MINUTES OF called session OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY commissioners
thursday, august 15, 1957
The Board of County Commissioners met in called session in the County Commissioners’ Room in the Courthouse at Tavares on Thursday, August 15, for the purpose of considering the bids submitted on voting machines and such other matters as may be brought before the Board, with the following present: Chairman Cowart; Commissioners Hooten, Simpson, and Cross; Attorney Duncan; and Clerk Owens.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Cowart.
On a motion by Commr. Cross, seconded by Commr. Simpson and carried, the following resolution was adopted:
GEORGE L. SINGELTARY, while serving as a Member of the Board of County Commissioners departed this life on the 9th day of August, 1957. A man of strong character and indomitable will, he served his County ably and well, and he will be greatly missed by the people of Lake County and especially by the Board of County Commissioners.
GEORGE L. SINGELTARY was appointed to the Board of County Commissioners in December, 1938, and attended his first meeting on January 7, 1939. He was continued in the Office of County Commissioner until September 1942. Then he was granted a leave of absence for service in the Military Forces of the United States. He was reelected to the Office of County Commissioner while still in the Service and returned to active duty as a Commissioner in March of 1946. On the 6th day of January, 1953, he was elected Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners and continued in that Office until January 7, 1957. He continued to serve on the Board of County Commissioners until his death.
GEORGE L. SINGELTARY was a man of strong beliefs and great dependability. The Board of County Commissioners of Lake County, Florida, will miss his service and take this method of expressing their regret at his passing.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Lake County, Florida, that the regret and sorrow of the passing of George L. Singeltary be expressed and recorded in the Minutes of the Board of County Commissioners; that our sympathy be extended to his Widow, Mary Ella Singeltary, and to his two children, Mary Elizabeth Singeltary and George Richard Singeltary.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Board of County Commissioners and that a copy be forwarded to the Widow, Mary Ella Singeltary.
Clerk Owens gave to each Commissioner a copy of the new Plat Law.
Clerk Owens filed a copy of the State Road Department budget for the fiscal year July 1, 1957 – June 30, 1958.
Clerk Owens filed a copy of a bill increasing the salary of the Supervisor of Registration.
Clerk Owens advised the Board a copy of the bill increasing the salary of the County Commissioners has been received. This bill became effective as of July 1st; therefore, a check will be given each Commissioner in September for the increase for July and August.
Clerk Owens advised the Board the time deposit on the General Fund in the Bank of Tavares has been renewed at the rate of 2 percent.
Clerk Owens advised the Board that the Board of Public Instruction has requested to make some changes in its office, and he called the commissioners, and they have agreed for the changes to be made.
Mr. Duncan stated the Board gave him authority to select a right of way agent on a per diem basis and travel expense, and now he requests that the Board designate two or more as right of way agents to secure right of way deeds that he may call upon for services as required on a per diem and mileage basis; WHEREUPON, on a motion by Commr. Hooten, seconded by Commr. Simpson and carried, the following named persons were designated right of way agents, subject to call by Mr. Duncan on a per diem basis of $25 and mileage basis of 10 cents per mile and that they be required to submit a report of mileage to Mr. Duncan, Attorney for the Board: J. Ed Baker, Herman T. Dykes, and Ralph K. Jones.
Commr. Hooten stated he wishes to eliminate form the Secondary Road Request dated March 12, 1957 Request Number 10 and substitute there for a different road; WHEREUPON, on a motion by Commr. Hooten, seconded by Commr. Cross and carried, the following resolution was adopted:
WHEREAS, there appears in the Budget of the State Road Department under Secondary Roads for Lake County, Florida, Section 1166, being a Road running from Sheppard Lake North along the present County Road to intersect State Road 445, and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners has determined that the Road hereinafter described should now be paved, because there is a great present necessity for the Road hereinafter described in lieu of Section 1166 above set forth.
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 substitute in the 1957-1958 Annual Budget under Secondary Roads for Lake County, Florida, in lieu of Section 1166, the following Road:
Commence at State Road No. 488 at a point where the County Road intersects said State Road just north of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad Depot in Lake Jem, Florida, and run thence south approximately two miles.
Commr. Hooten appointed the following named persons as appraisers to appraise the values of the property on the road around Lake Minneola: D. A. Gaines, Clermont; O. H. Keene, Clermont; and Hamp Walker, Minneola. Clerk Owens was instructed to notify the appraisers.
Chairman Cowart brought to the attention of the Board that the County owns some land north of the city limits of Astatula between the hard road and the railroad, which he thinks would be suitable for a County Home and asked that the Board go with him to look at the land. No action was taken on this.
Mr. Duncan read a letter from the Tavares Chamber of Commerce regarding establishment of a Road Side Park on Road 441 west of Dora Canal and stated this should come out of secondary road funds and not from County maintenance road funds, and should be requested in the budget next year; WHEREUPON, Mr. Duncan was instructed to request the State Road Department to include in next year’s budget the Road Side Park on Road 441 west of the Dora Canal.
Commr. Simpson filed a check in the amount of $2,000 from the City of Mount Dora to apply on the purchase of oil for paving a border street between the County and the City of Mount Dora, said check ordered deposited to the credit of District 4 in the R/B fund.
Clerk Owens read letters from 26 counties in Florida in reply to an inquiry as to whether or not Voting Machines are being used.
Clerk Owens read the bids on Voting Machines from the Shoup Voting Machine Corp., Jacksonville, and the Automatic Voting Machine Corporation of Jamestown, New York.
On a motion by Commr. Hooten, seconded by Commr. Simpson and carried, the Board of County Commissioners accepted the bid of the Shoup Voting Machine Corporation on a five-year basis to furnish Lake County, Florida, fifty electrically operated voting machines, combination electric and manual, F.O.B. Tavares, Florida, for $1,879.12 per machine; the down payment will be ten days after delivery of the machines at $349.60 per machine and four consecutive yearly payments thereafter at $382.38 per machine, delivery when requested. Voting is by Districts on a combination of electric and manual. District No. 1 is not represented. Districts 2, 3, and 4 voted YES; and District No. 5 voted NO.
Clerk Owens reported to the Board that the State Comptroller has approved the budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 1957 and ending September 30, 1958 as adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on July 26, 1957, fixing the millages as follows:
FUND MILLAGE
GENERAL 7.5
FINE & FORFEITURE 1.7
ROAD & BRIDGE 2.5
SOUTH LAKE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 1.0 (Special District)
BOND INTEREST & SINKING A&B
(Courthouse Bonds) .2
COUNTY HEALTH UNIT .9
WATER CONSERVATION 1.25
Clerk Owens filed the budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 1957 and ending September 30, 1958 which said budget is copied in and made a part of these minutes as follows:
(SEE MINUTE BOOK 17, PAGES 69 – 73)
MEETING ADJOURNED.
/s/ Frank E. Owens /s/ J. C. Cowart
CLERK CHAIRMAN