05/27/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
In regards to questions concerning the construction of the Esom Hill Fire Station, the Polk County Board of Commissioners would like to address inaccurate claims regarding the conduct and oversight responsibilities of Polk County Building Inspector, Brian McCray.
Polk County administration affirms that all actions taken were fully compliant with applicable laws, regulations, and internal procedures.
On February 14, 2025, bids were opened for the Esom Hill Fire Station project. The lowest bid for the project was over $2.8 million dollars. It was at this time, the Board of Commissioners decided to not move forward with the current design and scale down the project. As a result, it was determined to allow Mr. McCray to serve as general contractor in a capacity to oversee the project, subcontract multiple disciplines, and most importantly, minimize the cost to save taxpayers nearly $2 million dollars.
While McCray is listed as the general contractor overseeing construction of the station, multiple construction disciplines, including: plumbing, electrical, HVAC, sheetrock, painting, and more have been awarded through a competitive process, with multiple local subcontractors facilitating various stages of the project.
It should be noted that Mr. McCray is not serving as inspector for this project, as other local government entities have inspected each phase. It is also imperative we assure taxpayers that Mr. McCray is not being paid any additional wages outside of the adopted Polk County salary schedule.
We remain committed to transparency and responsible stewardship of public and County resources. Our administration stands behind the integrity of our employees and the systems designed to ensure lawful and ethical operations. We will continue focusing on delivering measurable value while maintaining the highest standards of accountability and public trust.
There will be no further comment on this matter.
