By Michael Eng | Managing Editor
The Plant City Police Department will send 19 officers and two sergeants to assist with law-enforcement services during the 2012 Republican National Convention next month in Tampa.
The Plant City Commission approved at its July 23 meeting a mutual aid agreement with the city of Tampa. The Plant City department is one of nearly 60 agencies that will provide additional security during the RNC, which takes place Aug. 27 to 30, at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. The convention will host 2,286 delegates and 2,125 alternate delegates from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and five territories. Organizers also estimate about 15,000 from the media.
The two sergeants and 10 of the officers from Plant City will serve in field force; six officers in bicycle control; and three officers in motorcycle escort.
The Plant City department currently employs 68 law-enforcement officers. It will utilize a modified schedule during the RNC to maintain service levels locally.
Tampa will reimburse the Plant City department for salary cost of all hours worked during the RNC. These costs include the hourly pay of the officer plus Medicare (1.45%), FICA (6.2%) and the department’s actual pension contribution.
Renovation rejection
City commissioners also rejected bids from SEMCO Construction Inc., of Bartow, and Reeves Building and Plumbing Contractor Inc., of Tampa, to complete renovations of the Bing Rooming House.
Both bids exceeded the $65,000 grant awarded by the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners.
Instead, the city will open the grant to the Improvement League of Plant City Inc., the non-profit organization that owns and operates the Bing Rooming House.
The grant will be used to complete the final phase of the renovation project, which should be complete by Sept. 30.
“We will be happy to see this project completed,” City Manager Greg Horwedel said. “This is such an important piece of history for Plant City, particularly our African-American community.”
Named after Janie Wheeler Bing, Bing Rooming House is one of two national African-American landmarks in Hillsborough County. It earned the designation primarily because of its role as a hotel for African-Americans during the segregation period.
Contact Michael Eng at meng@plantcityobserver.com.
IN OTHER NEWS
Also at their July 23 meeting, commissioners:
• Approved spending $9,432 from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund to purchase four Computer-Aided Dispatch stations for the 911 Center and four computers for the Plant City Police Department’s records unit.
• Approved the sale of vacant property at 12 Gordon St. to Glory Temple First Born Church of the Living God of Plant City Inc.
