City Commissioner Mary Mathis stopped by the Plant City Area Democrats Club meeting May 22 at the Bruton Memorial Library to discuss changes coming to Plant City and urge people to come out to City Commission meetings.
Mathis, an education professional with the Hillsborough County School District, began the meeting by calling the scattered crowd closer together for a more personal discussion.
Mathis updated the club on the city’s goings on and fielded questions from members in a setting more personal and informal than her usual seat on the commission dais. A new fire station coming to the northeast section of the city, the hiring of Interim City Manager Kim Leinbach and economic development were discussed, particularly future changes to midtown.
“If we start with midtown and build something that’s great, then we can move out to the other areas,” Mathis said.
Mathis asked what members might want to see come to Plant City and many suggested restaurants or grocery stores. First Watch and Trader Joe’s were mentioned, as were the oft- pined-for Target and Chick-Fil-A.
Mathis also stressed the importance of engaging the Commission at meetings. She said the Commission takes its citizens concerns to heart and it’s the best way to pursue the change they want to see.
“She’s right,” Club President Sherri Gay said. “ We need to get out to those commission meetings more. It’s our civic duty.”