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Multi-county agreement aims for better collaboration in Four Corners area

A map showing the Four Corners area.
Lake County
/
County Commission agenda
A map showing the Four Corners area.

The Lake County Commission considers the pact on Tuesday. It goes before the Polk, Osceola and Orange county commissions later this month.

An interlocal agreement before the Lake County Commission Tuesday could strengthen coordination in the Four Corners area, where Lake, Polk, Orange and Osceola counties come together.

The agreement goes before the three other county commissions later this month.

It delineates the Four Corners area, a place with common interests but multiple government jurisdictions.

The Four Corners, One Vision initiative says the area has four counties, three transportation planning organizations, four school districts, two Florida Department of Transportation districts and two water management districts.

"There is a very specific point in the median on 192 as you get close to 27 where all four counties touch," said John Newstreet, president and CEO of the Osceola Chamber. "So when we say four corners, it's amazing that they literally all four touch at this one point. And so as you go out from that one point, it's defined differently by the different counties and by the different stakeholders and residents."

Newstreet described a multi-year effort in three phases, including the Four Corners Council in his chamber and leaders in all four counties.

"My stakeholders, members that are in that Four Corners area are obviously, one, hoping to define a sense of place, but hand in hand with that, is to coordinate the services of each of the four different counties and the different way they do things."

The agreement calls for staff meetings to share information and technical assistance and to promote collaboration. Decision-making will remain with the county commissions themselves.

Joe Byrnes came to Central Florida Public Media from the Ocala Star-Banner and The Gainesville Sun, where he worked as a reporter and editor for several years. Joe graduated from Loyola University in New Orleans and turned to journalism after teaching. He enjoys freshwater fishing and family gatherings.
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