Eagle Lake Commission Appoints Colin Catrett to Fill Seat 2
Eagle Lake, Fla. – The Eagle Lake City Commission unanimously appointed lifelong resident Colin Catrett on Monday, Oct. 19, to fill the vacant Seat 2 on the five-member commission.
City Clerk Dawn Wright swore Catrett in during the meeting, and he took his seat on the dais immediately. Commissioner Randy Billings was not at the meeting.
Two applicants were in the agenda packet, and both spoke to the commission. The second candidate was Bradley Phillips Stenstrom, a Veteran who has lived in Eagle Lake since 2024. Mayor Cory Coler thanked Stenstrom for his service and encouraged him to get involved in the city’s committees
Catrett told commissioners he was born at Winter Haven Hospital and has lived in Eagle Lake nearly all his life, moving away and returning over the years. He attended school in the city’s old schoolhouse, and his first and second grade classroom is now where he pays his water bill. He is a graduate of Winter Haven High School, Polk Community College and the University of South Florida.
He worked for the Polk County School Board for more than 40 years as a physical education teacher, classroom teacher and administrator. After retiring, he worked in maintenance and as an adjunct professor at Warner University in Lake Wales, and he finished his career at the City of Winter Haven’s Diamond Plex. He and his wife have four children, 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, with another due in November.
Catrett said he will turn 80 and does not plan to run for a full term. He said he is willing to serve in the months before the next election to help the city. The seat is up for election in April 2027, according to discussion at the meeting.
Stenstrom, who lives in the Ranches at Lake McLeod and moved there in April 2024, described more than 27 years of government and military service. He joined the Navy at 17 and served 22 years, active and reserve, retiring as an E-6 petty officer first class. His service included deployments to Beirut and Grenada in 1983 and the 1986 salvage of the Space Shuttle Challenger. His civil service work included the U.S. Postal Service, law enforcement, Homeland Security and FEMA, and he said he led 52 personnel in Puerto Rico after the 2017 hurricanes.
Stenstrom has a computer science degree from New England Institute of Technology and has served on homeowners association boards in three Florida communities. He said he has attended about half a dozen Eagle Lake commission meetings since moving to town, and he wants to help the city modernize while keeping its small-town feel.
Mayor Coler moved to appoint with a second from Commissioner Cheney, noting the seat will be on the ballot in early 2027. Several residents spoke before the vote. Linda Weldon, David Floyd and Melinda Thomas supported Catrett, citing his lifelong ties, church involvement and attendance at city meetings.
Karissa Barnhill Olmos supported Stenstrom. Olmos said Catrett’s ties to members of the Historical Society are not a legal conflict, but noted a member of the society’s board already serves on the planning commission and worried about “stacking the deck.” Olmos also said the growing Ranches community should have a voice on the commission. Stephanie Floyd responded to the comments, emphasizing his integrity and character with multiple contributions to the community.
Thomas said Catrett would speak up if a conflict arose. Weldon also urged Stenstrom to run in April 2027.
The seat opened when former Commissioner Steve Williams announced at the Aug. 17 meeting that he was resigning, effective when that meeting adjourned. Earlier that night, Williams cast the only vote against writing a scope of work for a forensic audit and sending it out to bid, as The Citrus Tea News reported.
Other issues arose during that meeting, including a truck that was approved for surplus and an employee instead registered it in their own name.
Since then, the four remaining commissioners have moved the audit forward. On Sept. 22, they voted 4-0 to select the firm CRI to conduct the forensic review.
With Catrett’s appointment, the commission is back to five members: Billings (Seat 1), Catrett (Seat 2), Vice Mayor Steven Metosh (Seat 3), Coler (Seat 4), and Pamela Chaney (Seat 5).
Correction (Oct. 20, 2026): An earlier version of this story misattributed comments supporting Colin Catrett's appointment to resident David Floyd. Floyd spoke at the meeting on a different matter.
Your community. Your news. Your right to know. The Citrus Tea News.
Your community. Your news. Your right to know. Follow The Citrus Tea News for more across Polk County, or subscribe to our free e-Weekly newsletter at the link in our bio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Eagle Lake’s new city commissioner?
Colin Catrett, a lifelong Eagle Lake resident, was appointed unanimously on Oct. 19, 2026, to fill Seat 2. He worked for the Polk County School Board for more than 40 years as a teacher and administrator, and was sworn in by City Clerk Dawn Wright during the meeting.
Why was Eagle Lake’s Seat 2 vacant?
Commissioner Williams announced his resignation at the Aug. 17 meeting, effective when that meeting adjourned. Earlier the same night, he cast the only vote against writing a scope of work for a forensic audit and sending it out to bid.
When is Eagle Lake Seat 2 up for election?
April 2027, according to discussion at the Oct. 19 meeting. Catrett said he will turn 80 and does not plan to run for a full term.
Who else applied for the Eagle Lake commission seat?
Bradley Phillips Stenstrom, a Navy veteran with more than 27 years of government and military service, lives in the Ranches at Lake McLeod. Mayor Cory Coler encouraged him to join some of the city’s committees.
Where does Eagle Lake’s forensic audit stand?
Commissioners voted 4-0 on Sept. 22 to select the firm CRI to conduct the review. The audit covers city financial transactions from 2021 through 2026.
Sources:”Eagle Lake Commissioner Resigns After Casting Lone Vote Against Forensic Audit,” The Citrus Tea News, thecitrustea.com, Aug. 18, 2026; Eagle Lake City Commission meeting, City of Eagle Lake, Oct. 19, 2026; Regular City Commission Meeting Agenda Packet, City of Eagle Lake, eaglelakefl.gov, Oct. 19, 2026; Regular City Commission Meeting Minutes, City of Eagle Lake, Sept. 22, 2026; Regular City Commission Meeting Minutes, City of Eagle Lake, Aug. 17, 2026
