A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

december 30, 1975

The Lake County Board of County Commissioners convened in special session on Tuesday, December 30, 1975, at 9:15 a.m., in third floor Jury Room, in the Courthouse, Tavares, Florida, to accept Insurance Bids to cover the County’s needs in the 1975-1976 Fiscal Year.  Present were:  Thomas J. Windram, Vice-Chairman; C.A. Deems; Glenn C. Burhans; and James R. Carson, Jr.  Others present were: James C. Watkins, Clerk; Christopher C. Ford, County Attorney; and Andrea Gambrell, Deputy Clerk.

accounts allowed

Mr. King Helie appeared before the Board regarding an outstanding bill in the amount of $2,000 which he feels is due in relation to the work his firm performed in preparing the Land Use Plan for Lake County.

Mr. Willett, Director of Planning, was present and stated that certain items which were supposed to be furnished by Mr. Helie were compiled and performed by the Lake County Planning Department and he did not feel that it was necessary for any further payment to be made to Mr. Helie for work performed.  Discussion was held.

The Board tabled further discussion on this matter until later in the morning because Mr. Larry Taylor, Attorney, was scheduled to appear before the Board.

commissioners

At 9:30 A.M. Commr. Hoskinson arrived for the Special Meeting.

contracts and agreements

Mr. Larry Taylor, Attorney representing Woodhaven, Inc., appeared before the Board regarding its Escrow Agreement.  Mr. Ford stated that there were foreclosure procedures filed against Woodhaven; however, it had obtained investors to back this development and, therefore, an Escrow Agreement was being presented to the Board for approval.  Mr. Ford stated that he had helped prepare this agreement and that it was much more restrictive than the usual Escrow Agreement accepted by the County and recommended approval of the agreement with the addition of the following wording in number one: “or any assigns or successors to first party. . . ”  On motion of Commr. Carson, seconded by Commr. Deems, and carried unanimously, the Board approved the Escrow Agreement for Woodhaven Mobile Home Subdivision as submitted with the stipulated change as recommended by the County Attorney.

insurance

At 10:00 A.M. the Chairman announced that the advertised time had arrived to open Insurance Bids to cover Lake County’s needs for the year 1976.

The Clerk read the proof of publication and the bids are as follows:

WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION

HOLSTEIN, CHURCH & PICKERING, INC.                       Continue with present Iowa National                                                                                                                         Mutual Ins. Co. premium at $50,886.00

 

HOLSTEIN, CHURCH & PICKERING, INC.                       $55,861.00

Iowa National Mutual Ins. Co.

 

LASSITER-WARE INSURANCE COMPANY                     $50,883.00

United States Fidelity and Guaranty Co.

 

LEESBURG INSURANCE AGENCY                                   $73,031.00

Maryland Casualty Co. of Baltimore

 

OCCUPATIONAL DEATH

 

LASSITER-WARE INSURANCE COMPANY                     $1,096.20

Continental Casualty Co. of Baltimore

 

LEESBURG INSURANCE AGENCY                                   $1,607.20

Maryland Casualty Company of Baltimore

 

GENERAL LIABILITY

 

HOLSTEIN, CHURCH & PICKERING, INC.

Auto-Owners Insurance Company                                         $48,296.00 (does not include

                                                                                                Errors or Omissions and

                                                                                                Hospital Professional

                                                                                                Liability)

 

UMBRELLA

 

NO BIDS

 

The above bids were referred to the Insurance Committee for review and recommendation to the Board later in the morning.

accounts allowed

The Board returned to the discussion regarding the requested payment of $2,000 from King Helie.

Commr. Deems stated that the Board should approve further payment for the services rendered by Mr. Helie.  Discussion was held and an evaluation was made of the work performed by Mr. Helie which was not outlined in the contract.

On a motion of Commr. Deems, seconded by Commr. Windram, and carried the Board approved payment to Mr. Helie in the amount of $1,000 provided that this be accepted by Mr. Helie as the termination of the contract and that the County Attorney is to draw the necessary documents effecting same and have them signed by the necessary parties.

Mr. Helie stated that this was agreeable to him and would sign the necessary papers as soon as they are received by the County Attorney.  Commr. Carson and Commr. Burhans voted “no.”

On a motion by Commr. Windram, seconded by Commr. Deems, and carried, the Board approved the transfer from Contingency the necessary funds for the above action if it is not available in “Contracted Services” in the budget of the Planning Department.  Commr. Carson and Commr. Burhans voted “no.”

animals

Mr. Watkins informed the Board that it did not take formal action on the approval of the spaying program as discussed by the Board on December 16, 1975, and needed a formal motion as to the direction the Board wanted to take in this matter.  Commr. Deems stated that he did not feel the County had the right to keep such a tight hold on the bequest of Doctor Crum because he left it to the Animal Shelter for its use and had to leave it in the name of the County for the Shelter due to the fact that the Animal Shelter was not incorporated.  It was the feeling of the Board that the individuals operating the Animal Shelter would use these funds in the best way possible and would like to contract with the Animal Shelter for the operation of the spaying program rather than have the County operate the said program.

On a motion by Commr. Carson, seconded by Commr. Deems, and carried unanimously, the Board approved for the County Attorney to draw the necessary contract documents outlining the spaying program and designating the Friends of the Animal Shelter as the body which will operate said program.  The Board also authorized the Clerk and County Attorney to take any action necessary to establish this program.

insurance

The Committee returned to the Board with its recommendations and the following action was taken.  On motion of Commr. Carson, seconded by Commr. Windram, and carried unanimously, the Board accepted the bid of Lassiter-Ware Insurance Company for Occupational Death Coverage at a premium of $1,096.20 to be the best and lowest of those received.

On motion of Commr. Carson, seconded by Commr. Burhans, and carried unanimously, the Board accepted the bid from Lassiter-Ware Insurance Company for Workmen’s Compensation coverage at a premium of $50,883.00 being the best and lowest of those received.

On motion of Commr. Deems, seconded by Commr. Carson, and carried unanimously, the Board accepted the bid for General Liability Coverage from Holstein, Church & Pickering, Inc. at a premium of $48,296.00  This bid is accepted with the understanding that it does not meet the specifications but an emergency was declared due to the fact that the County’s present General Liability Insurance Coverage expires December 31, 1975, at 12:00 midnight.

On motion of Commr. Carson, seconded by Commr. Deems, and carried unanimously, the Board authorized the Clerk to secure Comprehensive Hospital Liability Insurance coverage for the Lake County Nursing Home from Lassiter-Ware at a premium of $6,476.00.  This action was taken because the specification for the General Liability Insurance was supposed to include this coverage but when the bid was received this coverage was excluded from the submitted bid and this insurance coverage expires December 31, 1975, at 12:00 midnight.

appointments

At this time Commr. Carson stated that further investigation was made and it was determined that Mr. James A. Stivender does not have to resign as a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission.  On a motion by Commr. Carson, seconded by Commr. Deems, and carried unanimously, the Board rescinded its action of December 16, 1975, and reappointed Mr. Stivender as a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission.

insurance

At this time Mr. Ford, County Attorney, advised that the Board establish a committee to investigate the possibility of County self-insuring itself due to the exorbitant premiums the County is forced to pay due to the abolishment of Sovereign Immunity by the Legislature.

A brief discussion was held on the possibility of having Sovereign Immunity reinstated.

On a motion by Commr. Carson, seconded by Commr. Windram and carried unanimously, the Board approved the necessary transfers be made from Contingency for payment of the premiums for Insurance Coverage which was approved by the Board.

There being no further business to be brought before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 12:30 p.m.

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thomas j. windram, chairman

 

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James C. Watkins, Clerk