Lake Wales City Government - City Administration

Except as noted below, administrative staff may be reached at (863) 678-4182 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

City Manager - Tony Otte . . . . . ext.225
The City Manager is the city's Chief Administrative Officer and is responsible for all city operations, capital assets, and financial resources.

Assistant City Manager - Judith H. Delmar . . . . . ext. 225
The Assistant City Manager provides support to the City Manager and city administrative staff and serves as Acting City Manager in the City Manager's absence. The Assistant City Manager is responsible for budget preparation and other projects requiring the coordination of various city departments and serves as the city's webmaster.

Assistant to the City Manager - Jerry Torrance . . . . . ext. 258
The Assistant to the City Manager provides operational support to the City Manager and serves as Emergency Manager. The Assistant to the City Manager also supervises Purchasing, Inventory, Fleet Maintenance, and Streets Division and coordinates the accomplishment of the city's 5-Year Capital Improvements Plan.

City Clerk - Clara VanBlargan . . . . . ext. 228
The City Clerk provides support to the City Commisson and is responsible for the city's record management program, city elections, and coordination of appointments to citizen boards and commissions.

Economic Development Director - Harold Gallup . . . . . ext. 224
The Economic Development Director is responsible for the development of the Longleaf Business Park and the economic revitalization of the Historic Downtown and Lincoln Avenue business districts.

Finance Director - Sylvia Edwards, C.P.A. . . . . . ext. 257
The Finance Director is responsible for overseeing the financial operations of the city including accounting, cash management, budget support, payroll, accounts payable, business licensing, financial reporting, and utility billing and customer service.

Fire Chief - Jerry Brown . . . . . 678-4206
The Fire Chief is responsible for providing fire prevention and suppression services and emergency medical services to city residents and businesses. The Lake Wales Fire Department also provides fire services to areas of unincorporated Polk County and participates in the state-wide Mutual Aid program for provision of emergency services.

Human Resources Director - Sandra Davis . . . . . ext. 231
The Human Resources Director is responsible for personnel, benefits, insurance, and risk management administration. The Human Resources Director serves as the city's representative in contract negotiations with the police and firefighter collective bargaining units.

Planning & Development Director - Margaret Swanson . . . . . ext. 229
The Planning & Development Director is responsible for administration of the city's zoning, land use and development regulations, for review of proposed development projects for consistency with the city's comprehensive plan, and for processing annexations, rezoning requests, and comprehensive plan amendments. The Planning & Development Director also supervises the Permits & Inspections Department.

Police Chief - Herbert Gillis . . . . . 678-4271
The Police Chief is responsible for all city law enforcement activities. City Code Enforcement is also a division of the Lake Wales Police Department. In partnership with the Polk County School Board, the Police Department also provides School Resource Officers to the Lake Wales High School and McLaughlin Middle School.

Public Services Director - Teresa Allen . . . . . ext. 299
The Public Services Director is responsible for the operations and capital improvement programs of the Parks, Cemetery, and Public Facilities divisions and for capital improvements at the Lake Wales Municipal Airport.

Utilities Director - Ray Creel . . . . . ext. 239
The Utilities Director oversees the operations of the Water Division, Wastewater Division, and Stormwater Division. The Utilities Director is also responsible for planning and managing the capital expansion of the city's utility systems which currently includes development of a Reclaimed Water System.