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Residents press Lake Wales commission on downtown parking, water restrictions and nonprofit oversight
Summary
Residents urged the City of Lake Wales to address downtown parking and post office lot use, requested mailed notices about a severe watershed shortage announced by Swiftmud, and commissioners called for stronger nonprofit financial oversight after reported mismanagement in the Little League program.
Several residents used the public-comment period at the City of Lake Wales commission meeting to press officials on downtown parking, drought notices and nonprofit oversight, and commissioners followed with related remarks during the business portion of the meeting.
Becky Weingroup told the commission she nearly had her car towed from an area she described as confusion between the post office lot and a nearby city parking lot and urged the city to ensure businesses and property owners share parking responsibilities during construction. "What's the post office sacrificing? They've got a parking lot they could use," Weingroup said, and she asked the commission to "please look at the parking."
Charlene Bennett, identifying herself as a city resident, requested mailed notice to inform all customers about a "severe watershed shortage" announced by Swiftmud on Feb. 4, and asked that water bills include information on the current restrictions and penalties for noncompliance. "It would be easy to just put a little notice in everybody's water bill," Bennett said, noting many residents do not use social media and may be unaware of restrictions in effect until July 1.
Howard Davies and other commenters suggested clearer signage to indicate public parking downtown so visitors do not confuse city spaces with the post office lot. Deputy Mayor Gibson described the city lot as having about 32 spaces that are poorly marked and said the post office lot and city lot are adjacent but distinct; he urged cooperation from the post office during construction.
Commissioner Thompson said the city has commissioned a downtown parking study and recommended waiting on its recommendations before making policy changes. Thompson also urged renewed attention to nonprofit financial controls after recent local reporting on alleged mismanagement at the Lake Wales Little League, noting the city maintains a maintenance contract for league fields that he estimated at roughly $60,000 per year and recommending that nonprofits receiving city support provide proof of annual audits.
City staff said the parking issue would be taken up and the city manager listed upcoming downtown events. Commissioners generally agreed that placing clear notices in water bills could help reach residents about drought restrictions.
