CALL TO ORDER:  Mayor Gary Combs called the regular meeting of the Shalimar Town Commission to order at 6:02 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 :  absent (had another engagement)

          Commissioner John Henderson:  present

          Commissioner Kevin Reeves :  present

          Commissioner Jerry McCallister :  present

Others in attendance:  Town Manager Tom Burns, Attorney Mike Chesser , Deputy Town Clerk Tina Smith, Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Dowda, Chief Charles Self, and residents Don E. Miller (185 Richbourg Avenue), Courtney and Brad Gable (139 Gardner Drive), Rik Larson (24 Old Ferry Road), and business representatives Steve and Paulette Peterson (Shalimar Yacht Basin) and Lynda Hammond (Carlson Wagonlit Travel Agency).

Before Mayor Combs started the meeting, he wanted to let Steve and Paulette Peterson brief the commission and the residents about the Poker Run so that they could leave.  Mr. Peterson relayed his update and Commissioner Henderson discussed some of the donations given by the town businesses.  Mr. Peterson also let everyone know that anyone that wants to help out on a dock is welcome.

P&Z BOARD REVIEW:  There was no P&Z meeting on July 31, 2002 so there are no recommendations.

OLD BUSINESS:

I.       APPROVE MINUTES OF JULY 9, 2002 TOWN COMMISSION MEETING – Commissioner Henderson moved to approve the minutes of the Commission meeting as written.  Commissioner McCallister seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

II.      TOWN ATTORNEY REPORT – Attorney Chesser stated once more that the Racetrac issue is over.  Commissioner Henderson brought up the agreement for the police department to have with any new officers.  Town Manager Tom Burns explained the status of the contract.  Manager Burns had drafted a contract and sent it to the attorney’s office but Attorney Chesser didn’t like the way it was worded and asked that the town work on it.  The town has a little time to work on it since we have no new hires coming on board any time soon.  Manager Burns broached the subject of the solicitation license.  Attorney Chesser stated that he would have to research the Supreme Court case and get back with the Commission when he had more information.

III.     REVIEW BIDS ON ALL 3 TOWN VEHICLES – Before the bids were opened, Commissioner McCallister explained to everyone that the #1 car was inoperable.  Commissioner McCallister moved to offer the highest bidder for car #1 at the offer given by the second highest bidder (and so on) with a reserve of $500.  After some discussion, Mayor Combs and Commissioner Henderson agreed that there should be no reserve.  Commissioner McCallister amended his motion to remove the $500 reserve.  Commissioner Reeves seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.  Mayor Combs told the staff that, since Town Manager Tom Burns put bids in on the cars, Deputy Clerk Tina Smith should handle calling the high bidders and the bidders on the #1 car.  The bid results are as follows:

IV.     UPDATE ON CLIFFORD DRAINAGE/CHEROKEE RIGHT TURN LANE PROJECTS – Town Manager Burns updated the Commission on the two projects.

NEW BUSINESS:

I.       TOWN RESIDENTS’ TIME – MAYOR COMBS – The residents that attended the meeting had no business.

II.      DISPOSAL OF INVENTORY ITEMS (TOWN CAR, BUSH HOG, GROOMING MOWER) – The town car has already been tra ded for work in kind, the bush hog has a crack in the housing and the grooming mower is broken and has already been replaced.  In order for the items to be removed from the inventory, the town needs a motion to ratify the disposition of items.  Commissioner Henderson moved that the town remove the items from the inventory and dispose of them as necessary.  Commissioner McCallister seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

MAYOR COMBS’ REPORT:

I.        OKALOOSA COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES REPORT – Mayor Combs attended the League of Cities Lunch.  He is still working on the Library Co-op and the PAWS issue.  The mayor is hoping that the town can go on without PAWS support right now.  Other than a few references to the above, nothing really happened at the lunch.

COMMISSIONER TUCKER’S REPORT:

Commissioner Tucker was at another meeting

COMMISSIONER REEVES’ REPORT:

Commissioner Reeves had no new business

COMMISSIONER HENDERSON’S REPORT:

I.        POKER RUN UPDATE – Commissioner Henderson stated that Mr. Peterson covered almost everything regarding the Poker Run.  He added that the town should add a “Thank You” message on the Marquee for the businesses that made donations.

COMMISSIONER McCALLISTER’S REPORT:

I.        FY02 BUDGET REPORT – Commissioner McCallister passed out the reports and went over a couple of the numbers.

POLICE REPORT:

I.        MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT – Chief Charles Self updated the Commission on the part-time trainee. 

TOWN MANAGER UPDATE:

Town Manager Tom Burns briefed the Commission on the proposed health insurance rates.  They are now based on age so they are a little cheaper than they were last year.  Also, before the next budget hearing, Manager Burns asked the commissioners to consider the town helping out with family coverage fees.  The mayor feels that it would be unfair to other employees. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Next Planning and Zoning Meeting – AUGUST 28, 2002 at 6:00 p.m.        

Tentative Budget Hearing – SEPTEMBER 10, 2002 at 5:30 p.m.

Next Commission Meeting – SEPTEMBER 10, 2002 at 6:00 p.m.

Final Budget Hearing – SEPTEMBER 17, 2002 at 5:30 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Henderson moved to adjourn at 6:53 p.m.   The motion was seconded by Commissioner McCallister and it passed unanimously.