Winter Garden commissioners approve multiple procurement waivers, contract awards and development items

Winter Garden commissioners on an evening meeting approved multiple procurement waivers and contract awards, extended a school resource officer agreement and approved development and event permits.

The commission voted unanimously to: reduce the residential utility deposit return window and remove the requirement to pay interest on utility deposits through a second reading of an ordinance; waive formal procurement and hire contractors for sewer and lift‑station work; approve a contract extension with the School Board of Orange County for the city's officer resource program for the 2025–27 school years; reduce a special assessment lien on a property at 159 Ninth Street under conditions; award a purchase order to Mead & Hunt to analyze the reclaimed water hydraulic model; award construction on a recently acquired Lumen property; approve the final plat for the Habitat Edgeway subdivision; and approve a series of special events, including Memorial Day and two July 4 events.

Staff presented the second reading of an ordinance described in the meeting as reducing the time for the city to return residential utility deposits from a 24‑month period to 12 months and removing the requirement that interest be paid on those deposits. Staff said it recommended approval. Commissioners took the item up as a public hearing; no members of the public spoke and the ordinance was adopted by voice vote. (Transcript shows inconsistent ordinance numbering: the item was introduced at one point as Ordinance 25‑14 and at another as Ordinance 25‑15.)

On utilities and lift stations, staff asked the commission to waive formal procurement. One presentation requested waiver and the hiring of Engineered Spray Solutions to rehabilitate 11 sanitary sewer manholes for a total of $60,866.55, including a 5% contingency. The motion passed unanimously. A separate waiver and contract award to Xylem Water Solutions USA Inc. and "flight products" (as spoken in the meeting) to replace control panels, alarms, work lights…