Operation Safe Community

Operation Safe Community is a partnership of a number of organizations and persons to reduce crime in Shelby County. As noted by one of the participants, criminals don’t recognize municipal boundaries.

Chair of the Committee is U.S. Attorney David Kustoff. Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell and District Attorney Bill Gibbons are actively involved (and I believe initiated Operation Safe Community). Representatives of Shelby County departments, all Shelby County municipalities, the Memphis Chamber of Commerce, Memphis Tomorrow etc. are actively involved in the initiative so it is a program which may make a difference and be effective. Some action items have already been implemented.

Operation Safe Community has a number of priority action items and I believe it will make a difference. I am impressed by the action accomplished thus far and the continued interest in the organization and the implementation of the action items.

Detailed information is available at www.operationsafecommunity.org. Interested persons can sign up for E-mail updates etc. at this web site.

Proposed Sign Ordinance Amendments

The Lakeland Board of Commissioners is considering the following amendments to the Lakeland Sign Ordinance. This will be on First Reading at the BOC meeting on Thursday, July 5. Residents or Businesspersons with questions may contact Jim Atkinson at Lakeland City Hall with any questions, clarifications or comments.

Incidental Signs – Currently, incidental signs are permitted up to one square-foot with a maximum height of two feet. The proposed change would allow two square feet in area and three feet in height. Incidental signs are typically used for directional purposes, such as “entrance”, “exit”, etc. Incidental signs may not contain any commercial message.

Temporary Signs (banners) – Currently, each business is allowed one temporary sign permit for a banner each year and the permit is good for 30 days. The proposed change would allow three permits per year, good for 10 days each (30 days total per year).

Ground Sign – Currently, principle ground signs must be setback at least 20 feet from front property lines. The proposed change would allow a 10-foot setback.

Window Signs – Currently, window signs are not permitted. The proposed change would allow a maximum of 2 window signs per business not to exceed 10% of the total window area and be no larger than 20 square feet.

I emphasize these are staff proposals and may not be approved or may be revised prior to final adoption.

Jeffery Thomas

Jeffery Thomas passed on on Saturday, June 22, 2007 after collapsing while playing basketball.

He worked for the Lakeland Parks Department in the recreational program and maintaining and improving the City parks.

When I first interviewed him, he mentioned his goal of becoming a Coach. As part of the Lakeland Parks Department he was a Coach as well as a Referee for the Lakeland Recreation program.

Jeffery was talented and dedicated to improving the recreational program for Lakeland residents and especially enjoyed working in the recreational activities. I observed him over the time he worked for the City and noted his dedication and hard work, and, most of all, his pride in doing an excellent job.

The City Staff and children and parents who participated in the Lakeland Recreation Program will miss Jeffery.

Update on I-40/Canada Road Interchange

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) advised at a meeting with Lakeland City staff and engineering consultant on Monday, June 18, 2007 that both the Enhanced Diamond and the Single Point Urban Interchange designs are still under consideration.

TDOT advised that, if all performance factors are equal over a 20 year period, the more inexpensive Enhanced Diamond design would be selected. However, the City of Lakeland Transportation Consultant is submitting documentation showing that the Single Point Urban Interchange is more effective and will save money over the 20 year period and is worth the initial extra cost.

City staff also presented petitions with over 1,100 signatures (!) urging TDOT to select the Single Point Urban Interchange. (A big thanks to all the persons who spent a lot of time and effort in collecting signatures! Your support and work are appreciated and I believe it will be a factor in the final decision.) TDOT noted the petitions and letters were received and than recommended the City retain them.

We do definitely feel that TDOT has not yet determined the design and will consider all the facts before making a decision in the near future.

A TDOT representative also called me last week to remind me that TDOT will hold a Public Hearing after the design is selected. Even if the Enhanced Diamond interchange is selected, persons may still appear and recommend the Single Point Urban Interchange or recommend changes to the Enhanced Diamond design.

We will keep you advised of any news we hear on this matter.

Thanks for your Support!

984 signatures (letters and on petitions) have been counted as of 4:30 p.m. Friday in support of the “Single Point Urban Interchange” for the I-40/Canada Road interchange upgrade.

We expect the total signatures will top 1,000 by Monday.

We appreciate the support of area residents and especially the persons who dedicated a lot of time and effort in collecting signatures and passing out letters!

We expect that the Tennessee Department of Transportation will select a design in the near future. A Public Hearing on the design will be held after the design is selected.

Letters and petitions may still be turned into City Hall until approximately 10 a.m. Monday morning. City staff will take the petitions and letters to Nashville Monday afternoon for a meeting with TDOT as an indication of the support and concern for the Canada Roard/I-40 interchange.

Interchange at I-40 and Canada Road

What is a Single Point Interchange and why is it so important to Lakeland and residents of surrounding areas (anyone using or affected by this Interchange)?

Detailed information is available at www.Lakelandtn.gov on why the Single Point design is so important to Lakeland.

Downloadable petitions and sample letters are available at this website so you can support the Single Point design.

If you haven't already done so, I urge you to downloand a petition now and get signatures and/or download a sample letter!

All petitions and letters should be sent to Lakeland City Hall, 10001 Highway 70, Lakeland, Tennessee 38002 so they are received by June 15, 2007.

Lakeland events-special thanks

The Lakeland Fishing Rodeo and the 30^th City of Lakeland Birthday Celebration was successful due to excellent and dedicated work by the staff and volunteers, including the Lakeland Park Board/Natural Resources Board.

We especially appreciate the efforts of Lakeland personnel, including

Lakeland Parks and Recreation Director Brenda Lockhart

Recreation Coordinator Joy Cloud

Park Coordinator Dan Scott

Park Maintenance Jeffery Thomas

Natural Resources Director Eric Bridges

Natural Resources Technician Nick Bridgeman

As always, volunteers are especially important to Lakeland, and the members of the Lakeland Park and Recreation Board/Natural Resources Board contributed a lot of volunteer time and effort to making these events successful. Members include

John Ward (Chair of the Park Board/Natural Resources Board)

Commissioner Randy Nicholson

James Bacon

Bille Fae Horton

Anthony Neri

Clay Rogers.

I-40 Canada Road Action needed!

All residents of the area who are impacted by the I-40/Canada Road Interchange-We need your help!

The Tennessee Department of Transportation advised the City that a Public Hearing on whether the Single Point Interchange design or the enhanced diamond design is being selected. Instead there will be one more meeting with City staff only and TDOT.

THE MEETING IS JUNE 18, 2007. WE WANT TO BRING ALONG ALL THE LETTERS AND PETITIONS POSSIBLE TO INDICATE THAT EASTERN SHELBY COUNTY RESIDENTS (AND FAYETTE COUNTY RESIDENTS) WANT AN INTERCHANGE WITH THE "SINGLE POINT DESIGN" AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

YOU CAN HELP!

The information provided below is also at www.Lakelandtn.gov, as are Petitions and sample letters. Petitions and sample letters can also be E-mailed to you by contacting the City of Lakeland at CityHall@lakelandtn.org, faxed or mailed by calling 867-2717 or picked up at Lakeland City Hall, 10001 Highway 70, Lakeland, Tennessee.

NOTE THAT PETITIONS AND LETTERS MUST BE RETURNED TO LAKELAND CITY HALL BY JUNE 15, 2007 TO BE DELIVERED IN PERSON TO THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ON JUNE 18, 2007!

ACT NOW!

PLEASE HELP GET THE BEST INTERCHANGE DESIGN AT I-40 AND CANADA ROAD.

1. Download the attached petition and get it signed by as many people and possible and return it to Lakeland City Hall by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 15. (Petitions will be at www.Lakelandtn.gov

Or

2. Download the attached letter, date and sign it and return it to City Hall, 10001 Highway 70 by 4:30 p.m. Friday, June 15. (Sample letters will be at www.Lakelandtn.gov

Or

3. Write a letter to Mr. Degges at the address noted in your own words (handwritten is fine) and return it to City Hall, 10001 Highway 70 by 4:30 p.m. Friday, June 15.

The mailing address for Lakeland City Hall is Lakeland City Hall, 10001 Highway 70, Lakeland, Tennessee 38002.

We will handcarry all letters and petitions to Nashville on Monday, June 18, 2007 to personally deliver them to Mr. Degges at the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

YOUR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED!