Uncommonly Lakeland!

Mark Hartz

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Partnership Lakeland Q&A

1. How to see Lakeland developing (commercial, residential) and at what pace? Lakeland should be a community of neighborhoods centered around schools and churches. Each neighborhood should have a common space for gatherings and outdoor activities. Commercial development should serve the community by supporting daily life.

2. Do you believe a lobbyist in Nashville would benefit Lakeland? If so why? Lakeland is a member of the Tennessee Municipal League (TML) who provides lobbyists for the general needs of the cities, but Lakeland could benefit additionally in several specific areas from lobbyists‘ efforts. Such efforts may include the long-overdue improvements to the Exit 20 over-pass and addition of Exit 22 at Chambers Chapel/I-40.

3. How should Lakeland prepare for future schools? Lakeland staff and officials should continue to encourage the Shelby County Board of Education and the Shelby County Schools administration to communicate and participate in the development of a system that will serve the needs of Lakeland and its surrounding community.

4. How do you define a “Town Center,” do we need one and where? A Town Center is a place developed to draw residents to that location by its varied uses to include government, commerce, and services. Lakeland’s reputation for an amusement park and a tired outlet mall could be overcome with the development of easily accessible town centers placed strategically on or very near US Hwy 70 and I-40.

5. Do you support measures to curb the population explosion that Lakeland is experiencing? If so, how would you balance that with a landowner’s right to develop their property? If not, how do you propose to increase revenue in order to provide services to our growing population? I have always supported the implementation of acceptable development standards to curb growth. To this end the Board of Commissioners and other various volunteer boards have caused development within the parameters set. Lakeland has distinguished itself on several fronts including the completion of the Natural Resources Inventory, which has been acclaimed nationally. I will continue to see that development of the land resource must be according to the plans established for the good of all people in Lakeland. We must continue to plan for services to the future Lakeland. So long as the state continues the current basis for funding and by prioritizing services we will be able to pay for those services seen as necessary.

Election Flyer

What have I done for you lately? HEALTH AND SAFETY: I proposed to the BOC approval of the design and construction of Lakeland's first of five fire stations. BETTER GOVERNMENT: I proposed to the BOC hiring an agency specializing in municipal employment, which led to hiring the current City Manager. CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES: I proposed amendments to existing regulations leading to greater conservation efforts for Lakeland and the hiring of our Natural Resources Director who is a Certified Arborist. QUALITY OF LIFE: I fought to make developers donate parkland and proposed hiring a Director of Parks and Recreation to establish programs for the residents of Lakeland. OUR FUTURE: I proposed and promoted the concept of land banks for future municipal use and the creation of a capital improvement fund for future infrastructure needs. Dear Lakeland Citizen: Thank you so much for the privilege of serving you for the past 8 years. I am asking you to return me to the Board of Commissioners so that I may finish many of the projects the BOC started and has yet to complete. A native of Shelby County, I returned to this community 12 years ago because of Lakeland's reputation and because of the fond memories that my family made here (and our "no property tax" status didn't hurt either - ha). I hope you will contact me with your questions or concerns, and that you will go to the polls on Sept. 20th and "Mark Hartz" on your ballot. Your servant, Mark EXPERIENCE COUNTS! Vote Sept. 20th for your favorite 3 Candidates Please "Mark Hartz" on your ballot! E-mail me at markehartz@aol.com if I can be of assistance to you!
Proudly Endorsed by:	Paid for by Friends of Mark Hartz

General Information

Personal Profile: I married Nancy Watts August 3, 1965. We have two daughters and two sons, who have given us eighteen grandchildren. Nancy and I enjoy traveling, golf and gardening, when we are not spending time with the two children who have families in the Memphis area.

I graduated from high school from Germantown High School in 1964. I attended State Technical Institute in Memphis and the University of Memphis. I taught “Basic Home Construction” in the continuing education series at the University of Memphis from the Fall Semester, 1981, through the Fall Semester, 1986.

Work History: June 1999 to January 2007
Hearing Officer for the Shelby County Board of Equalization
David Newsom, Director 901-379-7169
I made recommendations to the B.O.E. as to the value of properties under appeal by property owners and tax representatives. Although I was originally hired for my commercial experience, I heard residential properties beginning with the 2002 reappraisal.

August 3, 2000 to January 1, 2005
Real Estate Affiliate Broker
Debra Conley, Broker 901-381-5241
Past member of the Memphis Area Association of Realtors affiliated with The Austin Group; specialties included commercial tenant and buyer representation, site selection and land sales

February 6, 1996 to August 1, 2000
Real Estate Affiliate Broker
Dan Whipple, Managing Broker
Affiliate with Crye-Leike Commercial with specialties in multi-family site selection and tenant representation

June 30, 1989 to November 6, 1995
V.P. Construction, Presidential Construction
P. Ronald Sabatino, President 614-436-0000
6563 Worthington-Galena Rd., Worthington, Ohio 43085
Responsibility for all aspects of construction for multi-family projects, but not limited to design coordination, approval process through local governments, contract negotiations, purchasing of equipment and materials, and general construction oversight

July 1, 1991 to January 18, 1994
Contractor and consultant; owned MPP, Inc., (Master Planning Professionals) an Ohio corporation; Consulted for several multi-family companies, including budget reviews and set-up operations and with an Orlando contractor in reconstruction of homes in Homestead, FL after hurricane Andrew

September 16, 1985 to June 15, 1989
Project Manager, Trammell Crow Residential (Brentwood, TN)
Perry M. Parrott, Development Partner
David Seiler, V.P. Construction
Contract negotiations and construction oversight for multi-family developments in Memphis, TN; Columbus, OH; and Cincinnati, OH

July 1984 to September 1985: Robertson Homes (Stockton, CA) Assistant to the Vice President; Coordinated construction in four states, overseeing multi-family projects in Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Oklahoma

September 1976 to June 1984: owned and operated the Hartz Co., a design-build company, which designed and built commercial and residential projects and managed properties for T. Tarry Beasley, Esq.

1966 to 1975: worked as a licensed electrician after completing a four-year apprenticeship, which included four years of classroom training

References:
Joe Capebianco, Pastor at First Baptist Church of Lakeland (901-382-8463)
Bob Wherry, Lakeland City Manager (901-867-2717)