Bartow launches Rumor Has It webpage to answer residents’ questions about city rumors

There is a new communications strategy on the City of Bartow website, titled Rumor Has It.

Its introduction is the result of a demonstration commissioners saw at a recent Florida League of Cities conference.

“We were first made aware of the Rumor Has It idea during a presentation by Coral Springs at the Florida League of Cities conference,” said Laurie Hayes, director of communications for the City of Bartow. “What it is, is a webpage dedicated to dispelling rumors that are circulating among citizens in the city regarding government projects, utilities, zoning, new developments, all that stuff and more.”

Hayes then began a demonstration, starting with how to find and navigate it on the city’s website. On it, she had preprogrammed three rumors. One of those was that the city operates automatic license plate readers on the major roadways.

“Obviously, we know that is false, that the city does not own or operate any Flock cameras,” Hayes said.

The next example was an assertion that the city never intended to restore the program at the aquatic center. On the site, Hayes said, the information provided by Rumor Has It offered the background and the budgeting for it.

The third rumor was that the city was spending millions on the overhead bridge above State Road 60. “Obviously, that is not a city project,” Hayes said.

To use it, Hayes said, there is a submission form at the bottom of the page. It will include a way for the city to contact the person directly with what its research has found. The rumor and the response will also be posted on the Rumor Has It site for others to see.

Hayes acknowledged that not everyone is going to be happy or satisfied with the answers provided. Nor will it put a halt to people continuing to talk. But that is not the intent, she said.

“The intent is just for the people who are interested in transparency with the city, for us to be as transparent as possible,” she said.

Mayor Tanya Tucker appeared excited.

“We’re about to burn this link up,” she said. “We’re going to attach it to every, everything we see now.”

She thanked Hayes upon wrapping up the presentation. She agreed with a statement Hayes made that it is yet another tool in the city’s communication toolbox. “There’s a lot of rumors out there,” Tucker said. This will enable responses that get the word out.

“Consistent messaging, that’s what I like,” said Vice Mayor Laura Simpson.

New addition to city manager’s department

Prior to Hayes’ presentation of Rumor Has It, City Manager Mike Herr introduced a new city employee.

“First thing I’d like to do is ask Sarah Thornton to come to the podium, please,” Herr said.

Thornton is now the executive assistant to Herr. Monday, Nov. 2, was her first day in the city’s employ. “She comes to us, really, with a breadth of experience,” Herr said.

Her experience includes serving as the executive assistant with Florida Growers in Lake Wales. Thornton’s range of responsibilities there included handling and executing confidential and discreet information, something Herr indicated is indispensable. Thornton also held a similar position with Kings Down, a Lakeland company that manufactures containers, hide-a-beds and mattresses.

Steve Steiner can be reached at [email protected].

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Sources: City of Bartow City Commission amended agenda, regular meeting Nov. 2, 2026, items 4a through 4d and 7a1; City of Bartow Communications Office web page, accessed Nov. 4, 2026; City of Bartow City Commission regular meeting minutes, Oct. 19, 2026, in the Nov. 2, 2026, agenda packet; Bartow City Commission meeting transcript, Oct. 19, 2026; Steve Steiner reporting at the Nov. 2, 2026, meeting.