BARTOW -- Polk County commissioners learned Tuesday that in the two years that "Capitol For A Day" has brought the governor and his cabinet to Florida cities, only Fort Lauderdale and Jacksonville have been so honored.
Next, it will be Polk County's turn on Feb. 7, when Gov. Jeb Bush and at least 50 people from Tallahassee will pay a visit to the commission chambers and the old county courthouse.
Commission Chairman Bruce Parker emphasized that the public is most welcome to take part in the activities.
Event chairwoman Sara Cheney said the program is a way for the governor and the cabinet to "bring state government closer to the people."
This means the regular cabinet meeting will be in the main commission chambers in the county administration building from 9 a.m. to noon.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the historic courthouse will be the site of an agency fair, where all state agencies will have exhibits that will tell about their services.
"The main focus for the public is the agency fair," Cheney said. "And the governor and the lieutenant governor will go to the historic courthouse for a brief ceremony."
She said a public lunch will allow all who attend to meet cabinet members.
"It will be a great honor for us to have that," Cheney said of the event.
Parker said no tax dollars will be needed to fund the day-long event.
He said that ideally, 20 sponsors will be able to pitch in to help. The sponsors can make a contribution to a special fund "and, if there's any money left over, the county can pro-rate the funds back to the sponsors," Parker added.
Recalling the Fort Lauderdale event, he said the sponsors gave $1,500 apiece.
Commissioner Marlene Young said Capitol For A Day is also a good opportunity for school children to learn more about government. She has spoken to School Superintendent Glenn Reynolds and school board member Brenda Reddout.
One possibility includes setting aside a certain number of seats in commission chambers for children chosen to represent their schools.
"Hopefully this will motivate young people to learn more about government," Young added.
Thanks to other commission action, residents in the Indian Lakes Estates and River Ranch areas should be getting improved cable TV service.
All five commissioners favorably approved the transfer of the cable TV franchise from Americable International Florida Inc. to Community Cable Corp.
Community Cable vice president and general manager Deborah Fernandez said Americable operated at 330 MHz with a 40-channel capability.
She said Community Cable will be upgraded to a 450 MHz systems. Fernandez also told commissioners her company will "build out" to about 100 homes on Sam Keen Road.
Community Cable will be based in the clubhouse at Indian Lake Estates, while Americable International works out of Miami.
"This seems like more of a formality, but it would be in the best interests to continue to provide service in that area," said Commissioner Janet Shearer.
Parker added that if the franchise transfer is "good enough for the FCC, then it's good enough for me."
When commissioners gave a proclamation for "Stop! Red Light Running Week," Community Traffic Safety Team Coordinator Elizabeth Sheetz said she wants to continue working with the commission on traffic safety issues.
More specifically, she asked commissioners to consider starting a position of traffic safety coordinator "just for Polk County."
She reminded the commission that the red light camera program started in Polk County and that Florida has become "the first and only state that proclaims one week during the year" for red light safety awareness.
"Twice as many people are killed in traffic crashes as with all murders added together," Sheetz said.
In Florida for 1998, red light running resulted in $442 million in economic loss; 10,155 crashes; 14,810 injuries and 137 fatalities.
"It seems that people are in a terrible hurry and that's the cause of a lot of red light running," said Commissioner Neil Combee.
Fellow commissioner Randy Wilkinson added that he would "like to promote safety before people even get to that red light."
