CITY OF LAKELAND NEWS & EVENTS

NOVEMBER 2014

TREE TRIMMING NECESSARY FOR ELECTRIC SAFETY

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHTMARK FARRINGTON DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES

LAKELAND ELECTRICLEDs vs Incandescent - Which is best?

MAKE SOMEONE THANKFUL FOR YOUROUND UP FOR PROJECT CARE

ROUND UP FOR PROJECT CARE

HOW IT WORKS:$245.34

$246.00$.66

if your utility bill from Lakeland Electric was:

you would pay:

contribution to project care:

30290-I-0150

Visit lakelandelectric.com to sign up today!As a City-owned utility, our goal is to provide Lakeland with reliable electric service but

we also feel it is our responsibility to help improve the quality of life for our customers. To help our fellow citizens in need, a program called Project Care was developed to assist people with paying their utility bills. Lakeland Electric customers who are 60 and older and/or disabled are eligible for assistance.

Lakeland Electric is pleased to offer a convenient program that provides assistance to those less fortunate. Round Up for Project Care is a voluntary program that allows Lakeland Electric customers an opportunity to help low-income senior and disabled members of the community.

Through the Round Up program, Lakeland Electric customers can choose to automatically round up their utility bills to the next highest dollar amount. For example, a participating customer’s monthly bill of $245.34 would be automatically rounded up to $246.00, with the additional 66 cents going to Round Up for Project Care.

Each month the donation will vary, depending on the amount of your utility bill. There will be a separate line on your utility bill indicating the amount donated to Round Up for Project Care for that particular month. The minimum amount you contribute each month is one cent, and the maximum is 99 cents. The maximum any customer can contribute in a year is $11.88 ($0.99 x 12 months).

If you are interested in participating in the Round Up program, please call Customer Service at 834-9535 or visit www.lakelandelectric.com and fill out the quick form because your small change will make a big difference.

CITY SUCCESSES:TELLING OUR STORYGovernment Finance Officers Association (GFOA) awarded the City of Lakeland the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. This is the highest form of recognition in the area of government accounting and financial reporting. The GFOA serves 17,500 government finance professionals. The City of Lakeland’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report was noted as meeting the high standards including the spirit of full disclosure to clearly community its financial story.

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www.lakelandelectric.com

@mylakelandelectric

LEDs BURN BRIGHTER &USE LESS ELECTRICITY

LAKELAND ELECTRICTREE TRIMMING

Understanding how much electricity Christmas lights use helps to plan which lights will work best with your home and better prepare for an increase in utility bill charges. Your display size and choice of bulbs, whether incandescent or LED, will influence your energy bill the most.

So, how much electricity do Christmas lights use? It depends on the type of lights used for holiday decorations. A 100-count string of incandescent mini lights runs at 40 watts, while a 70 count of 5mm Wide Angle LEDs is approximately 4.8 watts total. In fact, because incandescent wattage is 80-90% more than LED wattage, the cost to power incandescent decorations can be up to 90x greater than powering an LED.

To calculate, we will use the average price of electricity for a residential customer using about 1,500 kwh of electricity per month.

As you can see, changing from incandescent holiday lighting to LED’s can save you money immediately on your utility bills. LEDs typically burn cooler and brighter than incandescent bulbs as well.

Lakeland Electric recognizes and appreciates that trees are valuable assets to our customers’ landscapes and to the quality of life in our area. However, this must be balanced with the constant threat to our customers’ electric service posed by trees. In addition to outages, downed wires threaten the safety of people and animals and increase the cost of providing electric service.

Public safety, reliable service, and cost control are all important to us. That is why Lakeland Electric maintains a tree trimming program. Tree crews operate nearly year-round to clear the lines to reduce tree related outages and to expedite service restoration during storms.

There are several issues that we are often questioned about concerning tree trimming activities. Lakeland Electric practices “lateral” or “natural” tree trimming methods according to ANSI A-300 standards. This is the voluntary standard for all tree work in the United States.

Lateral trimming means that limbs are removed at their nearest main branch or to the trunk of the tree, and not simply cut to a “stub.” Lakeland Electric does not top trees unless it is absolutely necessary. Lateral tree trimming has been endorsed by industry experts including The National Arbor Day Foundation as the best method of line clearance for the health of the trees. Although the appearance of some trees may be considered unusual after the initial trim, it quickly improves with time and growing seasons.

Additional trimming services for residences and trees blocking private area lights are the responsibility of the customer. If you, or private tree trimmers hired by you, feel that it is unsafe to work close to power lines, please call 863.834.9535 during regular business hours. We will then schedule one of our line clearance coordinators to meet with you and arrange to have your service temporarily disconnected. Please provide five business days notice to schedule your request. There is no charge for this service.

INCANDESCENT WATTS

21

42

408

164

635=$1078

LED WATTS

4

4

48

96

96=$163

One Wreath

One Garland

Ten Strands of Lights

Two Outdoor Decorations

Total

Welcome to the City of Lakeland Mark Farrington! Farrington is the new Director of Human Resources and Civil Service. City Manager Doug Thomas says, “The City received roughly 60 applicants for the HR/CS Director position that were initially ranked into tiers based upon their experience, credentials and application information. Ten semi-finalists provided additional information including a video interview. Ultimately five candidates participated in the final process that included panel interviews and then a one-on-one interview with me as City Manager.” Farrington began his career with the City August 2014.

Farrington’s prior experience includes serving as Director of Human Resources for Metropolitan Ministries in Tampa, Florida; Director, Coaching Services for IJN JOBS in Brandon, Florida; Director, Human Resources for Comprehensive Health Management, Tampa, Florida; and Human Resources Director, US & Global IT, HR Director Shared Services,

HR Operations Leader (IFS), Diversity Recruitment and Retention Leader, for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in Tampa, Florida.

Farrington says “What I enjoy most about Lakeland are its people. With so many long-service employees who are so passionate about their jobs and their community, their commitment is contagious. I am honored to have been chosen to serve in the HR / Civil Service Director capacity and I want to get to know as many of our employees as possible.”

Away from work, Farrington enjoys horseback riding, reading biographies and mystery novels, as well as watching college and NFL football. He also enjoys spending time with his wife Connie, their adult children and of course, their grandchildren. Farrington and his wife have two four legged furry kids at home, Abbey a collie and Molly a Sheltie.

@mylakelandelectric

CITY OF LAKELAND EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

MARK FARRINGTON

Healthstat - City of Lakeland Wellness Initiative

DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES

Due to increasing medical costs and a workforce that was becoming progressively unhealthier, the City of Lakeland realized it had to do something drastic. In August 2007, through its competitive bid process, the City of Lakeland partnered with Healthstat out of Charlotte, North Carolina, to administer its clinic and related wellness program. The clinic is staffed with two advanced nurse practitioners and two medical office assistants. Initially, episodic and wellness related care were offered; however, over the years, the services were expanded to include pre-employment physicals, annual firefighter physicals, and the treatment of work-related injuries. Subsequently in April of this year, a Healthstat Wellness Coordinator was added to the City’s program.

The ongoing success of the City’s program can be attributed to a team effort, which consists of City Management, the City’s employees, and its partner, Healthstat. “This has been one of the most well received benefits, that the City of Lakeland has ever implemented,” according to Karen Lukhaub, the City’s Director of Risk Management and Purchasing. Lukhaub oversees the Healthstat program and much of its success can be attributed to her hard work and dedication to keeping health care costs down.

In order to participate in the City’s clinic and wellness program, employees must belong to the City’s self-insured health plan. To maintain compliance they participate in an annual Health Risk Assessment (HRA) and visit the clinic in accordance with Healthstat’s recommendations. Compliant employees receive a discount in their health insurance premium, a 50% reduction in generic drug

co-payments, as well as a discounted fee to utilize one of the City’s recreation facilities. Out of 1,940 eligible employees, 1,850 utilize the City’s clinic with 82% remaining compliant in its wellness program. Since the initial HRA screenings, in 2007, 80% of participants have either improved and/or maintained identified risk factors. Those with more than five risk factors have decreased by 82% (from 45 down to 8 participants).

Since the clinic’s inception, it is estimated that medical claims have been reduced by approximately $15 million because of Healthstat. The program has resulted in annual manpower savings totaling $280,350 because employees utilize the City’s on-site clinic for episodic care instead of seeking the same care away from the worksite. Since August of 2013, the clinic has served to triage and when appropriate, treat work related injuries. This has resulted in an annual medical claims savings of $60,656.00 and a lost time compensation savings of $120,209.00.

Other improvements to the City’s program have included on-site employee weight loss programs, which have culminated with a total of 115 participants in the two programs that have been held over the past year. Participating employees lost 1,048 pounds or 9.1 pounds per participant. Some employees have lost over 50 pounds as part of the weight loss programs and they continue to keep the pounds off, contributing to a healthier life style.

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A holiday event for the entire family! Join Lakeland Parks and Recreation Department for its annual Snowfest featuring Snow Mountain, rock climbing wall, photos with Santa, live entertainment and more!

Come out and celebrate the holiday season with your community. The Lakeland Christmas Parade is sponsored by The Junior League of Greater Lakeland and is a celebration you do not want to miss!

Downtown Lakeland kicks off the holidayevents. Shops and restaurants are open late.

Arrange for your child to receive a special telephone call from Santa! Information forms will be available at various City facilities and public elementary schools throughout Lakeland.

Snowfest

Lakeland Christmas Parade

Holiday Walkabout

HolidayEvents

Santa's Calling

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6 • 10AM-2PMNEW LOCATION: MUNN PARK

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4 • 7PM

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2 • 6PM

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9

www.lakelandgov.net

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE:CITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE OBSERVANCE OF:

THANKSGIVING:NOVEMBER 27-28, 2014NO SOLID WASTE PICKUP ON NOV 27.Collection will occur one day later for remainder of week.

CHRISTMAS:DECEMBER 25-26, 2014NO SOLID WASTE PICKUP ON DEC 25.Collection will occur one day later for remainder of week.

NEW YEAR’S DAY:JANUARY 1, 2015NO SOLID WASTE PICKUP ON JAN 1.Collection will occur one day later for remainder of week.

Online | www.lakelandgov.net In Person | City Hall • 8AM – 5PM • Monday-Fridayfacebook.com/cityoflakelandfl | twitter.com/lakelandgov | youtube.com/cityoflakelandfl | instagram: cityoflakelandflListen Lakeland • First Sunday • FM 97.5 WPCV @ 8:30AM | FM 98.3 WWRZ @ 8AM | AM 1430 WLKF @ 8AM | AM 1230 WONN @ 9AM

Public Meetings | City Commission Meetings • First and Third Monday • 9AM | Utility Committee Meetings • First Monday • 1PMLive Broadcast on LGN | Channel 615 (Brighthouse) | Channel 43 (Verizon FiOS)

IMPORTANT NUMBERS:City Hall • 863.834.6000 Lakeland Electric Customer Service • 863.834.9535 Power or Water Outages • 863.834.4248Pollution Hotline • 863.834.3300 LPD Crime Tips Hotline • 863.834.2549 LPD (Non-Emergency) • 863.834.6900

PAYING YOUR UTILITY BILL:ONLINE | www.lakelandelectric.com BY PHONE | 863.834.9535IN PERSON | Lakeland Electric has partnered with over 50 local businesses including area AMSCOT offices to accept your utility payment.ST

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Polk County Public Schools Announcement:

The application period for all of Polk’s Educational Options for the 2015-2016 School Year begins November 18, 2014 and remains open until January 9, 2015. Polk’s Educational Options include: Choice, Fine Arts, IB, Magnet, and Polk Career Academies. Notification to all applicants begins in March. Visit www.PolkEdOptions.com for more info.

POLLUTIONHOTLINE863.834.3300

GETINTOTHEGROOVEPet wasteisn't fertilizer,it's pollution.

Bag it and trash itevery time!