Secretary of Defense recognizes Oakland police chief

The Oakland Police Department was presented a Patriot Award at the April 22 Oakland Town Commission meeting for its support given to employees who are members of the National Guard and the Reserve Force. Police Chief Darron Esan accepted the certificate, letter and pin.

“We have several members of the department who have served in the military,” Esan said. “This isn’t for me; it’s for the whole department.”

The certificate designates the town as a “patriotic employer” and recognizes it “for contributing to national security and protecting liberty and freedom by supporting employee participation in America’s National Guard and Reserve Force.”

A letter signed by Rita M. Broadway, retired major general and chair of the Florida Committee Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, said the country relies heavily on Reserve and National Guard service members to maintain national defense, and she commended the Oakland Police Department for supporting employees who also serve in the guard and reserves.

MIKE ON THE MIC

Public Works director Mike Parker addressed the commission and audience multiple times during the meeting, both to answer questions and to provide information about issues.

He said there were delays with adding the asphalt millings because of equipment failures but the work would be done as soon as it was possible. The consultant hired by the town will return May 13 to assess more of the roads.

Parker was absent from the April 8 meeting but wanted to address the roundabout conversation that took place at that meeting. He said money has been budgeted for the intersection’s four corners, as well as the brick planter and the acorn sculpture that will sit in the center. The town was ready to sign a contract and move forward with getting that piece created and installed. The town has decided to add perennial peanut, a Florida native groundcover plant, for landscaping.

He reported the town has not replaced the grass in the town center since 2012 and did so recently where the grass was worn down from foot traffic.

Parker welcomed the newest sanitary sewer lift station to the town. This marks the 12th station in the town after nine years of operation.

IN OTHER NEWS

• Oakland Town Manager Elise Hui introduced the new town clerk, Kathy Heard, who comes to Oakland from the city of Clermont. Heard brings more than 10 years of experience in municipal government, including serving as deputy city clerk and municipal records coordinator for the city of Ocoee and clerk of courts for Orange County Government. Her contract will be presented at the May 13 Town Commission meeting. She begins her position Tuesday, May 6.

• Ricky Dumas, on behalf of his brother-in-law, John Ward, requested to hold an informal Memorial Day program again this year at the two cemeteries in Oakland. Last year, Ward and about two dozen Oakland residents placed American flags on the graves of veterans. Dumas said he was not asking for money but requested the event be placed on the town’s website.

• Hui said the Charter Review Committee meets regularly and continues moving forward in the process. She reminded residents they are allowed to attend the meetings, which are listed on the town website, oaklandfl.gov.

• Commissioners accepted the consent agenda, which included approval for Oakland Police Chief Darron Esan to sign a Memorandum of Agreement related to the purchase of a side-by-side vehicle to be used for hurricane and other natural disaster responses as well as during working events where large crowds will assemble in the town. The vehicle is considered a regional asset and will be purchased with UASI funding, as Oakland is a sub-grantee under the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, which approved the police department’s request.

• Oakland Mayor Shane Taylor proclaimed May 15 Peace Officers Memorial Day, May 12-18 National Police Week, May 6 Teacher Appreciation Day, May 5-9 Teacher Appreciation Week, April 25 Arbor Day and May 10 World Migratory Bird Day in the town of Oakland.