Lake Butler Community Page News Tidbits

By Ted Barber

At our Tuesday, April 20, 2021 weekly luncheon meeting, Art Peterson offered the opening prayer, Shane Collins led the Pledge of Allegiance and Jennie Reed sang the opening song (mostly by herself).

Brad Whitehead offered the Club a suggestion that we assist the County in the execution of the County’s 100^th Year Celebration. The details for this October 2021 event will be discussed at our next meeting. Dale Walker agreed to coordinate with the County for announcing the details to the Club 4-27-21. Possible assistance from the Lake Butler Rotary Club includes fireworks and vendor booths at the Lake.

Our program speaker Jack Schenck provided the current status of City of Lake Butler which included: 1. The City recently contracted with the Florida Department of Corrections for inmate labor (DC supervisor are no longer available and the inmate labor is significantly reduced). Interviews for City inmate labor supervisors will begin shortly, 2. The grant to develop the City’s 5-year Plan allowed a gathering of City Staff, Commissioners and others Monday, April 5, 2021 that included 5 Lake Butler Rotarians. The results are being publicized and used for grants and other needs, 3. The City purchased a needed Excavator for $50,000 utilizing a $37,500 grant from the state, 4. A $700,000 grant allowed the renovation of 2 lift stations on 1^st Way and SW 8^th, 5. The newly installed City water meters are being married up to the billing process, 6. The City is using excess grant monies to replace critical water service lines, 7. Recently 3 maintenance man holes were renovated with budgeted monies, 8. The engineering to replace and/or repair waste water mains is on-going and expected to conclude by July 2021. Funding sources will then be secured, 9. A $400,000 grant to acquire the site for a new waste water treatment plant goes to the City Commission for approval of the site today 4-20-21, 10. The City Water Tank is over 50 years old and in need of repair/replacement. The City’s Funding Request to the state of Florida has passed the House and rests with the Senate. Our City has been busy and the improvements accomplished deserve thanks and recognition.

The “Did You Know?” questions presented by Tyler Kelley included: What dictator was born on this date (April 20) in 1889? And, in 1980 what county launched the Muriel Boatlift to America? The dictator was Hitler and the boatlift came from Cuba.

Upcoming Program Chairpersons: Apr 27- Jennie Reed, May 4- Kaleb Archer, May 11- Ted Barber, May 18- David Beatty, May 25- Carlton Faulk, Jun 1- Nancy Griffis, Jun 8- Dave Mecusker, Jun 15- Garrett Milton, and Jun 22- Sara Owen.