Minutes

Town of Shalimar

Commission Meeting

August 12, 2003

 

CALL TO ORDER:  Mayor Pro-Tem Rik Larson called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in Town Hall chambers.  He led the "Pledge of Allegiance" to the Flag.

 

ROLL CALL FOR THE RECORD: 

            Mayor Gary Combs:  absent           

            Mayor Pro-Tem Rik Larson:  present       

            Commissioner Ursel Behnken:  absent    

            Commissioner Kevin Reeves:  present     

            Commissioner Jerry McCallister:  present           

         

Others in attendance:  Town Manager Tom Burns , Police Chief Charles Self, Deputy Town Clerk Tina Smith, Attorney Karen Arnett (for Mike Chesser), and Tom Mason from Shalimar Little League (just sitting in).

 

PLANNING AND ZONING BUSINESS:  Review Minutes from the July 30, 2003 Planning and Zoning Meeting - After looking over the attached minutes, Commissioner McCallister moved to accept the recommendations of the Planning and Zoning Board regarding Cotton and Gates’ (mini storage) request for setback variances for the west and the south lot lines as dictated on the engineering plans.  Commissioner Reeves seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.  There was some question about the business hours for the mini storage.  Manager Burns stated that it was decided at the Planning and Zoning Meeting that the mini storage could operate until 10:00 p.m. and the specifications will be written in the Development order.

 

Commissioner Larson asked about the drainage at Racetrac and 2nd Avenue .  Manager Burns briefed the commission that nothing had yet been done about this issue.

 

TOWN RESIDENTS' TIME:  There were no residents present.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

I.                     APPROVE MINUTES OF THE JULY 8, 2003 MEETING - Commissioner McCallister moved to approve the minutes of the July 8, 2003 meeting as written.  Commissioner Reeves seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

I.                 BILLBOARD APPLICATION UPDATE -- Town Manager Burns reviewed the history of the Billboard Application.  He also explained the 3 attachments in the meeting folders.  The Billboard Company has appealed Manager Burns' application disapproval and Manager Burns has drafted up a response letter that will be mailed out tomorrow. 

II.                CLEAN WATER RESOLUTION 2003-14 -- Commissioner Reeves moved to approve Resolution 2003-14 (Clean water) as written.  Commissioner McCallister seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.  The commission directed Manager Burns to find out if Shalimar Yacht Basin charges a fee for their pump out service.

III.               RENUMBER PERSONNEL POLICY RESOLUTION FROM 2003-08 TO 2003-13 -- Deputy Clerk Tina Smith included a list of all Resolutions passed this fiscal year to show the need for renumbering.  She mistakenly numbered a resolution with a number that was already in use.  Everyone was in agreement that one of these resolutions needed to be numbered with the next available number.

 

MAYOR COMBS' REPORT:

I.                 OKALOOSA COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES REPORT -- Mayor Combs is out of town.  The biggest issue with the League of Cities is the clean water resolution that the Shalimar Commission passed tonight.

 

TOWN ATTORNEY'S REPORT:  Regarding the Snug Harbor parking issue, Attorney Karen Arnett explained that the subdivision cannot enforce private covenants on public property.  She discussed the issue with Town Attorney Mike Chesser and he thought the only way the town could affect this type of change would be an ordinance that is applicable to the entire town. 

 

She also reviewed the second issue on the request to buy the Meigs Executive Park property.  That property has to be sold by bid and if it was sold by bid it still has to remain viable for the retention use.  If the buyer uses it for anything else they will still have to provide a retention area.  If we only sell the part of the area that does not serve as a retention area there would be no problem.  Manager Burns briefed that Brad Davis with Bonezzi Development told him the land was developed by Bonezzi and the town couldn’t sell it.  Manager Burns asked Attorney Arnett if she would call Mr. Bonezzi’s attorney to find the accuracy of Mr. Davis’ statement.

 

Commissioner McCallister asked about Mr. Davis’ idea about the 50/50 split of the property.  Attorney Arnett’s general understanding is that when the property is vacated 50% goes to each adjacent homeowner.  She thinks there is an exception if all of the land is part of the subdivision then all of it goes with the subdivision. 

The next issue was vacating the 2 easements adjacent to Meigs Executive Park .  The Town could decide to quit claim the public access to the individual homeowners if there is no need for access by the city but there will still be the private right of the individuals in the subdivision.  If the homeowners in the subdivision agree to it then town could quit claim.  Manager Burns asked how the town would go about doing that.  Attorney Arnett explained that the matter is up to the homeowner’s association as to how they wanted to handle it.  She suggested that the town get an agreement from the association and Manager Burns iterated that he felt the Mayor definitely wanted that agreement before making any decisions.

 

COMMISSIONER LARSON'S REPORT:  Commissioner Larson produced a letter from the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA) that was in his box.  In the letter the CBA is asking for support and Commissioner Larson felt that this was a good cause and suggested donating $100.  Commissioner Reeves moved that The Town of Shalimar give the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance $100.  Commissioner McCallister seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

COMMISSIONER REEVES' REPORT:  Commissioner Reeves asked that the property behind his house be cleaned up.  He stated that it is now overgrown.  Manager Burns stated that the Maintenance Supervisor, Hugh Parker didn’t have a blade for the Bush hog and as soon as he gets a new one he will clean up that area.

 

COMMISSIONER BEHNKEN'S REPORT:  Commissioner Behnken was not present.

 

COMMISSIONER McCALLISTER'S REPORT: 

I.                 BUDGET REPORT – The only business Commissioner McCallister brought to the commission was that they have to set a date for the final budget meetings.  The meetings were set for 5:30 on September 9, 2003 (right before the next Commission Meeting) and September 18, 2003 at 5:30.

 

POLICE REPORT:  Chief Self had nothing to report. 

 

TOWN MANAGER UPDATE:

Manager Burns reported:

- The Basketball court is up in the park but the park is still not open

- We hope to have the roads in and out completed in order to close out the contract

- The Jacobcik Memorial Fountain is ready to be delivered

- One of the slabs was poured but had to be torn up because of the rain

- APAC is also waiting for the weather to dry up but the curbing work has been started

 

Commissioner McCallister asked Manager Burns about their drainage issue in Shalimar Commons.  Manager Burns agreed to attend the next Shalimar Commons Homeowner’s Association Meeting to brief the homeowners and answer questions.  Commissioner McCallister will inform Manager Burns of the time.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

          AUGUST 27, 2003 -- NEXT PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING, 6:00PM         

          SEPTEMBER 9, 2003 -- FIRST BUDGET HEARING, 5:30PM        

          SEPTEMBER 9, 2003 -- NEXT TOWN COMMISSION MEETING, 6:00PM 

          SEPTEMBER 25, 2003 -- OCLOC QUARTERLY DINNER, 6:00PM 

 

ADJOURNMENT:  Commissioner McCallister moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:00.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Reeves and passed unanimously.