Ms. Richardson was elected to the Town Commission Seat #4, in 2021. Commissioner Richardson has dedicated herself to serving our residents and strengthening our community. Her leadership represents progress, representation, and a continued commitment to the future of Dundee.
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The Town of Dundee anticipates the following candidate(s) to participate in the 2026 Municipal Election Debate for the following seats: for Commission Seat #1: Clifton Bernard & Julia Hunt; for Commission Seat #3: Gaylon “Ray” Hunt & Alethea Pugh; for Mayoral Seat: Joe Garrison & Jill Kitto.
Please be advised that the candidate qualifying period closes at 12:00pm on Friday, February 20, 2026, therefore the candidate list may change at any time. Additional information will be provided as necessary closer to the date of the debate.

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Public Utilities Notice
ATTENTION: BURN BAN IN EFFECT
UPDATE: Due to the extreme drought conditions, Polk County is still under a burn ban. Violating the burn ban can lead up to a $500 fine, 60 days in the Polk County jail or both. The ban prohibits: campfires, bonfires, unpermitted controlled burns. burning of yard or household trash, burning of organic debris, igniting fireworks, and noncommercial burning of materials, other than for religious or ceremonial purposes, which is not contained in a barbeque grill or pit and the total fuel area cannon exceed 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height. The ban is in effect until repealed. It only takes a spark or an ember to start a fire that spreads quickly and can get out of control. Please do your part to help us prevent out of control fires.
As Polk County experiences unseasonably dry weather conditions due to a prolonged lack of rainfall throughout the summer and into the fall, Polk County officials issued a burn ban effective Nov. 25. The ban includes unincorporated Polk County and the following municipalities: Auburndale, Bartow, Davenport, Dundee, Fort Meade, Frostproof, Haines City, Lake Alfred, Lake Wales Lakeland and Winter Haven.
The burn ban is determined using the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI). The KBDI is a continuous reference scale, ranging from 0 to 800. It assesses the moisture content from no moisture deficiency (0) to maximum drought conditions (800) of the soil. This helps predict the potential for wildfires.
Utilizing the KBDI, the process of a burn ban begins once more than 50% of the county reaches over 500 on the index. Polk County’s current daily reading is 53% over the 500 benchmarks with a countywide average of 507.
WHAT IS A BURN BAN?
A burn ban prohibits outdoor burning to prevent accidental and avoidable wildfires. Burn bans occur when there has been an extensive drought and dry vegetation could easily ignite and start a fire.
The burn ban prohibits the following:
1. Campfires.
2. Bonfires.
3. Unpermitted controlled burns.
4. Burning of yard and household trash.
5. Burning of organic debris.
6. Igniting of fireworks; and
7. Noncommercial burning of materials other than for religious or ceremonial purposes, in which case they must be contained in a barbecue grill or barbecue pit, and the total fuel area cannot exceed three feet in diameter and two feet in height.


For more information visit: https://www.polk-county.net/news/polk-county-officials-enact-burn-ban-nov-25/
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District Declares Phase II Water Shortage
Residents asked to conserve by following their local watering restrictions and checking their irrigation systems and timers
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) has implemented a Modified Phase II “Severe” Water Shortage due to dry conditionsacross the region. The restrictions are effective from February 8, 2026, through July 1, 2026, — including those on private wells — must follow one-day-per-week lawn watering restrictions
The restrictions apply to all of Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota and Sumter counties; portions of Charlotte, Highlands and Lake counties; the city of Dunnellon and The Villages in Marion County Right now, the area is at a 13-inch regional deficit due to below-average rainfall this past summer. Plus, the district says water resources, such as aquifers, rivers and lakes, are continuing to decline and many are below normal.
For additional information about the Phase II Water Shortage Order, visit the District’s website WaterMatters.org/Restrictions. For water conserving tips, visit WaterMatters.org/Water101.
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FOR UTILITY DISRUPTION PLEASE CONTACT:
During Office Hours: (863) 438-8330 Option 1
For After Hours, please contact our Emergency On-Call #: (863) 439-7966
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