Spring Cleaning? Plant City Solid Waste Department Can Help
Are you doing some spring cleaning and have a few items such as furniture, appliances, electronics, tires (four per year at no charge) and large tree branches (cut up to length of five feet and diameter of one foot) that need to be picked up? While they won’t do the cleaning for you, you can call the Plant City Solid Waste Department to request a special pick-up of these items. Eligible items property placed on the curb will be picked up within seven business days of the request being received and should be placed more than three feet away from trash bins and other objects.
The following items cannot be picked up: construction materials, batteries, propane tanks, paint, motor oil, pesticides, herbicides, pool chemicals and other hazardous waste.
The city also has a free drop-off site for motor and cooking oil at the corner of Victoria Street and Plant Avenue, open Monday through Friday from 7:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m..
The City encourages residents to remove these items before hurricane season begins on June 1.
For more information or to schedule a pick-up, call (813) 659-4222.
Hillsborough Superintendent Proposes Plan to Increase District Pay
Hillsborough Superintendent Van Ayres proposed a draft plan this week to School Board Members to address staffing shortages in multiple departments, including bus drivers, teachers and others, by increasing employee pay. His plan details how a voter-approved millage, a property tax paid on real estate, would address these shortages by generating an estimated $177 million a year and positively impact Hillsborough County’s more than 230,000 students.
With the county’s average home value of $375,000, and appropriate homestead exemptions, the cost to an average homeowner would be $350 per year, which averages to about $1 a day.
“What keeps me up at night is that many of our students are not able to get to school on time because of a shortage of bus drivers and many students do not have high-quality teacher in their classrooms due to a number of teaching vacancies,” said Ayres. “The millage will strengthen our foundation and allow us to compete for the best teachers, support staff and administrators to ensure successful education outcomes for students.”
The proposal includes salary supplements of:
* $6,000 each year for teachers (an average 11% increase)
* $3,000 each year for support staff (an average 11% increase)
* $6,000 each year for administrators (an average 4% increase)
The change would place the pay for first-year teachers above most neighbors, and the pay for an experienced ten-year teacher above all neighboring counties, according to a new release.
Hillsborough School Board Members are scheduled to vote on April 2, on whether to place a millage referendum on the November 5 general election ballot for all voters in Hillsborough County. To pass, the millage must receive 50% +1 of the votes.
Hillsborough County Seeks Contractors for Area Construction Projects
Hillsborough County, that has budgeted $1.6 billion for Fiscal Year ’24 for Capital Improvement Program projects, is seeking qualified firms to partner with for construction projects. Hillsborough County is seeking qualified construction companies to submit bids for upcoming projects, from sidewalk repairs and stormwater repair and replacement, to large design build projects such as the One Water Campus Program. Companies and contractors interested in bidding for County projects should register in Bonfire, the county’s new e-procurement portal, at no coast, to participate in the bid process. The County’s website, HCFL.gov/Vendors lists current procurement bidding opportunities.
DEA Hosts Esports Event: One Pill Can Kill “Game Over’ Tournament
On Sat., Mar. 2 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., viewers can watch eight teams from the Philadelphia area battle it out while game casters deliver play-by-plays and special guests present vital information about the dangers of illicit fentanyl. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, America is in the midst of an opioid epidemic, with the national rate of teenagers overdosing TRIPLING in the past two years.
Since 97 percent of American youth, ages 12 – 17, play video games, Operation Engage Philadelphia is hosting a One Pill Can Kill “Game Over” tournament. Viewers can take a quiz for a chance to win a gaming console or accessories.
Catch the action on twitch.tv/onepillcankill.