Council Talks Police in Schools, Race By Ryan McGahan
JUNE JOHNS
Gulfport Council continued the 30-year partnership between Pinellas County Schools and the Gulfport Police Department.
The first city council meeting of Black History month, whether intentional or not, carried a lot of discussion on race relations in Gulfport. The meeting took place February 2 at the Catherine Hickman Theater. After Vice Mayor Michael Fridovich began the meeting with a reading about Black historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the floor opened for public comment, and two men approached the dais to air their grievances with the city about what they feel is racial discrimination in Gulfport (see more in Overheards). After hearing their concerns council moved onto agenda items, passing ordinances and resolutions related to Duke Energy, sewer line improvement, school resource officers and new
fencing for the Gulfport Marina, all in quick succession, ending the meeting in about 45 minutes. Duke Energy Revenue for Gulfport Gulfport Council made its second and final vote to renew its agreement with Duke Energy allowing them to use the city’s right of way in exchange for 6% of their revenue, which amounted to $785,000 for Gulfport last year. Lift Station Loan
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Cops in Schools
Council approved a resolution allowing the city manager to take a loan from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for improvements to the local sewer
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lines, pump upgrades and related electrical systems. The city applied for the $3 million loan last March, and will repay it at a rate of about $150,000 per year starting in 2023, after the upgrades are finished. “This is the crown to what we’ve been working on, and as we go through the annual budget, we’ll talk about how we’re repaying this,” said City Manager Jim O’Reilly, when introducing the resolution, which passed unanimously.
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The council also unanimously approved a resolution continuing the 30-year partnership between Pinellas County Schools and Gulfport Police, which places a resource
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theGabber.com | February 11, 2021 - February 17, 2021
