The BOC (Board of Commissioners) met tonight (4.12.18) in their business session and interviewed three lawyers for the newly-created position of Lakeland Municipal Judge: John Cameron, Taylor A. Cates and Steven F. Glaser. A fourth candidate, Michael E. Cross, interviewed a week ago.
Jim Atkinson, city manager, said a resolution to appoint a judge will be at the May 10 BOC meeting. Asked who would be the clerk, Mr. Atkinson said he has a current City staff member in mind. It was suggested that the newly appointed judge have some say so in selecting the clerk.
Dr. Ted Horrell, Lakeland School System (LSS) superintendent, presented a safety and security update for the LSS. He said safety and security have been on the top of the minds of people lately and the school system wants to do everything it can to protect students.
He said Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has called for an audit relating to safety and security of every Tennessee school facility, but the results will not be shared with the public.
Among slides he presented to the BOC (see album attached to this story), Dr. Horrell shared details of designing a secure entry at LES (Lakeland Elementary School) as part of the capital improvements at the school this summer. Link to slides: https://photos.app.goo.gl/vCedpEmqSPTuKZ5O2
He noted the System has a social worker who has conducted 84 threat assessments this year. He views this as the school administration being pro-active.
Dr. Horrell also did an update on capital projects for athletic fields at LMPS (Lakeland Middle Preparatory School) and the renovation at LES which will include classrooms, the secure entrance and landscaping and irrigation.
Link to tonight’s agenda: https://tn-lakeland.civicplus.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/763
City Manager’s report
The Community Clean Up date is from 8 a.m. to noon April 28 at Fireworks City in Lakeland.
Work is progressing on a new Gateway Sign at U.S. Highway 64 and Chambers Chapel Road.
The Design Manual presentation will be made to the MPC/DRC (Municipal Planning Commission/Design Review Commission) at their April 19 meeting.
There will be a summary document of the Lakeland 2020 Vision mailed to all Lakeland households.
The LAMP concerts were announced and Mr. Atkinson said Kevin Rooney, Parks and Recreation director, secured all the bands. Link to story and dates: https://lakelandcurrents.com/2018-lamp-concert-series-announced/
The Lake District (TLD)
Yehuda Netanel, developer for the project, introduced his wife, Victoria Nodiff-Netanel, noting it is her first time in Memphis and they would be tourists Saturday. He said he expects to announce TLD collection of homes soon.
Mrs. Nodiff-Netanel is president and executive director of Mini-Therapy Horses, a team of volunteers and tiny horses which visit annually over 50,000 children and adults in need in Los Angeles and across the United States. The organization is based in Calabasas, CA.
She said she would love to bring the horses to visit hospitals in Memphis including LeBonheur and St. Jude. The horses are utilized in school programs from elementary to university, destressing students and helping students in crisis, she said.
Link to her website: https://www.minitherapyhorses.com/
Item #3 on the regular agenda, waiving a tree survey requirement by TLD was approved by the BOC. Mr. Atkinson said, based on the nature of the project and noting there is a tree survey on file, he recommended waiving the survey.
Two candidates for Shelby County commissioner, district 3 spoke to BOC members: Lindsey Massey and Mick Wright.
Other business
The consent agenda was approved, as were items 1, 2, and 5 on the regular agenda.
A resolution for an application to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency for a hazard mitigation grant for a flood control project was deferred to a special meeting April 19 along with discussion on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 budget priorities. The grant would be a $600K project with Lakeland’s share 12.5% or $75K.
Cory Brady, city planner, presented suggestions on changes to the City’s Tree Management Ordinance (TMO) following the BOC’s request March 22 to review the document. There are currently two TMO documents, said Mr. Brady and he recommended rescinding one.
Among City staff’s other recommendations is to increase the fine to $250 per offense and assess the owner of record and the tree removal company. Mr. Brady also suggested adding a provision that requires HOA (Homeowner Association) approval of any tree removal request within any subdivision having an HOA.
Vice Mayor Josh Roman asked that the changes be sent to the MPC/DRC for their April 19 meeting.
The April 19 special meeting was already on the calendar with the following agenda link: https://tn-lakeland.civicplus.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/762 . The flood control project grant and FY 19 budget priorities are to be added to the agenda items.
Link to the City livestream of the meeting: https://livestream.com/lakeland/events/8156883
