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Rescue Crew Shows Off New Ambulance

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@tampatrib.com

Published: February 4, 2009

Items of interest from the Jan. 26 Plant City Commission meeting include:

•Fire Rescue Chief George Shiley and his crew displayed the city's newest ambulance outside City Hall prior to the meeting.

Received just before Christmas, the new unit had already been on five emergency calls prior to the 7:30 p.m. meeting.

The official unveiling of the new vehicle included a demonstration of a power stretcher that Plant City Fire Rescue hopes to acquire three of through a Florida Department of Health grant that would pay 75 percent, or all but $8,886 of the total $35,544.

The stretcher's battery-powered pneumatic legs extend, so the stretcher is level with the rear deck of the ambulance and can be easily wheeled in or out of the vehicle. The device avoids drops and reduces back injuries to emergency personnel

•The city adopted an emergency ordinance extending compliance with recent modifications to Southwest Florida Water Management District restrictions on lawn irrigation.

The district's Dec. 16 order extends current water-use restrictions through June.

In background about the water shortage, the district said the cumulative rainfall deficit in its 16-county area was 4.8 inches during the 12-month period that ended in November.

Throughout the district, lake levels are low, river flows are extremely impaired and groundwater levels are below normal and declining, the agency said.

The emergency ordinance supersedes city regulations on new landscaping.

Among other things, the emergency action further restricts waivers for irrigation of new lawns and shrubs.

•City Manager David Sollenberger reported 153 municipal employees participated in the United Way campaign through payroll deductions, contributing $25,568, a 4.2 percent increase over the previous year.

"The increase is the result of the continued generosity of previous givers and an additional 15 new givers this year," Sollenberger stated in his report to commissioners.

The city has 442 employees.

•Reconstruction of the Palmer Road railroad crossing scheduled to begin Jan. 23 was delayed because CSX crews were occupied with Tampa projects in advance of Sunday's Super Bowl, the city manager reported.

The Palmer Street project is rescheduled for March.

•The commission's first workshop of the new year is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. March 9, just ahead of the board's regular 7:30 meeting.

One hour is allotted for the workshop on amendments to the comprehensive plan.

•To access items on current and previous meeting agendas, go to the city Web site, www.plantcitygov.com, and under "quick links," select "city commission agendas."

George Wilkens

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