, and the department will have 30 days to review it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
New officer<\/p>\n
Windermere Police Chief Dave Ogden swore in the department\u2019s newest officer.<\/p>\n
Officer Phillip Polan was a retired police corporal with more than a decade of law enforcement experience before taking an oath to serve for the Windermere Police Department.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPhillip brings a wealth of experience and heart of service that aligns perfectly with our mission,\u201d Ogden said. \u201cWhat stands out most about Phillip, I think, is his continued commitment to service. Even in retirement, he has chosen to step back into the profession to give back, and we are better for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Polan has served in areas such as crisis intervention, hostage negotiations and behavioral threat assessments.\u00a0<\/p>\n
During his tenure with the Clermont Police Department, he held key leadership roles within the crisis unit, and he also played an instrumental role developing programs focused on public safety and mental health support.<\/p>\n
Polan is the recipient of the Rocky Pomerance Law Enforcement Excellence Award, as well as other awards, and he currently serves as the community liaison officer for Central Florida Behavioral Hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a really good starting point with a new agency with a continued passion for mental health and a continued partnership with the individuals in this town so we can help raise awareness for mental health, reduce the stigma, help people that are struggling that we may not know are struggling and just be able to work together to start something new,\u201d Polan said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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