Members of the community and City staff celebrated the retirement of Public Service Director Ms. Tressa Allen. Mayor Jack Hilligoss presented Ms. Allen with a proclamation, recognizing her for 24 years of public service and her commitment to the people of Lake Wales.

WHEREAS, it is with great honor that the City of Lake Wales recognizes the retirement of Public Services Director Teresa Allen for her long and distinguished career with the City; and

 WHEREAS, Teresa Allen, before starting at the City, previously served in the US Army for 4 years as a Finance Specialist and Budget Analyst for West Point Military Academy, Army Athletics; and

 WHEREAS, Teresa Allen’s career with the City began in 1998 as Administrative Assistant in the Utilities Department; and

 WHEREAS, Teresa Allen has served as the Director of Public Services for the past four years; and

 WHEREAS, Teresa Allen has overseen the maintenance and development of our parks, streets, cemeteries, facilities, special events, and airport; and

 WHEREAS, Teresa Allen has served the City in securing and administering millions of dollars in grants to expand and enhance our facilities most notably to extend the runway at the Lake Wales Municipal Airport; and

 WHEREAS, Teresa Allen was named Public Servant of the Year in 2016 by the Lake Wales Chamber of Commerce and in 2018 was the City’s Employee of the year; and WHEREAS, Teresa Allen will retire from the City of Lake Wales on December 23, 2022 after 24 years of service; and

 WHEREAS, we commend Teresa Allen for her commitment to government service, to the people of Lake Wales and giving of herself in service to others. NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jack Hilligoss, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of the City of Lake Wales, in the State of Florida, do hereby proclaim December 20, 2022 as “TERESA ALLEN RECOGNITION DAY” and offer our best wishes for a happy and fulfilling retirement on behalf of the City of Lake Wales.

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Official Seal of the City of Lake Wales, Florida to be affixed this 20th Day of December, 2022.