Lake Wales commission ratifies trail grant, advances library and development agreements

The City Commission of the City of Lake Wales on Monday approved a package of routine municipal items that included acceptance of a state Recreation Trails Program grant, the award of several contracts for library renovations and tree services, and a developer impact‑fee credit agreement for the Buckmore Heights subdivision.

The actions are designed to extend the city's pedestrian and recreational network and to advance a planned redesign and renovation of the Lake Wales Public Library, officials said.

Votes at a glance

- Recreation Trails Program grant for a multi‑modal trail on Tower Boulevard: accepted; grant amount listed in the packet as $352,000 (city match ~ $70,000). (Staff: City Manager; presenter: Parks and Recreation director, not present.) - Buckmore Heights developer impact‑fee credit agreement: staff recommended approval; staff said the city would collect about $60,572 in cash from the project (100 single‑family homes). (Presenter: Special Projects Administrator Sarah Irvine.) - Contract award for continuing tree trimming services: awarded to Crossan and Payne Tree Services to supplement horticulture staff. (RFP 205‑3.) - Library shelving and renovation contracts: agreement with Library Interiors of Florida, Inc. for shelving reconfiguration; general contractor award to the low bidder (listed bid amount $249,864). Staff said the work will be funded with impact fees. - Railroad grade‑crossing reimbursement/resolution (resolution 2025‑2): staff clarified that new rail bumpers and associated work at Johnson Avenue will be paid by DOT and will not change city contract costs. - Leomas Landing Phase 2 final plat: staff reported the plat is ready to record so home construction can proceed. - Event permit to close Park Avenue for the Park Avenue grand opening on March 7, including defined alcohol boundaries: authorized. - Several appointments and routine second‑reading ordinances (pensions/retirement and solid waste contract): advanced/ratified as second readings.

Staff presentations and clarifications

Special Projects Administrator Sarah Irvine described the draft Buckmore Heights developer credit agreement and said the developer will build an eight‑foot sidewalk (instead of the standard five feet) to connect to the rails‑to‑trails alignment. "That is the amount that would not exceed that amount when they pull building permits for the home," Irvine said, and she told commissioners the packet estimated the city would collect in cash about $60,572 from the 100‑lot development.

City staff presented the Recreation Trails Program grant for Tower Boulevard and told commissioners the grant covers roughly $352,000 of construction and design; the city's local match obligation was noted at about $70,000 and will be confirmed during design and bidding.

Library Director Belle Reynoso asked the commission to approve a contract with Library Interiors of Florida for adult collection shelving reconfiguration tied to the library redesign. City staff also presented the low bid for the renovation general contractor at $249,864 and said the library portion will be paid from impact fees. Jeff Hunt of Library Interiors was available to answer questions.

Public Works Operations Manager Nancy Hernandez updated the commission on the Johnson Avenue rail crossing, clarifying that the pedestrian gates and arms are installed and that DOT will fund the rail bumpers. "This work'will not result in any change in our contract or cost," she said.

What the commission said

Commissioners characterized several of the items as routine. Deputy Mayor Gibson and others praised volunteers and downtown activity during later comments. No extended debate or recorded roll‑call tallies for individual motions appear in the transcript; staff and commissioners proceeded with the consent‑type approvals during the meeting.

Clarifying details

- Buckmore Heights: development size listed as 100 single‑family homes; packet lists an estimated cash amount to the city of about $60,572. The per‑unit impact‑fee credit figure shown in the packet was noted in the transcript as a numeric line that appears inconsistent in the recording and therefore is listed as not fully specified in the minutes. - Tower Boulevard grant: state Recreation Trails Program grant roughly $352,000; local match approximately $70,000 (exact match to be confirmed during design and bid). - Library contractor low bid: $249,864 (listed on bid tabulation in the meeting packet); work to be paid from impact fees.

Next steps

Staff said they will finalize the Buckmore Heights credit agreement language before returning it as needed for a recorded vote or signature. The Tower Boulevard project will proceed to design and bidding, with the city to commit the local match. Library construction and shelving reconfiguration will proceed under the awarded contract and existing impact‑fee funding, subject to contract execution.

Speakers quoted or referenced in this article were present in the meeting record: Special Projects Administrator Sarah Irvine; Public Works Operations Manager Nancy Hernandez; Library Director Belle Reynoso; Jeff Hunt (Library Interiors of Florida); and City Manager (speaker identified generically in the packet).