MINUTES OF adjourned MEETING OF BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

 thursday - july 20, 1961

The Board of County Commissioners met in adjourned session in the County Commissioners room in the Courthouse at Tavares on Thursday, July 20, 1961 at ten o’clock a.m., with the following present:  Commissioners Babb, Dykes, and Simpson; Attorney Duncan; and Clerk Owens.

The Board was called to order by Acting Chairman O. M. Simpson.

mile post 782 between tavares and dead river to mile post 781

Attorney Duncan presented an Agreement between the Seaboard Air Line Railroad Company and the Board of County Commissioners, Lake County, relative to relocation of the road crossing from a point 924 feet west of Mile Post 782 between Tavares and Dead River to Mile Post 781 plus 4,095 feet and stated it was ready for execution upon action of the Board.  WHEREUPON, on a motion by Commr. Dykes, seconded by Commr. Babb and carried, the following resolution was adopted:

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Lake County, Florida, has made application to the Seaboard Railroad for the establishment of a public highway or a street near Tavares, Lake County, Florida, crossing at grade, the property and track of the Railroad, the center line of which is to be located 4,095 feet southeastwardly from the Railroad’s Mile Post 781, as shown outlined in red on the copy of the Railroad’s Division Engineer’s drawing No. 3194 dated May 23, 1961, and

WHEREAS, said Railroad has granted unto Lake County the privilege of constructing the said highway, at grade, over and across the rights of way and tracks of the Railroad, as aforesaid.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS that the Vice Chairman and Clerk be authorized to execute the agreement between the Seaboard Air Line Railroad Company, a corporation of Virginia, and the Board of County Commissioners of Lake County, Florida, for the establishment of a public highway or street, the center line of which is to be located 4,095 feet southeastwardly from Railroad’s Mile Post 781, near Tavares, Lake County, Florida.

On a motion by Commr. Dykes, seconded by Commr. Babb and carried, Clerk Owens was instructed to notify Mr. George W. Dautherty to deposit with him a check in the amount of $500 as security for paying the actual cost of the crossing when the bill is presented.

county furnishing water from agricultural center to lake co. farm bureau

Commr. Dykes stated the Lake County Farm Bureau has previously asked the Board to furnish water from the Agricultural Center’s well to its new building across the highway, and we were still hoping this could be done.  However, Clerk Owens advised him there was not an ample supply of water at the present time due to the pump being inadequate to pump water in large quantities; WHEREUPON, Commr. Dykes was instructed to contact A. D. Rosier to determine what type of pump was necessary to take care of the water supply and get the prices on same.

agricultural center furnishing and equipment

Robert Ford, architect, appeared before the Board and presented recommendations re the bids previously received.  He was instructed to return the bids to Clerk Owens and was informed that the bids could not be accepted at this time.  WHEREUPON, on a motion by Commr. Dykes, seconded by Commr. Babb and carried, Clerk Owens was instructed to notify the bidders on furnishings and equipment for the Agricultural Center that the Board cannot accept bids at this time due to insufficient funds and that all bids with Cashier’s checks or Security Bonds be returned to the bidders.

lights for marsh memorial park

Motion by Commr. Babb, seconded by Commr. Dykes and carried that lights be installed in Marsh Memorial Park and paid for by Lake County.

revaluation

On a motion by Commr. Dykes, seconded by Commr. Babb and carried, action on the revaluation was postponed until Commissioner Cowart is present.

R. G. Cassady, Tax Assessor, appeared before the Board and stated he plans to base the 1961 tax assessment roll on the new property revaluation figures as complied by Hunnicutt & Associates, Inc. but would change some of the policies used by this firm to determine new property values.  He stated it is his responsibility to prepare the tax roll, and he planned to exercise his authority.  He said he realized that some of the increases in property values have been excessive, and some inequities have resulted in the reappraisal, but it is his intention to correct these errors.  He made specific reference to grove areas and development property, stating groves will not be considered as such until they are bearing or about five years old.  Also, he would disregard lakefront and highway frontage in grove assessments and pointed out that the graduated scale on groves used by Hunnicutt, $400 to $2,800, would be discontinued, and he would change it to the Polk County formula of $300 to $2,400 an acre.  As far as development property was concerned, he planned to assess on the basis of present land use and not on anticipated use.

Clerk Owens presented and filed the Resolution signed by Dr. and Mrs. L. M. McKinlay and eight others from Howey-in-the-Hills complimenting the Board for the new revaluation of property in Lake County.

 

MEETING ADJOURNED until 9:00 a.m. Monday, July 24, 1961.

 

/s/ Frank E. Owens___                                                           /s/ O. M. Simpson__

CLERK                                                                                   ACTING CHAIRMAN