On Monday, the Plant City City Commission passed a proposal to invest just shy of $20 million to improve the Plant City community.
Under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the U.S. federal government has allocated funds that will go toward various projects that are deemed as essential in town.
“The first two projects…are considered absolute necessities,” said city manager Bill McDaniel. “These projects have to do with capacity improvements and our ability to continue to provide infrastructure services that we have currently, as well as those we’re proposing.”
Those tasks are the installation of a new Lift Station 2, and construction of a sewage pipeline on Wilder Road.
1. The current Lift Station 2 is located at 1000 N. Pennsylvania Ave. in Plant City. However, because of its inefficiency, it will be replaced with a new one.
A lift station is a pumping station that brings wastewater to a higher elevation, sending it to a facility to be cleansed.
This substitution will help increase the pumping capacity, with a price tag of $1.5 million.
2. Next, a new extended sewage pipeline will be built along Wilder Road, starting at its intersection with Cherry Street to its intersection with South Frontage Road.
The intent is to provide more sewage capacity and will span 4,500 linear feet.
The $1.3 million plan calls for the pipeline to pass underneath Interstate-4 in order to reach South Frontage Road.
3. A spray park, which is a recreational water play area, is being conceptualized by the city. Its location and design have not yet been determined.
In regards to what is being invested into the park, McDaniel stated, “I do not believe $2 million will cover the entire cost of this project. We have some additional funds that are already being set aside toward this project, and under the rules of ARPA, this is a permitted use of funds.”
4. Also on the agenda is the renovation of Rowena May Park for $1 million.
It will include adding pickleball courts, a bridge, adequate lighting, and parking. The courts, fencing, basketball goals, tennis nets, benches and trash receptacles will all be replaced.
5. A public lift station will be built on Park Road. In addition, a 1,300 linear-foot sewage pipeline will run along Park Road’s intersections from North Frontage Road to Sam Allen Road.
Two million dollars will be invested into this task.
6. Along Alexander Street from its intersections with Sam Allen Road to Knights Griffin Road, two pipelines will be built. One will stretch 13,000 linear feet and the other, 18,000 linear feet.
The investment for this will be $7.8 million.
7. Two pipelines, both spanning 5,300 linear feet, will stretch along James L. Redman Parkway from its intersections at Colson Road to State Road 60.
This will have a price tag of $3.2 million.
8. A 5,200 linear-foot pipeline will stretch along Trapnell Road from its intersections with Heathcoe Road to Daniels Road. This will have $1.3 million invested toward it.
The federal government not only issues these funds toward cities, but to counties and municipalities as well.
One condition under ARPA is that all appropriations must be used within a four-year window.
The city commission passed the proposal by 5-0.