Mayor Kipp is a military brat raised by his mom and father, a career US Army Sergeant.  Mayor Kipp has lived all over the world.  He was born in Oakland, CA. and graduated from high school in Springdale, AR.  Mayor Kipp went to about 12 schools during those years.  In 1977, he received his BA in Psychology from the University of Arkansas.  In 1987, he received a MA in Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Mayor Kipp jokes that all this shows is that in the past he went to school way too much - now he goes to school every day - since 2003 Mayor Kipp has been the Dean of Discipline at Haines City High School.

 

Mayor Kipp and his wife have two daughters and three grandsons.  They moved to Haines City the same month as Hurricane Andrew moved into Florida, August 1992. They moved as he had been called as the Minister of Education at First Baptist Church, Haines City.  Later he went to work for Polk County Schools.

 

In 2013, Mayor Kipp was elected as a Haines City Commissioner.  In 2015, his peers elected him Mayor of Haines City.  To both groups he owes a huge thank you.  He also owes a promise that he will perform his duties and obligations to the best of his ability.

 

There are two things you can count on from Mayor Kipp... 

He states, "First, I make all my decisions based on principle.  Those principles were taught to me years ago and come from the Bible.  I hold that book close to my heart, important and dear, and I want to give thanks to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for saving me and blessing me so richly.

 

From the Bible I have learned to order my life in the following way:

 

            First in my life is God.

            Next in my life is my family.

            Third in my life is work and church.

            Last in my life is everything else.

 

In recognizing those principles and the value I place on the priorities in my life, you usually can anticipate how I will think, react, and vote.

 

The second thing you can count on from me is common sense.  I believe that healthy doses of common sense from the leaders of any organization can solve most any problem.  I agree with what George Washington said to the citizens of Baltimore in 1789, 'It appears to me that little more than common sense and common honesty in the transactions of the community at large would be necessary to make us a great and a happy nation.'  Or in the case of Haines City, a great and happy city.  A city whose name I hope will always be synonymous with pride and integrity."

 

Shown above: Fred Fox of Fred Fox Enterprises, City Clerk Linda Bourgeois, and CATF members Chair Louie McLean, Board Member Wrenita Brendidge, and Board Member Georgia Thomas

Fred Fox of Fred Fox Enterprises, Inc. provided an overview of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. He stated the maximum grant amount the City could potentially receive would be $750,000.00 and the categorical areas for consideration were housing and rehabilitation, commercial revitalization, neighborhood revitalization, or economic development.

                                      

Utility Services Director Mike Stripling presented on the potential to resubmit the CDBG application for a sewer project which had been identified as priority project. He went on to say the plans have been engineered and the project is shovel ready.

 

After considering all of the options, it was agreed by the task force members that the CDBG sewer replacement project (from Hinson to Johnson Avenue) was a critical priority of the City and needed a funding mechanism.

Recreation
The Haines City Leisure Services 2015 "Summer Rec Camp" has a few remaining slots left for children who are currently enrolled in 1st - 6th grade. Children will enjoy field trips, games, crafts, swimming and more! Camp dates are June 15th - August 7th, 2015. For more information please contact the Haines City Leisure Services at (863) 421-3700 or jlatimer@hainescity.com.

Aquatic Center
The Aquatic Center is now open (7) days a week. The hours of operation are 12 PM - 6 PM and admission is $5 per person. We also have individual and family passes to the pool available for purchase. Season passes can be purchased at the Community Center.

Haines City Library  

The Haines City Public Library will be having a SUPER summer!

Special Programs will be held at the Lake Eva Community Center (555 Ledwith Avenue) at 10:30 AM on June 16th, 23rd, 30th, July 14th, & August 4th. These events are FREE and open to the public.

The Summer Reading Program will be held on Wednesdays June 17th -August 5th at 10:30 AM in the Library Community Room. There will be Superhero stories, games and crafts for ages 5 and anyone entering 6th grade. Registration begins May 26th! 

Read 600 minutes over the summer! That's 15 minutes a day!!! Register to receive a book log and a time log. Keep track of the books you read and the time you spend reading. When you reach 600 minutes turn in your completed logs for a prize and an entry for the grand prize that will be awarded at our final celebration at the end of the summer! Get ready to READ! Reading starts June 8th and the completed logs need to be returned by August 14th.

Baby Bubbles & Bounces Story time will continue to be on Thursdays at 10:30 AM in the story time area (open to infants-2 years of age).

Super Kids Story time will be on Thursdays at 11:30 AM in the story time area (open to 2-5 years of age).

Lake Eva Tennis News
Haines City Tennis Pro Jeff McCardle, received a USPTA equipment grant of 2 junior nets and several dozen low compression youth tennis balls. Also, on Thursday, May 28th in Naples, Jeff will be recognized as the 2014 USPTA District 5 (Central Florida) Pro of the Year. Congratulations Jeff, that is a great honor and we are so happy to have you as part of our team!