September 2014 - Access Lakeland

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City of Lakeland’s Monthly Newsletter

September 2014

Think you know your library? Did you know that there are three libraries in Lakeland that are completely free to all residents of Polk County? You don’t have to live within the city limits of

IN THIS ISSUE

Lakeland anymore to enjoy the hundreds of thousands of titles available in print and many more online.

Library cards are

FREE to all Polk County residents and come with privileges that allow you to borrow materials, access computers and download eBooks and music. Your card is valid at any public library in Polk County.

Lakeland Electric Helps Customers In Need

September is the American Library Association’s Library Card Sign-Up Month. If you do not have a library card or if yours isn’t current, this month is a great time to visit your local library and sign up for access. Having an up-to-date library card is your ticket to one of the greatest bargains available to you as

Celebrate Public Power WeekLakeland Electric Open House

a resident of Polk County. Each time you check out a book, CD, DVD or other type of media, you’re saving yourself money. Aside from the savings, your local librarians are well versed in their holdings and are a great resource for learning about new genres and subjects.

Over 113,000 people in Greater Lakeland have library cards—do

Lakeland Fire and Police Depts.

To Hold Open Houses

you? Last year, the three library locations checked out over one million titles. The libraries log an average of 60,000 user visits each month for checking out books or participating in one of their programs. For a complete list of library activities, visit their website at www.lakelandgov.net/library.

“The library is more than just books.

Detroit Tigers Contract Renewed

Staff members teach

computer classes, offer story times for young children, proctor tests for distance learners, provide one-on-one tutoring for technology questions, provide meeting room space, and work with volunteers,” says Lisa Lilyquist, City of Lakeland’s Librarian.

“Most importantly, however, our libraries are here to serve the information, recreation and educational needs of the citizens of greater Lakeland.”

With school back in session, the most important school supply for your child (and you) is your ticket to adventure, to other

228 S. Massachusetts Ave. Lakeland, FL 33801 863.834.6000 www.lakelandgov.net

worlds, to the past, to the future and to your biggest fantasies— your library card.

MAIN BRANCH • 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

A LIBRARY CARD IS THE SMARTEST CARD IN YOUR WALLET

Monthly Comparison of Residential Electric Rates

Source: Florida Municipal Electric Association (FMEA) Monthly Utility Bill Comparison • June 2014

www.lakelandelectric.com

*per 1,200 kWh usage

Lakeland Electric CELEBRATE Helps Customers PUBLIC POWER WEEK! In Need Lakeland Electric offers financial help with utility bills through a number of local agencies.

Joel Ivy, General Manager for Lakeland Electric said, “We work with 33 local agencies to find financial help for our customers who may experience hardship in paying their utility bill.” In fact, assistance with agency partners is up 82% compared to last year, and up 25% as compared to Lakeland Electric’s nine-year average.

Lakeland Electric has a dedicated group of employees called the Customer Advocate Team that specializes in helping customers find financial assistance. Ivy said, “Since 2007 we’ve averaged $62,600 per month in payments made by the local agencies and this year we’re averaging $78,500.” He added, “Because of the downturn in the economy, last year was one of the most difficult years we’ve had in finding assistance for our customers who are in need.”

The Customer Advocate Team asks that customers who are experiencing hardship in paying their utility bill contact them as soon as possible through the customer service number (863/834-9535) and not wait until the last minute when their service is about to be cut-off. This way the team will have more time to work on finding assistance and it is more likely that customers will avoid loss of electric service.

Lakeland Electric also collects fund through Project Care that assists elderly, veteran and disabled customers during times of hardship.

Customers are encouraged to sign up on the web and round up their utility bill to the nearest dollar amount because your small change will make a huge difference. To learn more about Project Care and the Round Up program go to www.lakelandelectric.com.

October 2014 will mark Public Power Week’s 28th anniversary as a nationwide program to celebrate the importance of public power. Lakeland Electric will celebrate Public Power Week during October 5-11, 2014 along with more than 2,000 other electric utilities that collectively provide electricity on a notfor-profit basis to 46 million Americans.

“Public Power Week is a chance for Lakeland Electric to articulate why public power works in Lakeland. We are absolutely dedicated to providing a high level of service at affordable rates,” said Joel Ivy, Lakeland Electric’s General Manager.

Public Power Week is an annual event that takes place throughout the nation.

It is sponsored in conjunction with the American Public Power Association (APPA) in Washington, D.C. APPA is the service organization for community and state-owned electric utilities.

“We are proud to have served the customers of Lakeland Electric for 110 years,” Ivy said. “Lakeland Electric contributes to the area’s economic vitality. We understand how critical electricity is for our customers and we strive to find better ways to deliver it efficiently, reliably, safely and with special attention to the environment.”

Lakeland Electric is Florida’s third-largest public power utility and it provides electricity to more than 120,000 customers. Power is primarily generated at Lakeland Electric’s McIntosh Power Plant that is capable of generating 941-megawatts of electricity with coal and natural gas generators.The utility also operates a group of diesel unit’s capable of producing up to 50- megawatts for emergency purposes and has expanded generation to include solar.

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LIKE US ON

public safety

OPEN HOUSES OCTOBER 11

10AM-2PM | Station 1 • Downtown Members of the department will be on hand to give guided tours of the station so that you can explore fire trucks, visit equipment displays and see where your local firefighters live while on duty serving the citizens of Lakeland. Live demonstrations will be given by our Urban Search and Rescue Team, firefighters and paramedics. You can also participate in our hands-on extrication exercise or sit back, relax and get your blood pressure checked while enjoying free refreshments! Sparky the Fire Dog will also be on site for free photos in front of the big engines.

OCTOBER 18

10AM-2PM | Lakeland Police Station This free event gives citizens the opportunity to go behind the scenes with Lakeland’s finest. During this fun-filled family day you can meet members of the SWAT team, take a peek inside LPD’s mobile command center, see the armored rescue vehicle up close and check out the K-9 team in action! Tours of the police station will be given throughout the day and there will be plenty of activities for children. This year’s event will focus on gun safety and gang awareness.

G OV E R N M E N T E M P L OY E E S AT WO R K

Meet TRANICE CARMICHAEL Meet Tranice Carmichael, a technical training specialist at Lakeland Electric. Carmichael has been employed with Lakeland Electric for two years in the Training and Workforce Management Division. She is responsible for initiating, planning, managing and implementing training and education projects for employees and workgroups. In addition, Carmichael is a workforce preparation instructor with the Power Academy at Tenoroc High School, a Polk County School Board program that Lakeland Electric sponsors to introduce students to industrial electricity and entry-level positions throughout the utility industry.“I am very delighted that this division works extensively with Tenoroc’s Power Academy,” she said.

A former high school algebra and geometry teacher, Carmichael says that her job at Lakeland Electric is perfect. “I’ve always seen myself as a person who likes to empower others and be a support for them.” She’s having a great time helping her coworkers with continuing training opportunities to better develop their talents. “I think that I’m doing a great service for our citizens,” Carmichael said about her internal job functions.

Working with the Power Academy, Carmichael gets the chance to create curriculum for workforce management and to get students ready to go to work by helping with things like resume writing and job interview skills. “Working with students is an aspect of my job that makes it that much better,” said Carmichael. “I’m really passionate about

interacting with youth as well,” she added.

Other projects Carmichael is involved with include the annual Lakeland Electric Open House, a 2015 electric-themed calendar contest, and an industry awareness initiative where a small group of employees visit high schools to discuss the high-skill and high-wage jobs available at a utility company like Lakeland Electric.

When she’s not focused on equipping her colleagues and students for success, Carmichael can be found working with participants of the Lakeland Police Athletic League (PAL) at Simpson Park Community Center. She currently serves as the coordinator of the Hurricanes Cheerleading program. “I worked my way up through the ranks,” she laughed. “I started as a team mom then a coach and now coordinator.” Aside from her administrative responsibilities, Carmichael and her team of coaches and volunteers try to make sure the culture is one of love and family. “We do everything we can to ensure that the girls and parents have a great time being part of the Hurricanes organization,” she said.

She attributes the growth that they’re currently experiencing to the extra focus on mentoring, team building and leadership character. “It’s a lot of work but it’s extremely rewarding,” said Carmichael.

Carmichael is a life-long Lakeland resident having attended John Cox Elementary (now the site of Lakeland Volunteers In Medicine), Lake Gibson Junior High and Lake Gibson High. “The McIntosh Power Plant has always been a symbol of home,

growing up here,” she reminisced. “Never did I think I’d be working for Lakeland Electric and learning what goes on behind the scenes of a power company”.

When asked what she likes to do during spare time, Carmichael said, “sleep”. Between working at Lakeland Electric and with PAL, she admits that the long days leave little time for much more. She does carve out time here and there to indulge in reading her favorite fantasy and sci-fi novels. Right now though, Carmichael is reading the book Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott. “That book is turning my life around as far as learning how to be a more powerful communicator,” she said.

Charmichael is proud to represent the garnet and gold of Florida State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree and the fire of Southeastern University where she earned her master’s degree in educational leadership. She has been married to her husband Keith nearly 11 years. They have two very active daughters, Orri and Nevaeh. “At the end of my day, however, I go home to my family knowing that I’m fulfilling my purpose—touching people in positive ways and helping them to become well-rounded individuals, professionally and in social settings,” she said.

DETROIT TIGERS CONTRACT RENEWED

The City of Lakeland and the Detroit Tigers have reached an agreement on the terms and conditions that will be included in a contract that will extend the City’s relationship with the organization another 20 years. The current contract signed in 2000 expires December 31, 2016. The new contract will solidify the Detroit Tigers continuing their Spring Training, their Class A Minor League operations with the Flying Tigers and their rehabilitative program at the TigerTown Complex through 2036.

City Manager Doug Thomas said, “We approached the negotiations with a win-win attitude and I am very pleased that both the City and the Tigers were able to accomplish our respective desired outcomes. We have developed a package that is cost effective for the City and continues to support the estimated $45 million in economic benefits associated with Spring Training.”

Over the past two years, the negotiation team reviewed Spring Training facilities in Florida and Arizona to view best practice designs and to better understand the standards that are expected at current MLB facilities.

“The Detroit Tigers are thrilled this new agreement will ensure the ball club will maintain its winter home in the City of Lakeland for an unprecedented 100 years,” said David Dombrowski, Tigers President, CEO and General Manager. “We are thankful and appreciative of the long-standing relationship with the City of Lakeland, Polk County and the State of Florida that in terms of years is second to none in all of Major League Baseball.”

The proposed design of the complex calls for separate Major and Minor League clubhouses that will be constructed; improved and realigned seating areas including additional shading; a 360 degree walk around layout to allow fans to be in constant view of the game; upgraded concession and new vending areas; expanded press box facilities in response to growing media interest with international players; a new artificial field surface in the minor league complex; new team cafeteria equipment; various improvements throughout the complex to assist in player development and rehabilitation; and overall improved layout and security features consistent with MLB security measures.

Dombrowski said, “We believe the extensive enhancements to TigerTown will offer the loyal and passionate fans in Lakeland and the legions of Tigers fans that travel to Florida with a one-of-a-kind Spring Training experience. Lakeland plays a significant role yearround in the Tigers baseball operations and the planned renovations will provide the players with a state-of-theart development and rehabilitation facility, certain to be amongst the best in all of baseball.”

AQUA BOO FALL FESTIVAL 2014

OCTOBER 25TH • 6PM GANDY POOL 404 IMPERIAL BOULEVARD

Join us as Gandy Pool transforms into the Infamous Green Swamp with frights lurking around every corner.

Swamp Nachos and other Swamp Snacks $2 Per Person • Proper Swimwear is Required

STAY CONNECTED ONLINE www.lakelandgov.net

Insta

IN PERSON City Hall is open 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Monday-Friday PUBLIC MEETINGS City Commission Meetings First and Third Monday 9:00 a.m.

Utility Committee Meetings First Monday 1:00 p.m.

Watch the live broadcast on:

HALLOWEEN FUN FEST! Kelly Recreation Complex 404 Imperial Blvd

OCTOBER 28, 2014 6-7:30PM

Fire Department Provides Scholarships to Homeless Teens The Lakeland Fire Department recently developed and implemented a scholarship program to assist homeless Polk County high school seniors and recent graduates through the Hearth Project. The HEARTH project is a special division within the school system that provides support for homeless students in Polk County.

The new scholarship program is designed to provide selected recipients with the opportunity at a successful adult life through a career in the fire service.The program offers a full scholarship to the fire standards program at Ridge Career Center, with all related cost covered.

The scholarship also includes full coverage of cost associated with the first responders course offered at Polk State College (PSC). The fire service has provided many firefighters with a successful career and enriching experiences. It is the hope that through this program the same can be afforded to other deserving young people.

Congratulations to Ariel, age 18, and Owen, age 19, on being the first two recipients of the Lakeland Fire Department sponsored scholarship.

L O G O N. T U N E I N. G E T C O N N E C T E D.

www.lakelandgov.net

Channel 615 (Brighthouse) or Channel 43 (Verizon FiOS) IMPORTANT NUMBERS 863.834.6000 Lakeland Electric Customer Service 863.834.9535 Power or Water Outages 863.834.4248 Pollution Hotline 863.834.3300 LPD Crime Tips Hotline 863.834.2549 PAYING YOUR UTILITY BILL ONLINE www.lakelandelectric.com

BY PHONE 863.834.9535 IN PERSON Lakeland Electric has partnered with over 50 local businesses including area AMSCOT offices to accept your utility payment.