CITY OF LAKELAND NEWS & EVENTS

DECEMBER 2018

REENERGIZE LAKELANDA NEW CAMPAIGN BY LAKELAND ELECTRIC

ROUND UP FOR PROJECT CAREYOUR SMALL CHANGE CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHTMEET MATTHEW KROK

EXPRESS PERMITTINGGET YOUR PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESSED IN30 MINUTES OR LESS

30290-I-0202

The City of Lakeland will hold a special municipal election on Tuesday, January 15, 2019 with a run-off election scheduled for February 12, 2019 if necessary. City of Lakeland voters will decide on the Southwest District C seat vacated by Michael Dunn. All registered voters living inside the Lakeland City limits are eligible to vote for the Southwest quadrant commission seat.

During the special municipal election, polls will be open 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. In an effort to save taxpayer dollars for this unbudgeted expense, the City Commission has decided to create 12 super precincts. Michael Brossart, the City’s Finance Director said, “A normal municipal election using the 34 designated precincts within the Lakeland City limits costs about $65,000. We are hoping to save anywhere between $5,000-$10,000 by combining some of our precincts.”

Your voter identification card outlines regular precinct, polling place and voting districts for your address. If you are not sure of your regular precinct, please visit polkelections.com/Voter-Services/Where-Do-I-Vote. Use the chart to find out what super precinct you are assigned to for the special municipal election. Let your voice be heard and vote on January 15th for your new City Commissioner.

CITY OF LAKELAND POLLING LOCATIONS2019 SPECIAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION

(Check your voter ID card for your precinct number)

POLLS ARE OPEN 7 a.m - 7 p.mThere will be a digital scan machine and a voting machine for individuals with disabilities at each

location.

GEARING UP FOR THE SPECIAL ELECTION

PCT COMBINING PCTS FACILITY LOCATION112 Gibsonia Baptist Church

5440 U.S. Highway 98 North

117 107, 117,125 Believers’ Fellowship Church5240 North Socrum Loop Road

120 The Estates at Carpenters1001 Carpenters Way

121 Victory Assembly of God Hospitality Suite

1401 Griffin Road

204 204, 205, 209, 210, 212

Coleman-Bush Building1104 Martin L. King Jr. Avenue

206 206, 201 Lakeland 7th Day Adventist Church

1435 Gilmore Avenue

216 214, 216, 221, 222 Florida Presbyterian Homes McArthur Center

811 S. Lakeside Avenue

217 207, 211, 217 Lake Mirror Center121 South Lake Avenue

220 213, 220, 234 Hilton Garden Inn3839 Don Emerson Drive

224 218, 223, 224, 225, 228

Chapel in the Grove1540 New Jersey Road

229 229, 233 Kelly Recreation Complex404 Imperial Boulevard

236 230, 231, 235, 236 Highland Park Church of the Nazarene

4730 Lakeland Highlands Road

VOTE

January 15

www.lakelandelectric.com

@mylakelandelectric

Keeping electric costs low is important to everyone. The ReEnergize Lakeland campaign will educate our customers on ways they can save money by conserving electricity and improving the environment all at the same time. The three focuses of ReEnergize Lakeland include energy efficiency, solar power and trees.

How can you ReEnergize Lakeland?

Apply for a New Appliance RebateIf customers buy a new Energy Star appliance built to save electricity,

they can get a credit on their utility bill from $40 to $200. By using appliances that save energy, bills can be lower every month. Select energy efficient refrigerators, dishwashers and washing machines are included in the rebate.

Set up a free Home Energy AuditBy having a free home-energy inspection performed by a Lakeland

Electric energy analyst, customers can learn ways to make their home more energy efficient. The analysts will share energy-saving recommendations and practices, like turning off lights and ceiling fans when no one is home or setting the air conditioner at 78 degrees.

Learn about our Solar Hot Water ServiceSolar hot water panels provide the easiest way for homeowners to

use the sun to heat their water. By running water through solar panels placed on the roof of a house, the water heats naturally and customers can save electricity and money.

Participate in our National Arbor Day Energy-Saving Trees® Program

By planting the right tree in the right place, you can reduce energy use by up to 20% each year. Trees also improve air and water quality, help relieve stress and make yards more enjoyable. Lakeland Electric is partnering with the National Arbor Day Foundation to provide our customers with free trees twice a year. Look for our next campaign in Spring 2019.

For more information on any of these ReEnergize Lakeland programs,

please call our Customer Call Center at 863.834.9535 or email us at LEmarketing@lakelandelectric.com.

REENERGIZEL A K E L A N DA NEW EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNABOUT CUSTOMER CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

ROUND UP FOR PROJECT CARE Visit lakelandelectric.com to sign up today!

As a City-owned utility, our goal is to provide Lakeland with reliable electric service. We also feel it is our responsibility to help improve the quality of life for our customers. To help our fellow citizens in need, a program called Project Care was developed to assist low income seniors, age 60 and older and disabled members of the community pay their utility bills.

An easy way to participate is through the Round Up Program. Lakeland Electric customers can choose to automatically round up their utility bills to the next highest dollar amount. For example, a participating customer’s monthly bill of $245.34 would be automatically rounded up to $246.00, with the additional 66 cents going to Round Up for Project Care.

Each month the donation will vary, depending on the amount of your utility bill. There will be a separate line item on your utility bill indicating the amount donated to Round Up for Project Care for the month. The minimum amount you could contribute each month is one cent and the maximum is 99 cents. The most any customer can contribute in a year is $11.88 ($0.99 x 12 months).

If you are interested in participating in the Round Up program, please call Customer Service at 863.834.9535 or visit lakelandelectric.com and fill out the short form.

YOUR SMALL CHANGE CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE!

Meet Mathew Krok, a Systems Analyst - GIS (Geographic Information System) in the Department of Information Technology. GIS is a system used to gather, manage and analyze geographical data. His work group supports City business functions including the Electric and Water Utilities, Police, Fire, Public Works, Finance, Human Resources, Community Development, Parks and Recreation, Internal Audit, Risk Management, Purchasing, Communications, Lakeland Linder International Airport and The RP Funding Center. One tangible example is the Parks Finder app that is available for citizens to locate a park or recreation facility and obtain information about activities in their community. Another is the Waze app, a community-based traffic and navigation app that the City has recently added to its social media platform. Krok likens GIS to communicating and telling a story with maps; there is a treasure trove of data just waiting to be discovered. Krok says, “The needle is moving in GIS and I am very proud to be a part of it!”

Krok has been employed with the City for four years. He has a passion for public service and is grateful that even at work, he is able to assist others. Additionally, he says he works with talented people that he can learn from and grow with. “The City of Lakeland is stable and provides a great quality of life for my family,” said Krok. “We love the community, it is a great place to live and work.”

Krok was born in New Jersey. At the end of his 8th grade year, the family moved across the country to California when his dad was offered a better job opportunity. After graduating from Oakridge High School,

he moved to Oklahoma to study meteorology. Deciding that was not the field for him, he returned to New Jersey where he earned his degree in Geography from Rutgers University.

During that time, he was a volunteer EMT and worked as a Public Safety Dispatcher. Eventually, he found himself in Nevada. This was by far his best move, since he met his “totally awesome” wife Kelly there. They have been married for eight years and have two children. They really wanted to move to Florida in order to be closer to family. During his search, he happened upon an opening with the City of Lakeland. He applied, interviewed and was hired.

Krok’s hobbies currently revolve around his children. They love spending time outdoors at lakes and parks and visiting theme parks like LEGOLAND and Busch Gardens. The family is very involved in their church. Krok is a member of the Knights of Columbus and serves as a mentor, teaching others the benefits of GIS mapping.

Krok loves to cook and enjoys Italian and Mexican fare. A favorite spot to dine in Lakeland is Palace Pizza. He is one year away from completing his Masters in Public Administration. The family has two dogs, Gunnar and Shiloh and two cats, Boomer and Gabby. Krok looks forward to more travelling and cannot wait to take his wife on a river cruise in France for their 10-year anniversary. Mathew Krok, thank you for making Lakeland a great place to live, work and play!

CITY OF LAKELAND EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

MATTHEW KROK SYSTEMS ANALYST

2019 Lakeland Fire Department’s Rescued Pets Calendar Available Now For the fourth year in a row, the Lakeland Fire Department (LFD) and SPCA Florida proudly present its Rescued Pets Calendar! The calendar features beautifully photographed SPCA Florida rescued pets and buff Lakeland firefighters. Each month of the year also features helpful safety tips and information from both organizations. For the fourth year in a row, the Lakeland Fire Department and SPCA Florida proudly present its Rescued Pets Calendar! The calendar features Lakeland firefighters with SPCA Florida rescued pets. The calendar also features helpful safety tips and information from both organizations. The high-quality calendars can be purchased for a $10.00 donation and make the perfect gift for the upcoming holidays. Purchases can be made at the locations below and online at www.spcaflorida.org.• SPCA Florida campus at 5850 Brannen Road South, Lakeland, FL 33813• Lakeland Fire Department Administration Building at 701 East Main Street, Lakeland, FL 33801• Lakeland City Hall at 228 Massachusetts Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33801 Cash and checks are accepted at all sites. Credit cards are accepted the SPCA Florida’s Medical Center, Adoption Center, Administration buildings and online at www.spcaflorida.org/2019calendar.Proceeds go directly to helping SPCA rescued animals in Lakeland. Last year’s calendar was a great success! Over $15,000 was raised to help pay expenses associated with pets rescued at emergency scenes and the SPCA purchased new animal oxygen masks for the Lakeland Fire Department. The annual calendar is a fantastic way for the Lakeland Fire Department help promote a great organization that delivers on the mission of helping animals. All Proceeds benefits SPCA Florida!

HOLIDAY SCHEDULECITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE OBSERVANCE OF:

CHRISTMASDECEMBER 24 & 25, 2018

NO SOLID WASTE PICK UP DEC. 25. BACK TO NORMAL DEC. 27 & 28.

NEW YEAR'SJANUARY 1, 2019

NO SOLID WASTE PICK UP JAN. 1.BACK TO NORMAL JAN. 3 & 4.

MLKJANUARY 21, 2018

NO CHANGE IN COLLECTION SCHEDULE.

Online | www.lakelandgov.net In Person | City Hall • 8AM – 5PM • Monday-FridayFACEBOOK TWITTER SNAPCHAT NEXTDOOR INSTAGRAM VIMEO YOUTUBE | Listen Lakeland • First Sunday • FM 97.5 WPCV @ 8:30AM | FM 98.3 WWRZ @ 8AM | AM 1430 WLKF @ 8AM | AM 1230 WONN @ 9AM

Public Meetings | City Commission Meetings • First and Third Monday • 3PM | Utility Committee Meetings • First Monday • 1PMLive Broadcast on LGN | Channel 643 (Spectrum) | Channel 43 (Frontier FiOS)

IMPORTANT NUMBERS:City Hall • 863.834.6000 Lakeland Electric Customer Service • 863.834.9535 Power or Water Outages • 863.834.4248Pollution Hotline • 863.834.3300 LPD Crime Tips Hotline • 863.834.2549 LPD (Non-Emergency) • 863.834.6900

PAYING YOUR UTILITY BILL:ONLINE | www.lakelandelectric.com BY PHONE | 863.834.9535IN PERSON | Lakeland Electric has partnered with over 50 local businesses including area AMSCOT offices to accept your utility payment.ST

AY CO

NNEC

TED