W.G. commission greenlights ordinances for new elementary school

New elementary school

Commissioners approved the second reading for three ordinances, (16-68, 16-69, 16-70). These ordinances pertain to the annexation, future land use designation and rezoning of 8.82 acres located at the southwest corner of East Story Road and 9th street. The applicant is Orange County Public Schools and they are requesting to develop the property with a new elementary school with an enrollment capacity of 650 students in order to relocate Maxey Elementary School. 

Benefits for firefighter and police officers

Commissioners made a decision to hold the second hearing and public hearing for ordinance 16-61 during the next commission meeting in December. The ordinance in question seeks to modify the Firefighter and Police Pension Fund under Chapter 54 and Defined Retirement Option Plan (DROP) to satisfy requirements of the IRS codes and reflect changes agreed on with the police union representing the Winter Garden Police department. The commissioners, however, did approve the second reading for ordinance 16-60, which also modifies the Firefighter and Police Pension Fund under sections of Code Chapter 54 detailing pension and retirement benefits. But the changes made by ordinance 16-60 are for agreed upon terms resulting from negotiations with the International Association of Firefighters.

IN OTHER NEWS

• Winter Garden Commissioner Bobby Olszewski gave a farewell speech after announcing the Nov. 10 meeting was to be his last meeting. According to Florida statutes, in order to run for public office, appointed or elected officials must resign from any currently held position. The resign-to-run law required Olszewski to resign from his seat as commissioner in order to run for the Orange County Commission District 1 seat. However, Olszewski did not acquire the majority of votes during the Nov. 8 run-off election. "Serving as a Winter Garden commissioner has been a true honor that I know I have worked hard at to serve the community in the hope to make lives better," Olszewski said in his farewell speech. "It's been an honor working with the city staff and so many wonderful people, and I will say that, as with anything, it has had its challenges but it's always been rewarding. ... I'm very humbled to know and call everyone in this room friends and, God bless you all."
• Commissioners celebrated 25 years of the downtown Winter Garden community's revitalization, which began in 1991, by inviting community leaders who invested their time and talents in making the Winter Garden's revitalization project possible. 
• Winter Garden Police Chief George Brennan introduced seven new police officers hired by the Winter Garden Police Department who all swore an oath of honor. 

View the whole agenda for the Oct. 27 commission meeting here.

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Contact Gabby Baquero at [email protected]