Residents of northwest Lakeland interested in serving as an interim Lakeland city commissioner for one year are asked to fill out an online form and then submit an application packet by noon on Aug. 26. The position fills the remainder of the term of Commissioner Phillip Walker, who is resigning effective November as part of running for Florida House of Representatives. More
The company partnering with the city of Lakeland to expand broadband options to local homes and businesses says unanticipated competition and stricter-than-expected city regulations have delayed its plans to provide service to residences. More
Summit Broadband, which partnered with the city of Lakeland to provide high-speed internet service to local homes and businesses, has shifted its residential roll-out plans away from individual homes in favor of “multi-family communities.” A displeased Mayor Bill Mutz says he wants answers from the company. More
James and Lavern Watkins dreamed of owning their own home to raise their children and looked for several years, but couldn’t find anything in their price range. More
On Monday, banks will be closed and so will post offices in observance of Juneteenth, a federal holiday that marks the end of slavery in Texas in 1865. The city of Lakeland will be open for business this year, including a city commission meeting scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday.
MoreLakeland Electric’s fuel charge will increase July 1 from $40 per 1,000 kilowatt hours to $60. The change, necessitated by increases in natural gas costs, was approved Monday by the Lakeland City Commission. For a typical home owner, that will mean a $20 increase in the monthly bill, a utility spokeswoman told News Channel 8. Without the increase, “We would have had to draw into our day’s cash on hand which makes us not as financially stable,” Lakeland Electric’s Cathryn Lacy said. The rate is reviewed every three months, and this is the highest it has been since 2009.
The Lakeland City Commission voted 5-2 Monday afternoon to deny Publix and a partnering developer a zoning change that would have allowed them to build a 211-unit apartment complex along Lake Miriam Drive. More
A controversial proposal to build 211 apartments on Lake Miriam Drive near South Florida Avenue will be considered by Lakeland city commissioners at their 9 a.m. meeting Monday. It will be the last topic on their agenda, The Ledger reports. The developers reduced the number of units and height of two of the buildings after some commissioners expressed reluctance to approve the project at a previous hearing. | The official document
Typical Lakeland Electric customers are likely to see their monthly bills rise by $20 starting next month, The Ledger reports. The city’s Utility Committee on Friday voted to increase the fuel rate from $40 to $60 per 1,000 kilowatt hours, the highest rate since January 2009. City commissioners are expected to approve the rate on Monday. The increase results from natural gas costs that have risen 300% in the last three months and forced the utility to dip into its fuel reserve, officials say. (Utility Committee meeting video) MONDAY UPDATE: The fuel rate increase passed unanimously.
Emily Colón, who was hired as third-in-command at Lakeland City Hall in February 2019, has been promoted to the second-in-command position of deputy city manager. She replaces Nicole Travis, who resigned her Lakeland post last December to lead the city of Tampa’s Development and Economic Opportunity Department. More
