In less than an hour, the BOC (Board of Commissioners) met tonight (1.9.20) for a business meeting at City Hall and approved everything on the agenda including five ordinances and six resolutions.
Link to agenda: https://tn-lakeland.civicplus.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/901
Link to Livestream: https://livestream.com/lakeland/events/8955922
Emily Harrell, city engineer, explained the resolution to approve a contract for the Canada Road Bike and Pedestrian Trail project with ENSCOR. LLC for $1.2 million with a $300,000 contingency for a total cost of $1.5 million.
Known for years as “the bridges to nowhere” because two pedestrian bridges along Canada Road south of I-40 had no destination, the bridges will now have a purpose with the completion of this project in the fall of this year. Mrs. Harrell said the notice to proceed should be issued Jan. 27th with completion in 270 days.
Additional improvements to the current bridges include concrete crosswalks, improved ADA ramps, pedestrian lighting at intersections, landscape improvements, timber-backed guardrail replacement and two gateway signs at the I-40 at Canada Road Interchange. The trail will go from Canada Road and U.S. Highway 64 to the north side of the I-40 bridge near the Waffle House. Once another project is completed, New Canada Road, the path will go from Highway 64 all the way north to U.S. Highway 70 at Canada Road.
Mrs. Harrell said two gateway signs will be constructed at each ramp, one going east, one going west, and will match the current stone gateway signs at Canada Road and Highway 64 and Fletcher Trace Parkway and Highway 64.
This is phase II of the project. The City has applied for a grant through TDOT to extend the trail down Monroe to a conservation area expected behind the planned The Lake District as part of phase III.
Ordinances
Five ordinances dealing with amending the fiscal year 2019-20 budget and amendments to Land Development Regulations were presented during a public hearing and then approved on the regular agenda.
Volunteer boards
Steven Snow was reappointed to a three-year term on the Parks and Recreation/Natural Resources Board.
Reappointed to the Economic Development Commission/ Industrial Development Board were Angie Grooms through December 2020 and Steve Laster through December 2021.
City finances
Michael Walker, finance and human services director, presented the treasurer’s report for December 2019. Commissioner Richard Gonzales, Jr. asked if future reports could provide a breakout on the Parks and Recreation Department.
Mr. Walker also presented the Fiscal Year 2020-21 budget preparation calendar. 
It includes a tentative date of Mar. 23rd for a BOC budget workshop.
SCSO report
Deputy Matt Mercer with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) gave the December crime report: three thefts from motor vehicles, two were unlocked; one motor vehicle theft from an unlocked car with the keys; and a residential burglary from a garage with the door left open.
City Manager’s report
Shane Horn reported the City is hoping to earn the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting this year with easier access online to City financial records.
He also expects to present to the BOC in February an ADA Transition Plan with a list of projects.
Mr. Horn presented a graph 
showing new single family home permits in Lakeland in the last four years. The number was 21 in 2016 and 86 last year. He expects those numbers to continue upward with over 1,000 residential lots approved and ready to go.
Ideas from the Mayor
Following on Commissioner Michele Dial’s report that the Community Advisory Committee will meet this month, Mayor Mike Cunningham said he’d like for Committee members to consider encouraging Christmas decorations throughout Lakeland for Christmas. He said children like lights and decorations and Lakeland should be a kid and family-friendly City. “It was just a thought that hit me,” he said. “Some neighborhoods were dark,” he said of areas of Lakeland during this past Christmas season.
He also mentioned he has talked with mayors from other municipalities who are opposing a wheel tax increase of $20 which has been suggested by the Shelby County Commission as a way to raise money for MATA. (Memphis Area Transit Authority).
Commissioner Wesley Wright
He asked Mr. Horn to help schedule a suggested Town Hall meeting for residents with Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright and Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner and his staff.
… Photos by Jim Willis, Lakeland Currents
