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Crime Report Has Good News, Bad News

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 6, 2008

Items of interest from the July 28 Plant City Commission meeting and budget workshop included:

•Violent crime decreased 24.4 percent during the first half of this year, compared with the same period in 2007, according to Plant City Police Department figures announced by City Manager David Sollenberger.

Significant decreases were seen in the number of robberies. However, nonviolent crimes increased 11.8 percent during the six-month period, including a spike in burglaries of residences, businesses and vehicles, plus other property crimes.

Overall, reported crime during the period increased 4.5 percent, according to the report.

•Five Plant City Police Department officers won medals during the annual Florida Law Enforcement Games in Sarasota during June.

The winners were Kent Andrel, who received a gold medal and two silver medals in separate swimming events; Trent Eckard, Mark Holste and Robert Kleeman, who won silver medals in the 200-yard freestyle swimming relay; and DeeDee Gregory, who won a silver medal in bowling.

•Commissioners adopted a resolution nominating Sollenberger for the Florida Cities of Excellence City Manager of the Year Award, sponsored by the Florida League of Cities.

The resolution praised Sollenberger's "many accomplishments during his tenure, including providing an open and transparent city government and planning to ensure the continuation of the city's fiscal stability for the future."

Sollenberger joined the city on an interim basis in September 2002, becoming city manager the following December.

"I don't know if this will go anywhere," Sollenberger told commissioners. "The nomination itself means more to me than anything."

•Commissioners accepted a $462,875 low bid and authorized Sollenberger to execute a contract to build a recreation and parks maintenance building.

The 10,000-square-foot metal building to be erected in the Plant City Stadium parking lot will provide a common headquarters for the various recreation and parks maintenance crews.

It will include offices and storage for each of four crews and a break room.

The low bidder was Artisian Executive Homes, based in the Plant City area.

•The state Department of Transportation has awarded the construction contract for left-turn lanes at the intersection of Alexander Street and James L. Redman Parkway to a Lakeland company, Lane Construction.

"It'll be about four months before work gets started," Sollenberger said.

The intersection is one of the city's most congested.

•The city has declined to support a homeowners association's request to lower the speed limit or install speed tables in Royal Hills.

In March, citing hazardous conditions, Royal Hills Homeowner Association urged the speed limit on streets in that community off Turkey Creek Road be reduced from 30 mph to 25 mph.

The association also expressed interest in speed tables or speed bumps.

A city traffic operations investigation determined 85 percent of vehicles using the subdivision's streets were going 24 to 31 mph. Based upon the findings, a lower limit would not provide an appreciable effect, the city manager said.

Fire Chief George Shiley said speed tables would increase response time for emergency vehicles, and the city does not recommend them, Sollenberger told commissioners.

•Phillip Bagley was presented an award in appreciation of his four years of service to the Plant City Safety Employees Pension Board.

George Wilkens

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