MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF the BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
monday – january 4, 1971
The Board of County Commissioners of Lake County, Florida, convened in regular session in the Commissioners’ Room, Courthouse, Tavares, Florida, on Monday, January 4, 1971, at 9:00 o’clock a.m. with the following members present: James R. Carson, Jr., Chairman; Alex J. Macdonell, J. M. Hoskinson, Thomas J. Windram and Kenneth VanAuken. Others in attendance were County Attorney, Christopher C. Ford; County Engineer, Robert H. Norton; Clerk of the Circuit Court, Frank E. Owens; and Deputy Clerk Norma H. Coven.
The meeting was called to order by the Chairman, and the invocation was delivered by Mr. Hoskinson, after which the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited by all present.
minutes
On motion of Commr. Hoskinson, seconded by Commr. Windram and carried, the minutes of the regular meeting held December 7, 1970 were approved as submitted.
bonds – official
On motion of Commr. Windram, seconded by Commr. Hoskinson and carried, the Board approved its action in approving Public Official Bond for L. R. Huffstetler, Jr. for County Judge.
bonds – misc.
On motion of Commr. Windram, seconded by Commr. VanAuken and carried, bond for carrying firearms for David A. Williams was approved.
Contractors’ bonds for Certificates of Competency were approved for the following on motion of Commr. Macdonell, seconded by Commr. Hoskinson and carried:
No. 558 (New) Mark Norris d/b/a Bates & Daly
559 (New) Elzie Hall
528 (Cancel) Richard A. Sines d/b/a Tavares Roofing
On motion of Commr. Windram, seconded by Commr. VanAuken and carried, Deputy Sheriff bonds were approved for the following:
Jerry L. Gehlback
Virginia S. Hansel
roads – subdivision
On advice from the Chairman that $40.00 is on deposit for improvements to a dedicated subdivision street having fifty feet of right of way, Commr. Hoskinson moved that the work be authorized. The motion was seconded by Commr. Windram and carried. (Lakeshore Drive, Fla. Fruitland Park Tropical Homesites)
Commr. Windram reported he has been contacted by a firm who has recently purchased property in Mt. Plymouth and wants to improve the streets to County standards. The owners want to know if the County will take over the maintenance of the streets after they are improved.
On motion of Commr. Hoskinson, seconded by Commr. Macdonell and carried, the Board agreed to allow the owner to clay the streets and that said improvements must meet County drainage design requirements.
Commr. Windram advised Harry Mielke is willing to pay the cost of building two roads in his subdivision to County specifications, provided the County will take over the streets for maintenance. Chairman Carson recommended that the owner have the roads built and approved by the County Engineer and when this is done the County will consider the maintenance of same.
bids
It now being the time advertised to receive bids for the installation of a heating system in the Multi-Purpose Building at the Fair Grounds, the Chairman directed the Clerk to open and tabulate the bids, whereupon, Clerk Owens reported receiving the following bids:
Mid-Florida Gas Company $5,600.00 plus purchase or
Lease of storage tank
True Temp, Inc. $5,696.00, deduct $574.00 if
Alternate #1 is accepted
Clerk Owens advised the Board a bid bond is not attached to Mid-Florida’s bid, whereupon, on recommendation of the Architect and on motion of Commr. Macdonell, seconded by Commr. VanAuken and carried, the bid of True Temp, Inc. was accepted and the alternate approved, making a net bid price of $5,122.00.
county property
Commr. Hoskinson reported he has received complaints from the Tax Assessor and Tax Collector that there is not sufficient parking space on the West side of the Courthouse for County employees and has requested that the Board make space available for the employees to park their cars. On motion of Commr. Hoskinson, seconded by Commr. VanAuken and carried, a Resolution was adopted that the County parking lot located to the East of the Courthouse be posted for “County Business Only,” and appropriate signs erected at all entrances and exits, and that the proper law enforcement agency be instructed to enforce same.
On motion of Commr. Hoskinson, seconded by Commr. Windram and carried, the Clerk was instructed to request the City of Tavares to consider changing the parking on the West side of Sinclair Avenue between Main Street and Ruby Street, from curb parking to angle parking.
soil survey
Walter Shaffer, District Conservationist, appeared and presented compiled soils information that may be used by the various county agencies until a published soils report becomes available. Itemized list of materials submitted is as follows:
#1 - 284 aerial maps containing field sheets covering all of the County except the National Forest.
#2 – Index map.
#3 – Soils legend describing each of the forty-five (45) soils found within the County.
#4 – Four tables describing the soils by selected uses.
Mr. Shaffer said this material remains the property of and will be returned to the fields of the local Soil Conservation Service Office upon delivery of the published report. James C. Watkins, County Planning Director, accepted the material and stated same will be available in his office for County use.
recreational facilities
Ed Zagar of the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission appeared and advised there are funds available with the Department of Natural Resources which are designated for recreational purposes, and requested that the Board ask for the release of sufficient funds to construct a fishing catwalk under the Howey Bridge. On motion of Commr. Hoskinson, seconded by Commr. Windram and carried, the Clerk was instructed to request the Department to release $20,000 for this purpose, said catwalk to be constructed under the supervision of the Department of Transportation.
While Mr. Zagar was present the Chairman brought up for discussion the disposal of fish from the seining program when the Tri City Landfill is closed. Mr. Zagar advised the fishermen have been instructed not to go to the Tri City site on Saturday or Sunday and if necessary to go to the Lady Lake site. The Board agreed that the operator be permitted to operate the bulldozer at the Tri City Landfill when the attendant is not on duty, provided he receives operating instructions. Mr. Zagar was requested to contact the Mosquito Control Director regarding this.
fairgrounds
On motion of Commr. VanAuken, seconded by Commr. Hoskinson and carried, plans and specifications for the construction of a Livestock Show Building at the Fair Grounds were approved and accepted as submitted by the Architect, Louis C. George. Advertisement for bids has been previously approved.
maps and plats
Mr. Jay Vandermeer appeared concerning approval of the Plat of Camphorwood Shores, Unit No. 1. The County Engineer advised the Plat is not ready for approval inasmuch as the owner has not submitted engineering plans for the street to the Engineering Department, and the street as constructed does not meet County Subdivision Regulations. The County Planning Director informed the Board that Section 50-4726 of the Subdivision Regulations allowing for private streets. The motion was seconded by Commr. Windram. Commr. VanAuken and Commr. Windram voted against the motion, and Commr. Macdonell abstained. The Chairman declared the motion failed to pass. Mr. Vandermeer recommended that during the development of subdivisions that the construction of streets be inspected by the County Engineer.
WATER POLLUTION
On motion of Commr. Macdonell, seconded by Commr. Hoskinson and carried, the County Engineer was instructed to contact the Southwest Florida Water Management District for the District’s recommendation concerning access roads to the Green Swamp Reservoir, namely Calvin Lee Road and Oil Well Road.
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.
HOLIDAYS
Commr. Hoskinson made a motion to include December 31, 1971 to the holiday schedule previously approved by the Board. The motion was seconded by Commr. VanAuken and carried.
safety council
W. H. Reedy was present and made the following recommendations in the interest of safety:
No. 1 – Request the Department of Transportation to realign SR 19 between Umatilla and Altoona, removing two bad curves.
No. 2 – Install reflectorized buttons down the center of the Lakeshore Drives between Tavares and Mount Dora and Tavares and Eustis.
No. 3 – Commend the Lake Sumter College students for their efforts in cleaning up the highways.
No. 4 - Advised there is no provision in the Statutes requiring sand and rock trucks to cover their loads. Chapter 317.781 requires “that vehicles shall be loaded as to prevent any of its load from dropping, shifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping therefrom.”
Clerk Owens submitted copy of a letter from the Lake County Safety Council to the Department of Transportation recommending that the maximum speed limit on SR 19 between Eustis and Umatilla should be reduced to 55 miles per hour.
Also, copy of letter from the Council requesting the Department to rebuild and straighten SR 46 from Mount Dora to the Wekiva River; and SR 455 from SR 19 to Ferndale. The Clerk was instructed to notify the Council that the Board has previously requested the Department to redesign these two roads.
roads – county
On recommendation of the County Engineer and on motion of Commr. VanAuken, seconded by Commr. Macdonell and carried, a Resolution was adopted establishing a maximum speed of 40 miles per hour on County Road #5-9883, and that appropriate signs shall be erected.
roads – state
The Board members having viewed the intersection of Eudora Road and Old SR 500, at the Golden Triangle Shopping Center, instructed the Attorney to notify the Department of Transportation the Board wishes to alter its former request concerning Eudora Road (County #3-4562, Job. No. 11522) to the following:
1. – Design and reconstruct Eudora Road as two lanes from Old SR 500, at the Golden Triangle Shopping Center, to new SR 500.
2. – Acquire sufficient right of way to contain four lanes at a future date, and accept same into the Secondary Road System.
3. – Furnish Lake County with a copy of the preliminary design and appraisal before contacting the owners for the right of way.
RESOLUTIONS NOT CLASSIFIED ELSEWHERE
On motion of Commr. VanAuken, seconded by Commr. Hoskinson and carried, a Resolution was adopted commending the Lake-Sumter Community College students, specifically the Ecolocrisis Club spearheaded by Mr. and Mrs. Bob Lupinek, for their interest in pollution and litter along the highways and for their time and effort in removing litter from U. S. 441 between Mount Dora and Leesburg.
county property
Attorney Ford gave his opinion relative to the Board leasing county property. If leased to a private individual, it is necessary to go through the same procedure as a sale of county property. If leased to a non-profit organization, can lease for a nominal sum on a long term basis. He was instructed to determine if the gun club is a non-profit organization, otherwise, the County will lease the property to the City of Eustis with the stipulation that same can be subleased to the gun club.
inventory
The Clerk presented report from the Mosquito Control Director advising of the disposition of items removed from his inventory. On recommendation of the Attorney and on motion of Commr. Hoskinson, seconded by Commr. VanAuken and carried, the following items were authorized for sale:
Property No. 2447 – Viking Superior Steam Boiler
Minimum acceptable offer $250.00
Property No. 2113 – GMC Flat Bed Truck
Minimum acceptable offer $250.00
Property No. 2407 – 24’ Fiberglass Boat
Minimum acceptable offer $150.00
Hospitals
On motion of Commr. Windram, seconded by Commr. VanAuken and carried, petition to the W. T. Edwards Tuberculosis Hospital for James W. Dudley was approved.
bonds – county
Chairman Carson instructed the Attorney to advise the State Attorney that the proceeds from the bond issue pledging Lake County’s race track funds will be used for the purchase of road rights of way, construction of new roads, surfacing and resurfacing of existing dirt and paved roads.
complaints
Letter of complaint was read from A. A. Brown opposing the Board’s action in extending the hours for the sale of alcoholic beverages.
Letter of complaint was read from L. R. Egleston complaining of a pile of sand on the right of way on SR 44-B opposite the Mid Florida Air Field. The Clerk was instructed to notify him the Department of Transportation advises this is a temporary stock pile.
roads – state
Notice from the Department of Transportation was read advising that Bates Avenue from Bay Street to Grove Street in Eustis has been officially deleted from the State Secondary System, and any further maintenance is the responsibility of Lake County.
communications
Letter from the State Department of Commerce that Senate Bill 1469 provides a method by which Boards of County Commissioners can create industrial development authorities was read, and the Clerk was instructed to notify the Department that Lake County does not have an industrial development authority.
Chairman Carson informed the Board a letter has been received from the Department of Transportation admitting that Lake County does have funds in a trust account and advising there is no deficiency against the funds. He remarked this Board would like the funds released to the County rather than deposited in the Secondary Road Fund.
accounts allowed
On advice from the Superintendent of the Juvenile Shelter that it is impossible to get the floors in the Shelter repaired for the price authorized, Commr. Windram moved for approval for repairs to the floors by Hottinger Tile in the amount of $121.00. The motion was seconded by Commr. Hoskinson and carried.
On motion of Commr. Hoskinson, seconded by Commr. VanAuken and carried, the Board approved the purchase of one ton of soybean cake from Security Mills of Palatka for the sum of $158.75, to be used in Lake Minneola.
meetings
Chairman Carson announced the organizational meeting of the Board will be held Tuesday, January 5, 1971, at 9:00 o’clock A.M.
There being no further business to bring before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 3:30 o’clock p.m.
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CLERK chairman