It’s a done deal. As of Tuesday night, the originally recorded deed documents to the old cigar factory were delivered to the City Clerk officially making Bartow the proud owner. The effort to save the historic property from demolition to ultimately redevelop and reuse the building has taken more than four years. During the city commission meeting, county manager George Long shared his visions for what lies ahead.

“We’re going to get going on cleaning up and sealing the building so it doesn’t deteriorate any further,” said Long. “Over the next couple of weeks we’ll get moving on the development of the RFP, which will be our effort to identify a private investor who will partner with us to both preserve and reuse the building under terms to be negotiated down the road.”

Long said there are several people who have indicated an interest in submitting the RFP, but the reality of it will remain to be seen. Also, Long stated some work has been done on developing a concept for renovation of the 86-year-old building, but was unsure of how far it had gotten.

“We’re moving ahead,” said Long. “The first step was to acquire the building and that’s what we did.”

In other business, city commissioners approved a resolution requesting that the Florida Legislature establish a Florida Enterprise Zone for the City of Bartow. The resolution also provided for the Executive Director of the Bartow Community Redevelopment Agency, Patrick Brett, to represent the city of Bartow in the application process.

Florida Enterprise Zones promote economic growth and investment in distressed areas by offering tax advantages and incentives to businesses locating within the zone boundaries. Cities that have adopted a resolution that requests authorization from the Florida Legislature to start the Florida Enterprise Zone application process are Bartow, Eagle Lake, Lake Wales and Mulberry. Fort Meade is considering a resolution next week. The Bartow Municipal Airport passed a resolution that requests the Polk County Board of County Commissioners to consider an Enterprise Zone. That resolution is tentatively scheduled to be discussed at the BOCC’s January 24th meeting. According to Brett, no other communities have approached the Legislature as a cooperative request, which he feels could encourage a favorable response. To date, there are 59 Enterprise Zones in the state of Florida.

Commissioners were also presented with the CRA’s quarterly report Tuesday night for fiscal year 2010-2011 reflecting a budget reduction of $177,898. The presentation to the city also included updates regarding the CRA board approving a partnership with Habitat for Humanity to promote affordable housing programs in the community. West Bartow Front Porch, an organization that promotes community revitalization, provided the CRA board with information about their residential properties. Staff is currently seeking property appraisal quotes.

The city also adopted a resolution supporting police officer and firefighter pension plan and disability presumption reforms to make the plans sustainable, sound and secure for current and future police officers and firefighters. The resolution states a priority of the city is for the Florida Legislature to address numerous legislative actions it has taken throughout the past 40 years relating to Bartow’s police and firefighter define pension plans stating these actions have had significant negative fiscal impacts on the City of Bartow and its taxpayers. The city outlines in the resolution that they are seeking reasonable and responsible changes to state law to “level the playing field” and allow cities to determine and implement police and firefighter pension reform at the local level.

A first reading took place in consideration of an ordinance approving the final plat of Clear Springs Corporate Park Phase I and agreeing to accept for maintenance certain improvements dedicated to the public. Infrastructure has been completed on the small portion of the corporate park, located off the new roadway State Road 60 called Enterprise Way, consisting of the main north south roadway and internal roadway system, potable water and sanitary sewer systems, and associated drainage improvements. Plans to begin work on the Polk State College site are scheduled to being in April of 2012.

City commission meetings are held on the first and third Monday of each month beginning with a work session at 5:30 p.m. followed by the regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall located at 450 Wilson Avenue. To view and download agendas or for the most current minutes from the last meeting you may go to www.cityofbartow.net.