There was a bit of dissension among the ranks tonight (6.14.18) at the Town Hall and BOC (Board of Commissioners) meetings as one commissioner challenged citizens, the Mayor and then voted against an amended FY 18-19 budget and a resolution for neighborhood street paving.
The controversy began during a crowded 5 p.m. Town Hall meeting when eight citizens asked questions of the commissioners.
Link to video excerpts from meetings: https://vimeo.com/275198425
First up to speak was Jerry Lucius who explained the streets in his 55+ neighborhood, Sterling Place (SP), are in terrible shape and he requested relief for his fellow residents. Commissioner Clark Plunk challenged that issue, saying Mayor Wyatt Bunker had attended a meeting with SP and promised to pave the streets. He further said a letter was sent to all SP residents saying the new budget would be changed to reflect the cost of paving those streets.
When SP residents asked who sent the letter, Commissioner Plunk would not identify the author of the letter but said he would have it next week if anyone wanted to look at it.
Mr. Lucius and others from SP spoke to Mr. Plunk and said that was not what happened. They said Mayor Bunker along with Commissioner Matt Wright and City staff met in the SP neighborhood but never promised paving, noting that the paving would have to be approved by a majority on the BOC.
The controversy over street paving and the budget continued into the regular business meeting, with Mr. Plunk voting against an amendment to the budget and then voting NO on the amended budget.
Later in the evening there was a new resolution presented to pave streets in SP and he voted NO on that resolution.
Mr. Plunk cited political reasons for the push to pave SP roads, saying it was an attempt by the Mayor to secure votes for the Nov. 6 election.
Both the amended budget and the paving resolution were approved on a three to one vote.
Others who spoke at the Town Hall meeting and their topics:
- Deborah Tipler asked about road paving and in particular Canada Road
- Sue Malone said she wanted to set the record straight that Mayor Bunker didn’t promise to pave SP streets
- Heather Adams asked about plans and/or financing for a high school
- Melanie Mays asked about changes in the TIF (Tax Increment Financing) for The Lake District
- Richard Gonzalez asked about road paving and sloppy collections by Republic Services
- Susan Richardson requested Town Hall meetings be later in the evenings and longer than 30 minutes. She also questioned the number of apartments planned at The Lake District.
- Dalton Blakely challenged Commissioner Plunk, saying Mayor Bunker did not imply he would do anything about the SP paving at which time many in the group applauded.
Link to regular meeting agenda: https://tn-lakeland.civicplus.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/776
SCSO
Following the Town Hall, Lt. Kathy Crowder with the SCSO (Shelby County Sheriff’s Office) gave her monthly crime report for Lakeland. The May report shows four thefts from motor vehicles, two were unlocked; four residential burglaries, no suspects but a video available on one. She said patrols have been added around IH Park after the City reported suspicious activity. She reminded citizens to call the non-emergency number for anything which doesn’t seem right – 379-7625.
City Manager’s report
City Manager Jim Atkinson said he doesn’t usually get to scoop the SCSO but this afternoon an arrest was made when suspects were at IH Park, “smoking something they weren’t supposed to be smoking.” He noted there have been recent issues with teenagers hanging around the park into the night, littering, smoking and drinking.
Among the items he reported to the BOC was confirmation that the City Municipal Court will start next month on the third Wednesday, 8:15 a.m. He said the newly hired Judge Taylor Cates recommended those with citations should come to Court early in the morning for their offenses, rather than making City staff stay at night to have Court. The Judge is to be sworn in at the July 12 BOC business meeting at which time the court clerk will be announced. Mr. Atkinson said current cases already in Shelby County Environmental Court will stay and new cases will start in the Lakeland Court.
Mayor Bunker asked about the proposed Athletic Park and a grant which has been submitted to fund part of the work. To Kevin Rooney, director of the Parks and Recreation Department, he asked if the fields and wagon wheel could be rearranged on the land, allowing more of a buffer to the park. Mr. Atkinson said that can be done during the construction stage of the Park.
FY 18-19 budget
Jessica Millspaugh, city finance director, reviewed budget amendments which included the following changes:
Increasing General Fund grants revenue from $1,924,000 to $1,164,000
Decreasing General Fund general government appropriation from $2,146,807 to $2,111,807
Increasing General Fund capital projects appropriation from $3,525,820 to $3,825,820
Increasing General Fund transfers out to other funds from $3,942,222 to $4,132,521
Increasing State Street Aid transfers in from other funds from $540,505 to $607,804
Increasing State Street Aid public works expenditures from $1,225,555 to $1,525,555
The Mayor commented that the BOC was passing a balanced budget. Mrs. Millspaugh said technically it is not balanced because of expenses to start the Lakeland Fire Department. The money to start the Department will come from reserve money but over time will be recouped from fire fees paid by citizens. “The budget has always been deficient because of the Fire Department, but otherwise, it is balanced.”
Commissioner Matt Wright likened this expense to the Lakeland School System start-up. Mrs. Millspaugh said yes, but the City doesn’t have to borrow money. It is in the reserve account.
On a vote of 3-1, an amendment to the FY18-19 budget was approved, and then the same vote for budget approval. The nay vote was from Commissioner Plunk. Vice Mayor Josh Roman was not at the meeting.
Responding to a Town Hall question from earlier in the evening, the Mayor commented about improvements to the walking path on Canada Road at I-40. He said the matching grant money will be used not only for the path but for signs and drainage. He noted the paths were built prematurely and commonly called the “bridges to nowhere.” He said if he could rewind time, they would not have been built at that time. But now their condition is a safety concern.
Emily Harrell, city engineer, said she has received the notice to proceed from TDOT (Tennessee Department of Transportation) and hopes the bidding will be next spring.
Other business of the evening
Under Sewerage Commission business, resolutions were passed recommending approval for Winstead Farms and The Estates at Chambers Chapel concept sewer plans. Later both plans were approved.
The remaining resolutions under the regular agenda were passed:
- A first reading to amend the Municipal Code regarding beer permit holders. Atkinson noted there is archaic language and silly rules and the ordinance would handle these fixes.
- Adoption of a personnel pay plan with salary ranges
- Building permit compliance by Homeowner Associations
- Three resolutions dealing with the Lakeland School System – one for an internal control manual; one for computer leasing; and one for Mr. Atkinson to handle the leasing agreement with Apple, Inc.
- Commissioners approved a resolution to contribute $4,000 from the City toward a reward fund in finding suspects responsible for a May 27 shooting at the Oakwood Clubhouse. CrimeStoppers is already offering $1,000. Three juveniles attending a party at the Clubhouse were shot that evening and the SCSO is still investigating the case.
Added to the regular agenda was a resolution to pave streets within Sterling Place (SP) in the Fiscal Year 2019 street improvements project. The resolution noted that Commissioners recognized streets in SP are used in a different manner than in other subdivisions and the streets are deteriorating. The resolution passed 3-1 with Commissioner Plunk voting NO.
As had happened earlier in the evening, Commissioner Plunk became a bit combative and shared his opinion about which roads in Lakeland should be paved and when. He said the SP roads are not that bad. He said to the Mayor that this is an election year and the paving was done for votes. “It’s just a political ploy … all for votes,” he said.
Commissioner Matt Wright said he attended the SP meeting and he had no idea the paving resolution was coming tonight. “I have sympathy for these folks. They use scooters, they are extremely senior citizens. I support this and I’m not running (for election). I am trying to help these folks.”
Two citizens in the audience questioned the paving, asking if there are sidewalks in SP and would Mrs. Harrell recommend SP over other street paving projects.
A final item on the agenda was discussion on a transportation plan regarding a road, Lakeland Trace which will connect to new neighborhoods such as Oakwood Grove, Estates at Chambers Chapel and Chapel Woods. Mr. Atkinson said the roads plan hasn’t been reviewed since 2009 and this needs to be kept on the radar of the City.
The announcement of the evening was Mr. Atkinson giving his letter of resignation. He said he is blessed to be leaving on friendly terms, but he has a great opportunity to get back into planning. He has been with the City of Lakeland over 13 years, he said, with 3 ½ years as City Manager. He said he is extremely proud of city staff and he will still be in Lakeland and his children will still go to Lakeland schools, the best in the State.
He has accepted a job with Lakeland-based A2H and said he is not on a particular timeframe and will help with the transition to a new city manager.
Commissioners Matt Wright and Wesley Wright effusively complimented Mr. Atkinson as did the Mayor. Commissioner Plunk wished Mr. Atkinson good luck.
… Photos and video by Jim Willis, Lakeland Currents.
Link to City livestream of two meetings: https://livestream.com/lakeland
