After the town of Oakland\u2019s general election took place March 10, commissioners officially were sworn into the Oakland Town Commission.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kris Keller, Yumeko L. Motley and Joseph McMullen took their oaths of office Tuesday, March 24.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Keller and McMullen will serve four-year terms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just been my great honor to serve the residents, and I look forward to continuing to do so with thoughtful and fiscally responsible decision-making,\u201d Keller said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Keller was appointed commissioner in 2025 after former commissioner Rick Polland stepped down. This will mark her first full term as a commissioner.\u00a0<\/p>\n
McMullen was elected Seat 4 Commissioner after defeating opponent Anne Fulton, with 308 votes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you for those (who) believed in me and that continue to come alongside me, pray for me and my friends and family,\u201d he said. \u201cThose who did not vote for me, let\u2019s talk. Let\u2019s have a conversation. My cell phone (number) is everywhere; my email is everywhere, I\u2019m here everywhere, so let\u2019s talk.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After serving as commissioner for for the past 20 years, McMullen said he is pleased to continue to represent the town and is grateful for all those who voted for him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Motley will serve a two-year term, replacing Commissioner Sal Ramos, who stepped down from his seat two years before his four-year term ended. This is her first time as a commissioner.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh my goodness, I\u2019m overwhelmed with joy and gratitude this evening,\u201d she said. \u201cI want to say thank you to God first for allowing me to accept this endeavor in His charge to me. \u2026 I look forward to working dutifully, faithfully and with integrity for the residents of the town of Oakland.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mayor Shane Taylor congratulated the elected commissioners and said he is confident they will serve the town and its residents with thoughtfulness, collaboration and respect.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPublic service is an honor and a responsibility,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cThe decisions we make will shape the future of our town.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ramos also was recognized for his commitment to serving the town of Oakland since 2015.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Taylor recognized Ramos for his work to enhance residents\u2019 quality of life, promote the well-being of the community and support of responsible growth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe town of Oakland is grateful for Commissioner Ramos\u2019 years of dedicated service and commitment to making the community a better place to live, work and thrive,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ramos congratulated Keller, Motley and McMullen \u00a0and thanked the commission, the residents, family, friends and God for the opportunity to serve Oakland.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe wisdom and leadership you guys have shared with me, I\u2019m going to carry it for a long time,\u201d he said. \u201cIt helped me a lot here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Commercial opportunities\u00a0<\/p>\n
Taylor said a cell tower and telecom ordinance soon will be brought to the commission.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCell tower reception here is absolutely horrible,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once the ordinance is drafted, bids for operator carriers will be solicited.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Taylor said there are several large companies that handle and build cell towers, but they must allow the tower to go on town-owned land.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This would allow the town to receive revenue off leased land as well as from the carriers themselves, he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIn some instances, this could be a very big win for the town,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beyond cell towers, the town also is working on a Tubb Street Overlay ordinance to provide more economic opportunities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would help us establish a main street off (State Road) 50 all the way up to the town center,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cIt would establish commercial opportunities, a corridor that will reflect our charm of our town center.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
It would allow a mix of uses including retail, restaurants, offices and residential.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAs of right now, there\u2019s 19 potential developments that would be coming into (S.R.) 50 \u2026 and they\u2019re in various stages,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Taylor reminded the town\u2019s residents he will not allow gas stations, car dealerships, car washes, etc., to preserve the town\u2019s charm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re being very meticulous about what we are allowing in town, and it\u2019s got to be something that caters to the residents,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said these commercial opportunities could help the town \u201ctip the scales\u201d in its favor, in case homestead property tax reforms do take place.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Taylor also spoke about creating a food truck ordinance to manage food trucks that want to operate in the town.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not opposed to food trucks,\u201d he said. \u201cFood trucks are awesome, but what I don\u2019t want to see is just food trucks popping up everywhere. \u2026 What you don\u2019t want is to have so much of the food trucks in town that it takes away from the brick and mortars that could potentially come in.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said while the town is not allowed to ban food trucks, it can enforce an ordinance to facilitate management.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will be a great asset if it\u2019s in certain areas of the town,\u201d Taylor said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
IN OTHER NEWS<\/p>\n
Mayor Shane Taylor proclaimed April Water Conservation Month, as well as Child Abuse Prevention Month, and April 10 will be considered Wear Blue Day.\u00a0The Oakland Town Commission unanimously voted to keep Vice Mayor Michael Satterfield in the role.\u00a0The Oakland Police Department acquired a new police cruiser. It has a white base rather than a black one and is colorful. Grants and Communication Manager Kelly Sims designed it. Police Chief Darron Esan said the cruiser includes the latest technology in safety equipment to reduce crashes.\u00a0Commissioner Kris Keller will serve as the town\u2019s representative on the Metro Plan Orlando Municipal Advisory Committee.\u00a0
The road resurfacing project of Millholland Way, Vandermeer Avenue, Starr and Demens streets will be revisited during a future commission meeting after Hubbard Orlando Paving Project Manager Courtney Court said the existing base is in bad shape.<\/p>\n
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