MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

 WEDNESDAY – SEPTEMBER 6, 1972

The Board of County Commissioners of Lake County, Florida, convened in special session in the Small Claims Court Room, in the Courthouse, Tavares, Florida, on Wednesday, September 6, 1972, at 9:30 o’clock a.m. for the purpose of considering budget requests and hearing recommendations from members of the Committee regarding space and court problems created by the implementation of Article V, and any other business which might be brought before the Board.

The Chairman called the meeting to order with the following members present:  Thomas J. Windram, Chairman; James R. Carson, Jr.; C. A. Deems; J. M. Hoskinson; and Kenneth VanAuken.  Others present were: Frank E. Owens, Clerk of Circuit Court; W. Troy Hall, Jr., Circuit Judge; P. C. Gorman, C. E. Duncan, Dewey Burnsed and Norma H. Coven, Deputy Clerk.

The Chairman announced the Board will hear recommendations first on the Courthouse allocation of space.

Mr. Gorman informed the Board one of the duties of the Chief Judge is to allocate space for the use of the Courts.  Since our last meeting, we have received correspondence from Judge Booth designating Judge Hall as Administrative Judge of the Circuit Court and Judge Aulls as Administrative Judge of the County Courts.  In view of this, the Committee feels we should amend some of our recommendations to the Board which are as follows:

1.         Allocate the same Court space to the Administrative Judges.  The Administrative Judges will allocate the space pertaining to all Court related officers.

Judge Hall recommended that the present Small Claims Court be designated as offices for the civil portion of the County Judges’ Court, and the wall between the Judges' hearing room and the State Auditor’s office be removed and other space found for the Auditor.

Judge Hall said it is his understanding that the State Attorney has agreed to handle the intake of all criminal cases and he will need space on the first floor of the Courthouse in order to handle the work.  He recommended that the office of the Supervisor of Elections be used for this purpose and find other space for the Supervisor.  He also recommended that space in the Courthouse be allotted to the Public Defender.

After further discussion, the following recommendations of the Committee were accepted for future consideration:

Recommendations of the Committee on Lake County Courthouse allocation of space.

FIFTH FLOOR –

 

            Allocated to the Administrative Judge of the Circuit Court.

 

FOURTH FLOOR –

 

            Allocated to the Courts.

 

THIRD FLOOR –

 

            Allocated to the Administrative Judge of the County Court.

 

SECOND FLOOR –

 

The room designated as “County Commissioners’’ Meeting Room” will be utilized as a Court Room and jointly as the County Commissioners’’ Meeting Room.

 

The remainder of the space on the second floor will be utilized by the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

 

(According to Judge Booth’s letter of September 21, 1972, the Clerk of the Circuit Court will have the authorization to assign the use of the Court Room on the Second Floor.)

 

            FIRST FLOOR –

 

The office of the Small Claims Court will be vacated and utilized by the Courts.

 

The office designated on the floor plan as “Juvenile Dept. and Juvenile Counselor” will be utilized as the Finance Dept. and the Board of County Commissioners.

 

The Supervisor of Elections will continue to occupy the space now utilized.

 

The area designed “Women Employees Lounge” will be assigned to the Courts to be used by the State Attorney.

 

            COURT ROOMS –

 

The fourth floor Court Room will be designated as COURT ROOM B.

 

The County Commissioners’ Meeting Room on the second floor will be designated as COURT ROOM C.

 

Any of the designated Court Rooms may be used for either Circuit Court or County Court.  The Administrative Judges will designate and assign the use of the Court Rooms, depending upon the request and requirements of the Judges of the Courts.

 

The Chairman thanked the Committee for their diligent work and interest and the Committee adjourned; and the following Board business was considered:

bonds – miscellaneous

On motion of Commr. Hoskinson, seconded by Commr. Deems and unanimously carried, Fidelity Bond on Frank S. Bouis as a Member of the Oklawaha Basin Recreation Water Conservation and Control Authority was approved.

county employees

On motion of Commr. Deems, seconded by Commr. VanAuken and unanimously carried, the Board approved payment to Dan Heald for vacation leave, due to the fact that he is unable to take the time because of the elections.

After consideration of budget requests, the meeting adjourned.

 

_________________________________                                                                              _______________________________

CLERK                                                                                                                                   chairman