The BOC (Board of Commissioners) met for their May business meeting an hour earlier (4:30 p.m.) tonight (5.10.18) to accommodate discussions about the new budget (Fiscal Year 2018-19) and to adjourn early for Lakeland Middle Preparatory School (LMPS) spring concerts.
Taylor A. Cates was selected as the first Municipal Judge of Lakeland. In accepting the position, he told the BOC he appreciated their confidence and said he is ready to start the job.
The new magistrate is to handle judicial matters within the City on cases involving violation of laws and ordinances. Also among the job duties would be to administer oaths, issue summons and subpoenas as necessary, report to the BOC (Board of Commissioners) and other duties as required.
In November there was a first reading on an ordinance amending Lakeland’s code to implement a City municipal court. At the time, Jim Atkinson, city manager, said the current process to deal with City code violations is lengthy. It starts with a courtesy citation and can go all the way to Shelby County Environmental Court.
“With our own municipal court, it would speed up the timetable. Most citizens take care of the issues but 10 to 15 percent don’t go so smoothly. It takes time to get on Judge (Larry) Potter’s docket and then the case can be continued,” said Mr. Atkinson last fall. The ordinance amendment was approved in December.
Mr. Cates is a partner at Burch, Porter & Johnson. He is a graduate of Vanderbilt University (J.D., 1999) and the University of Virginia (B.A., 1996).
The BOC set dates for two special meetings at City Hall:
- The City routinely has a Town Hall meeting in May but pushed that meeting to June 14. Although citizens can speak at any meeting, the Town Hall is an opportunity to speak on any topic.
- Commissioners called for a special meeting to further discuss the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018-19 budget. It will be at 5 p.m. May 22.
Link to tonight’s agenda: https://tn-lakeland.civicplus.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/770
Other business
- Wil Ashworth, president of the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, requested a funding increase for the Chamber from $18,000 per year to $24,000 per year. He said the Chamber wants to increase membership renewals and grow membership. “We want to connect potential businesses with opportunities within the City,” he said. “We already get a lot of calls and requests for information.” He noted that the Chamber received increased funding from EDGE (Economic Development Growth Engine) grants from $13k to $60K. “We are raising more funding but also donating and contributing more in the City.” Among their fund-raising projects are the annual golf tournament and a new sporting clay event this spring. Mayor Wyatt Bunker said the request would be considered during budget talks.
- A resolution for Winstead Farms development passed.
- On the regular agenda, an amended resolution for a development contract for the Rainbow Child Care Center was approved. Reed Fenton, representing the facility, said he is willing to work with the City on concerns of front elevations and overall appearance.
- The Board approved a contract with Watkins Uiberall PLLC for an audit of the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2018 despite an increase in the fee. Jessica Millspaugh, City financial director, said instead of the usual three percent increase, the charges will be five percent more. The Mayor said he was not happy to learn of this increase so late in the game. He suggested to Mrs. Millspaugh it would be wise to be looking for other firms. He said he didn’t like having his back against the wall on this matter.
- Also approved were resolutions removing uncollectable taxes from the City’s certified rolls, a subdivision development contract with the Estates at Chambers Chapel (ECC) and further investigation on relocating City Hall to The Lake District.
- The resolution approving an amended outline plan and phase one preliminary development plan for ECC was amended to add “meandering sidewalks down Lakeland Trace” and delete phase I. The amended resolution passed.
And then, it was budget time
Vice Mayor Josh Roman suggested the line-by-line review of the budget start with the engineering department and parks and recreation department and take other departments and areas at future meetings.
One resident spoke during public discussion. Lou Melton said she felt the process on the budget review is different than in years past and she prefers a line-by-line on everything. She also criticized the Mayor for his behavior last week toward Commissioner Clark Plunk. She said he (Commissioner Plunk) is a senior citizen and the rest of the Commission didn’t say a word.
Link to story from last week: https://lakelandcurrents.com/boc-special-meeting-and-work-session-budget-review-and-verbal-exchanges/
The Mayor said Commissioners are doing exactly what they’ve always done. “We do look at line items in the budget and ask for justification. We go over and beyond.”
Emily Harrell, city engineer, began her presentation and Mr. Plunk stated this was the first time all commissioners had sat together to discuss the budget.
Commissioner Matt Wright said the group met at 4 p.m. a week ago to discuss the budget for the first time. Commissioner Plunk said the Mayor and Vice Mayor weren’t there. He questioned, ”How many will leave to go to the school program (referring to LMPS concerts)?” He said he would stay to have at least two meetings line-by-line.
Commissioner Matt Wright said, “We clearly stated the process last week. Nothing has been approved. We have the individual meetings left. We had the 4 p.m. meeting last week.”
Vice Mayor Roman asked Commissioner Plunk if he was not comfortable with the budget last year and didn’t understand it. Mr. Plunk said he voted yes last year because he didn’t want to embarrass anyone.
Mayor Bunker said the budget vote is to approve what you believe. “It’s not a popularity contest. You vote your conscience. If not, you should have brought it up 12 months ago.”
Mrs. Harrell again began her presentation, noting the major change to her budget is to add a position in her department. Before she completed her requests, the Mayor asked for deferral and adjournment and the call for a special meeting.
The regular meeting ended at 6:10 p.m.
… Photos by Jim Willis, Lakeland Currents.
https://livestream.com/lakeland/events/8199751 – live stream to meetinig
