Some Polk leaders say go slow on proposed USF Poly split

Posted Oct 19, 2011 by Lindsay Peterson

Updated Oct 20, 2011 at 01:56 PM

The plan to turn USF Polytechnic into a separate, independent university may seem like a done deal, but a group of Polk County business leaders is rising up to say “slow down.”

Calling it an “aggressive and fast-moving effort,” they’re circulating a three-page resolution asking the state Board of Governors to delay by a year a vote scheduled for November.

That would give the state time to do a “thorough, objective, public, fact-based analysis of the issues and impacts to support a rational future decision,” it says.

One of the people circulating the resolution is Leonard Mass, vice president of Drummond Company. In an email to state Sen. Paula Dockery, he said that a lot of people in Polk County don’t believe the proposal has been properly vetted.

“The ultimate decision on separation should not be left soley to ‘special interests’ who’s objectives are possible ‘ulterior motives’ have not been disclosed.”

Check out the resolution here.

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