Minutes
Town of Shalimar
Commission Meeting
August 14, 2001
CALL TO ORDER: The regular meeting of the Shalimar
Town Commission was called to order by Mayor Gary Combs at 6:07 p.m. in Town
Hall chambers. He led the “Pledge of
Allegiance” to the Flag.
ROLL CALL FOR
THE RECORD:
Mayor Gary
Combs: present
Mayor Pro Tem
Elaine Tucker: present
Commissioner John
Henderson: present
Commissioner
Ricardo Garcia: present
Commissioner Kevin
Reeves: present
Others
in attendance: Town Manager Tom Burns, Deputy Town Clerk Tina Smith, Rik
Larson, George H. Whitehurst, Samuel H. Hayes, Bob Lynn, Ken Neilson, and Town
Attorney Mike Chesser
OLD BUSINESS:
I.
APPROVE MINUTES OF JULY 10, 2001 TOWN COMMISSION MEETING – Commissioner Garcia moved to approve the
minutes. Commissioner Henderson
seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
II.
APPROVE MINUTES OF JULY 10, 2001 BUDGET WORKSHOP I – Commissioner Tucker moved to approve the
minutes. Commissioner Henderson
seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
III.
APPROVE MINUTES OF JULY 17, 2001 BUDGET WORKSHOP II – Commissioner Tucker moved to approve the
minutes. Commissioner Henderson
seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
IV. MAYOR WHITEHURST’S TIME – VETERAN’S
MEMORIAL FUNDING – Crestview Mayor, George Whitehurst explained how the idea
for the memorial came about. He then
introduced Bob Lynn who briefed the commission about the reason for the
memorial, the materials that will be used to build the memorial, and provisions
for future additions. Following the
briefing the commission decided to put the Memorial Funding on the agenda for
the first budget hearing.
V.
TOWN ATTORNEY REPORT – Town Attorney Mike Chesser’s only
item was the Racetrac issue. It was
mentioned that the Commission move to dismiss the case. Attorney Chesser said that he didn’t feel
that the judge would dismiss it at this point.
His suggestion was to wait 12 months and if Petermann/Racetrac doesn’t
do anything in that time frame, then we can move to dismiss the case. Mayor Combs asked Town Manager, Tom Burns if
he had any questions for Attorney Chesser.
Manager Burns indicated that he had included some questions in Attorney
Chesser’s meeting folder. After reading
the included copy of the town’s alcohol sales ordinance, Attorney Chesser
opined that the ordinance on hours of alcohol sales could be interpreted to
apply only to those businesses selling alcohol primarily for consumption on the
premises. The second question for
Attorney Chesser was concerning possible liability of The Town of Shalimar in
dealing with Invasion of Privacy and the messages on the Town Marquee. Attorney Chesser mentioned that it was a
possibility for the town, without any written disclaimer, to be held liable. The Commission decided that Manager Burns
and Deputy Town Clerk, Tina Smith should draft up a hold harmless agreement for
anyone requesting a message for the sign.
The last question on the list was regarding code enforcement. Manager Burns asked what type of laws could
be enforced by ticketing and how the town would go about enforcing them. Attorney Chesser explained that the town
could only enforce what the town code book deems a misdemeanor. It was decided that a part of the Code of
Ordinance book would have something that mentions what the Commission decides
is a misdemeanor.
VI.
TOWN HALL RENOVATION
- Before the renovation folder is closed, the mayor asked Commissioner
Reeves what he could do about extending the commission table, changing the
countertop on the table, and covering the front of the commission table. Elaine asked that a stereo system be added
to the budget review.
VII.
CHEROKEE PARK PROPERTY ACQUISITION – The mayor talked to Mr.
Butch Rials and was told that the affidavit has been signed and should be at
Mr. Rials’ attorney’s office. The attorney
is out of town at this time. Mr. Rials
gave the town permission to send a letter to the renter of the property giving
the renter all of the updated information on the sale. For demolition of the house, Elaine
mentioned contacting the Fire Department to see if they would do it. Tom said that he would contact them.
VIII.
SHALIMAR PLANTATION LANDSCAPING – Commissioner Tucker motioned to accept their letter as written and
approve it. Commissioner Reeves
seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Tom will draft up a letter to the homeowners
explaining the decision of the commission.
NEW BUSINESS:
I. TOWN
RESIDENTS' TIME - MAYOR COMBS – Resident, Kevin Reeves, asked that the park
behind his house be mowed. Manager
Burns will inform the Maintenance Department about this and it will be taken
care of.
II. PARK
ORDINANCE –2001-04 – Tom will recommend changes for the park ordinance, redraft
it, and send it out to everyone. The
mayor said that he would like to rescind the old Cherokee Park Ordinance. The first reading of the new ordinance will
be at the next meeting.
III.
CODE OF ORDINANCE UPDATE – The Mayor asked that the
commissioners and town staff look through the code of ordinances and work on
fixing any of the ordinances that are unenforceable before codification. Commissioner Henderson volunteered to redo
the dock ordinance.
IV.
CONSTITUTION ANNIVERSARY PROCLAMATION – 2001-01 – Commissioner Henderson moved to accept
Proclamation 2001-01. Commissioner
Garcia seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
V.
RESOLUTION 2001-12 – TOWN CREDIT CARD/AMENDMENT TO
ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY 2000 – Commissioner
Henderson moved to accept Resolution 2001-12.
Commissioner Tucker seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
MAYOR COMBS
REPORT:
I. OKALOOSA
COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES REPORT – Mayor Combs reported that the whole meeting
was about the Penny for Progress campaign.
II.
WEB PAGE – The web page is close to finalization. The mayor typed up a drafting document of
what he wants to be done to the web site and asked for input. Everyone was also told if errors are found
on the site to inform either Deputy Clerk, Tina Smith, or himself, Mayor
Combs. The site is finally moved to the
new hosting site and the e-mail is fixed.
The mayor would like to do more for the business section of the site.
III. NEW
SERVICES TO RESIDENTS – The more services that we can provide to the residents
of the town, the better. The mayor
suggested that we rent out the town trailers to residents and, also, allow Jeff
to help residents out. John Henderson
mentioned the liability factor. Tom is
going to check into whether or not our Workman’s Comp will cover Jeff and if
our liability coverage will cover renting out the trailer. The choice was made to task Commissioner
Reeves to come up with a plan for town services.
COMMISSIONER
TUCKER'S REPORT:
I. FY01
FINANCIAL STATUS REPORT – Commissioner Tucker asked that we all try to curtail
spending as much as possible for the next couple of months. However, new rain gear will be purchased for
the Police Department.
II. COUNTY
ONE-CENT SALES TAX REFERENDUM – Penny for Progress meetings are being held
weekly in the town hall conference room at noon. At one of the Penny for Progress Meetings, Dennis Gilson
mentioned that each of the towns rewrite their Capital Improvement lists. Commissioner
Henderson moved that Commissioner Tucker be allowed to rewrite our Capital
Improvements list and be given the necessary assistance. Commissioner Tucker seconded the motion and
it passed unanimously. Commissioner Tucker also mentioned that we need
to schedule a Public Penny for Progress meeting/debate for the Town before
October 16. The date was set for
Tuesday, October 2 so that the announcement could go into the Tidbits. Also, the Tidbits will have to go out about
2 days early so that the residents will know about the meeting.
III. FY02 BUDGET REVIEW STATUS – The next Budget
hearing will be held on September 4, 2001 at The Town Hall.
COMMISSIONER
GARCIA'S REPORT:
I. VANGUARD
BANK PROPERTY – Commissioner Garcia could find nothing official or unofficial
that shows any historical influence for the building at 1280 North Eglin
Pkwy. He believes that it was not the
Shalimar Club. The Mayor will call
Vanguard and Cheers Pub to see if they can come to an agreement about the
property.
COMMISSIONER
REEVES' REPORT:
I. Commissioner Reeves asked that the Police
officers do something about Excalibur patrons test driving the cars down
Shalimar Drive. Sergeant Charles Self
said that he would talk to the dealership.
COMMISSIONER
HENDERSON'S REPORT:
I.
HIRING PROGRESS – Commissioner Henderson reported that the
Police Department is still short-handed.
Commissioner Henderson reminded everyone that it took 3 months before
Officer Spohn was able to be hired.
II.
CONTINGENCY FUND – Town Manager, Tom Burns, checked around
with the municipalities to see if their elected officials are compensated for
duties. After Mr. Burns read off his
findings, Commissioner Henderson
moved to begin paying all elected officials a stipend of $50 a month, payable
in one lump sum at the end of the year.
Commissioner Tucker seconded the motion (for discussion.) After discussion, the motion passed 3-2
(with nays for Mayor Combs and Commissioner Reeves.)
III.
POLICE SCHEDULES – Commissioner Henderson would like
Sergeant Charles Self to start work earlier to meet school zone coverage. He also mentioned to work the schedule “as
best as you can”. Town Manager Burns
mentioned that he would like for the Commissioners to start doing ride-alongs
with the police officers and to call them and schedule a date and time.
POLICE
REPORT:
I. MONTHLY
ACTIVITY REPORT – The mayor would like the Weekly Activity Reports (WAR) to be
more in-depth for all employees that work in The Town Hall.
I. TOWN
MANAGER REPORT – Town Manager, Tom Burns, briefed that he spent 45 minutes on
the phone with the Florida League of Cities Lawyer. The Town of Shalimar can not successfully sue Panhandle Animal
Welfare Society (PAWS) unless it is proven that PAWS has a monopoly in the
county and that the town receives absolutely no benefit from PAWS’
services. Manager Burns was instructed
to call Critter Getter to get information on what kinds of work they do and if
we could pay them on a case-by-case basis.
Also, Tom received a call from Rocky Bates regarding the scum in
Montague pond. Tom, in turn, called
Okaloosa Mosquito Control. The county
came out, said that the scum not a problem.
They commented that the pond looked great and put fish in the pond to
eat any mosquito larvae that may form.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
SEPTEMBER 4,
2001 5:05 PM BUDGET HEARING AND FIRST
READING OF ORDINANCE 2002-01 AND 2002-02
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
6:00 PM – REGULAR COMMISSION MEETING
ADJOURNMENT:
Commissioner
Henderson moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 p.m. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Tucker and it passed
unanimously.