CALL TO ORDER:  Mayor Gary Combs called the regular meeting of the Shalimar Town Commission to order at 6:01 p.m. in Town Hall chambers.  He led the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the Flag.

ROLL CALL FOR THE RECORD:

Others in attendance:  Town Manager Tom Burns, Town Attorney Mike Chesser, Police Chief Charles Self and spouse Deanna Self, Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Dowda, Deputy Town Clerk Tina Smith, and residents Shirley Reeves, Sally Henderson, Whee Cameron, Brent, Addie, and Anne Winjum, and Art Johanson all of Gardner Drive.  Also in attendance were Rik Larson of Old Ferry Road and Lisa Jo Spencer who accompanied Town Attorney Mike Chesser.

P&Z BOARD REVIEW:  Minutes from August Meeting were reviewed.  There was no action for the Town Commission.

OLD BUSINESS:

I.       APPROVE MINUTES OF January 8, 2002 TOWN COMMISSION MEETING – Commissioner Tucker moved to approve the minutes as written.  Commissioner Henderson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

II.      TOWN ATTORNEY REPORT – Referring to the Racetrack issue, Town Attorney Chesser stated that the judge added a 1-year extension.  Mr. Chesser feels that no more extensions will be added and that he has done everything needed to have the case dismissed.

III.     RENUMBER RESOLUTION 2002-01 (APPROVAL OF EXPENSE ALLOWANCE AMENDMENT) TO 2002-03 DUE TO ALREADY HAVING A 2002-01 (FRDAP GRANT) – The expense allowance resolution was voted on and passed on January 8, 2002.  All of the Commissioners agreed to the necessary change in numbering.

NEW BUSINESS:

I.       TOWN RESIDENTS' TIME – Town Resident Rik Larson informed the Commission that he took care of the cat problem in his back yard.

II.      GARDNER DRIVE/NO LEFT TURN SIGNAL POLL RESULTS – The results of the citizen-initiated straw poll were discussed.  Commissioner Henderson moved that we remove the “No left turn” sign on the corner of Eglin Pkwy. and Gardner Drive as per resident request.  Commissioner Garcia seconded the motion.  After discussion between the Commission and residents in attendance, the motion passed with Commissioner Tucker voting Nay.

MAYOR COMBS REPORT:

I.       The Mayor asked that all future permit requests be reviewed prior to permitting by himself or the Mayor Pro-Tem.  Town Manager Tom Burns asked that they discuss this later and the Mayor agreed to a later discussion with Manager Burns.

COMMISSIONER TUCKER'S REPORT:

I.       FY02 BUDGET STATUS – Commissioner Tucker stated that the final audit reports are in and if the Commissioners don’t want their copies of the reports, they should give them back to the town.

II.      DEFINITION OF A MISDEMEANOR – After Commissioner Tucker finished all of her other agenda items, she let Attorney Mike Chesser explain what he found out about misdemeanors.  He stated that it should state in an ordinance that “a violation of this ordinance will be considered a punishable act”.  When asked if we could pass an ordinance that made all town ordinances punishable as a misdemeanor, Attorney Chesser said that he had not ever seen the laws constructed like that and he would research and make sure it is legal to do it that way.

III.     SPRING TIDBITS – Commissioner Tucker asked that all Commissioners submit an article for the Spring Tidbits Newsletter which is due out next month.

IV.     OKALOOSA COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES (OCLOC) REPORT – Commissioner Tucker was unable to attend the last meeting but was able to report that the OCLOC 2002 Legislative Action Day will be February 20 in Tallahassee.

COMMISSIONER GARCIA'S REPORT:

I.       WALL ART FOR THE BOARDROOM – Commissioner Garcia has been in contact with a company that owns various old black and white pictures of the town and some of the buildings and people in the in town.  His idea is to buy some of these pictures and have them framed and matted and hung in the boardroom.  Mayor Combs stated that he didn’t need to be involved, and that if the budget allowed, we should proceed.  The Commission agreed to allow Commissioner Garcia to coordinate with Finance Commissioner Tucker and purchase the artwork.

II.      RIBBON CURB COMPLETE – PHOTOS – Commissioner Garcia pointed out the picture of the ribbon curbing that was in the commission folders and reported that the curbing is done.

III.     USING POND WATER TO WATER GRASS – Commissioner Garcia and Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Dowda talked to DEP and the EPA and both points of contact said that it was illegal to irrigate the pond area with pond water.  The law that each were quoted, however, does not support the prohibition.  Both Commissioner Garcia and Supervisor Dowda will do more research on the matter and report back.

IV.     PART TIME MAINTENANCE HELP – Commissioner Garcia reported that Hugh Parker, the part-time Maintenance person, resigned and that Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Dowda, had someone to help him for the rest of the week.  For help during the mowing season, it was suggested that Manager Burns and Supervisor Dowda research the prices on some local landscaping companies to see if one of them may be cheaper than a part-time person would be.  If no offers can be made with a company, some time in March the town will advertise for a new part-timer.  The new part-time person will not be guaranteed a minimum number of hours.

COMMISSIONER REEVES' REPORT:

I.       COMMISSIONER'S DESK UPDATE – Commissioner Reeves relayed that the old commission desk will be removed on Friday and that we need to make sure the length of the new desk section is as desired.

COMMISSIONER HENDERSON'S REPORT:

I.       DRAFT OF AMENDMENT TO POLICY – Commissioner Henderson informed everyone that a rough draft of an amendment allowing full-time Police Officers to use police vehicles for commuting to-and-from work was included in the Commissioner’s folders.  Mayor Combs asked that Commissioner Henderson, Town Manager Burns, and Chief Self get together and work out a final amendment to be e-mailed to everyone before the March meeting.

POLICE REPORT:

I.       MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT – Instead of including a hard copy of the Monthly report in the folders, the commission received an oral report from Chief Self.  Chief Self explained that a burglary had taken place the day before the meeting.  The Shalimar Police Department came together, caught the suspects, and recovered all of the stolen property.

Chief Self also explained that, although the new police department is not writing as many tickets as the old department did, they are doing new things in the town like checking all of the doors on the businesses to make sure that they are locked.

TOWN MANAGER UPDATE:

I.       Town Manager Tom Burns asked the Commission to look over the inventory removal request list included in their folders.  Commissioner Garcia made a motion to approve the disposal of the items on the list.  Commissioner Henderson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

II.      The Town received the paperwork from the county that required recording for the property acquisition project.  The reimbursement request has been mailed to Tallahassee.

III.     The engineers for the Clifford drainage problem and the right turn land on Cherokee Road will meet with Manager Burns on February 19.  Manager Burns and the engineers will make recommendations for action to the Planning and Zoning Board on February 27 at the monthly P & Z meeting.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

    March 12, 2002 -- Town Commission Meeting

ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Henderson moved to adjourn at 7:38 pm.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Garcia and it passed unanimously.