Assorted Items of Interest

This week let’s look at several topics of interest in our town.

Trail and Sidewalk Planning

There have been questions asked recently about the new trail on the east side of North Wailes Drive. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee recommended the connection between the new Trailway to Spook Hill Elementary School to improve safety for school children. Using asphalt allowed for a wider path at a lower cost than the use of concrete. It also opened up the paved area for easier travel for bicyclists. The east side of the street was chosen since it keeps pedestrians from having to cross a number of streets and provides a much safer path for the elementary school students.

The next phase of this work will include painting in a crosswalk, the installation of signage, and the construction of a concrete sidewalk on school property. Additional sections of sidewalks are planned along the west side of North Wailes Dr. south of the Trailway to make a connection down to Lakeshore Drive.

SR 60 East: Lighting and Medians

City staff approached FDOT several years ago to inquire about their ability to improve street lighting on State Road 60 from 11th St to Buck Moore Road. FDOT completed that work months ago. City staff then approached FDOT about the feasibility of continuing the grass median from 11th St to the east. FDOT staff prepared a conceptual plan that is on display in the lobby of city hall. The City Commission will be asked to endorse their plan, and FDOT staff will then hold an open house to review and explain the plan to affected property owners and interested citizens.

At present this stretch of State Road 60 has an open turn lane. Motorists traveling either east or west can pull into the lane and then turn left. Unfortunately, some drivers also use this lane as an “acceleration” lane. If they want to turn left from a street, say 12th Street for example, but traffic is heavy going in that direction, drivers sometimes pull into the center lane and drive there until traffic opens up and they can move over. This is a very dangerous move.

FDOT has federal safety funds that can be used for this sort of project. The conceptual plan shows that there will be full openings at some intersections, and “directed” turns (which only allow cars to turn a certain direction) at other locations. Landscaping will be provided to enhance this area and make a very nice entryway into town from east SR 60. The median will end west of Capps Road.

Park Planning, Trees

The Parks and Community Appearance Board has been busy. The board recently heard a presentation from an arborist regarding trees in Lake Wailes Park, including the type of trees and their condition. One of the arborist’s recommendations will involve ways to relieve the stress of some large trees caused by mowing grass beneath the trees. These areas may need to be mulched.

City staff is also researching available properties in the northern areas of the city for the building of a city park. It is anticipated that recreation impact fee funds, as well as any available grant funds, would be used for this purpose.

Utility System Improvements Workshop

Every year the City Commission approves a plan that lists the capital improvements that will be needed for the next year. The plan recently adopted contains financing and expenditures for the first phase of work for the wastewater treatment plant. This work includes maintenance work for the plant, which is now twenty years old, as well as other improvements and a small expansion of capacity. There are also plans to extend a water line to connect to the new airport system and go further west on SR 60. It is anticipated that these topics will be discussed at an upcoming City Commission workshop.

Vandals & Litterbugs

Many people have a cell phone…and yet there are relatively few calls made to the police department to report crimes while they are in process. I believe that there is at least one crime that could be substantially curtailed if people would call when they see it happening: vandalism. Another problem that can be addressed with community action is littering. Let’s take a look at these problems and determine what can be done to address them.

Vandalism

Our parks have suffered the effects of vandalism for years. Some of the worst cases in recent years include the following:

1. Crystal Lake Park – There were very few swings in the park this summer. Most had been vandalized, and the swing seats that meet insurance requirements cost $129 each. Other items of playground equipment have been destroyed as well. Perhaps the most costly item was the bar-b-que grill. Last spring, vandals literally dismantled the chimney to the grill. The entire chimney had to be re-built at a cost of over $3,000.


2. Shuffleboard Courts – in 2004 the City was awarded a grant (no city money required as match for this grant) to re-surface the shuffleboard courts and make other improvements. Soon after the work was completed, the improved area was vandalized – including damage to the new scoreboards. In order to reduce the likelihood of continued vandalism, the City had to close in the courts with new sections of tall, chain-link fence.


3. Northwest Complex (Frasier Field) – vandals destroyed fixtures in both restrooms. Following their replacement, a heavy metal bar had to be placed over the doors to ensure their security.


4. Lincoln Park – playground equipment has been vandalized.


5. The pier on Lake Wailes – this picturesque spot, with the gazebo reaching out into the lake, has been severely vandalized. Much of the woodwork has been broken off and removed, and City facilities staff had to install a plywood ceiling as vandals had punched a hole through the wood shingled roof from the inside.


6. Graffiti – Graffiti defaces public buildings, traffic control signs, and street signs around town, as well as privately owned buildings. City staff spends hours painting out graffiti and replacing signage that has been defaced.

It is difficult for me to believe that not one vandalism incident has been witnessed by someone with a cell phone. If you see vandalism occurring please call the police at 911. Vandalism is a crime that must be stopped.

Littering

Another problem that could be curtailed with community action is litter. In a number of areas of the city we are awash in litter. It is so bad that I occasionally take a plastic grocery bag with me when I take a walk to pick up the litter as I go. In my experience the most popular litter items come from fast food restaurants, but there is the occasional beer bottle, drink can, or 12 pack cardboard carton.

City staff is considering the preparation of an ordinance similar to the county program and state program, in which groups could volunteer to “adopt a street”. In this program a group would volunteer to pick up litter at least once every three months on both sides of their adopted street. A sign designating that group and their adoption of the street would be placed in the area.

One of the many keys to attracting visitors to our town is to have a sparkling clean appearance. This fact was echoed in the first Donald Trump book, in which he expounded on his demands for cleanliness at every one of his facilities. Our beautiful entryway to downtown via Central Avenue is quickly spoiled if the roadsides are littered. The same is true once visitors begin exploring our “quaint” downtown, which quickly losses its charm if visitors are stepping over food wrappers or discarded newspapers.

Your City staff is open to your suggestions on how best to fight these two nagging problems. Please give me a call at 678-4182, ext 225, or e-mail me at totte@cityoflakewales.com. All suggestions will be given serious consideration.

Multi-Purpose Sports Complex Now Open

The Multi-Purpose Sports Complex on Hunt Brothers Road is now open for league play. If someone familiar with municipal budgets were to take a close look at our City budget, and then drive out to see the new Complex, I would expect this question:
So just how does a city with a relatively small tax base, and a financially constrained General Fund, in this tax reform era, come up with the money to build a $1 million dollar+ sports complex?

This question recognizes the fact that the City could not fund the construction of this project. In fact, other than fertilizer and weed control, the City did not contribute any hard cash to the construction of the fields. Remarkably, all of the other development costs were paid for through grants and donations.

This is the modern day equivalent of a community barn raising, where everyone joins together and pitches in to get the job done. This can serve as the model for similar projects, here and elsewhere, in the future. The elements of this project that made it successful are as follows:

1. It started with a clear “end use” with wide appeal: to build a facility to serve as the home for soccer games, and for other sports as well. There are hundreds of Lake Wales youth who play soccer who would benefit from the building of such a complex.


2. The project is inclusive. Sports and youth activities attract families from all income levels and neighborhoods. The development of this project required the cooperation of many people and organizations, and everyone involved welcomed the contributions that new partners brought to the project.


3. The project had a driving force in Robbie Shields, Tony Mathewson, and the other directors of the Ridge Soccer League. They were willing to do a tremendous amount of work.


4. The city staff and the soccer league directors recognized and capitalized on opportunities.

With these four cornerstones, the City’s inability to fund the project was not an obstacle. The directors of the Ridge Soccer League were willing to conduct fundraisers and go after grants to make the dream come true. Along the way there were other “spin-off” benefits, such as the re-establishment of the City’s Recreation Advisory Committee, and participation in countywide recreation meetings.

In this new era of tax reform, the development of this project is the new paradigm of community capital projects. A single local government alone will be less likely to have the financial resources to make large community improvements.

The next challenge will be to ensure that there is adequate funding for maintenance. The same ingenuity that was used to build the complex will be needed to develop the resources to properly maintain it. New ideas include:

• A small maintenance fee will be charged to players for each season;


• For a certain fee, a field and the entire complex could be named for a person or a company for several years;


• The fields could display company advertisements on field fences; and


• A fee could be charged for use of the concession stand and for use of the field for clinics.

As one speaker noted at the grand opening Saturday, the Soccer/Multi-Purpose Sports Complex is a good example of the spirit of Lake Wales – a town with a strong sense of community!

A few Facts in response to a letter in Saturday’s edition

• A position’s total compensation consists of a salary and benefits. Unfortunately, a letter in Saturday’s paper mistakenly stated the total compensation for the City Manager position as “salary”. The salary budgeted for that position in the current fiscal year is $105,527 (which includes $4,058.73 in deferred compensation). How does that compare to City Manager salaries in other cities of similar size in our area?


• Auburndale Salary $117,042, car allowance $500/month


• Haines City Salary $133,413, car allowance $375/month
• City Manager car allowance: The car allowance of $400 per month is the same amount provided in the employment contract dated July 3, 2001, when regular un-leaded was $1.22!

Another Day at the Office

Tuesday of last week was a disruptive day for most people. Tropical Storm Fay caused the schools to close, as well as many businesses and government offices. But in a sense, for most city employees it was just “another day at the office.”

I say this because our city employees know that although City Hall is closed, they will most likely be called to come in and work in bad weather, leaving their homes and families in the care of other family members. The Emergency Operations Center at the main fire station held its first meeting at 7am, with employees ready to answer 9 City phone lines forwarded to that location. From there, employees went out in the weather and cleared stormwater pipes, moved several downed tree limbs out of streets, and generally kept things moving. Luckily there was no damage, in stark contrast to what we suffered from the hurricanes four years ago.

Even so, the dedication of your city employees is remarkable. They are ready to do whatever it takes to keep our town operating. I am privileged to lead this outstanding group of men and women. Their efforts usually “fly under the radar”, and therefore often seem unappreciated. They deserve an occasional thank you for what they do especially when the going gets rough. I’m sure they would appreciate a compliment from you. So the next time you see a city employee, it would be nice to tell them that their work during the storm – as well as everyday – is appreciated.

Meetings

The summer of 2008 will soon be in the books, and September is shaping up to be another busy month. Let’s take a look at some of the things to expect next month.

• City Commission Meetings (all held at City Hall):


• Special meeting for continued review of the draft budget and CDBG application items: Wednesday, August 27, 6 pm;


• Regular meeting including setting the fire assessment rates: Tuesday, September 2, 6 pm;


• Special meeting for first reading of the millage rate and budget: Wednesday, September 3, 6 pm. Per the formula in state law for this meeting date, this year the meeting for first reading of the millage and budget could not be held on the regular Commission meeting date;


• Regular meeting, including the final adoption of the millage rate and budget for the October 1 fiscal year: Tuesday, September 16, 6 pm.
• Meeting to discuss Youth Recreation programs for the summer of ’09: Thursday, September 18, 6 pm, Charter Schools meeting room, corner of Central and Market Sts. downtown;


• Airport Authority meeting to tour the Fixed Based Operator building currently under construction at the Municipal Airport: Thursday, August 28, 5:30 pm.

Report on Selected Capital improvements

• Phase 1 water main project downtown – has begun with work on Sessoms Avenue, near the water plant. The new water main will be located on Sessoms, Wetmore, and Stuart Avenues. When completed, the street re-surfacing project will continue;


• Street Re-surfacing - this project is scheduled for completion in October, and work will include portions of First Street, Polk Avenue, and Old Scenic Highway;


• Phase 2 of the Trail – following the intent of the voters in the April 5, 2005 referendum, construction of the trail from Kiwanis Park to Buck Moore Road is underway. Sod installation and north-side fence construction will commence soon;


• New Water Tower: Construction has begun on the new water tower to serve the southern portion of our utility service area;


• New Soccer/Multi-Purpose Park on Hunt Brothers Road (between Scenic Highway and US 27): Grand Opening is scheduled for Saturday, September 13, at 10 am. Everyone is invited to see this new City park!


• Kiwanis Park improvements:


• A retention pond to serve the High View Drive area is being constructed in an unused area of Kiwanis Park. This work addresses a stormwater problem that has plagued this neighborhood for decades;


• The City’s Parks and Community Appearance Board is preparing a grant application for improvements at Kiwanis Park including the re-construction of three of the baseball fields, landscaping, and a site reservation for the “Barney’s Dream” all-children’s playground.

For additional information please consult the City’s website at http://www.cityoflakewales.com/.

Mark Your Calendar. . .

Within the next 30 days there will be two important City events! The budget process will draw to a close in anticipation of the start of the new fiscal year on October 1; and the new soccer/multi-purpose park will open on September 13.

City Budget Meeting

The draft of the City’s fiscal year ’08-09 budget was discussed at a budget workshop on Wednesday, August 20, at City Hall, and will be discussed again at a budget workshop to be held in the next week (probably either Wednesday or Thursday at 6 pm in the Commission Chambers).

The preparation of this year’s budget was particularly difficult, given the effects of two waves of tax reform and the poor condition of the economy. Despite a shrinking general fund revenue picture, there are some bright spots:

• The draft CRA budget contains funding for a community policing effort in the Lincoln Avenue area. The effort is another facet of the revitalization of neighborhood commercial in the area. In the past 12 months there has been one new business, Massey’s Meat Store that has opened on Lincoln between C and D streets. The barber shop building a block away has been sold, and the new owners are remodeling the interior and plan to open soon. Improvements are also planned for the 2 story building at the SW corner of C and Lincoln which is owned by the CRA. When completely renovated, the building will provide 5 apartments, a police sub-station, and professional offices on the second floor;


• Capital improvements in the draft budget include the following:


• A modest allocation for Police Department replacement vehicles;


• The Twin Lakes water level pump station project, to keep the water level low so that rainfall does not raise the lake level above the stormdrain system on Grove Ave;


• Several water utility improvement projects, including Phase 2 of the downtown water main replacement, and the Southside water tower near the corner of Hunt Brothers Road and Scenic Highway; and


• The replacement of the blue light poles on Lincoln Avenue and the installation of the standard black pole, “acorn” lens lights similar to those downtown.

Grand Opening of the New Soccer/Multi-Purpose Park

The grand opening of the new soccer/multi-purpose park on Hunt Brothers Road, between US 27 and SR 17, is scheduled for September 13 at 10:00 am. Following the ribbon cutting, the Ridge Soccer League has scheduled a game for an under-17-year-old team. The park has been in development for several years, beginning with a donation of 18 acres by Feltrim Developments, a $400,000 grant from the Polk County Board of County Commissioners, a $200,000 grant from the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program, and a significant donation from the Breakfast Rotary Club.

The park features four soccer/multi-purpose fields, a concessions/storage building with a covered picnic area, and a parking lot. One field is lighted at this time.

City Charter

Just a quick note on the City Charter, as there seems to be some confusion expressed in a recent letter to the editor. The city charter is included with the city’s code of ordinances and appears as Part 1 of the code. The charter and the entire code is available for review at City Hall, at the public library, and on the City website at http://www.cityoflakewales.com/. The website can be viewed at one of the public access computers in the public library.

Changing the City charter requires a public referendum. City staff is not working on any proposed changes at this time.

Capital Project Updates

There are many projects going on in our town! Let’s get a quick update on where we are on some of the most prominent projects:

• Proposals for the Grand Hotel – The City is soliciting proposals that are due September 24, and there continues to be interest in the building. For additional information on submitting a proposal please call Harold Gallup at City Hall;


• 1919 Building/Hardman Hall – The contractor is completing Phase 5 and will begin work on Phase 6 of the rehabilitation work. Strategic planning is underway for the adaptive re-use of this former school building as an auditorium for cultural activities, with classrooms to be located on the side exterior walls of the second floor. A capital campaign is forthcoming, and building relationships with user groups in on-going;


• Phase II of the Lake Wales trail, from Kiwanis Park to Buck Moore Road – Work has started on this next section of the trail, as intended by the referendum that was approved by the voters on April 5, 2005;


• Lake Wales Skate Park, Kiwanis Park – The skate park is complete and is now open;


• Lake Wailes Boat Ramp and handicapped accessible floating pier – This facility is complete and is now open;


• Polk Community College campus in old City Hall – Renovations are now well underway and the facility is scheduled to open in January. Work yet to be completed includes the construction of angle parking spaces on Second Street and Tillman Avenues;


• Soccer/Multi-Purpose Park – The concession stand is completed, the fields are growing in, and plans are underway to open this 18 acre park next month – watch for announcements!


• Airport Improvements – The re-construction of the airport buildings is nearing completion. There are now 16 T-hangers and two larger corporate hangers that have been completed, as well as the airport’s first fire response system. The new fire system includes a new well, storage tank, and hydrants. The Fixed Base Operator (FBO) building is currently under construction with a scheduled completion date in January;


• Street Re-surfacing – There are still several streets left to be re-surfaced, most notably First Street between Central Avenue and Wiltshire Blvd, and Polk Avenue between Scenic and First Street. The First Street section is awaiting the phase 1 downtown water line improvements (see below), which will involve an “open cut” near Sessoms and Stuart Avenues. Additional work will involve taking the “millings” from this work and spreading them in alleys to provide a better road surface. A number of intersections, as well as spot repairs, will also be completed;


• Downtown water line improvements, phase 1: A large water main will be constructed from the Market Street water plant to Wetmore to the intersection of First Street and Stuart Avenue, with a “stub out” for a future connection to a new line to run out to SR 60 West. The contractor for this project is scheduled to begin work in the next 30 days;


• Sewer pipe on Polk Avenue, from Lakeshore to Second Street – A contractor hired by the City is constructing a new sewer line along this route to replace an old line as part of a multi-phased project to upgrade sewer capacity in this area of the City;


• Sewer Southside Force Main – This new sewer line provides the new development areas south of SR 60 and east of Buck More Road with City sewer service. A portion of this project – the area just north of SR 60 on Buck Moore Road – took longer than expected. The plans approved by the FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation) called for the line crossing beneath SR 60 at this intersection to be over 20 feet deep, and the “directional bore” machine ran into rocky sub-soil. The problem was resolved and the construction is now complete;


• Elevated Water Tank –Construction on a new, elevated water tank near the intersection of Scenic Highway and Hunt Brothers Road has begun;


• US 27 Widening – This FDOT project is scheduled for completion in June of next year. The contractor is currently ahead of schedule;


• Lake Belle pumping station – This County project is actively being planned by County staff. They are now seeking approval for the route of the water to be disposed of from the proposed pumping operation;


• Twin Lakes pumping station – Similar to the Lake Belle project, City staff is in the planning stages for this project. If grant funding is made available, a pump station would keep the elevation of the lake at a level which will allow for the storage of rainwater.

Project Updates

Our town is buzzing with activity these days! A number of high-profile City projects and private developments are already underway, or on the drawing boards. Let’s get an update on some of the projects that have great citizen interest:

• Street Resurfacing: This project is set to be completed by the end of June. Streets yet to be done include Polk Ave. and First Street.



• Lake Wales Boat Ramp Renovation: The contractor has poured the concrete for the section of the ramp that will be almost entirely under water. The concrete in that section must cure for 28 days to ensure durability. Once that section is pushed into position, the second section will be poured in place. The seawall and walkway/dock will then be constructed.



• Skatepark at Kiwanis Park: The equipment for the skatepark has been ordered and is scheduled to arrive on-site in the latter part of June. It is anticipated that the equipment will be installed no later than mid-July.



• City Swimming Pool: When the City’s property across from the Longleaf Business Park on US 27 was sold, the City Commission took $1 million out of the sale proceeds and put it in a special account for the building of the pool. While the $1 million is adequate to build the pool, additional funds may have to be found for the locker facilities. But the most disturbing expense is the annual cost of operating and maintaining the pool. Other cities with pools report spending from $50,000 to $100.000 and more per year. With revenues shrinking, this project is now on hold.



• Lake Belle Pumping Station: It is anticipated that this County project will be constructed in the next fiscal year, with funds contributed by the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the County, and the City. It is anticipated that the pump station will be located on an easement provided by the City. The station would be owned and operated by the County. The station would keep the lake pumped down at a relatively low level, to allow it to fill-up during periods of heavy rain. The high water would then be pumped down again, with the water flowing westward, eventually reaching the Peace Creek. The City’s contribution is budgeted in the current fiscal year and will have to be carried forward to next year’s budget.



• Grand Hotel: The second round of proposals will soon begin for a period of 120 days. In this second round, potential proposers will receive a copy of recent studies of downtown and will meet with the Chamber of Commerce’s CRA Steering Committee.



• Airport: The Fixed Base Operator building is now under construction, and the renovations to the north hanger building to provide housing for slightly larger aircraft are now complete.



• Sidewalks: A portion of the recent CRA bond proceeds has been allocated for new sidewalks in several areas. Planning has just started for these sidewalks - including sections around the library, along North Wailes Drive, and on Fourth St. from Spook Hill Elementary School to the Boys and Girls Club.

Private Developments

• New businesses around the Eagle Ridge Mall: This is a hot area for commercial development! The Hampton Inn and Suites has opened to brisk business, and another hotel is planned next to Home Depot along with two gas stations nearby. A pharmacy and a commercial center are being constructed across US 27 from the Publix center at the corner of Thompson Nursery Road.



• SR 60: New commercial development includes a new Pizza Hut/Wing House nearing completion at the corner of SR 60 and 2nd Street; and a medical office under construction on SR 60 and 13th Street.