The BOC (Board of Commissioners) met for its January work session tonight (1.4.17) recognizing the newest City staff member — Cory Brady who is the new planning director.
Mr. Brady starts his job Monday and replaces Tom Skehan who resigned after two and one-half years in that position.
Mr. Brady is the owner of Integrated Land Solutions, a planning and landscape architecture firm in Collierville. He and his wife, Melissa, and their two daughters, Addison, 10-years-old, and Reese, five-years-old, live in Collierville. His professional certifications include PLA (Professional Landscape Architect) and ALCP (American Institute of Certified Planners).
He told the BOC, “I am looking forward to getting in the trenches and getting to work.”
Link to the work session agenda: https://tn-lakeland.civicplus.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/735
Clark Province from Watkins Uiberall, PLLC, reviewed the FY17 audit (link: https://lakelandtn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6838 ) and said the audit went very well and looks great. He noted that at the end of the current fiscal year, unassigned fund balance for the general fund was $7,529,530 or 71.2% of total general fund balance. He said this is a strong position.
Of the general fund, the audit says it is the chief operating fund of the City. At the end of the current fiscal year, unassigned fund balance of the General Fund was $7,529,530, while total fund balance reached $10,577,322. As a measure of the General Fund’s liquidity, it may be useful to compare both unassigned fund balance and total fund balance to total fund expenditures. Unassigned fund balance represents 172% of total General Fund expenditures, while total fund balance represents 242% of that same amount. Mr. Province said the 172% is quite good.
He also stated that from a peer perspective, Lakeland is in a better position than the other surrounding municipalities.
Vice Mayor Josh Roman asked if different eyes should be looking at the City finances. Mr. Province explained he has only been doing the City review two years and that his firm has rotations in place.
Mayor Wyatt Bunker said he was relieved to hear different eyes are looking at the reports. “We take our finances very seriously,” he said. Mayor Bunker noted that the firm has tremendous experience and he thanked City Finance Director Jessica Millspaugh and Jessie Rosales, Lakeland School System accountant, for their work on the audit records.
Lt. Kathy Crowder with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) gave monthly crime reports for November and December. For November there were 10 thefts from motor vehicles, three were unlocked. Two suspects were arrested, she said, which cleared a lot of the reports. There was copper wire stolen from the Old Factory Outlet Mall which is being demolished to build a new venue, The Lake District.
In December there were 15 thefts from motor vehicles, 11 unlocked. A number of the car thefts were in Herons Ridge. Among the 49 December incidents, there were six drug-related, one burglary from a business, seven residential burglaries and one intimidation incident.
Lt. Crowder reminded citizens they can help bring the numbers down by securing property and vehicles and calling the SCSO for any suspicious activity – 379-7625.
City Manager Jim Atkinson gave his monthly report:
- Projects in the City include Oakwood Grove, Long Landing, The Grove, The Preserve, Kensington Manor, Evergreen Manor, Herons Ridge C, Chapel Woods, Estates of Chambers Chapel, Regions Bank, The Pet Hospitals, Winsted Farms PD and The Lake District.
- He is meeting with the general manager of Republic Services tomorrow to discuss below average services which peaked before Christmas. Although Republic claimed to be caught up with all trash and recycling, Mr. Atkinson said there are still pockets of the City not served. Mayor Bunker got approval from commissioners to draft a letter to the Company, outlining the specifics of their poor service. The City has the right to terminate services with Republic and bid out the contract to another company.
- Regarding the Stonebridge Advisory Group, Mr. Atkinson said a letter has been drafted but the committee not formed yet. Mayor Bunker suggested that not only Stonebridge be organized to help with security but also North Lakeland and some of the neighborhoods off U.S. Highway 64. He said he would be willing to serve on one of the committees and he knew Commissioner Clark Plunk could help with the Stonebridge group. Vice Mayor Roman said he’d like to schedule a meeting similar to the Vision 2020 meetings, but for security. Mayor Bunker suggested possible cameras at intersections and Commissioner Wesley Wright said he is working with Lakeland Resident Brian Haines for some security ideas for homeowner associations and neighborhoods.
An ordinance amending land development regulations was removed from the agenda, pending additional information.
A second ordinance is to amend the FY 17-18 budget for $300,000 in unplanned legal fees.
A third ordinance dealt with revising City park rules. Mayor Bunker asked Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Rooney to make some changes in the proposed rules including some grammatical fixes.
There was a resolution to approve a construction agreement on a new Gateway Sign. It will be on westbound U.S. Highway 70 outside the northern right-of-way. Vice Mayor Roman suggested that money be set aside to install lights at the new sign.
There were three other resolutions: A change order in sanitary sewer improvements, reimbursement from FEMA for May 2017 storm damage and proceedings on tract 44 for the New Canada Road Project.
