MINUTES OF THE CALLED MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY commissioners

 WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 11, 1957

 

The Board of County Commissioners met in called session in the County Commissioners’ Room in the Courthouse at Tavares on Wednesday, September 11, for the purpose of meeting with the Lake-Sumter Bar Association’s Committee re:  furnishing of the Circuit Court Judge’s Chambers and such other matters as may be brought before the Board, with the following present:  Chairman Cowart; Commissioners Theus, Hooten, Simpson, and Cross; Attorney Duncan; and Clerk Owens.

Board called to order by Chairman Cowart.

Commr. Theus presented to the Board his Commission dated September 5, 1957 for the period to the First Tuesday after the First Monday in January 1959.

Clerk Owens read a letter from Judge Carroll W. Fussell, one of the Circuit Judges of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, re:  payment of Lake County’s share of his secretary’s salary.

Clerk Owens reported that at the last meeting he submitted two bids for less than one thousand dollars for supplies for his office, and the Board instructed him to get bids from local firms, and the only one submitting a bid was W. J. Rumley at $1,105.29, which was higher than Bowen Supply Company; therefore, he notified Bowen Supply Company to deliver the items.

Mr. Duncan explained the Resolution pertaining to the disposal of spoil from the Dora Canal, WHEREUPON, on motion of Commr. Theus seconded by Commr. Hooten and carried, the following Resolution was adopted:

WHEREAS, the Oklawaha Basin Recreation and Water Conservation and Control Authority in Lake County, Florida, has entered into a Contract with Joe Priest, Inc., for the purpose of deepening and clearing out the channel of the “Dora Canal;” and

WHEREAS, Lake County owns strips of land bordering the Dora Canal reserved for park purposes, and it will be necessary in the excavation of the channel to distribute the spoils, consisting of sand, muck, clay, silt, and other deposits to areas nearby; and

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Lake County, Florida, favor the improvement of the channel of said canal as planned by said Oklawaha Basin Water Authority and is agreeable to the disposition of said spoils on the property of Lake County, provided the same are distributed in a sightly manner.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Lake County, Florida, that the Oklawaha Basin Recreation and Water Conservation and Control Authority of Lake County, and its agents and employees, are hereby authorized and permitted to dispose of the overburden or spoils from the channel of the Dora Canal, in accordance with the plans and maps submitted by said Oklawaha Basin Authority, upon the properties of Lake County bordering the Dora Canal, provided such overburden is pumped into the wooded area in such a way as to spread over the same, and not create any unsightly mounds, and also in such a way that such spoils will not endanger the growth of cypress trees on said property.  And also provided that any snags or logs removed from the channel of said canal may be placed upon the property of Lake County, in such a manner as to not injure the growth of any of the trees therein, and not be unsightly from the channel of the Dora Canal.

UPON the acceptance of and as a part of the consideration for, this Resolution, the Oklawaha Basin Authority agrees, in the event of any violation of the provisions above set forth, that the said Authority will remedy the same at its expense, to the satisfaction of the Board of County Commissioners of Lake County.

P. C. Gorman, R. P. Hamlin, C. Harold Hippler and T. C. Cork, Members of the Special Committee of the Lake-Sumter Bar Association, appeared before the Board and recommended in writing that the Board consider the purchase, upon such terms and conditions as you may prescribe, furniture for the respective offices of the resident Judge of our Circuit Court for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, and the office of his secretary.  The Committee filed a list of requested items.  Mr. Hamlin stated Walter Warren, Chairman of the Committee has been called out of the State and asked that he attend the meeting in his place and give such information as we now have available.  A great deal of work has been done and is complete.  The expense incurred will be presented by Mr. Gorman and I submit herewith recommendations of the majority of the Committee in reference to the furniture to be purchased by the Board.

Mr. Gorman congratulated Mr. Theus, the new Commissioner.  Mr. Gorman stated the Committee has checked the bill of South Lake Construction Company in the amount of $668.55 and recommends that it be paid.  The bill of Brantley Electric Company in the amount of $565.10 covering the electric work in the Judge’s office was presented, and Mr. Gorman stated we have seen the rug and it is proper as we see it.  The total of the three bills is $2,178.65.  Rainbow Decorators’ bill for the drapes in Judge Futch’s office amounts to $287.59 – work has to be completed by September 21.  Mr. Gorman stated the furniture is not Judge’s selection as he had nothing to do with it – it is not the highest priced nor the cheapest.  The Committee recommends that the Board advertise for bids for the purchase of the furniture for the Judge’s office and the Secretary’s office, WHEREUPON, on motion of Commr. Theus seconded by Commr. Simpson and carried, the Clerk was instructed to advertise in the Leesburg Daily Commercial for bids on the furniture as recommended by the Committee for the Judge’s office and Secretary’s office.  Bids to be received on September 27^th.

Motion by Commr. Theus seconded by Commr. Cross and carried that the bill of Brantley Electric Company in the amount of $565.10 covering the electric work in Judge Futch’s office be paid.

Motion by Commr. Theus seconded by Commr. Cross and carried, that the bill of Brantley Electric Company in the amount of $565.10 covering the electric work in Judge Futch’s office be paid.

Motion by Commr. Theus seconded by Commr. Simpson and carried that the Lake-Sumter Bar Association’s Committee be authorized to purchase drapes from Rainbow Decorators for Judge Futch’s office.  (Estimated price $287.59)

Motion by Commr. Hooten seconded by Commr. Cross and carried that the bill of Paul F. Mueller & Son in the amount of $945.00 for the rug installed in Judge Futch’s Office be accepted and paid.

Motion by Commr. Cross seconded by Commr. Simpson and carried that the bill of South Lake Construction Company in the amount of $558.55 for work done in the Circuit Court Judge’s office be accepted and paid.

Mr. Williams and a delegation representing the Citizen’s Advisory Committee of the Juvenile Court appeared before the Board and asked the Board again to reconsider the Juvenile budget and presented to each Commissioner a letter of recommendation for the breakdown of the budget as follows:

SALARIES                                                                                                                  AUTO & TRAVEL EXPENSE

            Chief Counselor                                 $5,000.00                    $1,500.00

            Asst. Counselor for Girls                     4,500.00                    $1,000.00

            Asst. Counselor                                    4,000.00                    $1,000.00

            Clerk Secretary                                     3,000.00

            Judge of the Juvenile Court                 1,800.00

 

OFFICE EQUIPMENT

               Desk, chairs, file cabinets                               

            Miscellaneous Expense                        1,000.00

 

DETENTION HOME OR CHILD SHELTER

               Including salaries for supervision,

              Food and Maintenance                     10,000.00

 

            EMERGENCIES                                   1,200.00                                Total $34,000.00

 

Motion by Commr. Hooten seconded by Commr. Theus that the Board amend the Juvenile Budget as set up and adopt the budget recommended here as it has no effect on the overall budget.

Vote by Districts was as follows:  District #1-yes; District #2-yes; District #3-yes; District #4-yes; District #5-yes.

Therefore the motion was carried unanimously.

Mr. Karl Lehmann stated the National Probation and Parole Association has been invited to Lake County to make a survey of the Juvenile problems and the cost of the survey will be $1500.00 - $750.00 to be paid by Lake County and $750.00 to be paid by the funds of National Probation and Parole Association.  Mr. Lehmann read a letter from the National Probation and Parole Association asking to meet with the Committee on September 30.  Letter filed.

Mrs. Hinebaugh, Secretary of the Advisory Committee, read a bulletin of information on the functions of an Advisory Committee.

Mr. Gorman returned to the Board and stated in considering the report on the furniture for the Judge’s office the Committee finds will need 4 panels and supports instead of two and the cost will be $232.00, therefore he corrected the report.

EASEMENT ALONG DORA CANAL:  Mr. Duncan stated the County has 220 feet on each side of the canal from the center of the canal.  Mr. Daughtery stated he would be glad to give 220 feet for easement if the Authority needs that much, but thinks 100 to 150 feet on either side from the center of the canal is all that is needed.  Mr. Duncan stated he is preparing easements and wants to know if the Board will accept 150 feet instead of 220 feet easements.  Commr. Theus thinks should request 220 feet, or at least 170 feet, WHEREUPON, on motion of Commr. Theus seconded by Commr. Hooten and carried, the Board agreed to accept 170 feet for easements from the center of the Dora Canal on either side.

After discussion as to whether or not the Committee appointed by the Board on April 15, 1957 to make a study of the inadequacy of the various phases of the Juvenile Court and make recommendations to the Board has been dissolved, Clerk Owens advised that the Committee has not been dissolved, but one member has moved away – Rev. Tatum from District #1.  Therefore, Commr. Theus appointed Mr. C. D. Briscoe of Fruitland Park to fill this vacancy – making the Committee now as follows:

District No. 1 – C. E. Briscoe            Fruitland Park

District No. 2 – L. Day Edge                          Groveland

District No. 3 – W. F. Williams                     Clermont

District No. 4 – John W. McCormick            Mount Dora

District No. 5 – Joe Kennedy                         Eustis

Commr. Theus appointed appraisers to appraise the value of the land to be taken on the Leesburg By-Pass, Section 1164-150, extending from State Road 44 near West city limits of Leesburg, northerly and easterly to State Road 25 near the North city limits of Leesburg as follows:  Ransford A. Potter, Leesburg; Frank H. McGill, Leesburg, W. B. Gibson, Lady Lake.

Mr. Larrabee appeared before the Board re the Board approving the Plat of Hilltop No. 3 comprised of sheets one and two, WHEREUPON, on motion of Commr. Cross seconded by Commr. Simpson, the Plat of Hilltop No. 3 comprised of sheets one and two was approved, subject to filing of opinion showing clear title and letter from Health Department.  (Larrabee to bring this letter.)

Motion by Commr. Cross seconded by Commr. Simpson and carried that the Clerk be instructed to notify Reuben Hatcher, janitor of the courthouse, that the next time there is a public meeting in the courtroom that he is to have someone present to direct the seating of the crowd.

Commr. Cross reported he went to Tallahassee with Ed Heitling, Welborn Daniel, and Judge Hall to confer with Governor Collins Thursday regarding allocation of state funds for elimination of shad in Lake Apopka.

Motion by Commr. Cross seconded by Commr. Simpson and carried, that the following Vouchers be approved for payment:  GENERAL FUND #1493-4-5.

MEETING ADJOURNED.

 

/s/ Frank E. Owens                                                                 /s/ J. C. Cowart

CLERK                                                                                   CHAIRMAN