MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MONDAY – July 11, 1966
A regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Lake County, Florida, was held in the Commissioners’ Room in the Courthouse, Tavares, Florida at 10:00 a.m. Monday, July 11, 1966 with the following members present: Commissioners Cecil Theus, Chairman; Herman T. Dykes; J. C. Cowart; D. H. Livingston; and Herbert A. Babb. Also present were County Attorney Carl E. Duncan, County Engineer Hays, Zoning Director Robert S. Webb, Clerk of the Circuit Court Frank E. Owens, and Deputy Clerk Norma Coven.
The meeting was called to order by the Chairman, who also gave the invocation.
bids
It being 10:00 a.m., the time advertised to take bids on Double Surface Treatment and Asphaltic Concrete, Type I on certain roads in Districts One and Four, the Chairman directed the Clerk to open the bids and the Engineer to tabulate same, whereupon, the Engineer reported receiving bids from the following:
Leecon, Inc.
Carroll Contracting Company
Lindsley Paving Co., Inc.
Basic Asphalt Corp.
On a motion by Commr. Livingston, seconded by Commr. Cowart and carried, the bids were referred to the Engineer for study and recommendation to the Board.
Later in the day, Mr. Hays reported Leecon, Inc. was the low bidder on the double Surface Treatment, and Basic Asphalt Corp. was the low bidder on the Asphaltic Concrete, Type I. A motion was made by Commr. Livingston, seconded by Commr. Babb and carried for the low bids as recommended by the Engineer for 53,604 sq. yds. Double Surface Treatment at $.429 per S.Y. and 69,229 S.Y. Asphaltic Concrete, Type I at $.438 per S.Y. to be accepted.
tax assessments
R. G. Cassady, Tax Assessor, appeared before the Board and advised he attended a meeting in Tallahassee called by the State Comptroller regarding the Supreme Court ruling that all property must be assessed at 100 percent. Mr. Cassady stated this means the estimated values already submitted to the Board must be increased 25 percent. Clerk Owens stated in order to stay within the same amount of money, the millage will have to be decreased commensurate with the valuations.
Mr. Cassady said a representative from the Comptroller’s office will be here tomorrow to determine the best procedure to follow, and my answer to him will be that we intend to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling.
The Clerk advised we cannot advertise the budget until we get the new figures from the Assessor, and it may be necessary to change the date of the budget hearing. If so, he will notify the Board members.
indigents
On a motion by Commr. Dykes, seconded by Commr. Cowart and carried, the following changes were made to the present indigent list:
District No. 1 – CANCEL Verdie Taylor - $40
District No. 3 – CANCEL Katherine Harmon - $15
District No. 2, 4, and 5 – No change
plats
E. T. Hall was present and submitted for approval the Plat of Ocala Forest Campsite No. 1 located in Govt. Lot 1, Section 16, Twp.17, Range 27, owners W. H. Vernon, Inc. Attorney Duncan advised Title & Trust Company of Florida Policy No. 78277, issued through Lake Abstract & Guaranty Co., shows the title to be in order and clear. Forest Road No. 72 is a public road adjacent to the tract, the streets are a sufficient width, and concrete street markers have been installed. A letter from the County Engineer recommending the subdivision be approved for septic tank type sewage disposal, but due to the size of the lots, care must be taken to comply with the fifty feet minimum between the septic tank drain field and private well. The Attorney advised the lots are 40 x 100. A motion was made by Commr. Babb, seconded by Commr. Dykes and carried that the plat of Ocala Forest Campsite No. 1 be accepted for record.
The Clerk presented a petition together with proof of publication of the Notice of Intention to Vacate Blocks 9 and 10 of Silver Lake Estates. The Petitioner, H. L. Pringle, was not present, and Commr. Babb moved that action on this matter be deferred until he can contact the petitioner. No one appeared in objection to the closing. The motion was seconded by Commr. Livingston and carried.
state road department
Mr. Hall said the State Road Department is destroying section markers, and it is important that the markers be replaced. Clerk Owens advised a resolution was previously adopted by the Board requesting the State Road Department to replace the section corners. Chairman Theus requested Mr. Hall to give specific locations to the Engineer, and he will contact the State Road Department and request the markers be replaced.
state agencies
Ed Zagar of the Game & Fresh Water Fish Commission appeared and advised when the Board requested the Clermont Chain of Lakes be designated as fish management lakes, four lakes were not listed. On a motion by Commr. Dykes, seconded by Commr. Livingston and carried, a resolution was adopted requesting the Game & Fresh Water Fish Commission to make the following lakes fish management lakes: Lakes Cook, Winona, Crescent, and Palatlakaha.
deeds
On the recommendation of the Engineer and on a motion by Commr. Dykes, seconded by Commr. Cowart and carried, a deed from Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Hurst conveying the following described property to Lake County was accepted and ordered recorded upon the public records:
The East 25 feet of the NE ¼ of the SW ¼ of the NE ¼ of Section 34, Township 21 South, Range 26 East. ALSO, Commence at the Northwest corner of the NE ¼ of the SW ¼ of the NE ¼ of Section 36, Township 21 South, Range 26 East; thence run South 0̊ 14’45” West 19.97 feet; thence run North 81̊ 05’45” East 125.58 feet; thence run North 89̊ 45’ 15” West 123.98 feet to point of beginning.
juvenile
Judge Milton appeared and stated the Juvenile authorities would like to get the Juvenile kitchen in operation by the beginning of the next fiscal year. They will need to take bids on the necessary equipment in order that same can be installed before October 1st. The Board of Visitors recommends a gas stove, 30 cu. ft. freezer or not less than 21 cu. ft., and a 20 cu. ft. refrigerator or not less than 15 cu. ft., approximate total cost $1,700. Attorney Duncan advised the Board can take bids but cannot accept any until the next budget year, when the funds will be available. After discussing that the three items needed will be purchased separately, Judge Milton was authorized to secure prices on the equipment and submit them to the Board in September.
Judge Milton also requested that Mr. Polhamus be allowed to purchase the necessary food and supplies for the kitchen before October 1. On a motion by Commr. Dykes, seconded by Commr. Babb and carried, Mr. Polhamus was authorized to make the necessary purchases.
county judge
Judge Milton said he is here at the request of the Board to discuss the fines and forfeitures in the County Judge’s Court. Judge Booth was unable to be present because his mother is being hospitalized today. Chairman Theus stated the Board would like to discuss the feasibility of increasing the cost of the fines since the Fine & Forfeiture Fund dropped fifty percent last month. After a lengthy discussion, Judge Milton stated he is not in favor of increasing the fines because the Sheriff’s Department is having difficulty collecting the average $20 fine imposed now; however, he and Judge Booth will discuss the matter and try to get more money in the Fund. No action was taken by the Board.
road closings
The Engineer reported on the road closing for H. A. Getford in Tremains Subdivision; the dedicated portion and county road portion do not match. On a motion by Commr. Livingston, seconded by Commr. Babb and carried, the Engineer was instructed to secure a 50’ right of way centered on the County Road, and then the petition to close the dedicated road will be considered.
county property
Mr. Dillard reported the exchange of instruments regarding the Day and Dinsmore property have not been completed. On a motion by Commr. Babb, seconded by Commr. Dykes and carried, he was instructed to attempt to secure a 25’ right of way from Mr. Dinsmore.
hospitals
Attorney Duncan reported he is in receipt of an opinion from the Attorney General advising that tax money from the Northeast Lake County Hospital District cannot be pledged for use of bonds.
recess and reassembly
The meeting recessed for lunch at 12:00 noon and reconvened at 1:15 p.m. to take up the remaining items of business. Vice Chairman Cowart presided in the absence of the Chairman.
hospitals
Mr. T. C. Hanson of Lady Lake appeared and stated he is opposed to the bill creating the Northwest Lake County Hospital District on the grounds that it is unconstitutional and requested that the Board ask the Attorney General for an opinion. Attorney Duncan advised a citizen of Leesburg in the Hospital District should make the request for the opinion, and until the law is tested in Court and proved to be unconstitutional, the Board must abide by the Statutes.
roads – county
On a motion by Commr. Dykes, seconded by Commr. Livingston and carried, a resolution was adopted that “no through trucks” shall be permitted on Lake Saunders Drive, County Road 3-4660, lying west of SR 19A and south of State Road 500, and on County Road 3-4562 lying immediately north of the Golden Triangle Nursing and Convalescent Home and west of the Triangle Shopping Center, and declaring the violation of same to be a misdemeanor.
roads – state
Clerk Owens submitted a letter from the State Road Department to the County Judge recommending a flashing beacon at the intersection of State Road 19 and State Road 500-A in Tavares and speed zone restriction on State Road S-449 northwest of Leesburg.
zoning
On the recommendation of the Zoning Commission and on a motion by Commr. Babb, seconded by Commr. Dykes and carried, a resolution was adopted amending the Zoning Rules and Regulations as they pertain to the following tracts of land to the classification designated after each description:
1. Tract 54 in Sec. 9, Tp. 23 S. R. 24 E., Groveland Farms, according to the Official Plat thereof, recorded in Plat Book 2, Pages 10 and 11, public records of Lake County, amended, changed and rezoned to Classification C-1 (Commercial).
2. The SW ¼ of NE ¼; S ½ of NW ¼; NW ¼ of NW ¼; All in Sec. 32, Tp. 19 S., R. 24 E., now classified and zoned as R-1 (Residential), be, and the same is hereby amended, changed and rezoned to Classification A (Agriculture).
3. Begin 562 feet West of Southwest corner of NE ¼ in Sec. 33, Tp. 18 S., R. 24 E., thence run North 120 feet, thence East 10 feet, thence North 106 feet, thence West to the Highway 441-27 – thence South 226 feet paralleling the Highway, thence East to the point of Beginning, now classified and zoned as C-2 (Commercial) and R-1-A (Residential), be and the same is amended, changed and rezoned to Classification C-1 (Commercial).
Mr. Haber appeared with reference to the Zoning Director approving FHA certificates on a low-cost housing application, whereupon, on a motion by Commr. Dykes, seconded by Commr. Livingston and carried, the Zoning Director was authorized to make the inspections and certify to the condition of the houses.
Zoning Director Webb reported Lake County has been placed on the priority list for Federal Aid under PL 701.
e. central florida regional planning council
Minutes of the June 15 meeting in Titusville and corrected copy of the May minutes and Treasurer’s Report dated April 11, 1966 were distributed to each member and a copy filed.
ambulance service
Commr. Livingston stated a Eustis resident is interested in entering the ambulance business in the Triangle area and wants to know if the County would pay him the subsidy as they are now doing with Herndon. Attorney Duncan advised the Board has not entered into a contract with anyone; it has merely established a policy.
accounts allowed
Engineer Hays advised the price quoted last week for the trash pump and hose was incorrect, and the correct price is $655.20. He was authorized to purchase the trash pump and hose for this amount.
On a motion by Commr. Dykes, seconded by Commr. Babb and carried, purchase of a Pitney Bowes, Inc. mailing machine for the Clerk’s office in the amount of $901.75 was approved.
The request from the Supervisor of Elections to attend an annual convention in Gainesville August 17 through 20 for herself and a deputy and one day for Dan Heald to attend the Voting Machine Workshop was approved on a motion by Commr. Livingston, seconded by Commr. Dykes and carried.
Expenses of Doris Babb in the amount of $36.80 were approved for attending the Clerk’s convention in Crystal River on June 10-11 on a motion by Commr. Babb, seconded by Commr. Dykes and carried.
A request from the Northeast Florida State Hospital for reimbursement of travel expense in the amount of $261.50 for transferring a mental patient from the hospital to Haverford State Hospital, Haverford, PA, was approved on a motion by Commr. Dykes, seconded by Commr. Cowart and carried.
On a motion by Commr. Dykes, seconded by Commr. Livingston and carried, a request from the Tax Collector for commissions on remittances on the 1965 tax roll in the amount of $2,094.45 was approved.
A request from the Tax Assessor for a $20,000 advance on commissions on the 1966 tax roll was approved on a motion by Commr. Babb, seconded by Commr. Livingston and carried.
On a motion by Commr. Livingston, seconded by Commr. Dykes and carried, the following vouchers were approved for payment:
General Revenue Fund Nos. 1765-1962
Mosquito Control – State II 37-41
Road and Bridge Fund 1077-1207
Fine & Forfeiture Fund 175-191
South Lake Memorial Hospital 9
Northeast Lake County Hospital 11
communications
A memorandum was filed from the Southwest Florida Water Management District together with William F. Guyton’s report of a hearing held December 1, 1965 regarding the Water Regulatory District for the Green Swamp.
reports
The following monthly reports were filed:
Welfare Director
County Judge’s Fines, Forfeitures and Costs
minutes
On a motion by Commr. Babb, seconded by Commr. Livingston and carried, the minutes of the regular meetings held June 6th and June 13th and special meetings held June 14th and June 20th were approved as submitted.
There being no further business to bring before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 3:00 o’clock P.M.
___________________________________ ______________________________
CLERK CHAIRMAN