A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

august 30, 1977

The Lake County Board of County Commissioners convened in special session on Tuesday, August 30, 1977, at 9:00 a.m., in the Board of County Commissioners’ Room, Courthouse, Tavares, Florida.  Present were:  C.A. “Lex” Deems, Chairman; Thomas J. Windram; Glenn C. Burhans; James R. Carson, Jr.; and J. M. Hoskinson.  Others present were: James C. Watkins, Clerk; Christopher C. Ford, County Attorney; and Andrea Gambrell, Deputy Clerk.

The Invocation was given by James R. Carson, Jr., who also led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

tax levy/municipalities

Commr. Deems presented to the Board a letter from Burton Brown, President of the Lake County League of Cities, which informed the Board that the League of Cities is recommending that the Lake County Board of County Commissioners retain the .82 Road and Bridge Tax Millage of which one half is given to the cities. Discussion was held.

On a motion by Commr. Carson, seconded by Commr. Hoskinson and carried unanimously, the Board directed the Finance Department to include into the County Budget for the Fiscal Year 1977-1978 .82 mills in the Road and Bridge Tax Millage for consideration by the Board of County Commissioners when it holds its public hearing on the adoption of the County Budget and the Levy of the millage in Lake County.

Commr. Hoskinson asked if the cities had any further comments on the matter.  Mr. Brown stated that the cities had discussed the possibility in the future that this millage be dropped entirely.

budgets

Commr. Deems stated that the Finance Department needed direction as to how it should use the remaining funds in the Capital Outlay Reserve Fund for the County Buildings.  He stated that there are only certain things for which these funds may be used.  Discussion was held on using this money for the construction of a morgue and the purchase of land for landfills, which is a number one priority in Lake County.

After discussion of this matter, the Board directed the Finance Department to allocate this money to the construction of a County Morgue and for Land Acquisition.

Commr. Deems requested if the Board still wished for the Purchasing Department to buy supplies in bulk and store them in the warehouse for consumption by the County.  It was the feeling of the Board that this was the County’s intention.  The Board directed the Finance Department to establish an account for bulk purchasing by the Purchasing Department in the amount of $20,000.

Commr. Deems informed the Board that this action will not allow the Purchasing Department to begin buying in bulk without prior approval of the Board as to the exact item and its quantity.

Commr. Deems stated that Mrs. Nancy Walsh of the Division of Family Planning in Eustis had contacted him several times regarding its request for support funding from the County.  Discussion was held.  Commr. Windram stated that he would like to obtain from Doctor June Murray, Director of the Lake County Health Department, her evaluation and recommendation on the Program before the Board takes formal action on whether or not to allocate funds for its support.  Commr. Carson voiced his opinion that there are several worthwhile programs in Lake County and feels that the County should not be responsible for funding a program when its Federal Funding is reduced.

No action will be taken on this matter until Commr. Windram has had an opportunity to discuss this program with Dr. June Murray.

county employees/salaries

Commr. Deems discussed with the Board the salary of Mr. Ed Duvall.  After detailed discussion, it was moved by Commr. Windram to set the salary of Ed Duvall for the 1977-1978 Fiscal Year at $13,000.  This was seconded by Commr. Carson and carried unanimously.

Commr. Deems informed the Board that Laurie Morgan, Secretary to the County Engineer, had submitted her resignation and was giving a one-week notice.  Discussion was held regarding the amount of training which will be needed for her replacement.  On a motion by Commr. Hoskinson, seconded by Commr. Burhans and carried unanimously, the Board approved the overlapping of one week’s salary for the position held by Laurie Morgan for the purpose of training her replacement.

jails/municipalities

Mr. Burton Brown asked the Board if it was going to discuss the charging of municipalities for housing their prisoners in the County Jail.  Commr. Deems announced that the Board had been polled about this request, and that the majority of the Board was in favor of dropping those charges which the municipalities have been billed.

On a motion by Commr. Carson, seconded by Commr. Hoskinson and carried unanimously, the Board directed the Finance Department to eliminate from the County’s Budget those expected funds from the municipalities which the County has received in the past for housing municipal prisoners in the County Jail.

Mrs. Pat Farner, Councilwoman of Tavares, voiced her views on the many ways in which the City Police assist the County Sheriff’s Department in the apprehension of criminals when they are within the City.  She felt that since the cities compliment the County, the cities should not be charged for housing city prisoners in the County Jail.

There being no further business to be brought before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 10:05 a.m.

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C.A. “Lex” deems, chairman

 

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James C. Watkins, Clerk