- April 25, 2024
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WINTER GARDEN – The city has been gathering construction and engineering estimates to improve traffic flow at the intersection of Windermere and Roberson Roads, north of Lake Whitney Elementary School.
City Manager Mike Bollhoefer said the city will be meeting with Orange County officials this week to begin discussions about potential improvements to the intersection. However, the cost to construct a roundabout there — as Winter Garden residents had desired — has exceeded initial estimates.
“The biggest reason people wanted the roundabout was related to how they thought it would affect the adjacent development, but one corner is already developed into (George Bailey Park) and another corner is now a dentist office,” Bollhoefer said. “The third corner, which is in the northeast, is in Ocoee, so we don’t control that. So there’s really only one corner left in Winter Garden, and I don’t think one roundabout intersection would really have a whole lot of effect on the development.”
The substantial increase, which rose from $1.2 million to $2.7 million, stemmed from the costs required to purchase the right-of-way, as well as the sole contract offer the city received for the project. The sole offer, Bollhoefer speculated, was likely because of the busy season.
Bollhoefer added it would be difficult to justify a $2.7 million expenditure for a roundabout at an intersection “with just that much traffic” and suggested city staff also would consider the option of adding traffic light improvements, such as left-turn lanes and signals, instead.
“If we were to put a traffic light there, which would handle the traffic just as well, the cost is $1.2 million — significantly less,” Bollhoefer said. “Furthermore, the roundabout would probably take almost a year to complete, whereas the traffic light would take only six months — so it’s half the construction time.”
Bollhoefer said he will offer more updates regarding the future of the intersection after conversing with Orange County officials.
CITY CLERK RETIRES
After 18 years of working as the city clerk for the city of Winter Garden, Kathy Golden is retiring.
Golden was hired in 1999 when the city had only 13,000 residents — a far cry from the 43,000 residents who now call Winter Garden home.
In a letter addressed to the City Commission, read by Winter Garden Mayor John Rees during the Jan. 25 commission meeting, Golden expressed she felt the time was right for her to retire, especially now that the opportunity presented itself with the second time in 18 years that the city’s candidate qualifying period resulted in no opponents.
“I have enjoyed serving the residents of Winter Garden and staff members both past and present,” Golden wrote. “The experiences that I have had will always be cherished. I am very proud to have been a part of what Winter Garden has become.”
After reading the letter, Rees and other commissioners thanked Golden for her service, remarked on past memories and wished her well in future endeavors.
“I would like to say to Kathy that it’s been an honor and pleasure to work with you and serve with you over all these years,” Rees said. “I think you’ve always put Winter Garden first, and you’ve always done what’s best for Winter Garden. ... It’s been very much appreciated. You will be sorely missed. And with that, I’d just like to say thank you.”
IN OTHER NEWS
Correction: An earlier version of this article stated Winter Garden is considering adding a traffic light at the intersection. This has since been corrected, as the city is considering the addition of traffic light improvements to the existing traffic light.
