City of Lakeland’sMonthly Newsletter

30290-I-0132

June 2013

IN THIS ISSUE

Meet Jason Willey: EconomicDevelopment Coordinator

Book A Venue Now for 2014

Friends of the Library

Lakeland Electric CelebratesPower Academy Graduates

228 S. Massachusetts AveLakeland, FL 33801

863.834.6000

www.lakelandgov.net

PROUDTO BE

FREE

The City of Lakeland is pleased to announce that the T.Mims Corp.

Red, White & Kaboom Independence Celebration will take place with

live music at Lake Mirror along the Frances Langford Promenade

on Wednesday, July 3rd from 6:00 p.m. - 9 p.m. with a breathtaking

fireworks display dazzling the crowd at 9 p.m.

A live concert featuring Sam Bullock and the Soul Alliance will

entertain the crowd. This multi-piece R&B Band comprised of a tight

rhythm section, horns and back-up singers play music that includes

hits from the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s and the ‘90s, done with a big band

swag. They also play hit music from Broadway, some Jazz, and newer

pop to round out their repertoire. The lead singer, Sam Bullock has

been influenced by singers such as Michael Bublé, Paul Davis, Peabo

Bryson, Brian McKnight, Smokey Robinson, Michael Jackson and Prince. He also names the Eagles and

Journey as huge influences. The Soul Alliance has a commanding stage presence with the goal to have

fun and get the crowd energized as they show the audience that they truly are masters of their craft.

Tom Mims, President of T. Mims Corporation said, “We are very excited to sponsor Red, White & Kaboom

again this year. It is an excellent opportunity for our community to come together in celebration of our

great country and it is free to the public." Mims added, "We will be continuing our Chow for Now canned

food drive to benefit Volunteers in Service to the Elderly so we want each spectator to bring at least one

can of food for VISTE." There will be Chow for Now volunteers with grocery

carts circulating through the park collecting canned goods.

Volunteers in Service to the Elderly (VISTE) is a community-based,

non-profit organization serving Lakeland, Bartow, Mulberry and

Ft. Meade. Established in 1983, the primary goal of VISTE is to

enable frail elderly persons to continue living independently

and safely in their own home.

During Red, White & Kaboom there will be

a variety of food and drink vendors around

Lake Mirror so bring a blanket and enjoy the

festivities in celebrating our great nation. The

event will conclude with a dramatic display

of fireworks over the lake. The evening is

free to the public and everyone attending is

encouraged to bring at least one food item

to benefit Chow for Now. All City parking

garages will be open for T.Mims Corp. Red,

White & Kaboom.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3 • 6PM • LAKE MIRRORPLEASE BRING ONE CANNED FOOD ITEM PER PERSON. ALL DONATIONS WILL BENEFIT VISTE

T.

MIMS

CORP.

Lakeland Electric is a proud partner with the Polk County School Board in creating the Power Academy and Energy Academy Programs. These programs help students get the educational instruction, institutional knowledge and industry certifications that will prepare them to compete for jobs in the power industry.

The Lakeland Energy Academy program is located within Traviss Career Center and it is modeled after the very successful Power Academy at Tenoroc High School that was established in 2008. Since then 72 students have graduated from the Power Academy and nine of those students have jobs in the power industry.

The program at Traviss Career Center started for the 2012/2013 school year. Lakeland Electric worked with administrators and instructors at Traviss Career Center to implement the program. Over 30 students from Kathleen, George Jenkins, Bartow, Mulberry, Lake Gibson and Fort Meade high schools were enrolled during the first year of the program at Traviss Career Center.

The curriculum used at both academies was developed by the Florida Energy Workforce Consortium and is endorsed by the Florida Department of Education. Classroom activity includes basic safety, construction math, classes on electricity, hands-on instruction with power tools, hydraulics and pneumatics course work, hazardous materials instruction and a number of workshops that bring all of the elements together in a project. This year, the students at the Power Academy built a working hovercraft as one of their projects.

Students throughout Polk County who are interested in energy careers have the opportunity to participate in the Power and Energy Academy Programs. In addition to these secondary programs, Lakeland Electric is partnering with Lake Gibson Middle School to offer a Pre-Power Academy August, 2013. Lakeland Electric anticipates career opportunities becoming available for students graduating from high school during the next several years due to employee retirements.

The Power and Energy Academy programs help students develop the necessary technical and employability skills required for careers at Lakeland Electric or for any other electric company in the world. The high school programs are open to all Polk County students grades 9-12. The Power Academy serves students in the Tenoroc school district and those with their own transportation. Bus transportation is available from many Polk County schools to the Energy Academy at Traviss Career Center.

For more information regarding the Power Academy Programs, please visit www.lakelandelectric.com and click on the “Careers & Education” tab in the navigation bar at the top of the page or contact the instructor via e-mail at gary.kiger@polk-fl.net regarding the Power Academy at Tenoroc High School or Christopher.hallock@polk-fl.net regarding the Energy Academy at Traviss Career Center. For information about the Pre-Power Academy at LGMS, contact MaryJo Costine at 863-853-6151. Applications are available at www.polkacademies.com.

Monthly Comparison ofResidential Electric Rates Source: Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) Monthly Utility Bill Comparison • March 2013

www.lakelandelectric.com *per 1,200 kWh usage

2013 POWER ACADEMYTENoROC HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES

GET INTOENERGY

ANDEMPOWER

YOURFUTURE

edding bells will begin ringing this month with increasing frequency. June, the world over, is the time of year when the most couples tie the knot. If you are looking for help finding that perfect spot to exchange vows, the City of Lakeland’s Park and Recreation Department might be able to offer the help that you need.

Although it is too late to book a wedding for June of this year, if you are thinking about next June, you might just be in luck. Parks and Recreation has several popular venues for you to consider hosting anything from a small family gathering to an enormous event that will rival a Kardashian.

Some of the more popular venues for weddings and receptions include: Hollis Garden, Kryger Park, Magnolia Building, Peggy Brown Building, Lake Mirror Auditorium, Cleveland Heights Golf Course and Coleman Bush Building. For your special day, if your guest list is putting a strain on your local chapel, you can also consider Hangar #2 at Tigertown. This venue is large enough to hold 800 guests!

Parks and Recreation is now accepting reservations through the end of 2014. The Magnolia Building, the most popular indoor venue accommodates up to 230 people in a banquet-style layout. The Peggy Brown Building is also a favorite, accommodating up to 130 people for a banquet.

Beth Sherling, Facility Coordinator, says “It is recommended for people with a specific special Saturday date in mind to reserve 12-18 months in advance in those facilities. We do have a few Saturdays currently available between now and the Summer of 2014.”

According to Sherling, “Our facilities are great because we have staff available throughout each event. They are on hand to assist with table and chairs, take out the trash and replenish supplies in the restrooms as needed. Renters are also able to use whatever catering service they choose — They are not limited by a preferred vendor list. We also have chairs and tables available for renters to use and our staff will set them up and break them down according to the floor plan provided by the customer.”

Rental venue info can be found on the City’s website: www.lakelandgov.net/parkrec and click on the champagne glass icon.

So, go ahead… pop-the-question and get planning!

G O V E R N M E N T E M P L O Y E E S A T W O R K

Meet Jason WilleyJason Willey is the Economic Development

Coordinator for the City of Lakeland. He is going on his 13th year as a City of Lakeland employee. He plays an integral role assisting new businesses looking to expand or relocate their operations to Lakeland. When asked to describe his job, Willey said, “I work with the County and the State in acquiring financial tax incentives for businesses. Also, I help navigate the process of City permitting and work with the regulatory agencies so businesses have a smooth transition when they build new facilities or relocate to Lakeland.”

He said, “We try to make it a one stop shop for business development.” There are criteria and preferred business models that the City is trying to attract. There is a focus on large utility users, organizations that hire a large number of employees and high skill/high wage employers that benefit the community.

Willey said, “I have most recently worked with Matheson Tri-Gas Inc. in assisting them with their new plant operations as they were exploring possible locations.” He added, “They ultimately chose Lakeland as the location for their new plant and they will be one of Lakeland Electric’s largest users when they are in full production.” Willey has

also been instrumental in working with O’Reilly Autoparts, which just began construction on their new 400,000 square foot distribution facility which will add 500 new jobs in Lakeland.

He is now working with Colo5, a 105,000 square foot data center bringing their high skill/high wage operation to Lakeland and the Brew Hub as they prepare to begin construction on their Lakeland facility, which will be the first of five planned national locations. He said, “Many people may not understand that there is a great deal of work that goes into bringing a company to an area.” Willey added, “Right now I’m assisting two new franchise restaurants with their first Lakeland locations and there is another microbrewery restaurant concept with plans to redevelop a site on Lake Mirror in downtown Lakeland.”

Willey graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Public Administration and received his MBA from Webster University. He is married to his wife, Devy and they have two children, Spencer and Charlotte. When asked about his favorite movie, he said that’s a good question but probably Forest Gump or It’s a Wonderful Life. Willey said his favorite food is anything at Chipotle with a burrito being his first choice. His favorite color

is blue and he enjoys running. He said, “I recently started running because my nine-year-old runs and I am trying to keep pace with him. Willey first got interested in municipal government because of his grandfather who was a longtime City of Lakeland official serving as Mayor and City Commissioner.

Willey said, “A lot of what I do is behind the scenes and it’s really hard to explain but I provide support and guidance to companies and work with them when they are trying to decide on where to build their operations. We try to convince a company on why Lakeland should be their first choice and each project is different; that’s what makes my job so interesting.”

like \''līk\ vb: to be suitable or agreeable to. www.facebook .com/c i ty o f lake land LIKE US ON

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STAYCONNECTED

ONLINE

www.lakelandgov.net

IN PERSONCity Hall is open

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.Monday-Friday

PUBLIC MEETINGSCity Commission and

Utility Committee meetings occur the first and third Monday of

every month. The public is invited to attend or watch live on

Channel 615 (Brighthouse) or

Channel 43 (Verizon FiOS)

CITY COMMISSION9:00 a.m.

UTILITY COMMITTEE1:00 p.m.

IMPORTANT NUMBERSCity Hall

863.834.6000

Lakeland Electric Customer Service

863.834.9535

Power or Water Outages863.834.4248

Stormwater Hotline863.834.3300

PAYING YOURUTILITY BILL

ONLINEwww.lakelandelectric.com

BY PHONE863.834.9535

IN PERSONLakeland Electric has partnered with over 50 local businesses

including area AMSCOT offices to accept your utility payment.

What do you call a group of community members who value the area libraries and who volunteer their time to help promote and enhance services? They are known as “Friends of the Library”. The Lakeland Public Library and the Larry R. Jackson Branch Library are fortunate to have the support of The Friends of the Library of Lakeland, Inc. The non-profit organization supports Lakeland libraries in many ways including raising money through the sale of donated materials and donating thousands of hours each year.

“Friends’ members believe in the importance of the public library and the role it plays in a community,” said Bonnie Rowbotham, current Friends of the Library President.

“We are able to function so much more efficiently with their help,” said City Librarian Lisa Lilyquist. “They make up a large percentage of our volunteers. The hours they dedicate to our libraries equates to about 3-5 full-time staff members,” she added.

Along with advocating for adequate funding of Lakeland libraries, the group directly supports ongoing book sales, leads book discussions, coordinates cultural performances and children’s programs, brings in authors and musicians during the summer, and offers a reader’s advisory magazine and much more. It is with the help of the Friends of the Libraries of Lakeland, Inc. that the City of Lakeland’s public libraries have been outfitted with new equipment, furniture and public art.

Projects The Friends of the Library of Lakeland, Inc. contributed to:

• $50,000 towards the new furniture that was installed on the public service floor at the Main Library.

• $25,000 to furnish the Training and Tutor Rooms as well as new DVD shelving for the renovation project at the Main Library (2011)

• Over $15,000 in donations for new computer furniture for the Children's Area at the Larry R. Jackson Branch Library (2008/2009)

• A Nursery Rhyme mural at the Larry R. Jackson Branch Library (2008/2009)

• Murals walls were added to the Youth Services Rooms of the Main Library when they were expanded and renovated (2006)

• Funded the Main Library's Swan Sign at the corner of Palmetto Street and Lake Morton Drive. (2004)

Every library needs friends. To learn more about the Friends of the Library program and find out how you can become a volunteer, visit lakelandgov.net/library.

Every Library Needs Friends

DOYOU

KNOWWHERE

CLIPPINGSSHOULD

GO?

DOYOU

KNOWWHERE

CLIPPINGSSHOULD

GO?Sweep them back

onto your lawnEVERY TIME

you mow!

POLLUTIONHOTLINE

863.834.3300

eLIBRARY4740 S. FLORIDA AVE

MAIN LIBRARY • 100 LAKE MORTON DR. • 863.834.4280

LARRY R. JACKSON BRANCH • 1700 N. FLORIDA AVE. • 863.823.4288

eLIBRARY • 4740 S. FLORIDA AVE. 863.838.4507

LAKELAND PUBLIC LIBRARIES: