Bartow Commissioners vote to do evaluations

With a tip o’the hat to The Clash:
Should they stay, or should they go now?
If they go, will there be trouble,
And if they stay, will it be double?
So commissioners, let us know,
Should they stay or should they go?

Inconsistent. That is what has been the situation since 2012, as declared in the summary presented at the Aug. 17 Bartow City Commission agenda meeting, which stated, “They have occurred infrequently, some Commissioners have failed to submit their evaluation forms, and in certain fiscal years, the Mayor determined that evaluations were not required.”

Thus, the question came down to whether to determine if evaluations would be conducted for the current fiscal year, and which of two options to consider and/or adopt, as follows:

Option 1: Proceed with evaluations

By the first regular meeting in September, the city clerk will distribute evaluation forms to all commissioners, who must return completed evaluation forms to the city clerk by the second Friday in October. Each commissioner is responsible for discussing their evaluation with the “appointed official” before submitting it to the city clerk. From there, the city clerk will provide consolidated evaluations to the commissioners at the first regular meeting in November

Option 2: No evaluation this fiscal year

If the commission votes not to conduct evaluations, the matter will be revisited at the second meeting in August of the following year (2027)

With that, commissioners were faced with two options: do evaluations (which would focus on either/both City Manager Mike Herr and City Attorney Sean Parker. Or choose to skip doing evaluations until August 2027. In a unanimous vote, commissioners selected to go forward with doing evaluations.

Schedule of Activity per City Commission Policy and Procedures

• Rating Period — Fiscal Year
• Discussion and review of evaluation forms for revisions or additions to take place during the second regular meeting in August. The city clerk to ensure proposed changes are incorporated in the evaluation form(s).
• Blank evaluation forms provided to commissioners by the city clerk at the first regular meeting in September.
• Completed evaluation forms are to be submitted to the city clerk by the second Friday in October.
• Copies of consolidated evaluation forms were provided to commissioners at the first regular meeting in November.

UPGRADES TO MULLIGANS RESTAURANT

Commissioners were informed that upgrades and renovations to the kitchen only) at Mulligan’s Restaurant, located at the Bartow Golf Course is/was slated to begin Sept. 14, with completion projected three weeks hence, on Oct. 2.

Work to be done will be:

• Replumbing the kitchen area and relocating pipes and electrical outlets
• Installing a new floor kitchen drain
• Installing new hand washing and dishwashing sinks
• Installing anti-slip flooring
• Bringing walls, ceilings, and lighting up to health department codes.

According to Parks, Recreation & Cultural Arts Director Jason Hargrove, the project cost estimate of $70,000 came in at $100,000 following a bid process; the additional $30,000 will come from another Capital Improvement Plan (CIP).

Per Hargrove, this project was estimated to incur a loss of $36,000 in food sales that would otherwise be generated during normal business hours and from tournament/catering opportunities.

To mitigate that potential loss in revenue, PR&C researched the feasibility of renting a portable kitchen to the tune of $11,000 for the one month the kitchen is upgraded, which it declared would keep revenue loss at a minimum, if any loss at all.

IN OTHER BUSINESS

Under proclamations and special presentations, city commissioners:

• Welcomed new police officers and civilian employees
• Recognized and honored former board members of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)
• Recognized Aug. 17 as National Nonprofit Day
• Recognized Aug. 26 at Bartow Lineworkers Appreciation Day.

The Lineworkers Appreciation Day recognition was accepted by Tracy Moore, who has served as an advocate for lineworkers following the tragic death of her husband in 2002.

In addition to accepting the proclamation, she was joined by several Bartow linemen, of whom several were new, others current, and one who was retiring.

This recognition was of particular significance to Commissioner Trish Pfeiffer, who spoke of her attendance at Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) conferences. She spoke on a detail that had been raised at an earlier conference.

“About five, six years ago, maybe longer, they said that we were going to have a shortage of linemen,” said Pfeiffer, who next directed her comment to the person soon retiring, thanking him, then going from there. “I’m glad to see the young recruits.” She then closed her remarks thanking the lineworkers. “I just want to say thank you, guys, for stepping up to this industry, because it’s a very scary industry.”