Congratulations to Jim Atkinson, the Lakeland City Planner and Deputy Growth Management Director for obtaining his American Institute of Certified Planners Certification!
The AICP certification is the recognized professional designation for professional Planners, and is roughly the equal to the Professional Engineer (P.E.) for Engineers.
We are pleased that both of our professional planning personnel have the AICP Certification. J. Higbee had his designation when he came to Lakeland, and Jim Atkinson just passed his exam for the AICP certification on November 17, 2005!
On the engineering side, both City Engineer Karen Jarrett and Public Works Director Chris Masin have earned the Professional Engineer (P.E.) designation! Natural Resource Director Eric Bridges is certified as both a Forester and an Arborist.
The AICP certification is awarded by the American Planning Association and certifies that the Planner has passed the tough AICP exam, and has met at least minimum standards regarding education and experience.
The AICP certification also requires that the Planner maintain continuing education to maintain the AICP certification. (J. Higbee is currently earning continuing education credits to maintain his AICP certification.)
We are proud of Jim Atkinson, J. Higbee, Karen Jarrett, Eric Bridges and Chris Masin on their obtaining these important career achievements.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Leadership Lakeland 2006
I hope all Lakeland residents (or non-residents) will consider enrolling in the 2006 Leadership Lakeland program. Applications and information are available at Lakeland City Hall, 10001 Highway 70, call 867-2717 or E-mail CityHall@lakelandtn.org.
Leadership Lakeland will help you in your business, your work, your community, your church, or any organization, help you know yourself better, and, to top it off, it is fun!
To insure a quality experience, positions are limited, so apply today! A schedule has just been released. A summary of activities is noted below.
Leadership Lakeland will help you in your business, your work, your community, your church, or any organization, help you know yourself better, and, to top it off, it is fun!
To insure a quality experience, positions are limited, so apply today! A schedule has just been released. A summary of activities is noted below.
Leadership Lakeland Program Schedule
January Retreat/Orientation Day (Thursday, January 21)
January Class #1 Introduction to Lakeland (Thursday, Jan 26)
February Class #1 Lakeland’s Guiding Documents - (Thursday, February 9)
February Class #2 – How to run an effective meeting – (Thursday, Feb. 23)
March Class #1 – Education in Lakeland – (Thursday March 2)
IN MARCH OR APRIL – PARTICIPANTS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND A COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING AND SUBMIT A REFLECTION PAPER ON THEIR EXPERIENCE.
March Class #2 – Public Works and How a Subdivision Comes to Be
(Thursday, March 23)
Workshop – Saturday April 1st – Strategic Planning Workshop - required for LL participants – invitations will go to Boards and Civic Clubs and Organizations. Person in Charge – Stephanie. Gerrit will be the presenter for this workshop.
April Class #1 Police and Fire Protection/Code Enforcement (Thurs April 13)
April Class #2 – Lakeland’s Natural Resources (Thursday April 27)
May Class #1 – Putting it all together – Presentation of Class Projects
Date: May 11th
GRADUATION: May 23rd (tentatively) at Club Windward
January Class #1 Introduction to Lakeland (Thursday, Jan 26)
February Class #1 Lakeland’s Guiding Documents - (Thursday, February 9)
February Class #2 – How to run an effective meeting – (Thursday, Feb. 23)
March Class #1 – Education in Lakeland – (Thursday March 2)
IN MARCH OR APRIL – PARTICIPANTS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND A COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING AND SUBMIT A REFLECTION PAPER ON THEIR EXPERIENCE.
March Class #2 – Public Works and How a Subdivision Comes to Be
(Thursday, March 23)
Workshop – Saturday April 1st – Strategic Planning Workshop - required for LL participants – invitations will go to Boards and Civic Clubs and Organizations. Person in Charge – Stephanie. Gerrit will be the presenter for this workshop.
April Class #1 Police and Fire Protection/Code Enforcement (Thurs April 13)
April Class #2 – Lakeland’s Natural Resources (Thursday April 27)
May Class #1 – Putting it all together – Presentation of Class Projects
Date: May 11th
GRADUATION: May 23rd (tentatively) at Club Windward
Power outage Wednesday, November 16, 2005
An accident on Highway 70 disrupted power to City Hall for several hours Wednesday afternoon. The power outage also has disrupted phone service. The power outage also damaged the voice mail system so we are unable to access voice mails until repairs are made.
If you called Wednesday afternoon and the phone "just rang", please call again. If you left a voice mail and it is not returned, please call again!
If you called Wednesday afternoon and the phone "just rang", please call again. If you left a voice mail and it is not returned, please call again!
November/December Schedule
Holiday schedule for the City of Lakeland includes the following changes:
-Thursday, November 24 & Friday, November 25: City Hall closed for Thanksgiving Holidays
-Saturday, December 3, 2005: Remember the Lakeland Holiday Parade!
-Tuesday, December 20, 2005: Rescheduled BOC Work Session (Rescheduled from the normal date of Monday, December 26)
-Economic Development Commission meeting canceled for December
-Friday, December 23 and Monday, December 26: City Hall closed for Christmas Holidays
-Monday, January 2, 2005: City Hall closed for New Year Day Holiday
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-Thursday, November 24 & Friday, November 25: City Hall closed for Thanksgiving Holidays
-Saturday, December 3, 2005: Remember the Lakeland Holiday Parade!
-Tuesday, December 20, 2005: Rescheduled BOC Work Session (Rescheduled from the normal date of Monday, December 26)
-Economic Development Commission meeting canceled for December
-Friday, December 23 and Monday, December 26: City Hall closed for Christmas Holidays
-Monday, January 2, 2005: City Hall closed for New Year Day Holiday
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Saturday, November 12, 2005
Lakeland City Agenda's on Blog
Lakeland City agendas for Boards and Commissions are now available at lakelandmeetingagendas.blogspot.com. Agenda's will be posted on the day they are posted at City Hall.
The Blog will include meeting agenda's for the Board of Commissioners, Municipal Planning Commission, Design Review Commission, Park & Recreation Board, Natural Resources Board, Economic Development Commission and the Board of Appeals.
Meeting summaries will also be posted at Lakelandmeetingsummaries.blogspot.com. Meeting summaries are informal summaries of actions taken and not official minutes. Official minutes (after formal approval) are planned to be posted at Lakelandmeeting minutes.blogspot.com.
We will review this on a regular basis and will appreciate any comments or suggestions.
The Blog will include meeting agenda's for the Board of Commissioners, Municipal Planning Commission, Design Review Commission, Park & Recreation Board, Natural Resources Board, Economic Development Commission and the Board of Appeals.
Meeting summaries will also be posted at Lakelandmeetingsummaries.blogspot.com. Meeting summaries are informal summaries of actions taken and not official minutes. Official minutes (after formal approval) are planned to be posted at Lakelandmeeting minutes.blogspot.com.
We will review this on a regular basis and will appreciate any comments or suggestions.
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Shelby County Schools
I recently received a copy of the Shelby County Schools "System Report Card". Congratulations to the Shelby County teachers, students and administrators on the "best ever" report card!
It truly is an excellent report! All areas are "exemplary" or "above average", and improvement is shown in all areas, including attendance and the number of students who drop out. I think the fact that the students improved in all areas is especially significant considering that most of the scores were already excellent.
Shelby County Schools addes an important element to our community and we appreciate the hard work and dedication involved in these excellent results.
Some demographics from the Report are that there are 44,868 students and 2,581 teachers. The PTA is also active in that 43,733 persons are members.
Funding of Shelby County Schools is 47.8% local, 45.8% state and 6.4% federal.
Considering the excellent "Report Card", Shelby County Schools appear to be very effective, since the Shelby County Schools "per pupil expenditures" is $7,007, versus an average of $7,366 for the state and $9,102 nationally.
It truly is an excellent report! All areas are "exemplary" or "above average", and improvement is shown in all areas, including attendance and the number of students who drop out. I think the fact that the students improved in all areas is especially significant considering that most of the scores were already excellent.
Shelby County Schools addes an important element to our community and we appreciate the hard work and dedication involved in these excellent results.
Some demographics from the Report are that there are 44,868 students and 2,581 teachers. The PTA is also active in that 43,733 persons are members.
Funding of Shelby County Schools is 47.8% local, 45.8% state and 6.4% federal.
Considering the excellent "Report Card", Shelby County Schools appear to be very effective, since the Shelby County Schools "per pupil expenditures" is $7,007, versus an average of $7,366 for the state and $9,102 nationally.
Saturday, November 05, 2005
Existing Business Visitation program-Tell us what you think!
The City of Lakeland (Economic Development Commission), Lakeland Chamber of Commerce and the Memphis Chamber of Commerce are cooperating in a program to visit each Lakeland business and ask what is good and bad about Lakeland and how Lakeland can assist our existing businesses.
Nanette Smith, Administrative Planning Coordinator, is coordinating and conducting the visits with the assistance of the Memphis Chamber of Commerce. Nanette has completed several Lakeland business visits and has received some excellent feedback.
We encourage all business persons to be honest, both in the positives and negatives, on doing business in Lakeland. We want to listen and make recommend changes as appropriate to make Lakeland a better and more profitable place four our existing businesses!
The City is sending notices to individual businesses on a phased periodic basis. If you don’t or haven’t gotten a letter, and wish a visit in the near future, contact Lakeland City Hall to schedule a visit. We want your input!
If you have comments, suggestions or recommendations on any aspect of the City of Lakeland, of course you are encouraged to contact us at any time.
Nanette Smith, Administrative Planning Coordinator, is coordinating and conducting the visits with the assistance of the Memphis Chamber of Commerce. Nanette has completed several Lakeland business visits and has received some excellent feedback.
We encourage all business persons to be honest, both in the positives and negatives, on doing business in Lakeland. We want to listen and make recommend changes as appropriate to make Lakeland a better and more profitable place four our existing businesses!
The City is sending notices to individual businesses on a phased periodic basis. If you don’t or haven’t gotten a letter, and wish a visit in the near future, contact Lakeland City Hall to schedule a visit. We want your input!
If you have comments, suggestions or recommendations on any aspect of the City of Lakeland, of course you are encouraged to contact us at any time.
Lakeland Wastewater Treatment Plant
Bids on a new Lakeland Wastewater Treatment Plant are being opened on Tuesday, November 22.
The new Lakeland Wastewater Treatment Plant is planned for the same location as the existing wastewater treatment plant. The plant is designed for a permitted capacity of 2.3 million gallons, versus the current capacity of 1.0 million gallons. Due to changes in the state requirements for treatment of wastewater, a new wastewater treatment plant would have been required whether Lakeland had any growth or not.
The Lakeland Sewer System is operated as an “Enterprise Fund” and is a separate entity from the City. All Sewer System expenses are paid by Lakeland Sewer System customers. The “Lakeland Board of Sewerage Commission” is the oversight Board for the Lakeland Sewer System. The members of the Lakeland Board of Commissioners are also the members of the Lakeland Board of Sewerage Commission.
Best of all, financial forecasts indicate that only a $1.00 increase every five years in sewer fees will be necessary to repay the loan on the new Wastewater Treatment Plant. Growth and development fees will pay the remainder of the costs of the new plant. Of course, we hope these forecasts are correct!
Bids (and possible alternatives to a new wastewater treatment plant) will be considered at the December 1, 2005 Board of Commissioners/Sewerage Commission Regular Meeting.
The new Lakeland Wastewater Treatment Plant is planned for the same location as the existing wastewater treatment plant. The plant is designed for a permitted capacity of 2.3 million gallons, versus the current capacity of 1.0 million gallons. Due to changes in the state requirements for treatment of wastewater, a new wastewater treatment plant would have been required whether Lakeland had any growth or not.
The Lakeland Sewer System is operated as an “Enterprise Fund” and is a separate entity from the City. All Sewer System expenses are paid by Lakeland Sewer System customers. The “Lakeland Board of Sewerage Commission” is the oversight Board for the Lakeland Sewer System. The members of the Lakeland Board of Commissioners are also the members of the Lakeland Board of Sewerage Commission.
Best of all, financial forecasts indicate that only a $1.00 increase every five years in sewer fees will be necessary to repay the loan on the new Wastewater Treatment Plant. Growth and development fees will pay the remainder of the costs of the new plant. Of course, we hope these forecasts are correct!
Bids (and possible alternatives to a new wastewater treatment plant) will be considered at the December 1, 2005 Board of Commissioners/Sewerage Commission Regular Meeting.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
My "extra" hour
I like take the time to reflect on the day when Daylight Savings Time “ends” and I get an “extra” hour. I especially enjoy the “fall back” extra hour, and several years ago, I decided to use the extra hour to reflect on the year, and what I want for the year ahead. (I decided to do this when I was starting to feel like I used the extra hour in deciding what to do with the extra hour!)
Uncle Wayne’s passing was still on my mind, and I thought about our recent visit to north-central Kansas for my Uncle Wayne’s funeral services. On the way up, we listened to Tim Russert’s book concerning his memories of his father. His father, like my Uncle Wayne, was a member of the “Greatest Generation”, having been in World War II and being a part of that generation. It was a very appropriate book for the drive and help me reflect on Uncle Wayne and the influence of him and his generation on our culture and society and especially the importance of every resident and how one resident can have such an impact, especially in a smaller community.
(While up in Concordia, Kansas, we went out into the early morning for a walk with a 51 degree temperature, and suddenly I remembered one reason I like Tennessee! 51 degrees in Lakeland, Tennessee is much better than 51 degrees (with the wind) in Concordia, Kansas!)
I think my experience in Lakeland and my reflections on the impact of the “Greatest Generation” emphasize the importance of citizen input in local government. So many times, we have been able to improve because a resident cared enough to contact us and advise us of a problem, concern or suggestion.
YOU may have the thought, suggestion or comment that will dramatically improve Lakeland. Let us know!
Uncle Wayne’s passing was still on my mind, and I thought about our recent visit to north-central Kansas for my Uncle Wayne’s funeral services. On the way up, we listened to Tim Russert’s book concerning his memories of his father. His father, like my Uncle Wayne, was a member of the “Greatest Generation”, having been in World War II and being a part of that generation. It was a very appropriate book for the drive and help me reflect on Uncle Wayne and the influence of him and his generation on our culture and society and especially the importance of every resident and how one resident can have such an impact, especially in a smaller community.
(While up in Concordia, Kansas, we went out into the early morning for a walk with a 51 degree temperature, and suddenly I remembered one reason I like Tennessee! 51 degrees in Lakeland, Tennessee is much better than 51 degrees (with the wind) in Concordia, Kansas!)
I think my experience in Lakeland and my reflections on the impact of the “Greatest Generation” emphasize the importance of citizen input in local government. So many times, we have been able to improve because a resident cared enough to contact us and advise us of a problem, concern or suggestion.
YOU may have the thought, suggestion or comment that will dramatically improve Lakeland. Let us know!
Reflections on my fourth Anniversary in Lakeland
11/1/05 marks the beginning of my fifth year in Lakeland. It has been a rewarding four years, as we have enjoyed living and working in Lakeland. I am amazed to look back and realize it has been four years since I started!
Along with other Lakeland residents, I have seen a lot of changes. I have especially enjoyed working with Lakeland residents, the members of the Lakeland Boards and Commissions and the Lakeland City employees. I find Lakeland residents to be more knowledgeable and more active than other cities and this makes the job especially rewarding.
I can say without exception that the Lakeland Board of Commissioners appreciates citizen input at meetings! They (and city staff) appreciate your words of appreciation, as well as your words of concern or criticism.
We REALLY don’t know how you are feeling unless you tell us! Don’t hesitate to attend a meeting of any Board or Commission, pickup the phone and call us or E-mail us! We do listen and we do respond to your concerns and requests. If we don’t, let us know so we can improve.
Along with other Lakeland residents, I have seen a lot of changes. I have especially enjoyed working with Lakeland residents, the members of the Lakeland Boards and Commissions and the Lakeland City employees. I find Lakeland residents to be more knowledgeable and more active than other cities and this makes the job especially rewarding.
I can say without exception that the Lakeland Board of Commissioners appreciates citizen input at meetings! They (and city staff) appreciate your words of appreciation, as well as your words of concern or criticism.
We REALLY don’t know how you are feeling unless you tell us! Don’t hesitate to attend a meeting of any Board or Commission, pickup the phone and call us or E-mail us! We do listen and we do respond to your concerns and requests. If we don’t, let us know so we can improve.
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