Plant City Observer
y Observer
YO UR HOMETOW N. YO UR NEWSPAP ER .
YOUR HOMETOWN. YOUR NEWSPAPER
VOLUME 6, NO. 114
YO UR NEWS PAP ER . BUDGET WORKSHOP:
BIGGER RAISES CONSIDERED FOR CITY EMPLOYEES The public is invited to chime in on the discussion to increase raises for city employees during the upcoming fiscal year.
BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
Every year, city commissioners discuss the upcoming salaries of city staff. It appears it’s time for a raise for non-step city employees and a discussion on whether that raise should be for 2.5 percent or 3 percent was volleyed back and forth at the dais during the Budget Workshop.
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THURSDAY, SEPT 10, 2020
It was initially suggested that all staff receive a 2.5 percent raise during the upcoming fiscal year to ensure their salaries remained competitive with other local governments, but Commissioner Mary Mathis asked for the city to consider bumping it up to a solid 3 percent. She argued that with everything that has gone on in the past year, city employees have more than earned the extra bump.
“We’ve been in a pandemic — COVID-19, coronavirus — and we’ve had to close City Hall, and our employees have worked, they’ve still provided services to our citizens, to us, some even worked from home,” Mathis said.
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DEVELOPERS SUBMIT BIDS FOR EMPTY LOT ON WHEELER STREET Solution Source may soon develop the empty lot on Wheeler Street if commissioners approve the project. BREANNE WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
One more empty lot may soon be transformed thanks to the city’s desire to develop the property at the South Wheeler Street and West J Arden Mays Boulevard intersection. The lot isn’t massive — the land is approximately 0.6 acres — and the city hopes to transform it into a destination. The city sent out a Request for Proposals for the potential development and received two bids from groups that wish to transform the property. In a rare turn of events, both parties have ties to Plant City. However, it was a ranking system and one came out on top. Commissioners will determine if they are ready to move forward with the project during Monday’s commission meeting. Solution Source was one of the two parties bidding on the development and was ranked first. Solution Source principals Michael and Shelley Jemison “have managed the development and construc-
tion of multiple projects throughout central and southwest Florida.” The firm is based in Plant City and has been listed on Inc. Magazine’s Inc. 5,000 list of the fastestgrowing companies in the nation for five consecutive years. Michael Jemison may ring familiar to many in the community. Solution Source is a member of the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce, Plant City Main Street and the Plant City EDC, and Michael Jemison sits on the EDC’s Executive Committee. A partner with Solution Source’s bid is Brandon Snyder, who will act as an advisor for the project. Snyder currently owns and operates Roots Tap Room and Wine Bar on Evers Street. Solution is also joined by Steve Boggs of Boggs Engineering, who will provide “civil engineering services for site development, utilities and ROW.” Keith Smith, with GrayRobinson Lakeland’s office, will serve as legal counsel.
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Breanne Williams