The BOC (Board of Commissioners) met for a work session tonight (9.5.19) at City Hall after cancelling the sessions for the summer.
Link to agenda: https://tn-lakeland.civicplus.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/868\
Link to Livestream: https://livestream.com/lakeland/events/8808182
Commissioner Michele Dial said she wanted to recognize the Lakeland School System (LSS) for their accomplishments. She was referencing the Tennessee Department of Education (DOE) naming the LSS an Exemplary School District for the third time in four years of eligibility, with both of Lakeland’s schools named 2018-19 Reward Schools.
The Aug. 15th DOE announcement also noted both Lakeland Elementary and Lakeland Middle Preparatory were named 2019 Reward Schools which is the highest distinction available to public schools in Tennessee. The Department of Education released data to show the Lakeland School System is the #1 ranked district in the state for grades 3-5 achievement, and the #2 ranked district in the state for grades 6-8 achievement.
Mrs. Dial first acknowledged Superintendent Dr. Ted Horrell and “the great leaders of the Board of Education.” She spoke of Principals Matt Adler and Joretha Lockhart and teachers “who are the boots on the ground every day.”
She noted parents send their children ready to learn, help with homework and attend functions at the schools. Lastly she spoke of the students. She said they are not last on the list. They take the tests, she said. They deserve the recognition.
In summation, she said she expects a high school in Lakeland to shine just as brightly. (The City is on the cusp of funding the first high school in Lakeland, to be constructed behind Lakeland Middle Preparatory School and perhaps open in August 2022 to ninth graders.)
Vice Mayor Josh Roman asked Lakeland School Board Member Jeremy Burnett (in attendance at the meeting) to please share Commissioner Dial’s comments to the rest of the Board.
Mayor Mike Cunningham said it was his plan to publically recognize the LSS next month but because of the “lashing on social media,” he said tonight was the night to speak up. He was referring to criticism that he made no acknowledgement of the schools’ achievements.
City property tax rate
There was discussion on amending the Fiscal Year 2019-20 budget including the tax rate which is currently set at $1.89, an increase of 64-cents over last year’s tax rate. The ordinance would change the tax rate to $1.20.
The Mayor noted that since the last BOC meeting Aug. 8, there has been discussion of a rate of $1.25 and $1.16. Acknowledging as a tax payer, he is in favor of lower property taxes, however, he questioned how the $1.20 rate might impact the roads budget and other expenses not in the current budget.
Commissioner Richard Gonzales Jr. said taxpayers are used to the $1.25 rate and he recommended that amount. He acknowledged, however, that the Vice Mayor’s suggestion of lowering the tax rate to $1.20 was mathematically correct.
Commissioners will vote on the tax rate at next week’s meeting, Sept. 12th at City Hall.
MOU between LSS and the City, USDA loan proceeds
Resolution #1 on the agenda dealt with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) relating to the LSS contribution of $700K per year, utilizing the School System’s fund balance monies for four years to help finance debt service relating to construction of the high school in Lakeland.
The school is to be financed with a USDA Rural Development loan which, according to City Manager Shane Horn, should be confirmed by the federal officials next week. He said he expects the bonds to be obligated before the BOC meeting next week and then get the Lakeland tax rate set with the Shelby County Trustee’s Office. He said the Trustee has an automated process which can do a two-week turnaround on printing the tax notices and putting them online.
Commissioner Gonzales asked if the entire $40 million would be given to LSS at one time. Will Patterson, interim city attorney, said there will be interim financing or a construction loan which will be underwritten by USDA. Mr. Patterson said the School System requested they would run the school project and have the funds, but the MOU is just a draft. He said that borrowing the entire amount at one time would likely get a better interest rate than possible drafts on the total amount.
The Mayor said this is taxpayer money and should stay in the City account and accrue interest. He said if all the money is turned over to the School System, that is not a good way to protect taxpayer dollars. He suggested if the school project were to come in $2 million under budget, the City would have that money for City projects.
Vice Mayor Roman asked the item be pulled from the agenda until there are real numbers on the loan process.
The rest of the meeting
Commissioner Wesley Wright 
brought to the table concerns about safety on U.S. Highway 70, in lieu of a tragic traffic accident last week and other accidents on the highway. He mentioned a traffic light at the Highway and Seed Tick Road, four to five lanes on the Highway, additional radar to temper the speeding traffic and talks with TDOT. City Engineer Emily Harrell said she has talked with TDOT but believes distracted driving and speed are the biggest problems on the road. Asked what the timeline might be on increasing the lanes to five, Mrs. Harrell said it would probably be five years before construction could start. Commissioner Dial mentioned that U.S. Highway 64 may be worse than Highway 70 and she believes drivers don’t know traffic laws.
A suggestion for a moratorium on apartments was sponsored by Commissioner Wright who said he would like for Lakeland to take a stand on approving an 18 to 24-month moratorium to study the impact of apartments on school enrollment, density, services, traffic and safety. Vice Mayor Roman asked City Planning Director Forrest Owens (who is an alderman in Germantown which approved such a moratorium) to estimate the cost of a study. Mr. Owens said $250K and the study took a year.
Vice Mayor Josh Roman
added a 13th item to the agenda: Discussion and recognition for Dexter Muller who is a part-time economic consultant for the City. All on the BOC agreed that Mr. Muller is plays an important role for the City and community. The Vice Mayor asked that a resolution be drafted to present $5K to Mr. Muller for his role in recruiting the Aldi grocery store project to Lakeland.
… Photos and videos by Jim Willis, Lakeland Currents.
