DeSantis' Disney district cancels controversial deal for new 911 telecoms awarded without a bidding process

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Posted: Tuesday October 31, 2023 4:04pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District has canceled a deal for Figgers Communication to provide a new 911 telecoms system for the district.

Reedy Creek Improvement District overview

According to comments from CFTOD made to local news outlets, Figgers Communication does not wish to proceed with the deal amid the controversy and would rather earn the contract through a bidding process.

"We welcome the opportunity for an open bidding process and are confident that it will reveal that our proposal to implement the 911 wireless and VOIP emergency services was very reasonable, with no intention of taking advantage of the District," Figgers wrote in the letter published in part by the Orlando Sentinel.

Figgers Communication founder Freddie Figgers is an associate of CFTOD CEO Glen Gilzean, both serving various roles appointed by Florida Governor Ron Desantis, including positions on the Florida Ethics Commission.

As news of the no-bid 911 telecoms contract surfaced, CFTOD canceled a planned board meeting this month, with the next session scheduled to take place on Wednesday, November 15, 2023.

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peter114358 days ago

No. But it’s the start of the process

MR.Dis8 days ago

Does this mean a new agreement has been reached with Disney? I am trying to read between the lines on just what this is saying.

flyakite8 days ago

castlecake2.021 days ago

Yes

Stripes21 days ago

Has Disney/CFTOD continued to replace the purple direction signage with the new blue color scheme since CFTOD took over?

mkt21 days ago

You're right. The new document will be different. It will be "different" in the way that Chris Gaines was "different" from Garth Brooks or how the drummer from Nirvana is "different" from the singer of the Foo Fighters.

Unbanshee21 days ago

Both are effectively picked by the Governor, just not technically. Look no further than the communications "strategy" with the replacement of Gilzean of the Governor's office getting out ahead of every single step of the process

lazyboy97o21 days ago

The settlement acknowledged the “need” to change the comprehensive plan, which undermines this idea. So too does the lack of an agreement, as the 2032 Comprehensive Plan wasn’t that different than the again in force 2020 Comprehensive Plan.

Brian21 days ago

That's understandable for sure. I just felt inclined to make the distinction due to the ongoing conversation, as the district administrator is selected by the board, while the board is selected by the governor.

mkt21 days ago

The new agreement will be functionally the same as the one Disney was sued over.

pdude8121 days ago

You're right. This has been going on so long I just lumped all the antagonists together.

Brian21 days ago

Not to nitpick, but Gilzean was district administrator, not a board member.

pdude8121 days ago

A bigger risk than keeping Garcia and Gilzean on the board as active disruptors? I don't agree with their decision to stall the federal lawsuit, but I understand why they saw the status quo as a risk to growth over the next few years.