Lakeland Local
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Review: April/May/June 2007
Posted: 31 Dec 2007 08:27 AM CST
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LakelandLocal/~3/208920071/review-april-may-june-2007.html
I realized the monthly reviews seemed to be day-by-day reviews. So, for the rest of the year, three months per review article. First up...
4April in Lakeland...better than Paris, Texas
The CSX Hub story blew up in April. Imagine that. It had been in the news for a year and then it took off.
We featured our first annual Frances Langford article.
The Top Ten Crash Locations were a hit.
Ever wondered how long it takes a train to pass an intersection. We figured it out.
We asked what the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce had to hide. Twice. Thrice.
A monument to the Confederate Army Veterans was dedicated in Roselawn Cemetery.
5May 2007 in Lakeland Local
We introduced the Lakeland Neighborhood Boundaries Map
For Lakeland resident Ken Peck, the message was coffee
6June 2007 in Lakeland Local
We had the first article on Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of Polk County and that the Florida Southern College campus was added to the World Monuments Fund 100 Most Endangered Sites list.
We profiled Lakeland artist Richard Pearson.
There was a big CSX meeting in Lakeland that was open to the public. We had some quick thoughts, and then some more thoughts. Then there was another meeting. With even more thoughts.
In other CSX news we asked if the Proposed I-95 would affect the Polk Rail Hub? Then we created a handy train speed guide and finally, we wrote It isn't about sound, it is about traffic.
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Review: March 2007
Posted: 30 Dec 2007 11:40 AM CST
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LakelandLocal/~3/208511569/review-march-2007.html
3March, when Lakeland turns to baseball, name changes, and red light cameras...
We started a bit consternation when we took the news out of the focus groups and into the streets that USF Lakeland wanted to change its name. The local Main Stream Media caught up a few days later.
"The whole concept of The Artist Within is a place where artists can work, sell, and teach from. I'm an artist. I love to teach. And, of course, sell my work. But I couldn't find it all in one place. When I first started the business two years ago I had been actively looking for somewhere in this area where I could do that, " Raulerson said.
We had a series of articles on Red Light Cameras in Lakeland and presented the first Lakeland Crime Map.
"Just because we've ruined 90 percent of everything doesn't mean we can't do wonderful things with the remaining ten percent!" Those looking to ally Polk County with our neighbor to the East should read National Geographic's Orlando Beyond Disney
I found out exactly how responsive one section of Lakeland government could be in A Tale of Two Solutions
I had a few photos just before the auction of long-time Lakeland favorite Oxford Lumber.
In news that will continue to alter life in Polk County for years to come, J.D. Alexander unilaterally moved Polk County out of the Tampa Bay Transportation Authority
The Tigers and Red Sox had a scrum.
There was a rally for peace in front of Southgate.
We took some photos of the newly installed sculptures on Lemon Street
No one told me Florida had tornadoes.
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Review: February 2007
Posted: 30 Dec 2007 10:38 AM CST
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LakelandLocal/~3/208489741/review-february-2007.html
2Continuing our year end review with the shortest of months...
Welcome (back) Barry, and Hello Lenore, Cary, and Bill: In a nod to the future, our local paper starts blogging. By year's end it seems half the news staff has a blog.
Moody's Economy.com said Lakeland ranked 4th in their list of the Best Places to (Still) Invest.
We wrote about an Entertainment Weekly writer who didn't think much of Lakeland in Can you say "archipelago?" I knew that you could.
February had a lot of Spring Training posts and a bit about the Lakeland Library Special Detroit Tigers Photo Collection.
Hazel Haley got a lake. OK, they named a lake after her.
Ray Barlow came all the way from Canada to take some really nice photographs on Lake Parker.
There was a bit of a dust-up concerning Organizational Blogs and Main Stream Media in Blogrolls and PR Blogs
Lakeland Local
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Review: January 2007
Posted: 29 Dec 2007 08:52 AM CST
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LakelandLocal/~3/208059777/review-january-2007.html
1 For the remainder of the year we're going to highlight stories featured on Lakeland Local in 2007. First up, appropriately enough, is January 2007.
Lake Hollingsworth UFO Incident: Yes, Lakeland Local had the first photos of the now famous Lake Hollingsworth UFO
Circus Boy Nathan: "Remember the circus that visited the Lakeland Center last weekend? Well, our coffee shops were being judged by "Circus Boy Nathan." When Nathan isn't working at the circus, he searches for his love, Mocha Latte. He'll visit area coffee shops to find the best mix of chocolate, espresso and whipped creme." He also wrote a song dedicated to the city.
Burglary near Lake Hollingsworth: "The robbery began innocently enough. An elderly Cleveland Park man answered his door to find a stranger. The man explained he worked for the city and needed access to the resident's back yard."
Louisville and Lakeland: I spoke of Lakeland in terms other ex-Louisvillian's would recognize.
Shooting Pictures in Lakeland: The Polk Museum of Art and I disagreed about taking photos at the museum.
You Got TV in My Newspaper: Our favorite local newspaper debuts video. They've come quite far in a year.
Polk Blogger Divide County: We had our first meeting of Polk Bloggers. I included a few pics.
Lakeland Local
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Lakeland Resident's Visit is Olney Top Story
Posted: 28 Dec 2007 04:13 PM CST
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LakelandLocal/~3/207755237/lakeland-residents-visit-front.html
Lakeland resident Brenden Knigge spent Christmas in Olney, Illinois. While a lot of us traveled for the holiday's Knigge made his trip thanks to his stepmother winning a "Home for the Holidays" contest in the small Northern town approximetely 930 miles from Lakeland.
The local paper, appropriately titled The Olney Daily Mail, featured a second article on Knigge's trip:
Knigge said he enjoyed his time in Olney and noted the differences between here and Lakeland, which is near Tampa Bay.
“It's much more laid back here,” he said. “It's nice and calm.”
Actually, I'd have to agree with Knigge. I once had my car repaired in Olney. It's a very laid-back place.
Lakeland Local
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Email Woes
Posted: 27 Dec 2007 11:39 AM CST
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LakelandLocal/~3/207127228/email-woes.html
There is nothing I dislike more than email. It follows Sturgeon's Second Law: 90% of everything is crud. I'd say that would be 99% in the case of email. I get so much spam through my Lakeland Local, freelance, and personal addresses that I spend too much time each day looking for diamonds in the sand.
When I have a mailbox fail, as I recently have, it sometimes takes me days to discover there is a problem and then an hour tracking down the problem. That has happened to me -- again.
If you've sent any mail to me at LakelandLocal since late December 18th....I may have received it five minutes ago. Or I may never receive it. If you expected an answer, and don't get one today, I didn't get your email.
I'd like to say this is rare, or that it will never happen again, but I won't. It isn't rare. It will happen again. I apologize for the people who created the SMTP, POP, and IMAP standards. They had no idea it would become so unstable. It is time to trash all email standards and start from scratch.
Lakeland Local
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Christmas Tree Disposal
Posted: 26 Dec 2007 02:24 PM CST
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LakelandLocal/~3/206666123/christmas-tree-disposal.html
Lakeland residents who would like to dispose of their Christmas trees, can set them out on any normal yard trash Wednesday. If your family is like mine, that would be a Wednesday in February.
Of course, I mean one of the trees that was once alive. If you want to get rid of one of those all silver trees with the motorized light wheel, it's best to place those in a neighbor's garbage can late, late at night. Feign ignorance, and better taste, if questioned about the tree.
Lakeland Local
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Dear Santa
Posted: 24 Dec 2007 09:28 AM CST
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LakelandLocal/~3/205597685/dear-santa.html
Dear Santa,
I know this is late. I'm sure you're very busy, but I wanted to make sure I was good all the way up to the deadline. I have everything I want, but I was hoping you could bring a few things for some friends..
Santa, some of my blogger friends could use an extra gift this year. They've been ever so busy. Josh missed the 2007 Indianapolis Grand Prix and they're not having one in 2008. Could you bring him tickets to the 2008 Montreal Grand Prix? Lorrie could use some more numbing cream...this time for her toe. Cat could use an article in Rolling Stone entitled, "Lakeland: The Place to Live after College."
Could you bring my friends in Winter Haven a new map? They must have a bad one. They're always talking about living in some county called "East Polk."
Santa, not everyone likes turkey. Could you leave heaping plates of pasta to each of the members of the Polk County School Board? Well, except for Brenda Reddout, she should get a drumstick and a gold star.
The Lakeland Police Department could use 10 red light cameras. I just ask they include the proper yellow lights, and contracts that favor the city.
My friends at USF Lakeland no longer like their last name. It makes me sad, but life goes on. Santa, could you bring them note cards and stationary with their new name?
Could you find it in your heart to leave a note at someone's house? The fine folks at the Downtown Lakeland Partnership have been trying to contact someone and they're having no luck. Tonight, when little Charlie Crist leaves you milk and cookies, could you leave him a short note? Suggest that to truly be a good boy, he should come visit us in Lakeland? And Santa, if he ignores your note, next year could you leave him a railroad car full of coal?
Santa, the reindeer seem out of work 364 days a year. Could you loan them to my friends at CSX? They really could use them to fly trains over Lakeland.
My last friend has had a really tough year. Ill advised private meetings, mail woes, and general bad press. But, Santa, what's worse is their living arrangements. Santa, could you bring the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce a little place to call their own? They've rented for over 30 years Santa. Don't you think it's time they put down roots?
Thank you. Your friend,
Chuck
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Scott Lake Pron Principal Update
Posted: 23 Dec 2007 08:02 PM CST
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LakelandLocal/~3/205371871/scott-lake-pron-principal-update.html
It seems Buffalo News reporters asked the questions I had regarding recently charged Scott Lake principal John Stelmack:
Thomas was adamant Saturday that Stelmack’s resignation from Ellicott had nothing to do with any kind of child pornography or endangerment issue.
“Nothing like this,” she said, regarding the Florida case.
Stelmack seemed overwhelmed by the many responsibilities that came with managing Ellicott — a 700-pupil school, Thomas said. She said Stelmack had trouble keeping up with the fast pace at the school.
Thomas said she met with Stelmack over many weeks before he finally decided in February that he would resign at the end of June. Thomas arranged for Stelmack to work out of the central district offices.
She said one of the factors that led to Stelmack’s resignation involved parents’ dissatisfaction with how he handled the news that a contracted school bus driver who transported Ellicott children was charged with possessing child pornography.
“I got complaints that parents didn’t think he was aggressive enough in handling the situation,” she said.
But there was no indication that Stelmack and the bus driver had any connection, she said.
Thomas added that no one in the district knew of any complaints about inappropriate behavior against Stelmack.
“We have absolutely no knowledge of any type of behavior that’s inappropriate, ever at all,” Thomas said.
Paul Grekalski, the former Orchard Park superintendent who was forced to resign after he was accused of an array of improprieties, also said he had not received any complaints about Stelmack.
“There were no problems whatsoever while I was there,” he said. -- The Buffalo News
I'd like to hear more from those parents who complained. The bus driver was charged on Monday and Stelmack's resignation was on Tuesday. How did he handle the news that Monday? What sort of aggressive response could Stelmack have given in a day?
The other question I had was answered. It seems they immediately took him out of the school, "Thomas arranged for Stelmack to work out of the central district offices."
Billy Townsend has the story in this morning's Tampa Tribune.
Reminder: "pron" is used so legitimate sites will rank high when people Google for the other term. It's not a perfect control, but it helps.
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Friedman to Get Even Busier
Posted: 23 Dec 2007 12:26 PM CST
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LakelandLocal/~3/205240450/friedman-to-get-even-busier.html
At Josh Hallett's BlogOrlando in 2006, I met a member of Lakeland's mainstream media, Barry Friedman. He was the Online Director at our favorite local newspaper. Unlike many of our generation, Friedman obviously embraced the digital age and had great ideas how the paper would grow its presence on the Web.
It's over a year later, the newspaper based in Lakeland has the premier Web site along the I-4 metro corridor, and Friedman is starting a new job on January 1st. Today, the newspaper finally announced that he will becomes the paper's first "managing editor/digital." Yes, it's an odd title, but it simply means he will "supervise the news design desk, photo, news systems and PolkVoice."
I'm sure we will continue to see The Ledger grow online. No doubt there will be more video, audio, and photographs to complement the stories online. I understand Friedman plans to work diligently to convince the local paper's owners, the New York Times, to let the smaller paper follow their lead and revert to the Lakeland Ledger. (1)
Congratulations Barry.
(1) I completely made up that part. He likes calling it "The Ledger." Oh well, no one is perfect.
Lakeland Local
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Scott Lake Principal Arrested for Child Pron
Posted: 21 Dec 2007 09:26 PM CST
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LakelandLocal/~3/204393233/scott-lake-principal-arrested.html
Scott Lake Elementary principal John Stelmack was charged this morning with five counts of possessing child pronography*.
In the Ledger's story, reporter John Chambliss wrote:
Joan Thomas, Stelmack’s replacement in Orchard Park, N.Y **., said the school district there never received any sexual-related complaints about him....
Another time, parents accused Stelmack of not taking any action against a bus driver who was charged with possession of child pronography in his home, Thomas said.
Parents were furious, Thomas said.
“He (Stelmack) didn’t do anything wrong but didn’t do enough,” Thomas said.
It looks like things happened quickly in New York. That bus driver was arrested on February 27, 2006. Guess what happened on Tuesday? Here are the minutes from the next day's Orchard Park Central School District Board of Education Work Session (doc) :
Mrs. Thomas read the following statement: “On Monday, February 27, Keith Fisher, President of Fisher Bus Service, notified the district that one of their drivers was arrested for allegedly possessing child pronography.....
The arrested driver has serviced bus runs at Ellicott Elementary, the middle and the high school. Mr. Fisher also reported that the driver resigned from the company on Monday.
In that same meeting, the board resolved "upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, approve the following resignation" John Stelmack, Elementary Principal, Ellicott Elementary, effective 6/30/06
Also from that night: "Mrs. Thomas acknowledged Mr. Jack Stelmack is resigning as the principal of Ellicott Elementary. Mrs. Thomas thanked Mr. Stelmack for his service to the District."
The driver is arrested on Monday, and Tuesday Stelmack resigns? Thomas is quoted as saying Stelmack "didn't do enough." In one day? I wonder what he did do? Did he work the rest of the school year, or did they just pay him for the time?
* - That is intentionally misspelled.
** - The Ledger said Thomas was Stelmack's replacement, and is now the school board Superintendent. According to those minutes she was the superintendent at the time.
After the jump is Stelmack's autobiography written while at Scott Lake:
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Ledger Causes Glee
Posted: 21 Dec 2007 08:50 PM CST
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LakelandLocal/~3/204393234/ledger-causes-glee.html
The Ledger staff received kudos from a member of the Google Earth and Maps team yesterday:
As a child, I loved going on car rides with my family during the holidays, cruising through surrounding neighborhoods and checking out all the beautiful lights and decorations sprinkled throughout the area. That's why when I came across this map pinpointing the locations of holiday light displays put together by The Ledger, a newspaper in Florida, I was filled with glee! -- Kate Hurowitz
The map was created by the Ledger's Nancy Graham, and introduced to the world by Barry Friedman, Online Director*
* - Title correct at publication.
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Christmas Party Drinking? Don't Drive.
Posted: 21 Dec 2007 01:44 PM CST
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LakelandLocal/~3/204196182/christmas-party-drinking-dont-drive.html
If your Christmas party today includes an alcoholic toast or two, find a designated driver to get you home. The Lakeland Police Department is extra-vigilant tonight:
Members of Lakeland Police Department's Traffic and DUI Enforcement Unit will conducting Saturation Patrols and Checkpoints in the city during the evening hours of December 21st. Saturation patrols will take place along the Florida Avenue corridor and checkpoints will be conducted in the New Tampa Highway and Chestnut Road areas of Lakeland. -- LPD News Online
If you can't find a friend or anyone to drive you home, AAA is offering free rides. Call 1-800-AAA-HELP and they'll send a truck to take you and your car home. AA is offering the service until Jan. 1 for all Florida drivers.
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CSX Hmmmm?
Posted: 21 Dec 2007 10:16 AM CST
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LakelandLocal/~3/204090782/csx-hmmmm.html
Every now and then we read some CSX related information that makes us go "Hmmmm?"
Here's one for today: On the Central Florida Regional Planning Council CSX DRI page, there is a little spreadsheet available for download:
Evansville Western Rail* Terminal Truck Destination Summary (xls)
The spreadsheet gives percentages of truck traffic that will go from the Winter Haven ILC to Florida cities. Not actual numbers, mind you, but percentages.
Remember, CSX is moving the work of two hubs in Orlando and Tampa to one in Winter Haven. Their selling point is that it will take trucks off the road. You would think all those trucks must be currently going to Winter Haven. No, according to the spreadsheet, they'll offload the rail cars in Winter Haven to send the trucks somewhere else. Where will the trucks go from Winter Haven?
Mostly, Orlando and Tampa.
Yes, CSX is moving rail yards from Orlando and Tampa so they can send trucks from Winter Haven back to Orlando and Tampa. More than 56% of the planned truck traffic will go to the Orlando and Tampa metro areas.
Top 10 Truck Destinations and their percentage of traffic. **
39.4% Orlando
12.3% Tampa
05.6% Lakeland
04.6% Ft. Myers
03.8% Clearwater
03.5% Bradenton
02.2% Kissimmee
01.5% St. Petersburg
01.4% Largo
01.3% Groveland
* - "Evansville Western Rail" is just CSX.
** - If you count Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and Largo in with Tampa it jumps to 19%. And, isn't Kissimmee really in the Orlando metro area? Maybe 56% is too conservative?
Lakeland Local
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CSX Weakly Roundup
Posted: 18 Dec 2007 03:21 PM CST
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LakelandLocal/~3/202403609/csx-weakly-roundup.html
Yes, that title is correct. As my great uncle Larry used to say, "I feel weakly."
So here is the late edition of the weekly CSX roundup:
Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, said allowing more freight traffic on the "S" line will make it difficult in the future to use that line for a commuter service in the Tampa Bay region, similar to the Orlando project. Ross said the state needs to take a more "comprehensive" approach to developing rail service across the state.
"This unfortunately does it in such a piecemeal fashion that it adversely affects any plan for comprehensive rail, either freight or commuter, throughout the state," Ross said. -- Polk Lawmakers Rail Against CSX Project, Ledger
Under Fasano's questioning, state Department of Transportation Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos confirmed that the CSX agreement depends on the state giving its final approval for the expenditure. -- Lawmakers: $491 Million CSX Rail Deal Isn't Closed Yet, Lindsay Petterson, Tampa Tribune
"What most people don't understand is that if the 61-mile commuter rail is built through the Orlando area to Poinciana, but CSX is allowed to run its additional freight through Lakeland and Plant City, then the hope of connecting Orlando and Tampa with commuter rail one day is impossible," Ross said. -- Bill Rufty, CSX Should Move South, Ross says.
Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, used the "A" word in describing the CSX corporation at the Florida Legislature on Thursday. Yep, that's right. He called the officials who run the company ""arrogant.'' -- Bill Rufty, Oh For the Days of Seaboard
To anyone from Polk County hoping for one of 200 CSX jobs when the company finishes the initial section of its Winter Haven rail hub: Don't hold your breath. -- Rick Rousos, Working on the Railroad? Not Likely.
State Attorney Jerry Hill has turned down a request by Karl Pansler, a lawyer with an office in downtown Lakeland, to investigate the alleged secrecy surrounding the CSX-FDOT deal and state transportation officials' unwillingness to answer questions about the project. -- Tom N. Palmer, Hill:No CSX Probe
The governor should call for greater scrutiny of the rail package and an open discussion of other potential routes if he expects to persuade the residents of east Hillsborough and Polk that the CSX deal would be good for them, too -- Tampa Tribune Editorial
Killebrew's tenure at the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce has been one where the CSX project was often, and highly, touted on the Chamber's blog. During that same time, Lakeland has always been a step or two behind finding out information from our legislature and state departments. Areas where you'd expect your lobbyist to be "in the know." -- Chuck Welch, Lakeland's Lobbyist -- Lakeland Local editorial
CSX spokesman Gary Cease said that company officials have been clear about their plans, and that while it was possible people in the community weren't aware of the company's negotiations with the state, he would be surprised. -- Forbes.com
"We don't want to kill commuter rail in Orlando. We just want the CSX deal scrutinized so it doesn't prohibit future commuter rail in the west part of the state and concentrate trains and trucks in Lakeland," said Julie Townsend, executive director of Downtown Lakeland Partnership, a marketing and economic development organization. -- Daytona Beach News Journal
Legislators Dockery, Ross unhappy with freight-train reroute for Orlando commuter rail -- Orlando Sentinel
Seth McKeel's Dec. 12, 2007 letter to CSX's Craig Camuso (pdf)
Others covering the CSX controversy this week:
StopCSX
Downtown Lakeland Partnership
Lakeland Local
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Snowfest 2007 Video
Posted: 17 Dec 2007 04:07 PM CST
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LakelandLocal/~3/201877692/snowfest-2007-video.html
For those who missed the Snowfest, here's video of the day...now that it's cold enough to feel like winter. The running time is about six minutes and is by the same fine videographer who brought you: Festival Hispano
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The Comics
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LakelandLocal/~3/201847876/the-comics.html
The comics are a very popular part of a newspaper. I once worked at a paper that didn't solicit reader input before dropping a strip. The reader response wasn't pretty. The Ledger isn't making the same mistake.
Back in February, Ledger Managing Editor Lenore Devore solicited reader help regarding making changes in the comics. In October, she again asked for comments online and in print.
I didn't see a column about today's print edition. On D5 are seven comics the paper is considering. They'll run the seven for a week and print a ballot. I think that's a great idea. You can't get a feel for a comic with just one panel.
It doesn't look like the comics are the most recent panels. I'd hazard a guess they are examples the publishers use to showcase the best of the comic.
To make it even easier for voters, I'm linking to all seven comics: The title is either an information page or home page, and "current" is a place you can see current panels (when possible)
Agnes -- current
Baldo -- current
Candorville -- current
Cleats -- current
My Cage -- current
The Pajama Diaries -- samples Oddly, I couldn't find current strips anywhere.
Sherman's Lagoon -- current
PS: Inside Scoop hasn't had an entry since early November. Has Devore given up on blogging?
Lakeland Local
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Lakeland's Lobbyist?
Posted: 15 Dec 2007 09:14 AM CST
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/LakelandLocal/~3/200797197/lakelands-lobbyist.html
When a city hires a lobbyist, they should expect that person or company to first try to influence legislation to help that city. Second, they should expect that person to report back items that will impact that city.
Most of all, they should expect that person has no problems putting that city first.
For more than six years, Lakeland has employed David Shepp and Florida Strategic Group, LLC. as their lobbyist in Tallahassee. Evidently, they've been happy with the work. They've just rehired FSG:
Florida Strategic Group has worked diligently in both Tallahassee and in Washington D.C on behalf of the City and has greatly assisted in advancing Lakeland’s interest, project funding and monitoring of legislation that would impact municipal operations. -- Sep. 17, 2007 recommendation to rehire FSG (pdf) (1)
Lobbyists rarely represent a single entity, but they don't represent competing groups. FSG has quite a few clients, including the cities of Lakeland and Winter Haven. (2)
Looking back at Limited Liability Company Annual Reports since 2001, FSG was started by Sam Killebrew, the current president of the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce. Shepp was brought in as a partner in 2002.
It was in May 2002, that FSG temporarily removed themselves as Winter Haven's registered lobbyists during Winter Haven Mayor Charles Richardson's campaign for Polk County Commission. At that time, Richardson praised FSG's work for Winter Haven, "They've done their job for the city,"
Killebrew's tenure at the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce has been one where the CSX project was often, and highly, touted on the Chamber's blog. During that same time, Lakeland has always been a step or two behind finding out information from our legislature and state departments. Areas where you'd expect your lobbyist to be "in the know."
In light of the fact that Lakeland and Winter Haven are at odds over the CSX deal, and that the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce has been such a strong supporter of the ILC, would we be better served by a lobbyist who works only for our city?
(1) The city did rehire FSG at $54,325 plus certain expenses for work Oct. 2007 to Sep. 31, 2008.
(2) According to the Lobbyist Registration Office, Shepp represented Lakeland for "$10,000 to $19,999" for the period of July 1, 2007 to Sep. 30, 2007.
During that same time he represented Winter Haven for "$0" He did get "$1 to $9,999" from Winter Haven in January to March 2007. It was $0 again for April to June, 2007.
(3) Shepp registered the company with a new business in Lakeland during September 2007 (pdf). However, staff report Killebrew is still at the company.
