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Basketball Courts' Contracts Approved

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 1, 2008

Noteworthy items from the Sept. 22 Plant City Commission meeting included:

•Commissioners approved separate contracts to construct and illuminate two basketball courts at Mike Sansone Park.

The courts are being constructed to replace ones to be removed from Courier Field to accommodate the planned veterans monument project.

Because the low bid by I Construction Group of Valrico exceeded the $100,000 budgeted for the project, the city reduced the scope of work from three to two basketball courts.

In response, the company reduced its original three-court bid by nearly $41,000, to $134,791.

Commissioners also approved a $31,145 contract to buy energy-efficient lights for the two courts from Musco Sports Lighting, an Iowa-based company with a Florida office.

Additionally, a Plant City's company was awarded the contract to run reclaimed water lines to the park, off Park Road. Cook Construction Co. submitted the low bid of $94,523 for the project that will convert the park's irrigation system to reclaimed water.

•Commissioners approved emergency plumbing repairs at Plant City Fire Station 1, 604 E. Alexander St., where four major water leaks have occurred in six months.

The $28,478 low bid from Wayne Conyers Plumbing of Plant City will pay to replace copper pipes in the 15-year-old structure.

Each emergency required a plumber be summoned and repairs to areas around the faulty pipes, according to City Manager David Sollenberger's written report.
City plumbing inspector Michael Mullis examined the system and recommended replacement of the copper pipes he said would continue to break.

More breaks would cause further damage and possibly create e a health issue, Sollenberger said.

•Commissioners approved seeking a federal grant to provide an environmental analysis of select properties within Midtown, an 85-acre area targeted for redevelopment.

The so-called brownfields grant through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is available to provide analysis of sites that are contaminated or have a perception of contamination.

Within the Midtown boundaries south of downtown are more than 20 such parcels where contamination is suspected or possible, making them less attractive to development, according to background provided commissioners.

The older, deteriorating structures in need of a determination include a former dry cleaner, auto repair facility, gasoline station and others.

There is no cost to the city for the analysis or for application assistance. PPM Consultants, Orlando, has an EPA contract to assist with the process. Plant City is among six Southeastern cities PPM is assisting.

•Commissioners approved a change to the city code to clarify the collection of tires, garbage and other refuse placed curbside.

The amendment provides for curbside pickup of tires, upon request.

Four tires per calendar year will be collected from a residence without additional charge. Each additional tire per year will carry an $8 fee.

Nonresidential customers are allowed four tires monthly at $8 each.

The rate is based on the city's collection costs, Sollenberger said in his report.

Tires are also accepted at Hillsborough County's hazardous waste collection sites.

•The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved the city's storm-debris management plan.

In 2007, FEMA announced a pilot program providing an incentive for cities to create a plan and have it approved by the agency.

The plan developed by Public Works Director Willie Nabong and Sanitation Superintendent Troy Martin brings the added bonus of increasing FEMA reimbursement for removal of disaster debris from 75 percent to 80 percent.

George Wilkens

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