Former county commissioner appears at the meeting to support safer rail crossings.
On August 25, Mayor Nate Kilton called to order the Regular Meeting of the City Commission. Vice-Mayor Jason Jones, City Commissioner Mary Thomas Mathis, City Commissioner Bill Dodson, City Commissioner Mike Sparkman, City Attorney Kenneth Buchman, City Clerk Kerri Miller, and City Manager Bill McDaniel were all present for the meeting. Reverend Margaret Rountree, lead pastor at the First United Methodist Church, gave an invocation, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
During the time for public comments, three residents addressed the city commissioners. The first resident complained that Ball St. needs to be resurfaced. The woman has spoken about this matter at the last three City Commission meetings and vowed to appear at the meetings to complain until Ball St. is repaved. She thanked the city commissioners for listening again. A second woman stood to inform the Commission that the water flow of Pemberton Creek has increased and is eroding banks in the area where she lives. Finally, Mark Connor, representing the American Legion Post, requested the city add flashing red lights to the stop signs at W. Baker St. and Woodrow Wilson St., citing four wrecks, two instances of vehicles going through the Post’s fences, and one vehicle damaging the building.
Among the items on the meeting agenda, two are detailed in the following:
City Manager McDaniel brought item 24-401 before the commissioners. This proposal was to purchase three parcels of land on Knights Griffin Rd. The parcels total 74 acres and contain wetlands, uplands, a large pond, a house, barns, and animal corrals. The land also runs along the Itchepackesassa Creek. According to McDaniel, benefits of the acquisition would be that the city would be able to control and maintain current stormwater capacity via the pond because the property has the potential to improve stormwater quality and capacity through expanding it. Also, since the city would be in control of the land, it would remove the parcels from the possibility of development and allow the city to preserve the pervious land to percolate stormwater. The city would keep intact the buildings on the property to preserve Plant City cultural heritage and history. There is also an opportunity to create recreational and educational opportunities for youth and residents. The purchase price and closing surveys came in at $3.5 million. The money would be paid for out of currently held Community Investment Tax (CIT) tax reserves, still leaving the city with $1.5 million balance of CIT funds.
“I am very excited and very happy to be able to keep that 74 acres from being developed; plus water retention; plus a recreational amenity for Plant City, for our youth, for agriculture,” Commissioner Jones said. “For me, this is a no-brainer.”
“For me, the most significant gain is that this gives us access to the Itchepackesassa Creek, which has caused us an enormous amount of problems with flooding of private properties during previous storms,” Commissioner Dodson said. “This watershed that is there has access to additional land and the pond where we could dig it out and allow more retention of water….I think it is a worthy acquisition for the city.”
“It is a very unique parcel of property, and I concur with the other commissioners’ comments,” Commissioner Sparkman added. “I would support at this time purchasing it.”
This purchase passed with a 5-0 vote.
Item 25-380 was a legislative public hearing on an ordinance relating to a text amendment to Division 1 of Article VII Chapter 102, Supplementary Regulations regarding private rail crossings (PB-2025-22). The purpose of this ordinance was to add regulations for rail line crossings on private roads. These would require approval from the rail line owner prior to approval of any site plan reviews, permits, or change of use applications processed by the city.
The catalyst for this hearing was the September 2023 tragic accident in Plant City in which a train struck an SUV crossing a railroad track on Jim Lefler Rd., killing six people. The victims were a family going to a party at a rental venue operating under Florida’s Agritourism Law. This law is intended to support agricultural operations while permitting limited use for events that zoning would not allow. The railroad crossing leading to the venue was marked only by signs, not gate arms and warning lights. It was only after the accident that CSX became aware that the venue was regularly drawing hundreds of people.
The proposed language would ensure that proposed uses, even those that are allowed by the state to exist outside the code requirements, are reviewed and approved by rail line owners prior to approval by the city.
Michael Owen, former District 4 Hillsborough County Commissioner and current Florida House member representing District 70, stood to speak to the City Commission on this matter. “This issue, I can tell you, is one of the very, very important issues,” he said. “Our number one duty and charge is to protect the citizens. I brought this ordinance forward, not just for the Hernandez-Lopez family, but also for the young lady from Amazon who lost her life on that very same road. I made a promise and a commitment to the Hernandez family and other folks who have suffered similar harm, that I would see this all the way through.This ordinance is one of those life-and-death situations, and I cannot support it enough.” The ordinance passed 5-0.
