Some city offices will be relocated to the site.
On October 13, the City of Plant City held the Regular Meeting of the City Commission at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Nate Kilton, Vice-Mayor Jason Jones, City Commissioner Mary Mathis, City Commissioner Mike Sparkman, City Attorney Kenneth Buchman, City Clerk Kerri Miller, and City Manager Bill McDaniel were present for the meeting. Pastor Timothy Knighten, from St. Mary’s Community Church, gave the invocation. The assembly followed with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
During the time for public comments, three citizens stood to speak. The first said while attending Pioneer Day, she observed decay inside the 1914 building and asked what would be done about it. McDaniel responded that a project to seal the building from the elements has been initiated. The city is also making plans to renovate the interior. Next, Robert Whitmore brought in a jar of silica sand from a contractor cutting granite countertops for a renovation at the Walden Lake Apartments. He stated the sand dust covers the immediate area, and it is carcinogenic. He requested city government do something to stop the hazard. Finally, Judy Wise and Sherry Scheitler came to the podium to bring the community’s attention the Plant City Honors our Veterans and Active Military event on November 2.
Vice Mayor Jason Jones introduced this year’s Youth Commission. From 30 applications, 12 students were selected from high schools in Plant City. The Youth Commission provides a means for youth to enhance their leadership skills and obtain insights into how local government operates.
The City Manager brought an item for a vote that was not on the agenda because it presented itself only that afternoon. Since 2022, the city has been pursuing the purchase of the TECO office building at 405 W. MLK Blvd. TECO notified McDaniel at 1:30 that the complany agreed to sell the building to the city for $1.4 million.
McDaniel also brought a long list of resolutions for votes by the city commissioners.
25-405 – A resolution authorizing a seven-year contract with Spectrum Business for a hosted voice-over internet protocol telephone system. The previous five-year contract ended. The cost is $72,000 per year.
25-479 – A resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the purchase of 106 laptops to replace ones currently in use. The city follows a five-year computer equipment refresh cycle to ensure reliable service to citizens. The warranties on these laptops have expired, and some are already failing. The reason there are so many is that these were purchased all at once through federal CARES Act funding during the COVID-19 pandemic. The cost for the laptops, docking stations, 212 monitors, and five-year warranties is $229,500.
25-421 – A resolution authorizing the purchase of NeoGov HR software and the execution of a software licensing agreement, under a North Carolina sheriff’s contract. Currently, the city’s 566 employees are supported by six human resources staff. This software will streamline processes such as hiring, modernize operations, and improve workforce and performance management systems for the small human resources team. The four-year cost is $581,550.
25-426 – A resolution to authorize the City Manager to receive grant funding from the United States Tennis Association, Florida Section Foundation. The $92,000 will be used to repair hurricane damage to Plant City tennis courts. The funds are to be reimbursed to the city after the work is completed.
25-454 – A resolution to authorize the City Manager to execute a Work Order with Charles Perry Partners, Inc., for the demolition of the Planteen Recreation Center and the Winter Visitor Center. The $110,000 price tag also includes conceptual design of a new community center.
25-452 – A resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with Motive Technologies, Inc. under the Sourcewell Master Agreement 102924 for new GPS Monitoring Services. The prior monitoring system proved to be flawed in monitoring speeds and locations, including an example citing one city vehicle going 50 mph while it was sitting in a parking lot. The annual cost is $67,116.
25-453 – A resolution approving an engineering work order with Applied Sciences Consulting, Inc. for a project that will reconfigure the East Canal so that it meanders through Gilchrist Park rather than going through in a straight line. This will increase the East Canal’s ability to mitigate stormwater flooding.
25-482 – A resolution authorizing the purchase of FiberTrak Solution from Fiber Optic Material, under Precision Contracting Services, Inc. This $157,500.00 will provide a way to track exact locations of installed fiber utilities.
25-471 – A resolution approving an agreement to provide traffic signal cabinet upgrade installation with Straight Line Loops, LLC. This will use $102,000 of grant money to upgrade 17 traffic signal cabinets. The net benefit is, it will be safer for emergency vehicles to pass through traffic signals.
25-495 – A resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a change order with Killebrew, Inc., for the treatment of contaminated groundwater associated with the Reynolds Street sewer main replacement project. While preparing the area for dewatering, the contractor found the groundwater is contaminated. The water must be treated before being discharged. The estimated cost for treatment and dewatering operations is $191,000. It will take three weeks to handle this issue.
25-497 – A resolution authorizing the correction of Sparkman Branch on geographic maps.
All resolutions were approved by city commissioners with 4-0 votes. The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
