Ocoee Commission celebrates adoption

OCOEE  A proclamation to start the Nov. 3 Ocoee City Commission declared November as Adoption Month in Ocoee.

"Currently, there are approximately 700 children in the foster care system in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties," Mayor John Grogan said. "Each day, approximately 3,000 in Central Florida are provided some type of service through foster, adoption and in-home care services."

Ocoee residents Ken and Kim Baer accepted recognition in the proclamation, having fostered more than 35 children in their home since 2006. Accepting with them were their adopted children: Lyla, 9; Layne, 7; and Joshua, 4.

"This year, it is anticipated that approximately 300 children will be adopted out of the foster care system and have a forever family, just as the Baer family did," Grogan said. "(We) urge all citizens to recognize the special families that open their hearts and homes to adoption."

CONSENT AGENDA

Rural/Metro Corporation of Florida received commission approval of the continuation of the sides' agreement for emergency ambulance services, given Rural/Metro becoming an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Envision Healthcare Holdings Inc.

The commission unanimously passed the sale of three excess sanitation trucks for a value below the minimum pricing reserves, set at $94,000 for all three. The bids received were $68,000 altogether, based on the trucks being 10 years old and requiring maintenance to be useful again.

Clark Sales Display Inc. will provide holiday decorations for Ocoee at a cost of $42,350, based on commission approval. Banners and lights will be on Clarke, Maguire, Silver Star and Wurst roads and Bluford Avenue.

The winning bid for the construction of a storm water management and collection system within the Public Works Complex is Villages Construction Inc. at a price of $234,925. Work will include excavating a dual pond storage system for storm water management, a new drainage collection system and parking lot additions and drives. These upgrades apply to the Starke Lake drainage basin and help meet pollution, storage and treatment standards.

IN OTHER NEWS

• District 4 Commissioner Joel Keller announced a general meeting for his district at 7 p.m. Nov. 11, at the Tom Ison Center.
• Ocoee Police Chief Charlie Brown said traffic patterns for Founders' Day would be the same as last year and encouraged residents affected by traffic alterations to contact the police immediately to set arrangements in advance.
• Det. Michelle Grogan and Sgt. Mireya Iannuzzi presented a slideshow of a breast cancer fundraiser in support of Officer Trista Blake.

Contact Zak Kerr at [email protected].