MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY commissioners
MONDAY, may 13, 1957
The Board of County Commissioners met in special session in the County Commissioners’ Room in the Courthouse at Tavares on Monday, May 13, 1957, at ten o’clock a.m. for the purpose of receiving bids on material for the County barn at Minneola and such other matters as may be brought before the Board, with the following present: Chairman Cowart; Commissioners Singeltary, Hooten, Simpson and Cross, also Clerk Owens. Board called to order by Chairman Cowart.
Motion by Commr. Singeltary seconded by Commr. Simpson and carried that the Clerk be authorized to advertise in the Tavares Citizen for the purchase of two (2) 2-ton trucks for District no. 2. (trade in two Chevrolet trucks)
Motion by Commr. Hooten seconded by Commr. Singeltary and carried that the Clerk be authorized to advertise in the Clermont Press for the purchase of a #212 caterpillar grader, or equal, for District No. 3, with trade in of a 1938 caterpillar and a Huber maintainer.
NOTICE HAVING BEEN ADVERTISED FOR THE PURCHASE OF MATERIAL FOR THE COUNTY BARN AT MINNEOLA, the following bids were received:
Groveland Welding Company – Groveland
For steel and roofing 29 gage total price $1,584.65
Wolfe & Konsler – Clermont
For steel and 28 gage roofing total price 1,796.70
Walker-Jenson – Clermont
For steel, 28 gage roofing and windows
And doors total price 3,126.46
Motion by Commr. Hooten seconded by Commr. Cross and carried that the bid of Walker-Jenson Welding & Repairs to furnish Lake County material as advertised for use in building the County barn at Minneola, in the amount of $3,126.46 be accepted.
Motion by Commr. Singeltary seconded by Commr. Cross and carried that the Partial Replat of Unit C Carltons Village for return to acreage be approved.
Clerk Owens read a letter from Lake County Health Department re West Shore Plat re: characteristics of the soil and stating location is apparently OK. Policy #5879 of Title & Trust Company of Florida was presented to the Board. Clerk Owens advised that Atty. Duncan has approved the Plat, therefore, it should be dated today as motion was made on May 6th to approve same on approval of Attorney Duncan.
Commr. Simpson filed State of Florida warrant #0937961 in the amount of $60.00 made payable to Joshua Samuel Davis – old age assistance – to reimburse Lake County for burial expense of Davis. Said check to be deposited in general fund credit of D-4.
Letter from Florida Industrial Commission Workmen’s Compensation Division to Alan G. Grant, Deputy Commissioner, Orlando, reclaim of Charlie Suggs vs. Lake County Commissioners was read and filed.
Clerk Owens presented the following prices on water cooler for the Home Demonstration Building. Said prices were given him by Mrs. Valentine, Agent.
Tamsett Plumbing and Electric, Tavares $248.00
Dunstan & Son Plumbing Company, Leesburg 180.00
Hood Plumbing Company, Leesburg 188.50
Clerk Owens stated that Dr. Hall advised he will see if he can get a water cooler from war surplus items at Blanding.
Mr. Francis Emerson, Architect, appeared before the Board and gave a report on the bids for Air Conditioning and Heating the Home Demonstration Building, and stated that the bid of Dunnagan Sheet Metal Works, Leesburg, is the lowest bid, and therefore he recommended that this bid be accepted, WHEREUPON, on motion of Commr. Hooten seconded by Commr. Cross and carried, the bid of Dunnagan Sheet Metal Works for Air Conditioning and Heating the Home Demonstration building – furnishing labor and material to do the heating and air conditioning in accordance with the plans and specifications as recommended by Mr. Francis H. Emerson, Architect, Eustis, Florida, for a total net price of $4,125.00 was accepted.
Mr. Emerson filed with the Board the bids of Jess Dooley; Horst Roofing & Sheet Metal, Temperature Engineering Corp. and Dunnagan Sheet Metal Works.
Mrs. Haley, State Welfare Worker for this District and Mrs. Sudderth, County Welfare Worker, appeared before the Board, at the request of Commr. Singeltary, to give a report of their program of work. Mrs. Haley, State Welfare Worker for this District, and Mrs. Sudderth, County Welfare Worker, appeared before the Board at the request of Commr. Singeltary, to give a report of their program of work. Mrs. Haley stated her work is with dependent children and unmarried mothers but not a licensed adoption agency. She stated they have never turned down an unmarried mother for lack of funds. The District is allocated a certain amount and can borrow from other Units if they run out of funds. Commr. Cross asked Mrs. Haley, if, in her opinion, the County needs a parental home. She stated the State Welfare Board is not in a position to know this. They prefer a Foster Home. Mrs. Haley stated there is one licensed Foster Home in Lake County. Teenagers are hard to place in Foster Homes. At the suggestion of Mrs. Hinebaugh, a visitor, Mrs. Alexander was called into the meeting. Clerk Owens read the law Chapter 39.02 – jurisdiction of Juvenile Court – and a discussion on this matter followed. Mrs. Alexander thinks the County needs a home to place the delinquent children. Emmett Peters, reporter from Leesburg, stated he has recently purchased the Cooper Nursing Home in Fruitland Park and converted it into 2 apartments and thinks this would be ideal for a Juvenile Home. He offered this property for the amount paid - $15,300.00, or a nominal rent of $135 per month. No action was taken on this suggestion. Clerk Owens read the law on qualification of Juvenile Counselor. Commr. Singeltary thanked Mrs. Haley and Mrs. Sudderth for coming to the meeting.
After dinner the matter of hiring a secretary of the Juvenile Court office was discussed. Clerk Owens again read the recommendations of the Fact Finding Committee. Judge Hall was requested to appear before the Board and was asked if out of his office fees he would be able to pay for hiring a secretary for the Juvenile Court and he stated that the law states the County Commissioners shall set the budget for the Juvenile Court. So, if the Board can, go ahead and do so, if you cannot, say so. The Board asked if the need is sufficient to warrant an increase at this time – or can you wait until another budget is made. Rev. Tatum stated he thinks an emergency situation does exist and they need another counselor in the field. Judge Hall stated if the Board can give us clerical help and an extra counselor, it certainly will be appreciated. WHEREUPON, on motion by Commr. Cross seconded by Commr. Simpson and carried, the Juvenile Court was authorized to employ a full time secretary at the price of $200.00 per month and Mrs. Alexander was allowed $75.00 per month for mileage as Counselor. Each expenditure to commence as of June 1, 1957. Rev. Tatum thanked the Board for the courtesies shown the Committee and for what it is doing for the Juvenile Court.
Motion by Commr. Hooten seconded by Commr. Cross and carried, that the following Resolution be adopted:
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF LAKE COUNTY that the Clerk be authorized to transfer from the Contingency Item in the Fine & Forfeiture Fund to Account #311 – Juvenile Court – the sum of Eleven Hundred Dollars ($1100.00), of which $800.00 is to be used for 4 months’ salary for a secretary to the Juvenile Court and $300.00 to defray the expense of mileage for 4 months for Mrs. Alexander, Juvenile Counselor.
Motion by Commr. Cross seconded by Commr. Hooten and carried that Cliff Collins be appointed as appraiser, in place of Chas. Z. Osborne, who is unable to serve, on Road S-445, Job No. 1161-250 from State Road northeasterly to Astor Park, known as the old Astor Park Railroad grade.
MEETING ADJOURNED.
/s/ Frank E. Owens /s/ J. C. Cowart
CLERK CHAIRMAN