Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As your Traffic and Safety representative, on behalf of the Davis Islands Civic Association board of directors, I want to keep you informed on the upcoming Platt Street bridge closure and its impact on Davis Islands. The Platt Street Bridge is closing this MONDAY, October 3rd, 2011. Yes, it will be hard to get used to, and it will be an inconvenience for over 3 months.
A public meeting took place September 27, 2011 at the Sandra Freeman Tennis Court facility with City and County representatives including Commissioner Sandy Murman and City Councilman Harry Cohen. Most comments and concerns voiced at the prior Hyde Park meeting were incorporated into the plan. The City and County agencies along with Tampa Police are working together and pledged to respond quickly to unforeseen conditions as a result of this event.
We were assured that Digital Traffic Display Boards will be installed at points ahead leading to the bridge to inform drivers. Sandy Murman will further contact the School Board to make sure that schools are aware of potential delays. Be assured that the City and County staffs are communicating with MacDill Air Force Base and TGH to let them know of plans, detours and latest updates. We have asked that additional police officers, automatic telephone calls and possibly web cams be used to lessen the impact and speed police response during this period.
This event will not be easy for everyone, including Davis Islands, South Tampa, Harbour Island residents and TGH, but we are told every effort is being made and coordinated to minimize inconveniences and provide for safety during this event.
As we have stressed before, kindly factor time delays as you schedule your travels in and out of Davis Islands during this period. Please let your friends and neighbors know and think safety first as you travel in and out of our great neighborhood.
Being informed about this event will help lessen the inconvenience and prepare us for any eventuality. Traffic Diagrams and Maps along with more specific information can be accessed at;
http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/publicworks/traffic/platt/routes.cfm
Sincerely,
Antonio J. Amadeo, AIA
DICA Traffic & Safety Chair
Port director gets two-year extension
By Steve Huettel, Times Staff Writer
Posted: Sep 20, 2011 11:48 AM
TAMPA – Disappointing his critics, the Port Authority board voted today to extend the contract of director Richard Wainio by two years.
Hillsborough County Commissioner Sandy Murman first proposed a one-year extension. After her motion was rejected, Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn proposed the two year extension, and it passed on a 4-2 vote.
Questions over Wainio’s future rose in July, when the Port of Tampa Maritime Industries Association called for the board to let Wainio go when his contract expires next March.
The group, which represents 47 companies doing business at the port, cited significant declines in cargo tonnage at the port since Wainio took over in 2006.
Operating income at the Tampa Port Authority was nearly $5 million in the black at the beginning of his tenure and was $1.1 million in the red last year, the group said. The number is misleading, port staffers insist, because it includes millions in depreciation from new construction. The authority isn’t actually losing money.
Much of the conflict is over personality.
Critics say Wainio doesn’t listen to their suggestions on port business strategy, has been disrespectful toward business leaders and creates a ”chilling effect” on public comment at board meetings.
Wainio says his critics don’t represent the views of the larger port community. In a recent e-mail, he wrote commissioners that morale at the agency is suffering from the attacks.
“My staff and I are irritated by the generally baseless, erroneous and repetitive accusations from several people who quite frankly have no particular knowledge or expertise regarding the issues,” he wrote ”
Wainio, 61, has served as the Port Authority’s chief executive since 2005. He earns $251,118 a year.