By Arsheeya Gag
Herald Intern
The Winter Springs City Commission met for its regular meeting on Mar. 23rd, 2026, addressing critical municipal matters ranging from the adoption of a clean financial audit to planning for future infrastructure needs. The meeting highlighted significant improvements in the city’s financial standing and proactive steps to address environmental concerns.
A major focus of the meeting was the presentation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for fiscal year 2025 by Finance Director Holly Queen and Ron Whitesides of Pervis Gray and Company. Whitesides reported that the audit was completed ahead of schedule.
“We’re issuing this in late March, that’s about as quick as you can get a governmental audio out,” Whitesides said. “Staff does a great job of getting ready for us and making this audit go smoothly.”
Public input later on centered heavily on a recent large fish kill at Oak Forest Lake, which residents attributed to a contractor treating an algae bloom.
Resident Suzanne Gordon urged the city to take comprehensive action.
“We request that the city commit to the following plan, muck treatment, aerator installation, and filtration systems on the culverts,” Gordon said. “The muck level is currently five to six feet deep.”
The commission outlined immediate and long-term actions with plans for muck treatment to start within the following week. Other cleaning initiatives have already begun.
The Commission unanimously approved several items related to land use and infrastructure including Ordinance 2026-02, annexing 6.13 acres of land for future land use amendments and rezoning.
The commission provided some more final updates about the Wastewater Facility, with Eric Anderson confirming a secured funding route through Clean Water SRF (State Revolving Fund).
Mayor McCann characterized these actions as necessary, despite rate increases.
“The increases that we passed were painful,” McCann said. “We acknowledge that, but it sets us up to a point where these major projects are moving forward.”
