Lakeland commissioners spent roughly three hours Monday, Oct. 5, on business ranging from a $22 million police-technology contract to billboard removals and several key leadership changes.
It was the commission’s first regular meeting of Fiscal Year 2027, which began Oct. 1.
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$22 Million Axon Deal Expands AI, Police Cameras
Lakeland commissioners unanimously approved a 10-year, $21.98 million contract with Axon Enterprise, updating and expanding Lakeland Police Department technology including body cameras, Tasers, in-car video, AI tools, and drones.
The package includes AI-assisted report drafting, translation, and evidence transcription, plus drones that can be remotely dispatched to emergency scenes. The price is about $683,000 above the $21.3 million proposal LkldNow reported in June; officials did not explain the increase Monday.
LPD has secured a $3.97 million Florida Department of Law Enforcement grant, an $855,000 Department of Homeland Security stipend, and is seeking another $7.59 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. If the pending federal grant is awarded, state and federal funding could cover about $12.4 million, or 56%, of the contract.
“These grant pursuits are really, really important,” Mayor Sara Roberts McCarley said, praising LPD for finding outside funding to reduce the city’s share.
During discussion of the Axon contract, commissioners also asked about access to separate Flock license-plate camera data. Assistant Police Chief Hans Lehman said access is restricted by assignment and policy: “Not everybody has permissions to everything.”
Red-Light Camera Expansion Gets Final Approval
Lakeland’s red-light camera network will expand under an ordinance unanimously approved Monday, including four newly codified camera approaches. The city now has 27 cameras monitoring 16 intersections, with some intersections covered in multiple directions.
As previously reported, the four new placements are northbound and southbound Kathleen Road at 14th Street, Memorial Boulevard at Brunell Parkway, and westbound Memorial at North Florida Avenue.
Traffic Operations Manager Tess Schwartz, who recently addressed systemic issues on Memorial Boulevard, called red-light cameras one of several safety tools the city uses, adding: “We know it works.”
‘Six-for-One Swap’ Cuts Lakeland Billboard Count
Six billboards are coming down under a deal commissioners unanimously approved Monday with Lamar Advertising, one of the nation’s largest outdoor advertising companies. In exchange, Lamar can convert one existing sign along U.S. 98 North near Tucker Street to a digital board.
City Attorney Palmer Davis called it a “six-for-one swap” during Friday’s Agenda Study. A city presentation counted 49 Lamar billboard structures in Lakeland; the agreement will reduce that count to 43.
Several signs slated for removal are older wooden structures, including some near residential areas and along Memorial Boulevard. Commissioner Mike Musick praised the shift: “Putting those in more high-value areas, and taking them out of some of the more residential areas … I think it’s great.”
The U.S. 98 billboard will be rebuilt as a two-sided digital display, with limits on brightness and how frequently messages can change.
Three Key Lakeland Leadership Roles Changing Hands
Three leadership transitions are underway in Lakeland government, with a permanent airport director, an interim finance chief, and the coming retirement of longtime City Attorney Palmer Davis.
Adam Lunn was promoted to director of Lakeland Linder International Airport after more than three months as interim director. As previously reported, Lunn began as an intern at the airport more than 15 years ago and rose through operations, fiscal management, and assistant-director roles.
Deidra Joseph was named interim finance director following Mike Brossart’s departure last month. Joseph has 28 years with the city and plans to apply for the permanent job. Commissioner Terry Coney praised the city for developing “homegrown” talent, saying of Lunn and Joseph, “We see the fruits of our labor.”
Davis, meanwhile, is preparing to retire after nearly 25 years in Lakeland’s legal department. He joined the city in November 2001 and has served as city attorney since January 2020.
Mayor McCarley and Commissioners Chad McLeod and Mike Musick will lead the search for Davis’ successor. Davis has offered to stay through the end of the year to ease the transition.
When McCarley remarked Friday that “retirement’s exciting,” Davis replied: “I’m ready.”
Read Monday’s meeting agenda and watch the video.
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