Locklear Engineering

The Florida League of Cities Public Service Pathways Scholarship Is Now Open

The Florida League of Cities is committed to supporting the next generation of civic leaders. This year, FLC is offering up to five $5,000 scholarships for students pursuing meaningful careers in public service and municipal government. The Public Service Pathways Scholarship is designed for Florida students who are ready to help shape stronger, more resilient communities through public sector work.

Eligibility Requirements: • Must be a Florida resident • Enrolled in an accredited bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral program through a Florida based campus (including online) • Must maintain enrollment through Fall 2026
Deadline to apply: May 20, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Visit the FLC website for more information on the application process and materials: https://www.flcities.com/awards/ -leaders.

The Suwannee River League of Cities encourages eligible students across our region to apply and take this next step toward a future in public service.

I'm honored to have been voted in as an Honorary Board member with the Suwannee River League of Cities. The League does important work representing the communities we love.

The Suwannee River League of Cities Board of Directors met on Friday, March 20, in Lake City to chart the course for SRLC in 2026. We’re proud to introduce our full Board of Directors and look forward to a strong year ahead serving our communities.

2026 SRLC Board of Directors
President Kenneth "Tank" Lee, Council Member, Town of Cross City
Vice President Lewrissa Johns, Mayor, City of Chiefland
Treasurer John Driggers, City Manager, Town of Cross City

Board Members
Sue Beaudet, City Manager, City of Williston
Alice Childress, Council Vice President, Town of Branford
George Curtis, Development Manager, City of Live Oak
Ken Saunders, Mayor, Town of Branford
Debra French Jones, Council President, City of Williston
Noah Walker, Mayor, City of Lake City

Honorary Board Member
John Locklear, President, Team Locklear

Team Locklear was honored to attend and sponsor the 2026 Florida Rural Counties Day at the Florida Capitol. We are thankful for the opportunity to support and represent the rural communities of North Florida in this way and are grateful for the legislative leadership of Senator Cory Simon and Representative Jason Shoaf for hosting this event.

To learn more about Locklear & Associates, visit our website at www.teamlocklear.com!

Thank you to the Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce and all of the amazing friends and colleagues for helping us celebrate the opening of our new Live Oak office.

It is with great excitement that Team Locklear invites you to attend the GRAND OPENING of our Live Oak Office! There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony conducted by the Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce, followed by a few words from our President, John Locklear.

Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening
Date: Thursday, January 29th
Time: 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Location: 208 North Ohio Avenue, Live Oak, Florida 32064

Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. We hope to see you there!

Published by the Florida League of Cities, this manual is a reference guide on common topics of municipal interest for city officials and staff, such as municipal government forms, the policymaking process, public services and safety, and municipal finance and budgeting. The manual is specific to Florida and should not be viewed as containing legal opinions or definitive information on matters of law or statutory interpretation. View the manual at https://www.flcities.com/officials-manual/

This week, the team from LOCKLEAR attended our 4th annual fishing trip in my hometown of Homosassa, Florida. This yearly trip was started to show our appreciation to our associates who are more than just associates. They are trusted friends, colleagues, and partners in this business that I started 13 years ago. In 13 years, we have grown from 3 employees to 19, and I could not be more proud of the team we have built. They bring passion and dedication to their work that make our communities stronger and more resilient.

A huge shout-out to Allen, who took home the award for most fish caught (5)! Another huge shout-out and thank you to my longtime friend, Captain William Toney, for hosting team Locklear on his guided fishing tours. www.homosassainshorefishing.com

Here's to year 13 and many more to come!

Had a great day of golf supporting the Dixie County Quarterback Club! Thank you, Mayor Fulford for the invitation.