City commissioners today took up a variety of issues from maintaining the fuel charge on electric bills at current levels to expanding Oakbridge to upgrading pay for some city employees. Here’s a chronological look at activity as seen through Twitter:

City Commission is starting a workshop to look at the results of a recent pay study in a few minutes. The regular meeting begins at 9. The pay study was conducted to determine if city employee pay levels are competitive with nearby government agencies. #lkld

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

Pay study found that 44% of city employee positions are below the pay levels for nearby government agencies. #lkld pic.twitter.com/geFoGEIK8o

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

City employees whose salaries are below the new minimum pay for their job will get a lump-sum payment according to hours worked since Jan. 1, if the plan is approved by commissioners. #lkld pic.twitter.com/NgfCYqS3qi

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

Some jobs seeing raises in minimum pay in the study:
✓ Emergency Communications Specialist 1: $15.10 to $15.85
✓ Emergency Communications Specialist 2: $15.85 to $17.48
✓ Solid Waste Driver 1: $12.42 to $15.47
✓ Solid Waste Collector: $11.27 to $12.12#lkld

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

Commissioner Scott Franklin: With these salary recommendations often competing with private industry levels, government can’t claim that we’re at a disadvantage. #lkld

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

City Manager Tony Delgado: The majority of pay reclassifications are at the lowest salary levels: lawn maintenance, sanitation, etc. #lkld

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

For city employees at the top of their pay range: 54% will be eligible for a merit increase because of increases in pay range. #lkld pic.twitter.com/pc1madFfON

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

Delgado: The recommended pay raises won’t increase the city budget. Some areas of the budget were “de-appropriated” to allow for the recommended increases. #lkld

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

And a slight correction:

Finance Director Mike Brossart: Because of the de-appropriations, the cost to implement the pay study will add just $40k to the overall budget. #lkld

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

The city human resources director says he hopes to post details about the pay study, possibly as soon as this week, if the recommendations are approved by commissioners today. #lkld pic.twitter.com/uAvyvaCxiZ

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

NOTE: Commissioners ultimately approved the budget transfers needed to enact the salary study.

City Commission meeting has begun. Citrus Connection’s Tom Phillips is giving an update on public transportation in Lakeland. Watch online: https://t.co/kFv7mrzLdD #lkld pic.twitter.com/z0xfdiG98q

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

@RideCitrus provides over 2 million trips per year with the base fare of $1.50. Avg rider takes 2-5 trips per day. #lkld

— City of Lakeland (@lakelandgov) June 4, 2018

Let’s try that again with the slide: Citrus Connection’s Tom Phillips: Polk is the only county in the nation with free bus rides for military veterans. The slide shows other access partnerships. #lkld pic.twitter.com/O6xxMxNJK6

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

The new US 98/Banana Road route pushes farther north of Lakeland than previous routes, Phillips says. #lkld pic.twitter.com/mkPydRwp60

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

Proclamations at today’s City Commission meeting recognize Juneteenth Day, LGBT Pride Week, National Garden Club Month and Code Enforcement Officers Appreciation Week. #lkld

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

April Espino’s house at 400 E. Lake Bonny Drive is awarded the city’s June Residential Beautification Award. She said she and her husband, a landscaper, bought the house two years ago, moving from Palm Beach County to escape over-crowding. #lkld pic.twitter.com/uLHDWp57cr

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

Broadway Real Estate won the city’s June commercial beautification award for the exterior of Federal Bar and Mojo’s Federal at 124 & 130 S. Tennessee Ave. #lkld pic.twitter.com/dZdqGwlCPa

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

Former U.S. Rep. Alzo Reddick of Orlando speaks at the local Juneteenth Day observance, 1 p.m. June 9 at Coleman Bush Building, Doris Moore Bailey announces as she receives a proclamation honoring Juneteenth. #lkld

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

Jo Ann Holmes, who in 2015 was the first to ask the City Commission to move the Confederate monument, spoke about the memorial again today. She asked commissioners to move it somewhere other than Veterans Park and pay full costs. Commissioner had no reaction. #lkld pic.twitter.com/fWxMduex9r

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

City Commission approves several changes to the development plan for Oakbridge properties north and south of the Polk Parkway along Harden Boulevard.
✓ https://t.co/y5e4hruEWe
✓ https://t.co/gv9kAyjXbv
✓ https://t.co/Siu7mcgcJB#lkld pic.twitter.com/Wi6l84AocJ

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

City and SWFWMD are splitting $934k costs 50-50 on a plan to remove nutrients, trash and sediments from runoff going into Lake Hunter. City officials say Lake Hunter is on top on the list for improvement. https://t.co/ckf7fw8Oqb #lkld

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

City Commission approves fee changes for routine fire inspections. https://t.co/9G0cxLVCjZ #lkld

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

The Lakeland Utility Committee agrees with their staff recommendation that the fuel rate remain at $40.75 per MWh for the July-to-September quarter. #lkld

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

@mylkldelectric staff asks to simplify the process for buying up to $50k of coal on the spot market to act more quickly when good deals are available. #lkld pic.twitter.com/FqEh3gPPMF

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

Well, hello #lkld. Mayor @DozenDad Mutz and real estate entrepreneur @mclaughlinchris ran into each other at the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem. https://t.co/YJptTQTISC #lkld pic.twitter.com/wXXKGwE6yC

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

RIP Janet Tucker, a former mover-and-shaker on the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority and in @DowntownLkld in general. https://t.co/tJ4LBTAe3b #lkld pic.twitter.com/eXppVJlREi

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

As hurricane season starts, @mylkldelectric reports that their new tree trimmer has been more productive. Burford trimmed 271 miles in Q2 2018 vs. Asphlund 158 miles in Q2 2017. #lkld pic.twitter.com/HT9v2K7ImB

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

Lakeland Vision’s Listen Lakeland radio show is now a podcast. This month’s edition: Tech entrepreneur David Robinson interviews @FLPolyU President Randy Avent. #lkld https://t.co/9H4UFKSxrT

— Lkld Now (@LkldNow) June 4, 2018

SEND CORRECTIONS, questions, feedback or news tips: newstips@lkldnow.com

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Barry Friedman founded Lkldnow.com in 2015 as the culmination of a career in print and digital journalism. Since 1982, he has used the tools of reporting, editing and content curation to help people in Lakeland understand their community better.

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