Winter Garden leaders approve water tanks for anticipated growth

WINTER GARDEN — The Winter Garden City Commission likes to plan ahead.

During its Feb. 26 meeting, commissioners voted to start the design process for a one million-gallon potable water tank and a two million-gallon water reuse storage tank to serve anticipated new development in the southwest section of the city. 

Assistant City Manager for Public Services Don Cochran said each tank would be built as growth dictates. However, he needed approval to begin design so construction could start as needed. Cochran estimates the construction costs will be about $1.50 per gallon, or about $1.5 million for the potable water tank and $2 million for the reuse storage tank. The city awarded the design contract to Tetra Tech, the highest qualified engineering firm.

Cochran said the tanks, combined with planned high-tech pumping stations, should keep home water pressure steady. Winter Garden’s water pressure is currently between 50 and 60 pounds per square inch. 

SERVICE CONTRACTS

After reviewing several requests for proposals, city staff recommended the commission approve awarding three firms annual construction services contracts. City staff can call on these firms for infrastructure improvement projects including utility, storm water, roadway construction, and emergency services, that cost less than $200,000. 

City staff ranked the firms based on their overall experience, past performance, experience with projects for the city and for other clients, ability to meet time and budget requirements, cost per line item, location of offices and proximity to Winter Garden. The three approved firms — Hudson Site Construction LLC, Dale Beasley Construction Company and T.D. Thomson Construction Company — all ranked within a 30-point range. After the top three, the fourth-ranked firm scored more than 100 points lower. 

Commissioners approved four firms for Continuing Professional Engineering Services contracts. The companies are Tetra Tech Inc., Wantman Group Inc., Reiss Engineering Inc. and Neel-Schaffer Inc. They will provide services related to water, wastewater, storm water, roadway and traffic control, and engineering design and construction services. The firms will work on an as-needed basis and will be paid an hourly fee. In addition to using similar criteria to that used to rank the construction firms, city staff rated engineering firms on the effect of any legal actions against them and their project workload.

IN OTHER NEWS

• The commission unanimously passed an ordinance to require a minimum distance of 5,000 feet between package stores. This brings the city in compliance with an Orange County ordinance that requires the same separation within the county. The ordinance only affects new stores; current businesses and ones that applied for a permit prior to Jan. 22 will receive an exemption. The exemption will remain even if the business is sold or changes its name. The ordinance also requires that package stores in the city observe a 5,000-foot separation from any package store situated on county land. If the county approves a new package store on the county side of the border, Winter Garden can’t approve a package store less than 5,000 feet away within city limits. The city ordinance does not similarly restrict the county. Current stores and permit applicants before Jan. 22 are exempt from this restriction. If the county approves a package store within 5,000 feet of a current Winter Garden store, the Winter Garden store and the county store can remain.

• Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution declaring the qualifying results of the 2015 general election for Districts 2,3 and 4. District 2 Commissioner Bob Buchanan and District 3 Commissioner Bobby Olszewski were the only qualifiers from their respective districts. Because no one opposed them, Olszewski and Buchanan are considered duly elected to another three-year term. 

“This is my first time running unopposed,” Buchanan said. “I’m glad my constituents believe I’m doing a good job.”

District 4 Commissioner Colin Sharman and Winter Garden citizen David Kassander both qualified for the District 4 election, which takes place March 10.

• The commission unanimously approved the plat for Phase 2 of the Bradford Creek subdivision. 

Phase 1 is under construction, and Phase 2 is ready to move forward. Community Development Director Ed Williams said the subdivision is “an improvement over the old warehouses that used to be there.”

The next commission meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12, in City Hall Commission Chambers, 300 W. Plant St., Winter Garden.