MINUTES OF called MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY commissioners

 wednesday, april 18, 1956

 

The Board of County Commissioners met in called session in the County Commissioners’ Room in the Courthouse at Tavares on Wednesday, April 18, at 2:30 p.m. for the purpose of designating roads to be requested from the State Road Department for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1956 to and including June 30, 1957 and such other matters as may be brought before the Board, with the following present:  Chairman Singeltary; Commissioners Cowart, Lightfoot, and Simpson.  Commr. Stokes was absent due to illness.

The Board was called to order by Chairman Singeltary.

The Fact Finding Committee – Dr. E. E. Lewis, Rev. Carl Stackman, Mrs. Harold D. Overhiser, Mr. F. H. McGill, Mrs. Alma McGill, Mr. A. M. Davis, Mrs. Pearl Barnes, and Mr. Robert Alderman appeared before the Board; and Dr. Lewis as spokesman discussed with the Board the report of the Fact Finding Committee which had been submitted in March, 1956 and stated, “in January 1955 the Committee reported its findings up to that date and stated that its investigation would be continued.”  Dr. Lewis asked what further service the Committee can be to the Board and what action the Board contemplates on the Committee’s action, as the Committee is of the opinion that there is a definite need for a home for the aged in Lake County and recommends that the first unit of such a home should provide approximately 30 beds and should be constructed immediately.  Volusia, an adjoining county, has a 100-bed home owned and operated by the County since September 1, 1954, which they lease to a practical nurse and allow her $90 for every ambulatory patient and $105 for non-ambulatory patient.  This home was constructed at an approximate cost of $210,000; the County owned the site.  A new wing for 20 patients is now contemplated.

The Committee recommended that a 30-bed unit should be constructed immediately, and an additional unit may be added as needed. It should provide for indigent and semi-indigent patients first.  The building should be one story, fireproof with a fireproof roof, and should have not less than five acres. (The site was left in the hands of the Board of County Commissioners.)  Moose Haven is a good type of home to follow.  The Committee recommended that the property be leased to a five-member Board of Trustees, one appointed from each Commissioner’s District, and that the property be owned and supported by the County and shall be leased to this Board of Trustees, who shall have full and complete charge, and that no member of that Board shall profit directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever from the operation of the property or employed personnel.

Commr. Singeltary stated that the Board deeply appreciates the work the Committee has done and thanked them for the very comprehensive report.  Commr. Singeltary also stated the Board will take the recommendations under advisement and get in touch with the Committee later.  Dr. Hall was present at this meeting and stated he has data on Moose Haven Home which is available to the Board.  The minimum cost is $1,000 per bed per year for a patient.  The Trusdale Home in Mount Dora has 20 beds, and the cost per unit is less than $2,000 per bed.  Mr. Lightfoot suggested that someone look for a location and the Board buy before property goes too high.  Dr. Lewis asked if the Town of Tavares owns any land within the Town limits which they could give to Commissioners.  Mr. Duncan stated he does not think the Town owns any suitable land.  Commr. Simpson stated the City of Mount Dora owns 22 ½ acres which may be available.  Commr. Singeltary suggested that a Special Committee be appointed to go into the selection of a location for the Home.  Commr. Simpson, Commr. Lightfoot, and Commr. Cowart were appointed by the Board as a Committee to look into the selection of a location for the Home.  Mr. Duncan was instructed to look into the legality of the recommendations of the Fact Finding Committee and also advise the Board regarding the lease proposition. Commr. Simpson stated the City of Mount Dora also owns a 5-acre tract that may be available and suggested that the Committee go to the City Council for information and report back to the Board if they recommend the site.  Dr. Lewis suggested that someone be authorized to prepare a sketch of what the building would permit.  It was suggested that the newspapers give publicity to the location of a site for the home.

Dr. Hall made a report on the Health Unit to be built in Leesburg, stating that $8,000 would be paid by Leesburg, $12,000 from Lake County (surplus) funds; and $14,000 or $15,000 from the Hill Burton Fund through the Federal Act.  Clerk Owens read a letter to Dr. Hall from the Florida Development Commission regarding tentative application for a federal grant-in-aid to construct the Health Center in Leesburg.  Dr. Hall stated this grant does not increase the millage for the County.  Dr. Hall stated the Health Center in Tavares will take care of Mount Dora and Tavares for the next ten years, and the City of Eustis is furnishing a Health Center which is adequate.  WHEREUPON, on a motion by Commr. Lightfoot, seconded by Commr. Cowart and carried, the following resolution was adopted:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Lake County Commissioners THAT FROM AND AFTER April 18, 1956, Frank E. Owens, Clerk of said Board whose signature appears below, is hereby authorized and directed to transact and carry on any and all business and to sign applications, letters, or other documents, as Clerk of the said Board of Lake County Commissioners in connection with the securing of a federal grant in aid through the Florida State Improvement Commission for use in the construction of the proposed new Health Center in Leesburg.

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LAKE COUNTY

BY:  Frank E. Owens, Clerk

Clerk Owens filed a Notice of Public Hearing on the Astatula Bridge.

Clerk Owens reported that the Boy Scouts have requested permission to use the Courtroom one Thursday night a month for Boy Scouts Honor Court ceremonies; WHEREUPON, on a motion by Commr. Simpson, seconded by Commr. Cowart and carried, the Clerk was instructed to notify the Boy Scouts that they can use the Courtroom in the Courthouse at Tavares one Thursday night a month for Boy Scouts Honor Court ceremonies as long as the time does not conflict with Court.

On a motion by Commr. Lightfoot, seconded by Commr. Cowart and carried, the following resolution was adopted:

WHEREAS, it has been brought to the attention of the Board of County Commissioners of Lake County, Florida, that during the progress of Chancery Case No. 7869, Lake County, Florida, entitled “Lake County vs. Certain Lands,” instituted for the purpose of forcing the collection of taxes upon the following described property and other property, that the taxes upon said property were paid prior to the conclusion of said foreclosure proceedings, and

WHEREAS, it further appears that in spite of the payment of taxes as above set forth, said property was included in the Final Decree entered in said cause, purporting to vest the title in Lake County, and said decree, therefore, constitutes a cloud upon the title to said property, and

WHEREAS, it further appears from a Certificate issued by Lake Abstract & Guaranty Company of Tavares, Florida, that the fee title to the following described property located in Lake County, Florida, to-wit:

Begin 628 feet south of Northeast corner of SE ¼ of Section 31, Township 21 South, Range 26 East, run south 272 feet, thence west 934.7 feet, thence south 46 degrees 47’ West 244.6 feet, thence South 45 degrees 13’ East 355 feet, thence West 470 feet, thence North 692 feet, thence East 1320 feet to the point of beginning; is now vested in W. J. Howey Company, a Florida Corporation, subject to the cloud created by the Final Decree entered in the above-entitled suit.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS of Lake County, Florida, that in order to clear the title to the above-described tract of land and to remove the objection created by the inclusion of said land in said Final Decree, the Chairman and Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Lake County, Florida, be and they are hereby authorized, empowered, and directed to execute and deliver on behalf of Lake County a Quit Claim Deed conveying to W. J. Howey Company, a Florida Corporation, such title in the above-described tract of land as is vested in Lake County under said Final Decree.

Clerk Owens read a letter from the State Road Department regarding the budget hearing on Secondary Road Requests in Deland on April 20 for Lake County at 4:00 to 4:30 p.m.  Mr. Owens stated he called Mr. Green of the State Road Department, Deland, and he wants the Primary Road Requests also; WHEREUPON, on a motion by Commr. Cowart, seconded by Commr. Lightfoot and carried, the following resolution was adopted:

STATE OF FLORIDA – COUNTY RESOLUTION ON USE OF 80% SEVENTH CENT GAS TAX AND OTHER SECONDARY ROAD FUNDS – YEAR JULY 1, 1956 through June 30, 1957 COUNTY LAKE

WHEREAS, under Chapter 26.321 of the Extraordinary Session of 1949, known as the “Secondary Road Assistance Act of 1949” and Section 139 of the Florida Highway Code of 1955, the State Road Department will receive 80 percent of the proceeds of this county’s prorate share of the seventh cent gasoline tax to be used as prescribed by regulations of the said Department within this County, as requested by resolution of this Board of County Commissioners and approved by the Department for one or more of the following purposes:  construction, reconstruction, maintenance and repair of state roads and bridges, the lease or purchase of bridges connecting state roads, the acquisition of rights of way for state roads, and the reduction of road and bridge indebtedness; and

WHEREAS, the State Road Department has requested this County Board to recommend the purpose for which and the roads on which this County’s 80 percent surplus gas tax and Federal Aid Secondary allocations should be spent for construction and improvement; and

WHEREAS, the State Road Department requires this information so that it may be considered in the preparation of the Annual Budget of the State Road Department; and

WHEREAS, this Board conferred with the State Road Department concerning the projects to be selected and the specifications with respect thereto,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the State Road Department is hereby requested to use such funds for construction (including rights of way acquisition, surveys, maintenance, etc.) of the following roads in the preference given below:

FIRST:  Complete survey and construct State Road S-565, Job No. 1160-150- State Road 50 west of Groveland to State Road 25, known as Villa City Road.

SECOND:  Survey and construct the following:  Begin on State Road 19 at approximately center of Section 8, Township 16 South, Range 27 East, run northeasterly to Astor Park, Florida.

THIRD:  Survey and furnish right of way map in order that Lake County can secure rights of way as soon as possible on road beginning at Road 437 where State Road 44A intersects said road, run southeasterly to intersect Road 46 at the Northwest corner of Section 30, Township 19 South, Range 29 East.

FOURTH:  Survey and construct the following:  Begin on State Road 500 at the intersection of St. Clair Abrams Avenue in the Town of Tavares, run north on St. Clair Abrams Avenue extended to intersect State Road 19.

FIFTH:  Survey and construct the following:  Begin at the Post Office in Minneola on State Road 561, run northwesterly and westerly around north shore of Lake Minneola to intersect present paved road at approximately the northwest corner of Section 14, Township 22 South, Range 25 East; this will connect with old SR 50.

SIXTH:  Survey and construct the following:  Begin at State Road 25-500 on the line dividing Sections 28 and 33 in Township 18 South, Range 24 East, run east to Lake Griffin.

SEVENTH:  Survey and construct the following:  Begin at State Road 25-500 at the south boundary of Section 15, Township 19 South, Range 24 East, run west to the southwest corner of Section 15, thence south along the East Section line of Section 21 to intersect State Road 44.

EIGHTH:  Survey and construct the following:  Begin at State Road 44 west of Leesburg at Montclair, run north through Fruitland Park to connect with State Road 466A.

NINTH:  Survey and construct the following:  Commence at the intersection of State Road 450 with SR 19 in Umatilla, run east on Ocala Street to East Lake thence southeasterly to connect with State Road 44A, approximately 1.2 miles.

TENTH:  Survey and construct the following:  Begin on State Road 561 at Lake Sheppard, run northerly on clay road to intersect State Road 455.

ELEVENTH:  Survey and construct the following:  Begin at Lake Sheppard on State Road 561, run east on clay road to intersect SR 455 at Ferndale.

TWELFTH:  Survey and construct the following:  Begin on State Road 33 in Okahumpka, run west on SR 470 to Lake County line.

THIRTEENTH:  Survey and construct the following:  Commence at SR 50 in Section 20, Township 22 South, Range 25 East, run South along road known as Monta Vista Road into Section 32 of said Township and Range, thence west to connect with SR 33.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the methods and standards employed by the State Road Department for determination of major improvement features, including the types and widths of pavement and the Department’s standard specifications for construction are concurred in and approved by this Board.  It is requested that the Department will consider the projects in the order listed above insofar as practicable but not to the extent of retarding the whole program; that the termini of the projects as described in the resolution and shown on the accompanying map rather than any estimate of funds therefor shall control the Department’s allocation of funds; that this resolution shall remain in effect throughout the year; and that after the current year the recommendations of this resolution shall constitute a continuing improvement program for the County, unless changed by a subsequent annual resolution.

On a motion by Commr. Simpson, seconded by Commr. Cowart and carried, the following resolution was adopted:

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Lake County, Florida, has been requested by the State Road Department of the State of Florida to designate and request for the budget for the year beginning July 1, 1956 through June 30, 1957, the Primary Roads to be constructed within said County during said period, and

WHEREAS, at a special meeting called for said purpose on April 18, 1956, the County Commissioners in said meeting designated the Primary Roads for construction in Lake County in preferential order;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Lake County, Florida, that the State Road Department of the State of Florida be requested to construct in Lake County, Florida, the following Primary Roads in the following order:

LAKE COUNTY PRIMARY ROADS:

FIRST:  Construct State Road 25 from North City Limits of Fruitland Park north to the Lake County line.

SECOND:  Reconstruct State Road 40 from the Marion County line to St. Johns River.

THIRD:  Survey and construct SR 500 from north Orange County line to the junction of SR 500 and SR 19 at intersection commonly known as Riley’s Park.  (State Road Department traffic count as of January 1, 1955 shows this to be the heaviest traffic count in Lake County.)

FOURTH:  Survey and construct SR 500 from intersection of SR 500 and SR 19 west of Mount Dora at Riley’s Park west through Tavares and on to the east City Limits of the City of Leesburg, Florida.

FIFTH:  Relocate, widen, and rebuild SR 44 from Silver Lake Forks through Eustis to Crows Bluff.  (Your attention is called to a resolution of this Board dated August 1, 1955, which is made a part of this request and attached hereto.)

SIXTH:  Resurface SR 33 from SR 25 at Helena Run to intersection SR 50 at Mascotte.

SEVENTH:  Survey and determine a route for extension of SR 459 from the Town of Groveland to a point intersecting US 301 in the vicinity of Zephyrhills in Pasco County.

EIGHTH:  Four laning of SR 500 (US Highway 441)(North Boulevard) from US Highway 27 in Leesburg east to the east city limits of the City of Leesburg and the construction of a connecting link between this road and SR 44 near the east city limits of the City of Leesburg.

NINTH:  Resurface SR 48 from Okahumpka to the Sumter County line.

TENTH:  Survey a possible route to more traffic through the City of Leesburg from east to south and south to east without having to travel along Main Street to connect SR 25 and SR 500.

ELEVENTH:  Construct SR 19 south city limits of Umatilla north to connect with SR 19 north of Pittman.

TWELFTH:  Four lane SR 25 from Leesburg south to Polk County line.  (For which the State Road Department already has title for a 200-foot right of way).

THIRTEENTH:  Widening SR 44 (East Main Street) in Leesburg from Lake Street east to Junction with US Highway 441 and widening SR 44 (West Main Street) in Leesburg from Ninth Street west to Atlantic Coast Line Railroad.

FOURTEENTH:  Rebuild SR 561 from SR 50 at Clermont southerly to a point intersecting SR 33.

Motion by Commr. Simpson, seconded by Commr. Cowart and carried that Senator Baker be requested to present the County Commissioners’ request for Primary and Secondary Roads for the budget year for the period from July 1, 1956 through June 30, 1957 to the State Road Board in Deland on April 20 at 4:00 o’clock p.m.

Clerk Owens was instructed to contact Mrs. Baker, Supervisor of Registration, and find out when she can have a school of instruction for the Clerks of the Election Boards, then notify the Clerk of each Election Board to come to Tavares for instructions to be carried out in connection with the work of the Clerks and Inspectors on Election Day.

MEETING ADJOURNED.

/s/ Frank E. Owens                                                                  /s/ George Singeltary          

CLERK                                                                                   CHAIRMAN