MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF the BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MONDAY – OCTOBER 5, 1970
A regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners was held in the Commissioners’ Room in the Courthouse, Tavares, Florida, at 9:00 o’clock A.M. on Monday, October 5, 1970, with the following members present: James R. Carson, Jr., Chairman; Alex J. Macdonell, J. M. Hoskinson, Thomas J. Windram, and Kenneth VanAuken. Others present were: County Attorney Christopher C. Ford, Clerk of Circuit Court Frank E. Owens, County Engineer Robert H. Norton, County Planner, James C. Watkins and Deputy Clerk Norma H. Coven.
The Chairman called the meeting to order and the invocation was delivered by Mr. Ford, after which the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was given by all present.
fairgrouNDS
Chairman Carson called for a report on the proposals concerning the Fairgrounds. Commr. Windram reported on the livestock building proposed by the Fair Association. They are recommending a 70’ x 125’ steel building with 10’ high eaves. The building would have no sides, no floor and no plumbing. The estimated cost of the building is $15,636 and can be erected in about ten weeks. An additional $1500 would be required for electrical work and $1500 to install other exhibit facilities. These funds are to be furnished by Lake County. In return, the Fair Association feels they can pledge $25,000 over a ten year period to a special fund for improving and enlarging the main building.
Mr. Windram continued the City of Eustis did not find the County’s proposal acceptable concerning the Multi-Purpose Building. They have suggested several changes and the Board held a lengthy discussion on this subject with Mr. Ken Hart of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce and Mr. Don Porter representing the Avion Trailer Association participating. Commr. VanAuken moved that a contract be prepared with the City of Eustis for a five year term including the following provisions:
1. The City will provide and install one additional water meter with 2” line for irrigation purposes.
2. Lake County will make available funds not to exceed $20,000 for the purpose of chairs, tables, staging equipment and will institute a program of improvements to the facilities.
3. The City will guarantee an annual rental income of $2500 to be paid by the City.
The motion was seconded by Commr. Hoskinson and carried, with Commr. Macdonell abstaining.
On motion of Commr. Hoskinson seconded by Commr. VanAuken and carried, the Board agreed to allocate funds not to exceed $20,000 for the construction of a livestock building as recommended by the Fair Association, said funds to be repaid into the Capital Outlay Reserve County Building Fund by the Fair Association.
bids
On motion of Commr. Hoskinson seconded by Commr. Windram and carried, Mr. Hart was authorized to prepare specifications for bid on 1,000 folding chairs, 125 folding tables and staging equipment. Bids to be received October 26, 1970.
It now being the time advertised to receive bids for an emergency alarm system at the Lake Memorial Nursing Home, the Chairman directed the Clerk to open and tabulate the bids; whereupon, Clerk Owens reported receiving the following bids:
Executone Systems Company $3,511.10
Lenhart Electric Company 3,125.00
On motion of Commr. Hoskinson seconded by Commr. Windram and carried, the bids were referred to the Architect for study and recommendation to the Board.
county property
Clermont Mayor Don Smith, City Manager Albert Johnson and Attorney Richard H. Langley appeared before the Board regarding a mix-up in the ownership of lots in Block 90 in the City of Clermont. In 1945 the County obtained the lots and they were set aside for public use by the City. Title search has been made and there is no title from the County to the City; however, in 1950 the City conveyed Lot 7 to the Masonic Lodge and in 1954 the City gave a 99 year lease to the Clermont Garden Club, which has constructed a $25,000 building on the lot. Attorney Ford was instructed to research the legality of deeding the property to the City of Clermont.
road closing
Werner Hoffmann appeared relative to the County closing a road in Assembly Heights. Mr. Norton advised the road in question has never been used as a road and is presently in grove. Attorney Ford recommended that Mr. Hofmann contact his attorney and have a petition prepared for presentation to the Board. Mr. Ford was instructed to review the law to determine if a portion of a plat can be vacated.
elections – general
Tom Talmadge, Finance Director for the School Board, appeared and advised the School Board took action to hold an election for a bond issue. Due to the recent Supreme Court decision that a free holders election is not valid, the School has decided to allow all registered voters to vote on the issue and the Board has already accepted its share of the expense of the election. The Board members concurring, Chairman Carson said since there will be no special work involved, he can see no reason why there would be a charge to the School Board. Mr. Talmadge asked that the bond issue be placed on the ballot so that the public will not confuse the bond issue with the Constitutional Amendments.
On motion of Commr. VanAuken seconded by Commr. Windram and carried, the Board adopted a Resolution changing the designation of Precinct No. 34 from the Airport Precinct to Bassville Precinct.
On motion of Commr. Macdonell seconded by Commr. VanAuken and carried, the voting place in Precinct No. 13, Yalaha was changed from the Community Building to the Springs Clubhouse and the Clerk was instructed to advertise the change.
The Clerk was authorized to prepare and advertise the General Election ballot on motion of Commr. Hoskinson seconded by Commr. Windram and carried.
elections – primary
Clerk Owens submitted letter from The Daily Commercial advising that they neglected to advertise the sample ballot for the Primary Election held September 29, 1970 were filed.
Maps and Plats
On recommendation of the County Planner and on motion of Commr. Macdonell seconded by Commr. Hoskinson and carried, a Resolution was adopted vacating the following described subdivision plat:
All of Blocks “A”, “B”, “C” and “D” in Bellefonte Terrace, a subdivision in Lake County, Florida, according to the Plat thereof recorded in Plat Book 10, page 18, public records of Lake County, Florida.
recess and reassembly
The meeting recessed for lunch at 12:00 o’clock noon and reconvened at 1:30 o’clock P.M. to take up the remaining items of business.
water pollution
Commr. Macdonell initiated a discussion relative to aquatic vegetation control. A harvesting machine will be demonstrated in the Crystal River Area and recommends that a representative from this Board and the Mosquito Control Director view this demonstration. Commr. Macdonell and Commr. Windram were authorized by the Board to investigate this.
railroads
On motion of Commr. Macdonell seconded by Commr. Hoskinson and carried, a Resolution was adopted requesting the Seaboard Coastline Railroad Company to permit a railroad crossing at a point 1,380 feet South of Mile Post S-805 and to render an estimate of the cost of said crossing.
public heaLTH
Commr. Macdonell moved for the Mosquito Control to erect a hydraulic crane on a lowboy transport suitable for the collection of junk cars from County rights of way. Commr. Hoskinson seconded the motion and abstained and Commrs. Windram and VanAuken voted “no.” The Chairman declared the motion did not carry.
Chairman Carson submitted letter from the Mosquito Control Director advising that Town and Country Refuse, Inc. is using the Lady Lake Landfill to dispose of refuse collected in other counties. On motion of Commr. VanAuken seconded by Commr. Windram and carried, a Resolution was adopted prohibiting the use of Lake County Garbage Dumps or Refuse Collection Areas for the dumping of garbage or refuse, which has been collected from areas not within the territorial limits of Lake County and that a copy of the Resolution be sent to all garbage or refuse collectors in Lake County.
records
On motion of Commr. Hoskinson seconded by Commr. VanAuken and carried, the County Judges’ Office was authorized to utilize the space behind the Tax Assessor’s and Tax Collector’s Offices for the storage of old records.
roads – county
On motion of Commr. VanAuken seconded by Commr. Windram and carried, a Resolution was adopted establishing a maximum speed of 35 miles per hour for County Road #5-5942 extending from State Road 44 to Harbor Shores.
Commr. VanAuken requested that the Board accept for maintenance 1.3 miles of clay road from SR 42 near Forest Hills (Pine Drive and Rustic Drive). Action was deferred until the next road trip.
Engineer Norton reported Oak Shade Drive (617’) resurfacing has been approved. It is his understanding the Board has agreed to take this road over for maintenance.
Mr. Norton submitted report of road construction during the month of September.
roads – state
Clerk Owens presented Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Transportation covering all projects included in the current fiscal year as shown in the Department’s Five Year Work Program. On motion of Commr. Macdonell, seconded by Commr. Windram and carried, a Resolution was adopted authorizing the Chairman and Clerk to execute the Agreement and concurring that the same is an obligation and covenant of Lake County in each and every respect and the liabilities therein contained shall be the liabilities of Lake County on a continuing basis for the life of said Agreement.
deeds
On motion of Commr. Windram seconded by Commr. VanAuken and carried, deeds were accepted conveying the following describe properties to Lake County for right of way purposes and ordered same recorded upon the public records:
GRANTORS: Annie E. Myatt and Citizens National Bank of Orlando as co-executors of the estate of Bulla Myatt, deceased.
GRANTOR: C. A. March
A strip of land 25 feet wide along the North line of Tract 20, 21 and 22, lying 25 feet from South of centerline of the road shown on the map of Clermont Farms.
GRANTOR: Raymond C. Stosberg
The South 20 feet of the Northwest quarter of the Northeast quarter of the Southeast quarter of Section 12, Township 23 South, Range 25 East.
GRANTORS: W. P. Teal and wife Robbye I. Teal
A strip of land 30 feet wide, along the North line of Tract 23 and 24 lying 30 feet from South of the centerline of the road shown on the map of Clermont Farms.
Appointments
Clerk Owens submitted letter from the Lake County Farm Bureau recommending Alex J. Macdonell and Guilford T. Sims for appointment to the Pollution Control Board. The Attorney was instructed to determine if there would be a conflict of interest for Mr. Macdonell to serve on the Pollution Control Board while still a County Commissioner.
bonds – misc.
Deputy Sheriff Bond for Robert Neil Roof with Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company as surety was approved on motion of Commr. Macdonell seconded by Commr. VanAuken and carried.
Bond for Carrying Firearms for David T. parks was approved on motion of Commr. Hoskinson seconded by Commr. Windram and carried.
hospitals
Action of the Chairman and Clerk in approving application to the W. T. Edwards Tuberculosis Hospital for Gazzie Haggins was approved on motion of Commr. Windram seconded by Commr. VanAuken and carried.
The following notices from the Hospital were filed:
Benjamin Thomas was discharged with medical advice on 9/25/70.
Frank Johnson was discharged with medical advice on 9/30/70.
tax delinquent
Applications from Fern Z. Taylor, Naples, Florida; for duplicate Tax Sale Certificates as follows, were approved on motion of Commr. Windram seconded by Commr. Hoskinson and carried:
Certificate No. 287 dated June 1, 1966 in the sum of $62.31
Certificate No. 347 dated June 1, 1967 in the sum of $67.69
Certificate No. 296 dated May 31, 1968 in the sum of $62.75
tax assessment
Contracts with the City of Howey and the City of Umatilla for the assessing and collecting of city taxes were approved on motion of Commr. Macdonell seconded by Commr. VanAuken and carried.
Clerk Owens submitted request from Howze and Associates, Inc. for “a list of properties granted a change in value for only those properties which sold in 1968.” The Clerk was instructed to handle the request.
county employees
On recommendation of the Planning Director and on motion of Commr. Hoskinson seconded by Commr. Windram and carried, resignation from Nancy Bennett was accepted effective October 23, 1970 and the Board approved the employment of Frances Corbin effective October 1, 1970 at an annual salary of $3,850.00.
SALARIES AND WAGES
On motion of Commr. VanAuken seconded by Commr. Hoskinson and carried, the Board approved the following salary increases effective October 1, 1970:
Mary Hamner $8,000.00
Doris M. Maynard 6,000.00
Alice M. Newman 6,000.00
Senora L. Bissell 6,000.00
Ruth E. Wood 6,000.00
The County Engineer advised no funds were budgeted for the part-time draftsman in the Engineering Department. No action was taken on this.
county employees
The Board members concurring, the Chairman instructed the County Attorney to inquire of the County Judge if the Lake County Juvenile Court is complying with the law applicable to the employing of Juvenile Counselors and asked him to appear before the Board on October 12, 1970 to discuss this.
accounts allowed
On motion of Commr. VanAuken seconded by Commr. Hoskinson and carried, travel expense was approved for J. C. Watkins to attend National Association of Counties and Planning Directors Joint Meeting in Washington, D.C. on October 28-30, 1970.
On recommendation of the Engineer and on motion of Commr. Macdonell seconded by Commr. Windram and carried, the Board approved the purchase of a chlorinator for the courthouse disposal plant at an approximate cost of $250.00.
On motion of Commr. Hoskinson seconded by Commr. Macdonell and carried, the Engineer was authorized to purchase three (3) traffic counters at a cost of $95.25 each.
On motion of Commr. Hoskinson seconded by Commr. VanAuken and carried, the Clerk was authorized to purchase Documentary Stamp Machine for his office at a cost of $945.00.
On motion of Commr. Hoskinson seconded by Commr. Macdonell and carried, petty cash funds were approved for the Engineering Department $50.00 and the Building Department $25.00.
Requisition from the Sheriff in the amount of $36,299.16 was approved on motion of Commr. Macdonell seconded by Commr. Hoskinson and carried.
Chairman Carson advised Hodges Equipment Company is willing to allow the County to keep one of the trucks that we are trading in on the purchase of two new trucks, at the trade-in value of $850.00. This transaction was approved by the Board, with same being paid from the Fish Conservation Fund and in addition $500.00 was approved for repairs to the truck.
On motion of Commr. Hoskinson seconded by Commr. VanAuken and carried, the Board approved the purchase of loader-conveyor from Florida Foods at a cost of $700.00 to be paid from the Fish Conservation Fund.
funds – general
The Clerk was directed to deposit the fees collected for Sanitary Vehicle Inspections to the credit of the Mosquito Control Fund.
funds – transfer
On motion of Commr. Windram seconded by Commr. Hoskinson and carried, the Clerk was instructed to transfer $2500.00 from the Contingency Item in the General Revenue Fund to Account #56602, Salaries for Nursing Home.
On motion of Commr. Hoskinson seconded by Commr. VanAuken and carried, the Clerk was instructed to transfer $1,350.00 from the Fish Conservation Fund to the Road and Bridge Fund.
reports
Annual report from the County Forester was filed and copy of same distributed to each member of the Board.
Financial report from the District Forester of the Lake-Seminole CFM Project was filed.
Financial report from the District Forester concerning the Cooperative Fire Control Agreement was filed.
license and permits
Notice from the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund that in the future applications for dredge permits must be considered on the local level before going to the Board of Trustees for approval.
Copy of letter from the Lake County Health Department to the Lincoln Park Day Care, Inc., Clermont, Florida, that certain violations must be corrected before a 1970 County permit is granted.
Copy of letter from the State Department of Air and Water Pollution Control to Golden Gem Growers regarding permit for a waste heat boiler was filed.
communications
Letter from Ben S. Burton, President, Lake County Conservation Council, was read and filed commending the Board and the Pollution Control Board for the efforts made to clean up the lakes in Lake County.
There being no further business to bring before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 5:00 o’clock P.M.
___________________________________ ______________________________
CLERK CHAIRMAN