News
Auburndale commissioners, workers tour city on Commission Day
Published: Tuesday, August 11, 2009
City of Auburndale thinks inside the “Box” while planning their future
AUBURNDALE - Commissioners and Auburndale employees did a little sightseeing in their city on Monday, touring city facilities and updating one another on department accomplishments.
As part of the Commission Day activities, employees and commissioners met at the Auburndale Police Station to listen to presentations from the police, the utilities department and the Community Redevelopment Agency.
Then they traveled via tour bus to visit Lake Myrtle Sports Complex, the Allred Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant and the newly-named Cindy Hummel Tennis Center.
The city's future expansion was a common topic. With Winter Haven and Lake Alfred to the east and Lakeland to the west, Auburndale will eventually run out of new land use for projects.
"There's not another city that will box itself in like Auburndale," said City Manager Bobby Green.
He said Auburndale should focus on making the most of its land, citing the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex as an example that could benefit residents and bring in money to the city.
Deputy Chief of Police Craig Nelson spoke about the police department's efforts to get accredited by the Florida Commission for Law Enforcement Accreditation. The final reviews will take place in November or December, and the department will go through the process again every three years.
Beginning in October, Auburndale police will also put information on criminals on a computer database to share between the Polk County Sheriff's Office and city police departments.
Neil Duncan, sponsorship sales manager for Polk County Sports Marketing, said that 25 to 30 events are scheduled for the Lake Myrtle Sports Complex next year. Fantasy of Flight and Best Western Inn of Auburndale have agreed to sponsor a baseball field and a soccer field, respectively.
The grand opening of Lake Myrtle's soccer complex will take place in late October at the Kohl's U.S. Youth Soccer American Cup.
The Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant is doubling its capacity to prepare for population growth expected to follow construction of the new University of South Florida Polytechnic campus. The plant now treats 2 million gallons of wastewater per day, and is being expanded to treat 4 million gallons per day.
Commissioners and employees also toured Auburndale's new tennis center facilities and announced the center's new name: the Cindy Hummel Tennis Center, after the city's special projects director. Hummel has worked for the city for longer than 30 years.
The goal of Commission Day, Green said, was to help the different city departments work together.
Tagged: Auburndale, Commission Day