During its July 13 business meeting, the BOC (Board of Commissioners) approved three resolutions of heavy equipment purchases including a bulk waste removal vehicle.
The first purchase for Fiscal Year 2018 will be a Knuckleboom Loader for $133,733, budgeted in the solid waste fund and to be used for bulk waste curbside pickup in the City. This service will be at no cost to citizens and is tentatively set to begin Sept. 1.
The City’s contracted waste hauler, Republic Services, no longer provides bulk waste pickup in Lakeland. Emily Harrell, city engineer, said a fee will be assessed for specialty items such as appliances and construction debris exceeding six cubic yards.
The next big ticket item will be a Hotbox and Roller, costing $36,005 with money budgeted in the street aid fund. This equipment will allow City crews to place asphalt immediately after repairing roadways, said Mrs. Harrell. The same equipment is used in Bartlett and Germantown, said Mrs. Harrell.
The third item replaces an existing truck crane which cannot be repaired. Cost is $13,269 and is budgeted in the sewer fund. The crane is used by the wastewater department to pull pumps and heavy equipment.
The meeting started with a monthly report from Sgt. Nathan Cockman from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. The June review was published in Lakeland Currents earlier this week. https://lakelandcurrents.com/june-crime-report-for-lakeland/. Sgt. Cockman said an arrest was made June 9 in the June 3 Cracker Barrel carjacking.
Commissioner Matt Wright asked if historical records on Lakeland crime are available, say for five years. Sgt. Cockman said he could check with Homeland Security for that information. Commissioner Clark Plunk mentioned he would like to see continued radar in Lakeland to curb speeders.
Report from City Manager Jim Atkinson to BOC
- Lakeland Fire Department proposal – Looking at this with the main goal to lower fire fees.
- Athletic Complex – Engineers at A2H are getting cost estimates for phase one.
- Rotary Cutter – This equipment will replace a chain saw and bucket truck to clear overgrown rights-of-way.
- Recreation, other departments – Mr. Atkinson provided slides on sports programs, LAMP concerts, home sales, code enforcement and road maintenance.
Citizen Bill Rose addressed commissioners about a variety of issues include the proposed fire department (another tax increase he said), dangers on Huff N Puff Road, contributing to the Veterans’ Home to be built in Arlington and qualifications of the Lakeland City Manager.
Mayor Wyatt Bunker responded to the concerns, noting Lakeland has not contributed to the Veterans’ Home because of other priorities in the City. The proposal for the fire department would be to bring the service in-house which will not require an increase in property taxes the Mayor said. Huff N Puff and Beverle Rivera Drive are currently under construction and the Mayor said there was no need to make repairs to the original road during the work.
Commissioner Clark Plunk said he would put Jim Atkinson against any city manager, noting his 12 years of experience in Lakeland. “Jim knows the whole city and any project,” said Mr. Plunk. “Anyone else just knows their little corner of the world.”
Commissioners approved on first reading a request by Jared and Mary Welch to rezone property along the Lou Jan Causeway at Canada Road from agriculture to suburban estate. The applicant wants to subdivide the parent tract, sell about two acres and later build a house on the remaining property. The estate home would become part of East Shores. An HOA member (John Brown)spoke to BOC members, noting their association would welcome the new home into their neighborhood.
Other resolutions approved include:
- A contract for Parks and Recreation uniforms and equipment for FY 2018.
- Renewal of an inter-governmental agreement between Lakeland and Shelby County government to use the County hazardous waste facility at no cost to Lakeland citizens.
- A change order for Oakwood drainage improvement.
- A development contract for a new phase of 42 lots in Herons Ridge.
- Approval for funding between the City and the Lakeland Area Chamber of Commerce.
Link to the agenda with resolutions: https://tn-lakeland.civicplus.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/678
Two additional resolutions were added to the agenda and approved:
- The first was a change order for the I-40/Canada Road project and authorization of a long term maintenance contract for a fence. Harrell said originally TDOT (Tennessee Department of Transportation) was planning to put in a six-foot chain link access control fence extending onto Canada Road on all four quadrants for 3,225 linear feet. The fence is required by the Federal Highway Administration. City staff asked if the chain link fence could be changed to a four-foot ornamental aluminum fence. TDOT approved the substitution with the City paying the overage or $70,000 plus the maintenance contract on the fence. Mrs. Harrell said the City budgeted $60,000 for the fence expense. Additional monies will be reclassified from the New Canada Road Project line item to the fencing line item, said Mrs. Harrell.
2. The second resolution authorizes the City to create a land development policy task force including input from citizen, development and business groups. This is an outgrowth from a meeting today with the Home Builders Association, commissioners and City staff.
Mr. Wright (Matt) asked about the gateway signs and Mr. Atkinson said he is supposed to hear from TDOT July 26. Also noted by Mr. Wright was the status of a promotional video about Lakeland. He said there will be more film-shooting at the July 22 LAMP concert as well as school and sports shots in August. The film is expected to be complete in October.
… Photos by Jim Willis, Lakeland Currents. See album link for slides, photos at the meeting.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/WIstHlrzCXheU5fI3
