Several citizens voice their concerns about flooding.
On July 14, the Regular Meeting of the City Commission began at the new time of 6:00 p.m. instead of the prior 7:30 p.m. In Mayor Nate Kilton’s absence, Vice Mayor Jason Jones called the meeting to order. City Commissioner Mary Thomas Mathis, City Commissioner Bill Dodson, City Commissioner Mike Sparkman, City Attorney Kenneth Buchman, and City Manager Bill McDaniel were all present for the meeting. Nikki Wells sat in for City Clerk Kerri Miller.
Reverend Dean Pfeffer from Hope Lutheran Church gave the invocation. Then the assembly stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. After the Pledge, what WFLA deemed a 1-in-1,000-year rain event, caused three quick power losses that shut down the microphones. Wells had to leave the room to get the microphones back up. “Just so you know, this has never happened before,” Jones said. “….We will just say a quick prayer and be patient, and I am sure it will come right back up…Reverend, you are still praying right?”
“It could only happen to you,” Pfeffer joked.
Audio was restored by 6:09 and the rest of the meeting proceeded without incident.
At each commission meeting, a time for public comments comes next on the agenda. Comments can be given on any topic, other than items on the meeting schedule, which are discussed as scheduled. Each person is allowed up to three minutes to speak. Seven citizens stood to address the city commissioners on a variety of topics.
Dr. Michelle Walker, the founder of Plant City Florida Initiative, came to the podium first. “I am acting as a stand-in, or an acting advocate for the citizens of Plant City, highlighting areas of concern, Lincoln Park, Madison Park, and Marshall Terrace,” she said. Walker went on to say that she has 85 names on a disaster recovery list who have had hurricane damage to their homes that has not been repaired. Seventy-five of them cannot afford to have their homes repaired. Only 10 of these qualify for the state’s $10,000 grant program. This is a reimbursement program, but, according to Walker, none of these families can afford to spend the money up front. She asked the city commission what Plant City could change so it can meet these people’s needs. She also followed up to find out the status of an engineer flood survey for these neighborhoods.
Three other residents spoke about concerns with flooding, including soil erosion near ditches and canals, and queried the commissioners about what they can do to stop future flooding. On another topic, a man came to the podium because he heard the city is not renewing contracts with 38 local churches to feed homeless people at the Planteen Recreation Center on Dort Street. He queried the city commissioners about this and requested these contracts be renewed. One woman listed streets in her neighborhood that need to be paved, and asked what would be done about them. Lastly, a person announced the No More Umbrellas Foundation is conducting its Christmas in July Toy Drive to replenish the toy closets in hospitals, so sick children don’t have to go without. Collection boxes are distributed throughout Plant City, including City Hall, Brick City Bricks, Three Hands Mead, Red Calliope Art Gallery, Harpro, and Main Street. More information can be found at www.nomoreumbrellas.org.
Jones requested several of the residents leave contact information so someone from the city could follow up to answer their questions.
The meeting proceeded with agenda items. The following routine elements listed on the consent agenda were passed together with one 4-0 vote.
25-276 – A resolution approving an agreement with McShea Contracting, LLC, for as-needed pavement marking services under a Pinellas County Contract. This work is to keep streets safe, and the agreement will last until June 10, 2029. The maximum annual cost is $48,000.
25-277 – A resolution accepting the easement deed and mortgage subordination from Redman Parkway, LLC, a Florida limited liability company, for meters and backflow preventer assemblies.
25-286 – A resolution accepting an annexation agreement for property located at 3604 Medulla Road from Andrew Dwight Seawell.
25-295 – A resolution authorizing the city manager, or designee, to approve mutual aid agreements with the Plant City Police Department and Plant City Fire Rescue. This will streamline the process by eliminating city commission approval for every agreement.
City Manager McDaniel and his staff brought the following items to the city commission for voting.
25-266 – A resolution approving an agreement with Polydyne, Inc. for supply and delivery of liquid cationic polymer under City of Tampa Bid No. 24-P-01431. For a renewed three-year contract, the price will increase from $1.50 per pound to $1.55 per pound. The annual cost to the city will be $50,000.
25-279, 25-292, 25-293 – These resolutions addressed replacing Plant City Police Department drones at no cost to the City of Plant City.
All resolutions passed 4-0. The meeting adjourned at 6:42 p.m.
