MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF the BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
monday – FEBRUARY 1, 1971
The Board of County Commissioners of Lake County, Florida, convened in regular session in the Commissioners’ Room in the Courthouse, Tavares, Florida, on Monday, February 1, 1971, at 9:00 a.m. with the following members in attendance: J. M. Hoskinson, Chairman; James R. Carson, Jr., C. A. Deems, Thomas J. Windram and Kenneth VanAuken. Also present 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 given by Mr. VanAuken, and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited.
public health
On recommendation of Commr. Deems, the Mosquito Control Director was instructed to furnish legal description of proposed landfill site in the Okahumpka area to the County Attorney to prepare lease agreement at $1.00 per year for five years; and to obtain affidavits to the effect that the access road is a public road by prescription.
veterans service officer
J. B. Kirkpatrick, Commander, American Legion Post No. 76, appeared and presented letter from the State Director for Veterans Affairs, Melvin T. Dixon, recommending the combining of the Office of Civil Defense Coordinator and Veterans Service Officer. Mr. Dixon’s letter states that although there are two sides of the job combination, in his opinion it would make a stronger position with the proper overall supervision. In view of Mr. Dixon’s letter, Mr. Kirkpatrick withdrew his personal objection made at the last meeting, as well as the objection of his Legion Post, and endorsed combining the two offices.
On motion of Commr. Carson, seconded by Commr. Deems and carried, the Board agreed to combine the offices of Civil Defense Coordinator and Veterans Service Officer, and appointed Thomas E. Chapman, Jr. to the position of Veterans Service Officer, at an annual salary of $9,000 for both positions, to become effective immediately. The Civil Defense Office will remain in the Engineering Building and the Veterans Service Office will remain in the Pioneer Building.
civil defense
Mutual Aid Pact between Sumter, Hernando, Citrus, Levy, Marion and Lake Counties was referred to the Chairman for study and review.
laws and legislature
On motion of Commr. Carson, seconded by Commr. Windram and carried, a Resolution was adopted requesting the Lake County Legislation Delegation to oppose House Bill No. 31, pre-filed by Senator Saylor on November 17, 1970 to abolish local pollution control boards.
On motion of Commr. Windram, seconded by Commr. Carson and carried, the Clerk was instructed to request the Legislative Delegation to keep the Board informed of the particulars of any proposed or pre-filed legislation concerning the acquisition of road rights of way, and any other legislation affecting Lake County.
On recommendation of the Attorney and on motion of Commr. Windram, seconded by Commr. Deems and carried, the Attorney was directed to prepare Special Acts on the following subjects and present same to the legislative delegation by February 5, 1971:
1. An Act providing for Annual Budgets of all County Officers.
2. An Act disclosing financial operations of all offices.
3. An Act providing for reimbursement to County Commissioners for travel expense.
4. An Act amending the qualifications of the Pollution Control Officer.
5. An Act relating to the purchase, lease, gift of County Property.
6. An Act amending the appointment of the members of the Board of Adjustment.
7. An Act authorizing Lake County to grant franchises and charge franchise fees.
8. An Act correcting other Acts to show the proper population of Lake County, and have Lake County included in the proper population category.
ordinances
It now being the time advertised to consider for adoption an Ordinance concerning the sale or distribution of synthetic detergent or detergents; regarding phosphate builders or phosphorus ingredients; providing definitions; prohibiting sale or distribution of any detergent containing any phosphorus after January 1, 1972; providing penalties, providing an effective date, the Chairman called for interested persons to be heard. No one appeared to object to the Ordinance, and the Clerk left the room to determine if anyone in the Courthouse wanted to be heard, and upon returning to the room, announced no one wished to object. Commr. Carson moved that the Board waive the reading of the full bill, and the Ordinance was read by title only and placed on final passage. The motion was seconded by Commr. VanAuken and unanimously carried.
Commr. VanAuken presented letter from the Mosquito Control Director advising of a violation of Ordinance 70-1 in Dona Vista and recommending action to force the guilty party to comply with the Ordinance. Chairman Hoskinson reported on a similar violation in Tropical Shores by Macasphalt Corp. The Attorney was instructed to notify the owners that legal action will be commenced under the County Ordinance 70-1.
roads – SUBDIVISIONs
On motion of Commr. Carson, seconded by Commr. Windram and carried, the Board approved for the residents in Tropical Shores Subdivision to pay the cost of materials to patch the streets in the subdivision with the work being done by the Road and Bridge Department.
road closings
It now being the time advertised to consider a petition to close and abandon portions of platted streets, and no one appeared to object to the closing, a motion was made by Commr. VanAuken, seconded by Commr. Windram and carried, that the Board adopt a Resolution closing the following described streets:
That portion of Cordelia Street, lying Northwesterly of State Road 44, less and except the following: From the Southeast corner of the Southwest quarter of Section 34, Township 18 South, Range 26 East, run West 46.42 feet, run thence 62° 45’ West 693.40 feet for Point of Beginning; that portion of Cordelia Street lying Northwest of the said Point of Beginning for a distance of 250 feet.
All of the above descriptions being according to that plat described as Partial Re-Plat of Fort Mason, which plat is filed and recorded in Public Records of Lake County, Florida, in Plat Book 11, Page 27.
road and bridge department
On motion of Commr. Carson, seconded by Commr. Deems and carried, the Road and Bridge Department was authorized to lease a pump to Brevard County at a rental rate of $1.00 per year or any part thereof, and not at the normal rental rate, due to the mutual aid agreement between the Central Florida Counties under the Civil Defense Program.
taxes delinquent
On motion of Commr. Carson, seconded by Commr. Windram and carried, the Board designated the Eustis Lake Region News as the newspaper to publish the delinquent tax list for 1970, and the Notice of the Tax Adjustment Board.
bonds – miscellaneous
Bonds to carry firearms for the following were approved on motion of Commr. Carson, seconded by Commr. Windram and carried:
W. E. Woods
Harvey P. Young
Contractors’ bonds for Certificates of Competency as follows were approved on motion of Commr. Windram, seconded by Commr. VanAuken and carried:
No. 564 – James E. Liles
565 – L. J. Rilea
448 – Daly Aluminum Products, Inc. (Cancel)
457 – Gordon E. Lee – Wallis Electric Co. (Cancel)
Deputy Sheriff bonds for the following were approved on motion of Commr. Windram, seconded by Commr. Deems and carried:
William H. Boyett
Edge C. Roberson
DEEDS
On motion of Commr. Windram, seconded by Commr. Carson and carried, right of way deed conveying the following described property to Lake County was accepted and ordered same recorded upon the public records:
GRANTOR: Leslie R. Huffstetler, Jr.
A strip of land 20 feet wide along the south line of Lot 3, Block 151, lying 20 feet north of the centerline of the road shown on the map of Eustis Official Map, recorded in Plat Book 1, Page 79, Public Records of Lake County, Florida.
insurance
Bob Boswell, Agent for Time Insurance Company, appeared and submitted a summary of the participation and loss ratio of the County Employees’ Group Insurance Plan. Mr. Boswell advised in order for Time Insurance to stay on the risk, it will be necessary to increase the premiums. After reviewing the summary submitted by Mr. Boswell, Commr. Carson moved that the County’s portion of the premiums for each employee be increased from $1.86 to $3.76, effective May 1, 1971. The motion was seconded by Commr. VanAuken and carried.
recess and reassembly
The meeting recessed for lunch at twelve o’clock noon and reconvened at 2:00 o’clock P.M. to take up the remaining items of business.
schools
Mayor Fred Stover of the City of Tavares appeared and asked the County to deliver approximately thirty-five (35) loads of clay to the Tavares High School baseball field. On advice from the Attorney that this is a proper expense inasmuch as the property is owned by the Lake County School Board, the Board agreed to haul the clay free of charge and the school to pay the cost of the clay.
hospitals
The action of the Chairman and Clerk in approving application to the W. T. Edwards Tuberculosis Hospital for Allie Marie Vickery, was approved on motion of Commr. Carson, seconded by Commr. Windram and carried.
elections
Request from the City of Umatilla for the use of two voting machines in the city election to be held December 7, 1971, was approved on motion of Commr. VanAuken, seconded by Commr. Carson and carried.
county property
Commr. Windram reported he has investigated the request of the State Attorney for office space in the Old Health Department Building, and finds that the space is not adequate. He suggested that the Building Administrator pursue this and recommend any changes that may accommodate the State Attorney.
Clerk Owens presented letter from the City of Tavares agreeing to the parking change on Sinclair Avenue from parallel to angle, under the supervision of the City Administrator. Engineer Norton recommended that the parking be left as it is because of the width of the street, and that the County property on Ruby Street be used as a parking lot.
county employees
Planning Director J. C. Watkins appeared and introduced Sam Mazzota, employed as Associate Planner effective today.
On motion of Commr. Windram, seconded by Commr. VanAuken and carried, the Board approved part-time help in the Veterans Service Office, Thelma Kilgore, through the month of February; and authorized increase in salary for Lorrine Retey to $5200.00 annually effective February 1, 1971, due to the additional responsibilities given to Mrs. Retey.
roads – county
On direction of the Chairman, the Attorney was instructed to contact John Wilkerson and ask his cooperation in removing the barrier he has erected across County Road #5-5727.
roads – state
A letter and maps were referred to the Chairman from the Department of Transportation relative to a forecast of Florida’s 1970-1990 transportation needs for submission to the United States Congress as a part of a National Transportation Planning Study, and suggesting that Lake County participate in the public hearings planned to consider the long range study.
communications
Notice from the Department of Agriculture that the U. S. Forest Service has optioned to buy land in Lake County that will consolidate ownership of the Ocala National Forest was read and filed.
Notice from the Corps of Engineers of a public meeting to be held at the office of the Southwest Florida Water Management District on February 23, 1971 concerning improvements for flood control in the Four River Basin, was read and filed.
Official State and Federal Census Comparison Report of 1960 and 1970 population was filed.
Recommendations of the Ocala Jaycees concerning the Ocala National Forest was filed and copy of same furnished to members of the Board.
Letter from Apshawa Groves, Inc. relative to Conditional Use Permit No. 222-3 for a nursing home within the property of the Africa Inland Mission was read and filed.
suits affecting county
Attorney Ford advised there will be a hearing in the Judge’s Chambers on February 4, 1971 at 10:00 o’clock A.M. on the new bond issue and requested that at least two members of the Board be present.
The Attorney also advised he has filed supplemental brief in the Dora Canal suit.
reports
Reports for the months of December and January from the Veterans Service Officer were filed.
Report of the cigarette tax collections and distributions for the months of October and November 1970 were filed.
accounts allowed
On motion of Commr. Carson, seconded by Commr. Deems and carried, the Board approved repairs to the Courthouse roof in the amount of $995.00.
There being no further business to bring before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m.
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CLERK chairman