Oakland names interim town manager

The Oakland Town Commission has named Jack Butler as the interim town manager effective Sunday, April 2. Butler currently is the town’s assistant town manager.

“Jack Butler … has the experience to maintain the continuity of operations until a permanent replacement is hired for the town manager position,” Steve Koontz wrote in a memo to the commission that was included in the Feb. 28 meeting packet.

Koontz is resigning from the manager’s position effective Saturday, April 1. The Town Commission has engaged an executive recruitment firm to manage the process of recruiting a permanent town manager, Koontz wrote.

CANAL DISCUSSION CONTINUES

Koontz said town officials have continued to meet with multiple parties, including Oakland Park developer Landeavor and Orange County representatives to find solutions to the ongoing issues with the Johns Lake Outfall Canal, which feeds excess water from Johns Lake north to Lake Apopka.

Erosion has increased in recent years, causing more silt and sediments to be deposited in Lake Apopka. Several lakefront residents have shoreline property affected by the outfall runoff.

The county will consider updating a study conducted in 2021, he said. He also hopes to see a meeting at which all stakeholders would be invited to attend to discussion how costs can be divided.

According to Koontz, there are two immediate issues on the table: canal restoration so it runs north instead of northwest into the lake, and removing the sediment that has accumulated at the outfall.

Koontz obtained three quotes for the projects, and they range from $129,500 to $280,000.

Residents have offered possible financial solutions, such as adding the project to the next budget, putting the money out upfront and then getting reimbursed by the various municipalities involved, and looking for grant money.

“We’re hesitant to jump in too deep and too far into this,” Koontz said.

“If you apply a simple solution to a complex problem, sometimes you make the problem worse,” said Joe Dunn, past president of Friends of Lake Apopka and current board member. “Kudos to you for doing the right things. And (FOLA) thanks you for that.”

The consensus was to keep moving forward with this issue and continue discussions.

IN OTHER BUSINESS

• Commissioners accepted the architectural building elevations and floor plan for the one-acre Remington Plaza commercial subdivision at 20 Remington Road. This is along an urban corridor, and the space will house medical offices; there are no restaurants in this project.

• Commissioners approved the consent agenda, which included the interim town manager appointment, as well as a change in lottery process, out-of-field teacher assignment, and safety and security policy and procedure approval for Oakland Avenue Charter School.

• The town proclaimed March as Women’s History Month.