MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS on

 MONDAY – august 3, 1964

The Board of County Commissioners met in regular session in the in the Courthouse in Tavares on Monday, August 3, 1964, at 9:00 o’clock A.M. with the following present:

Chairman Babb, Commrs. Theus, Cowart, Dykes and Livingston; Attorney Duncan, Deputy Clerk Owens and the Secretary.

The meeting was called to order by the Chairman and the invocation was given by Mr. Theus.

minutes

On motion of Commr. Theus, seconded by Commr. Cowart and carried, minutes of the regular meetings of July 6 and July 13 and minutes of special meetings of July 20 and 27 were approved.

equalization board

Complaints were heard from the following:

1.         T. C. Hanson appeared and complained that the Tax Assessor is not present with his records; therefore the meeting is not legal.  Chairman Babb advised Mr. Hanson the Tax Assessor has been requested to be present. Mr. Cassady, Tax Assessor, appeared and Mr. Hanson conceded that the records were available if needed.

2.         Mrs. Joel V. Erickson of Eustis appeared and complained that her taxes have been increased 1000 percent. She presented receipts for 1960 and 1961 taxes.

3.         P. L. Mellenbruch of Leesburg appeared and complained that his assessment was raised $1,000 this year, making the assessment $2,000 higher than the actual cost of the property.

4.         Oscar E. Schubert appeared and complained that the assessment is too high on 39-1/2 acres of frozen grove in Astatula.

5.         Arthur E. Roberts, Attorney from Groveland, appeared representing 50-27 Plaza, Inc.  Stated the taxes on this property are unconstitutional as the method of assessment is not in accordance with the Florida Statutes – income of owners not considered.

6.         T. C. Hanson again appeared and stated the assessments in Lady Lake are not realistic and he wants to know why his assessment was increased as 2 acres of his property is wooded.

7.         Harold C. Schaefer appeared and objected to increase in millage for 1964-65 year. Chairman Babb advised him that according to the newspaper the School Board has increased their millage, but the Board of County Commissioners’ millage was increased only .025.

            Mr. Hanson requested that a special committee from the Board of County Commissioners be appointed to meet with the Board of Public Instruction to go over the budget and determine if any emergency exists since the increase exceeds 10 percent with the School board budget.  Chairman Babb advised that we will have such a meeting if the law requires it.

8.         Mrs. George L. Gallman, Jr. of Tavares appeared and complained that the assessment on her property is too high since a carport was added in 1963.

9.         Ruth Smith of Mount Dora appeared and complained that the assessment on her house is too high.

10.       Letter from H. G. Hanson with reference to assessment on his property located at 1121 Westland Road, Mount Dora, was held for further consideration.

All complaining parties were advised that all complaints will be considered this afternoon in the Tax Assessor’s office.

bids

It now being the time advertised to receive bids on furnishings for the Courthouse, the Chairman directed the Architect to open and tabulate the bids.  (See bids on file in the Clerk’s Office.)  On motion of Commr. Dykes, seconded by Commr. Livingston and carried, the bids were referred to the Architect for further study and recommendation to the Board.

bids

It now being the time advertised to receive bids on asphalt, the Chairman directed the Engineer to open and tabulate the following bids:

                                                            Type I              Type II                        Cold Mix

Orlando Paving Company                  9.90                 9.00                 9.00

Basic Asphalt Corp.                            8.40                 8.25                 8.25

Macasphalt Corp.                                7.25                 7.00                 7.25

On motion of Commr. Dykes, seconded by Commr. Cowart and carried, the low bid of Macasphalt Corp. was accepted.

bids

Attorney Duncan presented letter from the City of Clermont stating they are willing to join with the County in advertising for bids for resurfacing Minnehaha Lake Shore Drive and also that they are willing to pay their share of the cost.  Attorney Duncan advised that bids for this work will be opened at a special meeting of the Board on August 17th at 9 A.M.

state agencies

Attorney Duncan submitted letter from the Game & Fresh Water Fish Commission advising that trout lines are legal in Lakes Dora, Beauclair and Carlton under the present regulations.

Letter from Oscar E. Schubert, Attorney, regarding this subject was submitted and the Clerk was instructed to send Mr. Schubert a copy of the letter from the Game & Fresh Water Fish commission and also advise him that the Board did not pass the resolution referred to in his letter.

deeds

Motion by Commr. Dykes, seconded by Commr. Theus and carried, resolution was adopted authorizing execution of quit claim deed to the City of Clermont on the following property:

            Lots 13 to 16 inclusive in Block 82, City of Clermont

road closings

Attorney Duncan advised Edwin R. Waite and wife of Mount Dora wish to close certain streets in Mount Dora.  Commr. Livingston requested that action on this be deferred until he and the Engineer can view the property in question.

public health

Letter from Mr. Huffstutler, State Board of Health, was submitted to the Board advising that his statement that Minute Maid had been instructed not to start operation for the coming citrus season unless adequate water treatment facilities were provided was in error.  On motion of Commr. Theus, seconded by Commr. Dykes and carried, the Attorney was instructed to write to the State Board of Health requesting that they pursue this matter with Minute Maid and the City of Leesburg as to what their intentions are to alleviate this problem.

condemnation proceedings

Motion by Commr. Dykes, seconded by Commr. Cowart and carried, the Attorney was authorized to forward statements from Don Driggers and Arthur George to the State Road Department for payment – appraisal services on Section 11200-2503, SR 25.

county depository

Motion by Commr. Dykes, seconded by Commr. Cowart and carried, the Bank of Tavares was designated as depository for capital Outlay Reserve Fund – County Home and the clerk was instructed to so advise the Tax Collector.

Zoning

Letter from the Governor advising that Mr. Emil Yde of Leesburg had been appointed a member of the Board of Zoning Appeals was read and filed.

courthouse

On motion of Commr. Dykes, seconded by Commr. Livingston and carried, the Board authorized that the Courthouse be locked at six o’clock P.M. on week days and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, and that the courthouse officials and proper personnel be allowed a key to the center front door of the building.

Mr. Hopson returned and stated that in error he had failed to advertise for public seating in the Commissioners’ Room and it will be necessary to advertise for this item along with landscaping and irrigation system for the grounds.  Mr. Hopson was authorized to advertise for the above items at the first meeting in September.

meetings

The members of the Board concurring, the Chairman announced the first regular meeting in September will be held on Tuesday, the 8th, as Monday is Labor Day.

inventory

Request from the Clermont Junior Women’s Club for used electric water cooler was read and the Clerk was instructed to advise them that we have no water coolers available as they have all been removed by the contractor.

recess and reassembly

The Board recessed for lunch at noon and reconvened at 2:00 o’clock P.M. to take up the remaining items of business.

planning & zoning

On recommendation of the Zoning Commission and on motion by Commr. Livingston, seconded by Commr. Dykes and carried, the Board agreed for Robert Doyle of the E. Central Regional Planning Council to review the contract when same is presented by Adley Associates and authorization was made for Mr. Doyle to serve in an advisory capacity with the planning consultant.

On motion of Commr. Theus, seconded by Commr. Livingston and carried, the Board established the policy that refunds on unused building permits be made after ninety (90) days and on written request from the Zoning Director.

On recommendation of the Zoning Director and on motion of Commr. Livingston, seconded by Commr. Cowart and carried, the title for the Zoning Department will be Planning, Zoning and Building Department.

bonds – official

On motion of Commr. Theus, seconded by Commr. Livingston and carried, bond for James R. Carson, Jr., as a member of the Board of the Oklawaha Basin Recreation and Water Conservation and Control Authority was approved.

Audits

Report No. 5949 audit of the records of the Board of County Commissioners and Oklawaha Water Authority as of September 30, 1964 was submitted to the Board and filed.

budget

Copy of the State Road Department’s Budget and Program of Work for 1964-65 was distributed to the members and copy filed.

deeds

Old deeds which have never been recorded were referred to the Attorney to have search made by the Abstract Company to determine if same should be recorded.

county property

Motion by Commr. Dykes, seconded by Commr. Cowart and carried, the Clerk was instructed to request the Tax Assessor to furnish the Board a list of county owned property.

resolution not classified elsewhere

On motion of Commr. Livingston, seconded by Commr. Dykes and carried, a resolution was adopted regarding the recent decision of the U. S. Supreme Court which would serve to limit the rights of the states, and the Clerk was instructed to send copy of same to all Congressmen from the State of Florida.

roads – state

The clerk submitted a letter from the State Road Department regarding speed zone study of SR 40 through Astor advising that their study revealed there were no accidents on this particular section of road during the year 1963 and the lack of enforcement of the speed limit rather than the designated speed limit which necessitated this study and the speed zones were to remain.

applications

Application from Mosely Collins for the position of County Engineer was read and filed.

permits - use

Engineer Hays filed the following use permits:

Lake County Permit No. 25 to Florida Telephone Corp. for construction and maintenance of buried cable along County Road #2-2119 between SR 19 and SR 565.

To Sumter Electric Coop. for the construction and maintenance of power line between Umatilla and Pittman along County Road #5-7977.

To Sumter Electric Coop. for the construction and maintenance of power line between Ferndale and Clermont along County Road #3-2153.

permits – dredging

On motion of Commr. Livingston, seconded by Commr. Dykes and carried, dredging permit was approved for Dr. Charles E. Petteys by Joe Andrews.

hospitals

On motion of Commr. Theus, seconded by Commr. Livingston and carried, the action of the Chairman and Clerk in approving petition of J. B. Dixon for admission to Southwest Florida Tuberculosis Hospital was approved.

courthouse

At the request of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, the Clerk was instructed to notify the Courthouse custodian to clean the flag pole base in front of the Courthouse.

accounts allowed

Motion by Commr. Theus, seconded by Commr. Dykes and carried, purchase of Gravely mower from Rogers Automotive Service in the amount of $465.00 was approved.

On motion of Commr. Theus, seconded by Commr. Livingston and carried, the Board members, County Engineer, Zoning Director and County Attorney were authorized to attend annual County Commissioners’ Convention in Clearwater September 13th – 16th.

On motion of Commr. Dykes, seconded by Commr. Livingston and carried, the Engineer was authorized to take two weeks vacation beginning August 17th.

On motion of Commr. Dykes, seconded by Commr. Theus and carried, bill from Simons Office Equipment in the amount of $10,440.16 for Courtroom furniture was approved for payment.

On motion of Commr. Cowart, seconded by Commr. Theus and carried, quotation from Southern Printing Company in the amount of $542.45 for 2500 Smead Case Binders was approved.

On motion of Commr. Livingston, seconded by Commr. Theus and carried, payrolls for the month of July were approved.

accounts refused

Action was deferred on quotation from Orkin Exterminating Company, Inc. for monthly pest control service on the Courthouse building.

communications

Letter from the Board of Public Instruction expressing appreciation to the Board for their efforts in helping to provide paving needs at Lake-Sumter Junior College.

Two letters from John Maguire, Florida Baptist Convention, were read and filed.

Letter from Dr. Hall advising he was out of town from July 20th to August 2nd was read and filed.

Minutes of July meeting of E. Central Florida Regional Planning Council was distributed to each Board member and copy filed.

Letter from State Board of Health regarding Lakeside Mobile Homes was filed.

Letter from Harper neon Co., Inc. regarding installation and rental of sign was filed.

reports

Fines, Forfeitures and Costs Report from the County Judge for July was filed.

Report of Commodity Warehouse Supervisor was filed.

equalization board

At 2:30 o’clock P.M. the Board met as an Equalization Board in the office of R. G. Cassady, Tax Assessor, to consider the assessment roll.  (See page 73)

After considering the complaints made in person and also in writing, Commr. Theus moved that the Assessment Roll for the year 1964 as submitted by the Hon. R. G. Cassady, Tax Assessor, be approved with the changes as made by the Equalization Board. Motion was seconded by Commr. Livingston and unanimously carried, said changes being as follows:

T. C. Hanson – S 11,170 ft. of W ¼ of SW ¼ of SE ¼ in 16/18/24

Assessment on above described property reduced from $800 per acre to $600 per acre.

P. L. Mellenbruch – Beg. NE cor. of SE ¼ of SE ¼ , run S 200 ft. W 145 ft. S 150 ft., E 145 ft. S 970 ft., N 1320 ft. E to POB in 28/19/24

Assessment on residence reduced $1,000 from $23,660 to $22,660.

Other complaints as follows made to the Board of Equalization were found to be in keeping with surrounding property assessments and the board concurred in the assessments as fixed by the Tax Assessor, R. G. Cassady.

Joel V. Erickson –

Oscar E. Schubert  -  Lane Park, Lowell’s Addition   -  Blks. 68, 68, 70 and 71 less W 16.5 ft., Blks 80, 81, 82 and 83.

Fifty-Twenty-Seven Plaza, Inc.  -  Clermont Heights

George L. Gallman, Jr.  -  Tavares Heights  -  Beg. At SE Corn Lot 72, Sec. N, Run SW’ly along SE Bdry. Lots 72 & 71 75 ft., NW’ly Parallel to NE Bdry. of Lot 72 150 ft., NE to NE cor. Lot.

Ruth Smith  -  S 400 ft. of N ½ of S ½ of S ½ of Govt. Lot 5 W of clay Road in 25/19/35

H. D. Hanson  -  Lots 20 and 21 Blk. 27  -  Sylvan Shores

Leon F. Bird  -  W ½ of Tract 19, Postal Colony in Sec. 34/23/25

Otto J. Dyke  -  Lot 17  -  Jefferies Estate

There being no further business to bring before the board, the meeting adjourned at 3:30 o’clock P.M.

 

___________________________________                          ______________________________

CLERK                                                                                   CHAIRMAN