Lake Wales mayor says city is moving in right direction

LAKE WALES – New hotels are springing up, recreation is taking center stage and a renaissance is underway downtown, Lake Wales Mayor Gene Fultz told citizens at the annual State of the City luncheon Friday.

“We are a little city that is getting bigger,” he said, “and we have a lot to offer if you only take a moment to look.”

Fultz ticked through a host of accomplishments the city witnessed in 2017, and paused to applaud the city for its response to Hurricane Irma’s devastation.

When the power failed at the city’s 29 wastewater lift stations, employees stood by and manually pumped them to keep them from overflowing.

They also kept the water flowing through taps throughout the city in the days following the storm.

“We never lost water in this city,” he said.

Fultz teased those gathered at the Woman’s Club of Lake Wales with news that another hotel is coming to the city, but he stopped short of saying what hotel and where. He cheered the prospect, though, saying the city needs more hotels.

“The two we have now are packed all the time,” he said.

The city’s airport and outdoor sports complexes are drawing tournaments and other programs, and the city could get tourism funding to assist with those if attendees were staying in Lake Wales.

“If we don’t have the beds,” he said, “we can’t put the heads in those beds.”

Fultz talked about the new Wawa service station that’s planned for U.S. 27 South, and conceded that he’d been mentioning that station for months.

“You probably think I’m a big storyteller,” he said. “I’ve been talking about many things that are coming to Lake Wales, and they haven’t happened yet. But they are still on the books.”

He said projects frequently are delayed by circumstances beyond the city’s control, but they are still in the pipeline to be built.

Fultz applauded the new walking trail now under construction downtown, which is anticipated to link the downtown community with Lake Wailes Park. He also noted the hiring of a director for the Main Street program, who also is serving as the assistant director of the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency downtown.

At the same time, the city is updating its long-range plan for the downtown area.

“The objective is to create an environment for private investment,” he said. “A comprehensive downtown design plan will be one of Main Street’s highest priorities for 2018.”

He discussed the city’s decision to hire a recreation director, resulting from citizen concerns regarding the need for more recreational programs and the lack of coordination among the community-based programs that exist.

Fultz said the city is proposing the construction of a multi-purpose building for recreational activities, but the community’s commitment and financial support is vital to make the project happen.

He said the city is moving in a progressive direction and is making strides toward becoming better and stronger. He said the city is developing a climate that is welcoming for business, which will enable the city to continue growing.

“We are business-friendly,” he said. “Come to City Hall. Take a look at us, talk to us. We welcome you.”

Suzie Schottelkotte can be reached at suzie.schottelkotte@theledger.com or 863-533-9070. Follow her on Twitter @southpolkscene.