A Platform Built for Minneola
Seven pillars. One purpose. Minneola First.
Every position on this platform starts with one question: Is this good for the people of Minneola? Not for developers. Not for political allies. For the people who actually live here. That’s the standard.
Minneola is growing faster than almost any city in Florida. That’s not a problem — but it does mean the decisions being made right now about roads, development, city services, and green space are going to matter for a very long time.
These seven priorities are what Nate is running on. Each one connects to the others. Together they represent what Minneola can actually become — when city government tells the truth, keeps its promises, and puts residents first.
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Pillar 1 — Responsible Growth
When a developer gets approval to build in Minneola, they make commitments — roads, infrastructure, amenities. Those commitments aren’t suggestions. They’re the deal. Nate will hold developers to what they promised, and he’ll make sure roads and services are ready before the first family moves in — not three years after.
- Enforce development agreements — promises made to residents at approval must be kept at completion
- Infrastructure before rooftops — roads, fire service, water, parks, and city services funded before developments open
- Traffic studies conducted during school months — not summer — for accurate real-world data
- Developer-funded road improvements as non-negotiable conditions of approval
- Hills Town Center walkable vision — hold the line on the original 18,000 sq ft cap and locally-owned business design
- No more bait and switch — residents deserve the city they were sold when they bought their homes
- Honest public hearings — genuine resident input before decisions are made, not after
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Pillar 2 — Nature Preservation and Open Space
The lakes, trails, hills, and tree canopy that drew you to Minneola are also what protect your property value and make this city worth living in. Conservation isn’t the enemy of growth — it’s what makes growth worth anything. Nate will protect what makes Minneola special while planning responsibly for what comes next.
- Conservation Overlay Districts — permanently protect Minneola’s most environmentally sensitive areas
- Green Corridor Plan — connect trails, lakes, and green spaces into a unified community network
- Tree Canopy Preservation Ordinance — meaningful canopy replacement required in all new development
- Dark Sky Policy — preserve Minneola’s natural night environment through dark-sky-friendly lighting standards
- Lake buffer zones — clean lakes protect property values, public health, and quality of life
- Smart trail infrastructure — digital trail maps, safety features, and solar-powered amenities
- Conservation and development can coexist — when planned with intention and integrity
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Pillar 3 — Efficient and Responsive Government
If you’ve ever shown up to a City Hall meeting and felt like no one was listening — Nate gets it. City government should work for residents, not the other way around. Monthly listening sessions, plain-English explanations of every major vote, and no more using the budget to quietly shift savings into fees. That’s the standard.
- Monthly Seat 5 Listening Sessions — standing open meetings where any resident can speak directly with their representative
- Plain-English decision reporting — clear explanations of every major vote within 48 hours
- No fiscal shell games — the city will not reduce taxes with one hand and raise fees with the other
- Development agreements enforced — city commitments to residents are not optional
- Minneola Civic Academy — public education on how city government works, open to all residents
- Resident Expertise Registry — connect Minneola’s professional residents to advisory roles
- Annual State of the City report — honest, resident-facing, publicly available
- Strategic multi-year financial planning — no more reacting to crises that should have been anticipated
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Pillar 4 — Infrastructure and Mobility
Students are crossing Hancock Road without a safe crossing. Cars back up onto Grassy Lake Road every school morning. These aren’t new problems — they’ve been building for years. Nate’s position is simple: infrastructure gets funded and built before new development is approved. Not after residents are already living with the consequences.
- Hancock Road pedestrian crossing at Lake Minneola High School — 2,281 students deserve a safe crossing immediately
- Education Avenue car line redesign at Minneola Charter — end dangerous overflow parking on grass
- Grassy Lake Road car line redesign at Grassy Lake Elementary — 1,335 students deserve safe arrival and dismissal
- Safe Routes to School federal funding — pursue dedicated funding requiring no local tax increase
- Regional county collaboration — build and maintain working relationships regardless of political dynamics
- Road improvement as a condition of development approval — not a future promise
- Third fire station completion on schedule — funded ahead of demand, not reactively
- Sidewalks, trails, and pedestrian-safe corridors built into every development approval
- Residential parking policy — protect neighborhood character as the city grows
Student enrollment source: Florida Department of Education public school data, fldoe.org
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Pillar 5 — Economic Opportunity
Most Minneola residents spend about 226 hours a year commuting to work outside the city. That’s nearly ten full days. Nate’s goal is a Minneola where quality employers are right here — so residents can get that time back. Through partnership with the LEAD Partnership and the South Lake Chamber, he’ll push to bring the right businesses to Minneola and build real economic opportunity for the people who live here.
Source: DataUSA.io/profile/geo/minneola-fl and U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2019-2023
- Partner with LEAD Partnership (leadinglake.com) to recruit quality employers in healthcare technology and professional services
- Hills Town Center as economic development — locally-owned restaurants, boutique retail, professional services, gathering spaces
- South Lake Chamber of Commerce partnership — attract entrepreneurs and small business owners
- Small business support program — streamlined permitting and reduced barriers for locally-owned businesses
- Co-working hub in the town center — serve Minneola’s 16.2% remote workforce
- Workforce pipeline with Lake-Sumter State College and Lake County Schools
- Apprenticeship programs with AdventHealth and local technology employers
- Economic development that serves residents — not just the tax base
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Pillar 6 — Parks, Families, and Community Life
The community character that made you choose Minneola doesn’t preserve itself. It takes deliberate investment in parks, youth programs, senior activities, and the kind of community events that turn neighbors into friends. Nate believes that investment is worth making — at every stage of life.
- Parks within walking distance of every Minneola neighborhood
- City-supported youth sports leagues — affordable and accessible to all income levels
- Performing arts and creative programming for all ages and abilities
- Community events calendar — regular opportunities for neighbors to become friends
- Locally-owned childcare options — the most significant quality-of-life gap for young families
- Youth employment program — Minneola teens gain work experience locally
- Senior programming — connecting Del Webb, Esplanade, and all senior residents to community life
- Accessible parks, sidewalks, and facilities — full participation for residents with disabilities
- Minneola Youth Council — high school students with a formal voice in city decisions
- Minneola Young Leaders Program — civic development for residents ages 22-35
- Minneola Civic Academy — open to every resident who wants to understand their city government
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Pillar 7 — Regional Collaboration
Hancock Road is a county road. Safe Routes to School requires federal funding. The Florida Turnpike widening affects Minneola’s access corridors. Getting things done for Minneola requires working relationships outside city hall — with Lake County, FDOT, state agencies, and regional partners. Nate will build those relationships from day one and use them to deliver results for residents.
- Active working relationship with Lake County Commission — regardless of political dynamics
- LEAD Partnership collaboration — connect Minneola to Lake County’s economic development resources
- Leadership Lake County partnership — develop civic leaders rooted in the Lake County community
- Safe Routes to School federal funding pursuit — requires state and federal partnerships
- Hancock Road improvements — requires FDOT and county collaboration to deliver
- South Lake Chamber partnership — regional business community engagement
- AdventHealth regional healthcare network — build on the existing anchor investment
- Advocate for Minneola’s voice in regional transportation, infrastructure, and economic planning decisions
The Fiscal Principle That Guides Every Decision
Minneola’s millage rate is 5.6 — well below the rollback rate of 6.9558. For a typical Minneola homeowner, that’s roughly $569 back in your pocket every year.
Source: City of Minneola Public Hearing Resolution No. 2024-16
That’s a youth sports season. A few nights out with your family. A home improvement project you’ve been putting off. That money belongs to you.
Nate’s commitment is straightforward: keep it there. Don’t lower the millage rate with one hand and raise utility fees and service charges with the other. Your savings should stay in your pocket — not get quietly transferred back through the side door.
“Don’t lower taxes with one hand and raise fees with the other. That’s not fiscal discipline — that’s a shell game. Your savings should stay in your pocket, not get quietly taken back through utility bills and city service charges.”
— Nate Edmund
Help Shape Minneola’s Future
These seven priorities are the foundation — but the full vision should come from the community, not just the candidate.
Nate is building a 10-year plan for Minneola. Before it’s finalized, he wants to hear from the people who live here. What matters most to you? What’s working? What keeps getting pushed aside?
Three minutes. Your input shapes what Minneola becomes.
Community survey coming soon — check back within 48 hours.
Ready to Support Minneola First?
These aren’t just talking points. They’re commitments — backed by real data, grounded in what Minneola residents have actually said they need, and guided by the belief that this city deserves better than the status quo.
On November 3rd, Nate Edmund is asking for your vote.