Ocoee Commission honors police department award winners

OCOEE — As part of its March 3 meeting, the Ocoee Commission recognized several people affiliated with the Ocoee Police Department by way of various awards.

Police Chief Charles Brown congratulated Detective Michelle Grogan on being the 2014 Ocoee Police Department Crisis Intervention Team Officer of the Year. Grogan assisted a particular veteran of the American armed forces with rehabilitation of his life beyond the call of duty, police said.

The Citizens Advisory Council for Ocoee Police Department announced four awards, as well: Madeleine Garza, an administrative assistant for the police department, received a certificate naming her Civilian of the Year. Auxiliary Sgt. Bob Chedwick received recognition as Volunteer of the Year. The Officer of the Quarter Award went to Officer Matthew Serrao, who helped 11 homeless campers find shelters. And Officer Daniel Schilling became Officer of the Year for work in tracking drugs with K-9 unit Nitro, work under gunfire in Windermere and assisting a 2-year-old girl whose parents had committed crimes, resulting in the Department of Children and Families assuming her custody.

AGREEMENTS

The commission approved the renewal of two agreements, one concerning the Ocoee Fire Department and the other concerning Orange County Public Schools.

Ocoee Fire Department Station 38 at Fountains West on West Road was part of a three-year rental lease agreement that began May 7, 2012. The commission passed a renewal of that agreement for two years, ending May 7, 2017.

Ocoee Police Department offers a DARE officer to five elementary schools; a school resource officer to one middle school and two school resource officers to one high school, all in Ocoee. An annual agreement between Ocoee and the Orange County School Board is necessary for officers to know their responsibilities and Ocoee to receive reimbursement for some of the officers’ salaries. The Ocoee City Commission approved a renewed agreement of July 1, 2015-June 30, 2016, reimbursing the city $126,562.50 for providing those four officers to local schools.

UPGRADES

The commission approved the replacement of Ocoee Wastewater Treatment Plant Grit Turntable No. 2, which has been in service more than 15 years. This age has resulted in wear for the unit, past its typical life expectancy. Sanders & Company is the sole vendor for such a grit, which will cost Ocoee $26,836. The city will enter a contract with Filter One Co. to install the grit equipment for $14,978, putting the total replacement costs at $41,814.

A $39,500 Classic Marcite Inc. bid to resurface the Ocoee Family Aquatic Center pool at the Jim Beech Recreation Center at 1820 A.D. Mims Road received the commission’s approval. All work related to this project will be complete by April 7, including final dressing, before opening day May 1.

Upgrades to technological equipment have left Ocoee with excess equipment no longer in use. Projects include programming and broadcast equipment at City Hall, the city’s computer network and parts of Ocoee Police Department’s computer hardware and software as dispatching services switch to Winter Garden. Thus, the commission passed a separate surplus auction of obsolete or broken computing and audiovisual equipment once used by city staff and police.

LIEN REDUCTION

The commission unanimously approved reduction of a pair of liens against the property at 709 Lakeview Drive. The liens were for an inoperable, untagged vehicle with no windshield and overgrown grass and weeds. Federal National Mortgage Association obtained the property through foreclosure, care of Choice Legal Group PA. The liens, worth $23,900 together, reduced to $4,243.23.

IN BRIEF

Officials from Chick-fil-A presented a $1,003 check from its Founders’ Day 5k to Smile for a Lifetime, an organization helping those in need obtain free orthodontic treatment.

The commission appointed three members to Ocoee’s canvassing board for its March 10 election.

Ocoee Police Department has a new K-9, Reno, who just finished patrol course certification and replaces retired K-9 Ajsa.

Contact Zak Kerr at [email protected].