2017 will be a year of new building, rebuilding and expansion in Apopka

New Fire Station, Community Center and Wastewater Plant

The State of the City Address

Mayor Joe Kilsheimer laid out his administration's accomplishments and vision for the future in a 35-minute, 5,000-word State of the City address Monday morning. He touched on several issues including business in Apopka, municipal government, public safety, city finances, grants, economic development, The City Center, The Highland Manor, growth, education, and even the environment. The Apopka Voice is taking a comprehensive look at each section of the speech, with Municipal Government issues being the focus of part three.

Part Three: Municipal Government

A common theme arose in Kilsheimer's address when he spoke of the City's goals for municipal government - building and improvements for 2017. However he began with a look at projects that were completed in 2016.

"Earlier this year, Apopka’s Public Services Department completed a $12 million project – The Lake Apopka North Shore Water Reclamation facility," Kilsheimer said. "It will augment future irrigation demands and help protect Central Florida’s underground drinking water supply. The department also completed the installation of more than 19,000 linear feet of reclaimed water pipeline."

There were also improvements made in Apopka parks and recreation facilities.

"The Recreation Department leveled and resodded four baseball fields at the Northwest Recreation complex. Batting cages and covered seating structures were added. A new scoreboard was added to the main football field. New programs were added including flag football and after-school care at Alonzo Williams Park. On behalf of the Apopka Amphitheater, we completed a formal Rental Agreement process. The result: More and more events are coming to Amphitheater. In 2016, that included a Cinco De Mayo event and a privately produced concert, featuring country music artistTravis Tritt. The Recreation Department also led the production of our spectacular July 4th Fireworks event and our Festive Winter Wonderland Event in Kit Land Nelson Park just two weeks ago."

Kilsheimer moved on to a massive project scheduled to begin in 2017, and the new fire station.

A new fire station coming in 2017.

"Later this month, our Public Services Department will oversee the launch of the largest single municipal construction project in Apopka’s history, a $61 million expansion of our wastewater treatment plant. We have completed preparations to build Station No. 5 on Jason Dwelley parkway. We expect to open station 5 in the summer of 2017 and bring on 18 new firefighters."

According to Kilsheimer, the AFD responded to more than 6,600 emergency calls this year, trained more than 1,800 people in CPR, and conducted more than 1,400 Fire Safety inspections at local businesses.

In addition to 18 new firefighters, Kilsheimer touched on hiring new police officers as well.

"At the Apopka Police Department we have obtained City Council approval to bring on 10 new police officers in the coming year. I am also proud to say that under Chief McKinley’s Leadership, we have recommitted to the goal of winning accreditation for the Apopka Police Department. It will take several years to achieve this goal, but we are well on the way to seeing it accomplished."

Kilsheimer also heaped praise on grants writer and neighborhood services coordinator, Dr. Shakenya Harris-Jackson.

"Under her Leadership, The City has applied for numerous grants since she came on board (in 2015). I am very proud that the city recently was awarded a $625,000 COPS grant that will pay for five of the 10 new police officers we will hire this year. The city also won a $750,000 grant to rebuild the community center at Alonzo Williams Park and two $50,000 grants for playground improvements at other parks in Apopka."

Later today: Part four - Education, and Part Five - The City Commissioners weigh-in on the speech.