The View 38002 February 2014

**************ECRWSS**** LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID EDDM RETAIL inform. educate. connect. 38002.com Arlington & Lakeland’s Community Newspaper theview theview Municipal Schools: Putting the Pieces Together to Build Successful Students By Terry Louderback Wright Medical Receives PILOT to Expand Arlington Facility, Add 51 Jobs By Terry Louderback On January 21, the Town of Arlington’s Industrial Development Board (IDB) approved a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) with Wright Medical for the construction of a 52,000 square foot expansion to c o n n e c t t h e manufact uring and distribution divisions at its existing MemphisArlington Road property. I n i t s P IL O T application, Wright stated that it will create 51 new jobs in Arlington with a Photo by Lee Mills Local School Boards and Superintendents hard at work to meet August opening date With the amount of work accomplished so far, it’s hard to believe that the Arlington and Lakeland School Boards have been in office for less than two months. This past week, the two boards received wellearned words of thanks during School Board Appreciation Week. On Thursday, January 23, Lakeland Mayor Wyatt Bunker declared “School Board February 2014 Appreciation Week” in Lakeland. A few days later, Arlington Mayor Mike Wissman named January 2014 as “School Continued on page 3 Staff Photo Top: Students honor Arlington School Board Members; Bottom: Lakeland Mayor Wyatt Bunker proclaims “School Board Appreciation Week” in Lakeland.. median wage of $60,000. The Wright representatives at the meeting confirmed that the company plans to build a “world class manufacturing operation” with new jobs in field of high-end processing, tool & die, and biomedical manufacturing. The total capital investment in Arlington by Wright for the project tops $10 million. In his remarks to the board, IDB Treasurer Gene Hinders stated that the estimated economic impact to Arlington of these new jobs offsets the loss of property tax revenues. Hinders used past studies to demonstrate that the 51 jobs at Wright would create 83 more jobs in Arlington. Of those 134 workers, approximately one-third would most likely reside in Arlington and 35% of their consumption would benefi t the local economy. Continued on page 5 Arlington Proposes Sports Fields for Forrest Street Property By Terry Louderback Soon, local lacrosse and soccer players may have more playing options to choose from as the Town of Arlington finalized a proposal last week to develop 13 acres along Forrest Street for recreation. Town Planner Heather Sparkes emphasized that the decision is in keeping with the Depot Square Master Plan approved in 2012. That document left three options for the 26 acre parcel, including a mix of municipal and recreation use. “This would meet our immediate need, which is for more recreation spaces, and it allows the flexibility to do something different with the property in the future,” Sparkes stated. “All other options are still on the table.” The town’s plans include the construction of a single full-sized field, two 100 x 45 yard fields, two half-sized fields, five “kiddie” fields, and 80 parking Continued on page 5