By Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
The Plant City Commission approved unanimously the city’s 2012-13 budget during its meeting Sept. 24.
“I want to thank the commission for supporting the budget,” City Manager Greg Horwedel said after its adoption.
The 2012-12 budget is balanced at $59,749,121 and is about 1% higher than the original budget approved in 2011-12 because of an increase in interfund transfers.
The current property tax millage rate of 4.7157 remained the same for the next fiscal year, despite that the Hillsborough Country Property Appraiser has reduced the assessed value of property within the city.
Although Mayor Mike Sparkman and Vice Mayor Mary Thomas Mathis advocated for raises for city employees in July, the budget does not allow for any wage increases for the 2012-12 budget.
Two positions we were eliminated in the engineering department and community services.
PROSTATE AWARENESS MONTH
Sparkman presented a proclamation declaring the month of September as “Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in Plant City” to City Clerk Kerri Miller.
Since Miller’s husband, Tim, learned he had prostate cancer, Miller has been advocating awareness about the disease. Wearing light blue, the color which symbolizes support for prostate cancer, Miller spoke to the commission during a presentation, encouraging citizens to get tested before age 50.
“If my husband would have waited until the age of 50, his survival rate would have drastically decreased,” Miller said. “Prostate cancer can have an effect on a man and his family. Cancer does not discriminate.”
Sparkman also has battled the disease.
GROUND MAINTENANCE
The commission also approved a proposal to award a contact to Lithia-based Marks Excavating Inc. for ground maintenance at four Interstate 4 interchanges, four Park Road medians and the Public Works complex.
The contract will not exceed $74,000.
Two other companies submitted bids OneSource Landscape and Golf Services, Tampa; and Walkers Service Inc., Bradenton.
During the commission meeting, Commissioner William Dodson asked City Manager Greg Horwedel why no local landscaping companies were considered for the job.
“I think as a city we should go a step further in contacting local contractors,” Dodson said.
According to Horwedel, jobs are posted on the city purchasing website, and contractors can submit a bid there.
“I’ve been struggling with it for nine years, and surely, there is a better way,” Commissioner Rick Lott said in accordance with Dodson.
The commission discussed possible solutions to letting local contractors know about city jobs. Horwedel warned that personal phone calls to contractors could result in missing a few businesses while soliciting which could come off as favoritism.
“We need to figure out something where we can meet halfway,” Horwedel said.
Horwedel said he and City Attorney Ken Buchman could try and create a blast emailing system to contractors.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
IN OTHER NEWS
• On behalf of the Improvement League of Plant City, Liesta Sykes and William Thomas Jr. presented a plaque of recognition to community services director, Jim McDaniel. McDaniel is retiring after 35 years of service to the city. McDaniel also has been instrumental in restoring the historic Bing Rooming House. An open house reception will be held for him from 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 28, in the Sadye Gibbs Martin Auditorium at City Hall.
• Ray Page approached the commission on the state of several Walden Lake neighborhood roads. Wedgewood Drive and Wedgewood Court have been deteriorating from the amount of rain in recent months.
“This is one of the few roads in the city where the sublay has deteriorated and it’s going to be costly to fix,” City Manager Greg Horwedel said.
The city manager and a city engineer are working on a plan to fix the road which should be proposed within the next two to three weeks.