City Announces Closings, Meeting Cancellations, Service Alternatives

The City of Lake Wales will close, or restrict, many of its services to the public beginning Tuesday, March 17.

Recognizing the diverse populations that city departments serve, the closures are undertaken to protect all ages, most critically, those in high risk categories.

The city's staff will continue to work; however entry to the City's Municipal Administration Building, 201 West Central Avenue, will not be available to residents and customers. Phone calls and email inquiries will be answered, and information will continue to flow out to our residents.

Restricted entry will be allowed to individuals, building contractors or businesses seeking to apply for building permits or building inspections. Individuals in need of these services should visit the east employee entrance of the City Municipal Administration building. These customers will be allowed access. For information call the Planning and Development office, 863.678.4182, extension 714.

The City of Lake Wales continues to accept Utility billing payments. Customers can pay by phone, toll free, 844.323.8134, online at http://www.lakewalesfl.gov, click the Utility Bill Pay at the bottom of the Home Page or at the local Amscot office, 2004 State Road 60 East. The normal Amscot service fee will be waived.

The City also will offer a drive-thru drop off point at the Lake Wales Administration Building. The drive-thru is located in the east parking lot, on Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd. Please use this drop off point for payments made by check only.

The City of Lake Wales will not cut off utility services due to delinquent payments at this time. Utility payments remain due, while we encourage our Utility customers to continue to pay for their usage, no services will be cutoff in the foreseeable future. The City of Lake Wales' Utilities Department has implemented a Customer Service line. Those with service issues or questions should access the new Customer Service line at 863.676.4775

Many of the City's parks and trails remain open. The city encourages everyone to practice proactive hygiene when using playground equipment or other public facilities.

Recreation facilities that are currently closed for all organized activities include: Kirkland Gym, Austin Community Center, Lake Wales Tourist Club, Lake Wales Soccer Complex, Lake Wales Little League Complex, Northwest Complex/Fraiser Fields and Lake Wales Public Library's Schoenoff Meeting Room. All programs and events scheduled or private reservations will be cancelled. For information call 863.678.4182, extension 242 or email Stephanie Edwards, Recreation Coordinator, [email protected].

The March 17 City Commission meeting will be held at 6 p.m. All Lake Wales City Commission Meetings may be viewed, live, on the City of Lake Wales website, http://www.lakewalesfl.gov, or on Comcast Channel 6. The Commission Meeting is open to the public, however, citizens who don't feel well are asked not to attend in consideration of others.

City board and committee meetings will be suspended until further notice. There may be exceptions to this decision. Public announcements will be made in those instances. For information on the City Commission and public boards call Jennifer Nanek, City Clerk, 863.678.4182, extension 270 or email [email protected].

The City of Lake Wales' Fire Chief and Emergency Operations Director, Joe Jenkins stated, "The decision to close Lake Wales Municipal Administration building and other facilities was based on being proactive and sensitive to the health and well-being of the people who use these facilities and the staff who operate them."

The City of Lake Wales will update news and information to citizens frequently. Visit the city website, http://www.lakewalesfl.gov for updates and postings, or the City of Lake Wales' Facebook page. For reliable information on Florida's public health please go to http://www.flhealth.gov.