Plant City Observer
y Observer
YO UR HOMETOW N. YO UR NEWSPAP ER .
YOUR HOMETOWN. YOUR NEWSPAPER
FREE • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2023
VOLUME 11, NO. 25
. YO NEWS PAP ER . CITYUR COMMISSION APPROVES WATER, WASTEWATER AND STORMWATER RATE CHANGES PLUS OTHER UPDATES
The increased rates will cover costs for increased demand and ongoing operations and maintenance.
MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER
The City of Plant City City Commission voted 5 to 0 Monday night to approve changes to water, stormwater and sewer rates and fees. The recommended changes were a result of hiring Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc. to prepare a financial forecast through Fiscal Year 2028 to ensure utility revenues will be sufficient to meet the operational and capital needs of each system. A thorough review of the systems was conducted in
2004 for water development charges, 2006 for wastewater development charges, 2018 for water and sewer rates and 2003 for stormwater. The City currently serves approximately 14,500 water accounts, 12,000 wastewater accounts and 11,000 stormwater accounts with approximately 3,200 residential units in development and 7,800 residential units planned. Those numbers are expected to increase significantly. All three water systems (water, wastewater and stormwater) work independently to help water flow to and away
from homes and businesses. Water is the treated water that flows from water treatment plants, through pipes and into your home or business. The water that goes down a sink or toilet flows to a wastewater treatment plant, via gravity lines and lift stations, where it’s biologically treated and filtered. Water that flows down roofs, driveways and streets flows into a gutter and goes into a storm drain which flows directly to a canal system, lake or river.
WALDEN LAKE CHRISTMAS LIGHT CONTEST WINNERS
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NATIONAL WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA DAY SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16
EMERALD FOREST PULLS OUT A WIN IN THIS YEAR’S COMPETITION. MICHELLE CACERES STAFF WRITER
For more than 15 years, Walden Lake has held its annual Christmas light display contest. This year’s event happened Dec. 11.
Not only do the homes within each subdivision set up festive displays, but the annual contest allows residents to come together and decorate the entrance to their individual neighborhoods. A panel of five impartial judges drove around Walden Lake, making notes and marking down
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