Reappointments and talks of Midtown were not the only things woven throughout last week’s city commission agenda.
Several items involving budget adjustments, contract approvals and setting public hearings were also discussed at the virtual dais.
One of the contracts approved by commissioners last week was for a roof replacement on the General Services Building on Police Center Drive.
The roof is the original for the building, which was constructed in 1995. According to the City of Plant City, the roof has “reached the point of deterioration.” Five roofing companies responded to the proposal with bids ranging from $1,196,410 to $583,020. Commissioners authorized City Manager Bill McDaniel to execute a contract with Springer-Peterson Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. for $583,020.
The city also received a transfer from Hillsborough County of a 28.95-acre portion of a parcel that was located at 4702 Sydney Road. In exchange, the city accepted jurisdiction and maintenance responsibility for the one-mile segment of East Park Road from James L. Redman Parkway to Jim Johnson Road.
“This agreement would equally benefit both the county and the city, as well as our citizens,” McDaniel wrote to County Administrator Mike Merrill. “The county would be relieved from the obligation of ongoing maintenance costs for both the property and roadway. The city would obtain a location to support its roadway and storm water maintenance operations. Both the property and roadway requested for transfer are located within our city limits.”
The commission also set several public hearings. One upcoming hearing will discuss the proposed amendments to the Public Safety Pension Ordinance. The Public Safety Employees Pension Plan’s law firm, Klausner, Kaufman, Jensen and Levinson, has recommended multiple amendments to the plan ordinance and the plan’s Board of Trustees has approved eight amendments to be proposed for the commission.
“The Public Safety Employees Pension Plan’s actuary, Foster and Foster, Inc., has reviewed the proposed amendments to the plan ordinance and determined that all of the proposed changes are cost neutral and have no actuarial impact upon the plan or the City’s required funding level,” the report read.
A public hearing was also set for the potential of the city granting an Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption for Garland, LLC. Garland told the city it will employ at least 10 new full-time equivalent employees in a new business in Plant City and will make a capital investment in the business in excess of $2,000,000 prior to the commencement of any exemption granted under the Program.
Another company asking for an Economic Development Ad Valorem Tax Exemption is Saputo Dairy Foods USA, LLC. The public hearing for this proposed exemption will also be held June 22.
Saputo told the city it will maintain its current 98 jobs in town and hire at least 54 new full-time equivalent employees in an expansion of their existing business in Plant City at an average annual wage of at least 100 percent of the average annual private sector wage. The company also said it will make “a capital investment in an expansion of their existing business of at least $200,000 per full-time equivalent employee prior to the commencement of any exemption granted under the Program.”