Plant City Observer
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FREE • THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2021
VOLUME 6, NO. 136
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CITY RECEIVES STRONG PRAISE FOLLOWING ANNUAL AUDIT BREANNE WILLIAMS
Despite the financial impact of COVID-19, the City of Plant City received nothing but praise Monday evening during a presentation of its annual audit report.
STAFF WRITER
The City of Plant City was once again lauded for its finances as CPAs from Mauldin & Jenkins presented their analysis of the city’s audit Monday evening. Wade Sansbury and Daniel Anderson, both CPAs from Mauldin & Jenkins CPA’s and Advisors, prepared a presentation on the City of Plant City’s finances for the city commission meeting Monday night.
Mauldin & Jenkins has more than 100 years experience in the field and serves seven states. The presentation Monday was for the fiscal year that ended on Sept. 30, 2020. “We had no kind of findings, no kind of issues, no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies,” Sansbury said. “Ms. Diane (Reichard) and her staff and the entire finance department do a great job and have done another great job this year in taking care of the books and records with the city. They also do a great job in handling and
helping us get the audit accomplished and providing us with all of the documentation and the evidence, the contracts and invoices and the schedules, everything we need to be able to accomplish this. So I want to thank her for all of her hard work and I certainly think the city should be proud of this year’s audit, and certainly proud of the city’s finance department. They do a great job.”
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The annual Grand Parade drew a crowd to downtown Plant City Monday afternoon. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
Plant City hopped on board the annual Grand Parade as it rolled into town Monday morning. The annual event drew crowds to the streets of historic downtown as the city came to a screeching halt in what is arguably the largest celebration during the Florida Strawberry Festival. Train floats paid homage to this year’s theme, “All Aboard,” and walkers tossed beads and candy to those along the streets. Due to the ongoing pandemic, many watch parties
were either canceled or had reduced crowds this year. However, many who attended sported their berrythemed masks. Floats from local high schools and businesses as well as out of town groups filled the street with festive vibes that brought the parade to life. This was the first year that the parade was livestreamed. Mayor Rick Lott and City Manager Bill McDaniel set up shop across from City Hall to narrate the ongoings of the festivities and interview attendees.
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