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Reclaimed Water Sought

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 21, 2008

Items of interest from the May 12 city commission meeting included:

•A cooperative interested in developing a regional reclaimed water distribution line to eastern Hillsborough County and beyond is testing the waters in Plant City.

Hillsborough County, Tampa Electric Co. and Mosaic Co. of Lakeland have formed Water Partners Inc., to transmit reclaimed water to eastern Hillsborough and Polk County.

Mosaic will use the water in its phosphate processing operations, and TECO will use it for cooling at the utility's new power generating plant in Polk County, City Manager David Sollenberger told commissioners.

The city staff has met with representatives of the cooperative, which will pay for the pipes and pumps and compensate utilities for reclaimed water. Water Partners is asking Plant City to sign a memorandum of understanding, as have Lakeland and Polk County. The cooperative has also solicited Tampa and Temple Terrace.

"It's not binding, but it does take us to the table," Sollenberger said. Toward that goal, he said, he will seek commission approval at a later date.

•Local businesses will now be alerted when the city advertises for bids on vehicles and commercial construction.

In response to concerns about the lack of bids from locals, city staff met with Marion Smith, president of the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, to discuss the best way to notify vendors.

The city purchasing department will notify the chamber of commerce of bid solicitations for cars, trucks and commercial construction. In turn, the chamber will notify its membership.

•Commissioners approved a public hearing this month on rezoning to allow development of Grande Luxury Motorcoach Resort Community, a 499-pad park on 139 acres on the north side of Sparkman Road, a half-mile east of James L. Redman Parkway.

The park would accommodate only motor coaches, and each vehicle would be limited to no longer than six months per calendar year. The public hearing will be held during the 7:30 p.m. Tuesday city commission meeting.

•Commissioners approved a rezoning to allow a fast-food restaurant and 4,000-square-foot office on an acre on the southeast corner of James L. Redman Parkway and Rayburn Road. Rezoning applicant Eric Matos said the 2,500-square-foot restaurant will be a franchise of The Taco Maker, a company with plans for several other Central Florida stores.

•Sollenberger announced demolition of the former police headquarters at 611 S. Collins St. will soon commence, with the $22,900 cost paid by the Community Redevelopment Agency. JVS Contracting of Tampa will do demolition.

The former Publix grocery, vacant since the police department moved three years ago, was built in 1954 and has more than 20,000 square feet.

Demolition clears the way for sale of the nearly 2 acres to a developer. The site is in the heart of midtown, an 85-acre area south of downtown the city wants to redevelop into a mixed-use community.

George Wilkens

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