FREE • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2021
VOLUME 6, NO. 168
COMMISSION VOTES FOR
WALDEN LAKE MODIFICATION NEW CHANGES FOR FUTURE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER
On Monday, the Plant City City Commission approved a proposal to reconstruct a new residential area of Walden Lake . It allows for the northeast and southwest corners at the intersection of Turkey Creek Road and Griffin Boulevard to have a wider right-of-way. Also, there will a straight dead-end roadway on the southeast portion of the soon-to-be residential area in
Walden Lake. This region is a part of the property that will have multiple homes being built, on 14 acres of land. The right-of-way refers to the distance across the width of a road that encompasses sidewalks, power lines and light posts. The right-of-way is typically 50 feet wide, but the City Commission allowed it to be slimmed down to 33 feet, per request.
LOCAL BANK FINALIZES A MERGER DEAL
EARLIER THIS MONTH, HILLSBORO BANK OFFICIALLY BECAME A PART OF THE BANK OF TAMPA BRIAN FERNANDES STAFF WRITER
Account holders of Hillsboro Bank may have already noticed a subtle change as the building’s outside signage reads – The Bank of Tampa. On Oct. 1, Hillsboro Bank completed a merger, making it an official part of The Bank of Tampa. The deal is an effort to better accommodate Plant City’s ever-expanding population and business industry. “It really worked out well,” said Mike Ward, former Hillsboro Bank president and current Plant City Market president for The Bank of Tampa. “We are looking forward to continuing to serve our clients with our vision for community-minded banking, as well as reach new business and families.” Bill West is the CEO of The Bank of Tampa and saw the
ON OCT. 1, HILLSBORO BANK COMPLETED A MERGER NOW MAKING IT A PART OF THE BANK OF TAMPA.
potential to branch out into other regions of Hillsborough County. He specifically identified Plant City as an important distribution center outside of major cities like Tampa and Orlando. “It’s a really nice, vibrant market that’s growing,” said West. “We needed to go see if we could get our share of that market.” Since its inception 24 years ago, Hillsboro Bank grew to become a major staple within Plant City. Its humble beginnings started by offering services in a small trailer, but gradually grew and settled its headquarters on Alexander Street, in Plant City. West acknowledged that the financial institution had “deep roots” within the city and merging would be an incentive on both sides.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3