In November, Lady Lake voters will decide not only on the next Ward 3 commissioner but also on potential amendments to the municipal charter.
The commission voted to approve an ordinance altering portions of the charter’s language during a recent meeting. The ordinance’s second and final reading was held during the same meeting.
A charter referendum will be included in the town’s general election on Nov. 2.
The ordinance is about some of the terminology used to describe the election process for the town commission. One of the things it would do, for instance, is to eliminate the word “mayor” from a section because the mayor of Lady Lake is an appointed, not elected, office.
Ward 3 residents in Lady Lake will also elect a new commissioner in November. Three commissioners’ terms came to an end this year: Mayor Ruth Kussard, Ward 1, Commissioner Jun Rietz, Ward 5, and Commissioner Dan Vincent, Ward 3.
Kussard and Rietz were unchallenged in the recent qualifier and will be re-elected. Ed Freeman and John Brinson threw their hats into the ring for Ward 3, but Vincent did not put his name up.
The commission voted 4-1 to extend the hours of the Lady Lake Dog Park at the Rolling Acres Sports Complex for a six-month trial term, with Commissioner Paul Hannan voting no. The hours could become permanent and irreversible if the study is successful.
Neighbors had complained about the park several years ago, according to Hannan. Kussard said she emailed the “most impacted” residents and received three negative responses out of 19 total, including two from the same household.
The trial period was instituted when the Lady Lake Dog Park Association requested that the park’s hours be extended. The hours have changed from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The meeting crowd erupted in applause when the extended hours were approved.
The commissioners opted against spending $52,000 on a modern fence and access-controlled gate around the Lady Lake Police Department parking lot at Town Hall.
Town Hall’s perimeter has been marked with temporary “No Trespassing” signs. According to Public Works Director C.T. Eagle, permanent signs are on the way, and staff will test whether the signs dissuade illicit access.
Kussard previously addressed the issue after a local employee reported being harassed there. Due to a lack of planned resources, the commissioners voted 4-1 against building a fence at this time, with Kussard opposing.
