Kris Keller selected for Oakland Commission Seat 1

There once again is a female voice on the Oakland Town Commission after the elected officials selected her out of a list of seven residents who applied for the seat vacated by former Commissioner Rick Polland.

Kris Keller won by a majority vote in the third round at the Jan. 28 commission meeting. Mayor Shane Taylor and commissioners Joseph McMullen, Sal Ramos and Mike Satterfield chose Keller from a pool of candidates that included town residents Jon Territo, Steve Ivey, Timothy David Dietsch, Clayton Louis Ferrara, Jimmy Wiedeman and Trillshun Bacon.

In a workshop prior to the regular meeting, the commission was presented a packet with the seven applications and a scoring sheet.

“I really appreciate everyone who applied,” Taylor said before the vote. “It’s amazing how many people care about this community and this town. We all want the same thing; it’s a great town to live in. I think we have a great list of candidates, and everyone who applied would do a great job on the commission.”

McMullen also commented: “What I love, I heard commercial growth, get involved, listen to the people, budgets. … I just heard a lot of love. That’s what I really love.”

Keller was McMullen’s vote all three times.

“I remember about a year or so ago, Ms. Keller had some concerns about the town, but what she did was instead of complain, she got involved,” he said. “She joined the Planning & Zoning (Board), she volunteered at the museum. … I also think we need some diversity up here.”

After Keller was selected three votes to one, Taylor administered the oath of office and Keller took her seat at the commission table.

SPEED ENFORCEMENT

Elected officials passed the first reading of an ordinance that allows the town to move forward in implementing a speed zone enforcement program within the school zone in front of Oakland Avenue Charter School. Over a two-day time period, a traffic study identified 169 violations of 11 mph or higher over the posted speed limit. The contract was awarded to Altumint.

“We only have two officers on duty at any given time, so this (helps),” Police Chief Darron Esan said. “(But) this definitely will not replace officers in the area.”

Other suggestions were to extend the school zone, add one or two crosswalks and allow OACS parents to acquire their volunteer hours by serving as crossing guards.

IN OTHER BUSINESS

• The Oakland Town Commission approved the consent agenda, which included an exception to allow the serving of alcohol at Pours at the Preserve, set for March 1 at the Oakland Nature Preserve, and approval of the solid waste agreement with Waste Pro of Florida Inc.

• Nine residents applied to serve on the Charter Review Committee: Andrea Huneycutt, Alan Hite, Kurt Gies, William Kevin Cox, Jennifer Tyre, Yumeko Motley, Salvatore Marullo, Timothy Montgomery and Anne Fulton. Each member of the commission selected one person to serve: McMullen chose Motley, Ramos selected Gies, Taylor chose Marullo, and Satterfield selected Huneycutt. Keller will look over the applications and give her selection at the Feb. 11 commission meeting.

• The commission passed a resolution that revises the fee schedule for the town’s Building Department, including building permits and inspections. Zoning review fees related to building plans review also were updated and included in the fee schedule.

“I think with as much (upcoming) development as we have, it’s going to create a much-needed resource for the town,” Mayor Shane Taylor said. “It takes effect immediately.”

• The commission proclaimed February Black History Month.