February events

The City of Lakeland calendar of meetings is available at www.lakelandtn.gov and on the Lakeland YouTube channel as well as Comcast cable channel 19. Some highlights of community and city meetings:

-Monday, February 1, 2010: Lakeland Board of Commissioners and the Municipal Planning Commission meet in joint session at 6:30 p.m. to review the Land Development Regulations.

-Thursday, February 11, 2010: Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, Lunch Meeting at 11:30 a.m at the Stonebridge Golf Clubhouse. Call 213-2142 or e-mail or sblondis@bellsouth.net for reservations by Tuesday, February 9.

-Friday, February 12, 2010: Senior Potluck Lunch at 11:30 a.m. at the IH Clubhouse. RSVP at 867-2717 or Blockhard@lakelandtn.org.

-Monday, February 15, 2010: City Hall is closed for Presidents Day. Refuse collection is not affected.

-Tuesday, February 16, 2010: Municipal Planning Commission meeting rescheduled to 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, February 16, 2010 from Monday, February 15, 2010.

-Saturday, February 27, 2010: River City Bop Club and the Lakeland Park Department sponsor a dance at the IH Clubhouse at 7:00 p.m. Admission fee is $4.00 for Lakeland residents.

Temporary Sign Permit List

Temporary sign permits issued are listed at:http://tempsignpermits.blogspot.com. Residents may check this list to determine if a temporary sign permit has been issued.

February "YouTube" Channel 19 Calendar posted

The February Calendar of events (Channel 19 style slide show) has been posted at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itlQ0nwBtHo or use the key words "Lakelandtn" and "Channel 19".

Lakeland Chamber of Commerce Monthly Lunch Thursday, Feburary 11

Monthly Luncheons Return on Thursday, February 11th Luncheons to be held on the second Thursday of each month throughout 2010 The first luncheon of the new year will be held on February 11th, so make plans to attend now. Our guest speakers will be representatives of the US Census Bureau who will be sharing useful information about the upcoming census and how the information gathered can affect local businesses. Did you know that census results help determine the number of seats our state occupies in the U.S. House of Representatives? And people from many walks of life use census data to advocate for causes, rescue disaster victims, prevent diseases, research markets, locate pools of skilled workers and more. When you do the math, it's easy to see what an accurate count of residents in Lakeland can do for our community: Better infrastructure. More services. A brighter tomorrow for everyone. We hope we can count on you to be there! February Luncheon Clubhouse @ Stonebridge Golf Course 3049 Davies Plantation Road Thursday, February 11th · 11:30 AM-1:00 PM LACOC Members: $10 / Guests: $15 / First Time Visitors: FREE IMPORTANT: Please reserve your seat before Tuesday, February 9th by calling Sandra Blondis at 213-2143 or e-mailing her at sblondis@bellsouth.net. It is very important that we know how many people to expect so we can be sure to order enough food.

Lakeland Chamber Business After Hours this Thursday, January 28!

LACOC Hosts "Business After-Hours" Please be our guest at the first Chamber event of the year...a "Business After-Hours" mixer. The Chamber's "Business After-Hours" is a great networking event for Lakeland area professionals. This program gives individuals the opportunity to discuss and share ideas while learning about other local businesses. It is a relationship-building experience held in a relaxed setting that benefits you and your company through added contacts and resources. There will be complimentary appetizers, beer, wine, and other beverages plus you could win a doorprize. This event is proudly sponsored by Karen Love of Hometown Lending. Join us on Thursday evening, January 28th from 5:00 - 7:00 at the Oakwood Clubhouse, 10133 Matwood Oak Drive in Lakeland. RSVP to Karen Love at 268-1105, or via e-mail at klove6@comcast.net

New Lakeland Chamber of Commerce Officers Elected

Nancy Harrell, (Lakeland Trustmark Bank) was elected President of the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce. Darrin Jessop (Lakeland Chiropractic) was elected Vice-President. Karen Love (Hometown Lending) was elected Vice President of Membership and Bill Bendall (Aegin Place, retired) was elected Treasurer.

Congratulations to the new Officers! Come out and congratulate the new Lakeland Chamber of Commerce officers at the Business After Hours at the Oakwood Clubhouse from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Information noted below).

LACOC Hosts "Business After-Hours" Please be our guest at the first Chamber event of the year...a "Business After-Hours" mixer. The Chamber's "Business After-Hours" is a great networking event for Lakeland area professionals. This program gives individuals the opportunity to discuss and share ideas while learning about other local businesses. It is a relationship-building experience held in a relaxed setting that benefits you and your company through added contacts and resources. There will be complimentary appetizers, beer, wine, and other beverages plus you could win a doorprize. This event is proudly sponsored by Karen Love of Hometown Lending. Join us on Thursday evening, January 28th from 5:00 - 7:00 at the Oakwood Clubhouse, 10133 Matwood Oak Drive in Lakeland. RSVP to Karen Love at 268-1105, or via e-mail at klove6@comcast.net

Monthly Luncheons Return on Thursday, February 11th Luncheons to be held on the second Thursday of each month throughout 2010 The first luncheon of the new year will be held on February 11th, so make plans to attend now. Our guest speakers will be representatives of the US Census Bureau who will be sharing useful information about the upcoming census and how the information gathered can affect local businesses. Did you know that census results help determine the number of seats our state occupies in the U.S. House of Representatives? And people from many walks of life use census data to advocate for causes, rescue disaster victims, prevent diseases, research markets, locate pools of skilled workers and more. When you do the math, it's easy to see what an accurate count of residents in Lakeland can do for our community: Better infrastructure. More services. A brighter tomorrow for everyone. We hope we can count on you to be there! February Luncheon Clubhouse @ Stonebridge Golf Course 3049 Davies Plantation Road Thursday, February 11th · 11:30 AM-1:00 PM LACOC Members: $10 / Guests: $15 / First Time Visitors: FREE IMPORTANT: Please reserve your seat before Tuesday, February 9th by calling Sandra Blondis at 213-2143 or e-mailing her at sblondis@bellsouth.net. It is very important that we know how many people to expect so we can be sure to order enough food.

Dance Saturday night, Lakeland IH Clubhouse

Join your friends and neighbors at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, January 23, 2o10 at the monthly Lakeland Dance at the IH Clubhouse.

Dancers of any age are welcome to come out and enjoy the music! If you don't like the music, ask and they'll do their best to play your kind of dance music.

The Monthly Lakeland Dance is hosted by the River City Bop Club and the Lakeland Recreation Department. Admission charge is $4.00 for Lakeland residents. Soft drinks and water are available.

Come out and see the newly renovated IH Clubhouse (with more improvements to come) and enjoy the evening in Lakeland!

HOLD THE DATE: Special fundraiser for future IH Clubhouse Renovations Saturday, March 20, 2010! Dance Lessons Saturday afternoon, Dance Saturday night. Watch for information!

Municipal Planning Commission Officers elected

Susan Mitchell was elected Chair, Larry Pardue Vice-Chair, and Dianne Baldi was elected Secretary of the Lakeland Municipal Planning Commission. Other members include Mayor Scott Carmichael, the Board of Commission Liaison, Vice-Mayor Randy Nicholson, Member Kathleen Bransfield and and Member Nikki Bufalino.

Metropolitan Governement Charter Commission Agenda for 4:00 p.m., Thursday, January 21, 2010 Meeting

MEMPHIS AND SHELBY COUNTY

METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT CHARTER COMMISSION

4^th Floor Committee Room

160 N. Main Street Suite 850

Memphis, Tennessee 38103

January 21, 2010

4:00 p.m.

Commission Values:

(1) Inclusiveness (2) Efficiency (3) Integrity (4) Innovation (5) Service

1. Moment of Silence Julie Ellis

2. Roll call Julie Ellis

3. Approval of Minutes- Julie Ellis

4. Administrative Update- Kelly Rayne, Christy Kinard, & Matt Kuhn

5. Report by Commissioner Fowlkes-End Goals Deliverables Andre Fowlkes

6. Presentation of City and County Government Structure and Jack Payne

Legislative Authority Christy Kinard

7. Report from Task Forces Julie Ellis

8. Roundtable Discussion with Germantown Mayor Sharon Goldsworthy

and Bartlett Mayor Keith McDonald about information needed from

incorporated areas of the county for charter commission consideration

9. Items of discussion for next meeting Julie Ellis

10. Comments from the Public Julie Ellis

11. Other Business

12. Adjournment Julie Ellis

Consolidation Watch; Fire Department merger plan developed in secret

We recently learned that Shelby County Commissioner Carpenter has been meeting in secret meetings with Memphis and Shelby County to develop a merger plan for the Shelby County Fire Department and the Memphis Fire Department. It seems that such meetings violate at least the spirit of the Open Meeting Act.

Lakeland City staff called to ask about the location and times of the meetings, but did not receive a response and none of the meetings apparently had a public agenda.

By contrast, Shelby County Mayor Ford appointed a Task Force on Fire Department Consolidation which includes representatives of each suburban city.

I understand Commissioner Carpenter will submit his secretly developed "merger plan" to the City of Memphis and Shelby County Commission in the near future.

I expect, like the "Single Source Funding" plan, it will include a substantial increase in costs for Shelby County residents (including Lakeland, whose residents pay Fire Fees to the Shelby County Fire Department) while reducing costs for the City of Memphis.

I expect if the Shelby County and City of Memphis "consolidation" were to be successful, we would see a lot of such "secret" plans that pop out and increase costs for the suburbs and the Shelby County area.

I understand that the secret developed plans will be presented to the City of Memphis and Shelby County in the near future. We encourage all Lakeland residents and Shelby County residents to monitor this (the City of Lakeland will post notices when the secretly developed plans are exposed) and attend the Shelby County meetings and /or contact all of the Shelby County delegation to protest the consideration of such important projects in secret without public input.

We also encourage Lakeland residents to let Shelby County Mayor Ford know you appreciate his efforts to include Lakeland and other suburbs in developing a plan for such an important project.

Refuse Collection one day later next week

Refuse Collection and recycling pickup will be delayed one day next week due to the Martin Luther King Holiday on Monday, January 18.

There will be no pickup on Monday, the normal Monday pickup will be Tuesday, the Tuesday pickup will be Wednesday and the Wednesday pickup will be Thursday.

Lakeland City Hall will be closed Monday, January 18.

Consolidation Watch: What is Metro Government?

What is Metro Government? The Tennessee Advisory Committee on Intergovernmental Relations, a Tennessee State Government "think tank" issued a "how to" manual on "Forming a Metropolitan Government" in September 2003.

This is available at http://tennessee.gov/tacir/PDF_FILES/Growth_Policy/metrogovt.pdf

I encourage Lakeland and Shelby County residents to review this publication to review exactly what can and can't be done in a "Metro Government" and the process in developing the Charter for a Metro Government.

The Metropolitan Government Charter provisions are established by the Tennessee State Legislature and can only be changed by the Tennessee State Legislature. It is not a "Home Rule" type Charter currently utilized by both Shelby County and the City of Memphis.

Design Review Commission officers elected.

Sal Feraci was elected Chair of the Lakeland Design Review Commission at the January DRC meeting. Jerry James was elected Vice-Chair and Jeff Moder was elected Secretary.

Other Design Review Commission members are Board of Commissioners Liaison Commissioner Cecil Tompkins, Lew Cornett, Shirlee Clark and Celia Abbott.

Lakeland Planner and Deputy Growth Management Director Jim Atkinson is the administrative staff contact for the Design Review Commission.

Park and Recreation Board officers elected

The Lakeland Park and Recreation Board elected Officers at the January meeting. Chair is Clay Rogers, Vice-Chair is Mike Fortner and Secretary is Bennie Cobb. Other Park Board members include Board of Commissioners Liaison Commissioner Don Barber, Hank Hess and Lynelle Robinson. Park and Recreation Director Brenda Lockhart is the administrative contact for the Park and Recreation Board.

January 2010 Meeting changes

The Board of Commissioners Work Session normally scheduled on Monday, January 25, 2010 has been rescheduled to Tuesday, January 26, 2010.

The Natural Resources Board meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday, January 26, 2010 has been rescheduled to Monday, January 25, 2010.

Park and Recreation Board vacancy

PARK BOARD VACANCY-VOLUNTEER NOW!

The City of Lakeland Board of Commissioners is accepting applications for a vacancy on the Lakeland Parks and Recreation Board. The successful applicant will complete the remainder of a three-year term expiring December 31, 2010.

The Parks and Recreation Board reviews and recommends park development plans, recreation programs, and locations of new parks. The board meets at City Hall on the second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m.

For information and application contact City Hall at 867-2717 or visit the City website at www.lakelandtn.gov. Applications are being received until 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 20, 2010.

Metropolitan Charter Commission web page

The web page for the Metropolitan Charter Commission can be accessed through the Shelby County web page at www.ShelbyCountytn.gov and clicking on the "Charter Commission" link under "Featured Links" on the opening page.

The is the Charter Commission which was established by Shelby County and the City of Memphis to prepare a Metro Charter for Shelby County and the City of Memphis.

The web site includes official documents and an opportunity to comment or ask questions.

All Lakeland residents are encouraged to keep informed of the actions of the Metropolitan Charter Commission. Other excellent sources of information are www.MemphisDailyNews.com and several blogs by using www.google.com and putting in search terms such as "Shelby County Charter Commission", "Metropolitan Charter Commission" etc.

Board of Commissioners Work Session changed

The Board of Commissioners Work Session for January has been rescheduled from Monday, January 25, 2010 to Tuesday, January 26, 2010.

The Board is currently considering an Ordinance to reschedule all Board of Commissioner Work Sessions to the last Tuesday of the month, or, more specifically, nine days prior to the BOC Regular Meeting which is on the first Thursday of each month.

New Tree Debris Policy effective, recycling lids on order

The new Policy on Tree Debris went into effect on January 1, 2010. All tree debris, grass etc. in the green container or in bags will be picked up. Loose (unbagged or not in containers) tree debris etc. will require a special pickup. Customers needing pickup of loose limbs etc. should call All Star at 901 854-8865. There is an extra charge for this service.

Also, lids for the recycling bins are on back order and are expected to be available in the near future.

Census 2010 employment opportunities

The U.S. Census Bureau is accepting applications and testing every Monday in January at the IH Clubhouse, 4523 Canada Road.

The Census Bureau is attempting to hire local residents to work in the Census to assist in obtaining an accurate count.

Available positions include Census Takers, Crew Leaders, Crew Leader Assistants, Recruiting Assistants and Census Clerks.

Personnel working for Census 2010 earn good pay, get paid weekly, work flexible hours, receive paid training, receive reimbursement for authorized mileage and other expenses, and, most of all, help our community have a successful 2010 Census. Of course all positions are part-time (but may be up to 40 hours per week) and temporary.

Additional information is at www.2010censusjobs.gov, or call the hot line at 1-866-861-2010 (FedRelay is 1-800-877-8339 TTY)

City Hall has brochures available at City Hall or can assist by providing directions to the IH Clubhouse, www.Lakelandtn.gov or 867-2717.