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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 6, 2008

City Remembers Longtime Official

Bobby Sapp, 75, longtime member and first chairman of the Plant City Code Enforcement Board, died July 25.

Sapp was among the city commission's seven appointees to the Code Enforcement Board it created Feb. 27, 1984, City Clerk Virginia Helper said. At the board's April 23, 1984, meeting, fellow members elected Sapp chairman.

He served until June 20, 2000, and on June 28, 2004, was reappointed and was a member at the time of his death, city records show.

A Plant City native, he most recently worked as a corporate lobbyist for American Cyanamid Co. and Wyeth Corp., and after retirement worked as a consultant for several large corporations.

"He was quite a horseman, into riding in rodeos," longtime City Commissioner Mike Sparkman said.

The commissioner praised Sapp's years of volunteer service to the Code Enforcement Board.

"He took it real serious; he was truly dedicated. All those years, then he came back and helped us more," Sparkman said.

The Code Enforcement Board includes first and second alternate positions and traditionally elevates alternates to fill vacancies, Helper told city commissioners at a July 28 meeting. A resolution will be presented at Monday night's meeting appointing Gary Winter to replace Sapp and Mark Richter as first alternate.

Additionally, the vacancy for the second alternate position created by Richter's elevation will be posted on the city Web site.

George Wilkens

Nine Lives Can Last A Long Time

You won't often read about cats in this column. But Christy - who is 26 years old - is not your typical feline.

Her story began in 1982 when 9-year-old Michael Crumley found her huddled in tall grass near his family's home in rural Plant City. He took her home, naming her Christy after his cousin Christine Hanlon, and she has lived longer than anyone imagined.

The average life expectancy of a cat is about 15 to 17 years. The record for a house cat is reportedly more than 35 years old.

Crumley's mother, Karen, who works in advertising for The Tampa Tribune and associated publications, said the family doesn't know the reason for her longevity, but perhaps it was because she was spayed after her first litter and was able to grow strong and healthy. She spends her old age chasing lizards and enjoying the sun.

She started out as a barn cat but now spends her time indoors.

Dave Nicholson

City Holds The Line On Property Taxes

A resolution keeping Plant City's proposed property tax rate for 2008-09 the same as this year has been adopted by the city commission.

The resolution adopted 4-0 at the July 28 meeting sets the rate at 4.1653 mills. A mill equals $1 of tax for each $1,000 of assessed, nonexempt property.

A public hearing on the proposed millage rate and tentative budget will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 8 in the city commission chambers at city hall, 302 W. Reynolds St.

The proposed rate will generate approximately $7.64 million for the general fund and $609,000 for the Community Redevelopment Agency.

The property tax rate adopted last fiscal year represented the first change in nearly two decades. For 18 years, the tax rate remained unchanged at 4.7 mills.

George Wilkens

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