Interim City Manager

Mr. Oppelaar moved to Bradenton, Florida from his native New Jersey with his family in 1971 where he graduated from Manatee High School.  In 1979 he graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with honors and entered the United States Air Force as an officer trainee in March 1980.  He then spent over 22 years on active duty culminating with retirement from active duty as a Lieutenant Colonel.  While on active duty, Lt Col Oppelaar accumulated over 2500 flight hours in the USAF E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft, and the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack System (J-STARS) aircraft as a weapons officer, senior director, and mission crew commander.  He has provided command and control leadership throughout his Air Force career, operating in the United States, Middle East, North Atlantic, Europe, and the Balkans.

In 1991 Mr. Oppelaar graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) degree, completed with the future objective of serving in municipal government.  Following retirement from active duty, he has continued to serve the United States through multiple defense-centric positions within the defense industry, and within local government as the former city manager of Minneola, Florida.

Mr. Oppelaar is the past chairman of the Lake-Sumter Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Technical Advisory Committee, where he helped to advance transportation and road system improvements to Lake County’s transportation systems.  He has been a representative to the Lake County League of Cities, a member of the Florida League of Cities Legislative Affairs Committee, a member of the Florida City County Managers Association Inter-governmental Affairs Committee, a member of the Lake County Economic Development Task Force, and member of the South Lake Chamber of Commerce.

Sam and his wife, Alicia, have been married for 33 years, and have lived in South Lake County since February 2008.  They have 4 children and 6 grandchildren.  They enjoy travelling to visiting with their family, gardening, golf, and outdoor activities.

Mr. Oppelaar is committed to improving the community, enhancing business and job opportunities, operating the city government efficiently and transparently, and teaming with residents, business, and government leaders to make Groveland beautiful and prosperous.

Affiliations

• International City County Managers Association (ICMA)
• Florida City County Managers Association (FCCMA)
• Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)
• American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
• Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA)

“I would like to invite you to contact me directly when you have concerns, issues, ideas, or anything the city staff and I can help you with.You can email me at: Samuel.oppelaar@groveland-fl.gov

Or by phone at 352-429-2141 x250.” 

F.S 119.011 and 119.07 which states “Emails sent to the city of groveland are subject to public-records requests and that if users do not want their e-mail addresses released to requestors, they should not send e-mail.”