Minutes

Town of Shalimar

Commission Meeting

October 14, 2003

 

CALL TO ORDER:  Mayor Gary Combs called the meeting to order at 6:03 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 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 Mike Chesser, and residents Herman Maranon, Joseph Livingston, James Foley, Ray Reeves, Joseph Ray, Carolyn Dengate and Steven Wood.

 

PLANNING AND ZONING BUSINESS:  The rescheduled Planning and Zoning meeting was held on Wednesday, September 10, 2003.  There was also a Planning and Zoning Meeting on the regularly scheduled date of September 24, 2003 – The Commission read over the Planning and Zoning minutes attached while Town Manager, Tom Burns briefed them on what took place at the meeting.  Commissioner Larson moved to approve the recommendations from the Planning and Zoning Board.  Commissioner Reeves seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

TOWN RESIDENTS' TIME:  Town Resident, Ray Reeves stated that he is unhappy with Manager Burns’ response to his dog barking problems at 13 Cherokee Road and 19 Gardner Drive.  Chief Self stated that he, along with other officers, has gone down to these residences on a number of occasions and did not hear incessant barking.  Attorney Chesser stated that he will make an inquiry to the County Attorney as to what the rest of the county is doing when they have this problem and will return to the next meeting with his suggestions.  Manager Burns directed the board to the inserts that he received from PAWS.  There is a cover letter and an attached log for residents to keep track of when these dogs bark for 20 minutes or longer.  Commissioner Reeves suggested giving these forms to the 2 residents in attendance and Manager Burns stated that, with the approval of the Commission, he would draft up a cover letter and pass these forms out to everyone in the neighborhood around the dogs.  The Commission agreed that everyone should get the logs so that it would be impartial to the pet owners.

 

Mr. Foley stated that there was still a speeding problem on Gardner Drive.  Mayor Combs briefed Mr. Foley that the speed humps (raised pedestrian crosswalk) would be added some time before the end of the year/beginning of next year.

 

Resident Steven Wood wanted to inform the Commission that he is still attempting to purchase the land behind his home but is still not able to get permission from the Homeowner’s Association.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

I.

 

APPROVE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 9, 2003 BUDGET HEARING I – Commissioner Larson moved to accept the minutes of the September 9, 2003 Budget Hearing as written.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Reeves and it passed unanimously.

II.

 

APPROVE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 9, 2003 COMMISSION MEETING – See next agenda item.

III.

 

APPROVE MINUTES OF THE SEPTEMBER 18, 2003 BUDGET HEARING II – Commissioner Larson moved to approve the minutes from the September 9, 2003 Commission Meeting and the September 18, 2003 Final Budget Hearing as written.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Larson and it passed unanimously.

IV.

 

MEIGS EXECUTIVE PARK PROPERTY – Before starting with this agenda item, Mayor Combs realized that he had skipped Town Resident’s time above and went back to it.

Attorney Chesser briefed the commission and residents present that the Meigs Executive Park Property could be sold.  However, there are a lot of different factors involved and too many possible outcomes that wouldn’t be favorable to the property owners.  His suggestion to the commission is that they not go any further with the idea.  The property acquisition proposal died for lack of a motion.

V.

 

VACATING 2 EASEMENTS IN SHALIMAR COMMONS – The easements in question lead from Shalimar Commons to Meigs Executive Park.  The Commission had earlier decided that the easement decision would not be settled until the park property decision was made.  The thinking is that since the park will remain the property of the Town, the easements should remain public.  There was no motion on this item and the vacation proposal died for lack of motion.

 

Mayor Combs suggested to the residents that the town put something in their Brande Court park (swing set, picnic table, etc.).  Shalimar Commons Homeowner’s Association was under the impression that the association could be sued if someone were hurt in the park.  The Commission assured the resident that this is not the case so they stated that they will consider the Town’s offer and get back with them.

         

NEW BUSINESS:

I.

 

COOKIES WITH COMMISSIONER RIGGS – Deputy Clerk Tina Smith explained that Commissioner Riggs wanted to come to the Town Hall before the next meeting for her “Cookies with Commissioner Riggs” which is a meeting for residents to attend and ask questions. 

II.

 

COMP PLAN UPDATE – Manager Burns stated that he needed authorization to update the Comp Plan.  Mayor Combs thinks it’s a great idea and told Manager Burns to contact the Institute for Senior Professionals for possible assistance.

                    

MAYOR COMBS’ REPORT:

I.

 

OKALOOSA COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES REPORT – Mayor Combs reported that he suggested moving the quarterly dinners from March, June, September and December to April, July, October and January.  The Executive Board noted that it would require the by-laws to be updated so they wanted all members to take the suggestion back to their councils/commissions and bring the decisions to the next Okaloosa County League of Cities meeting.  Everyone on the Commission agreed with moving the quarterly dinners.

 

TOWN ATTORNEY'S REPORT -- Attorney Chesser stated that he received the billboard lawsuit yesterday and hasn’t had a chance to look it over yet.  The Town will probably file to dismiss.  Manager Burns asked Attorney Chesser for an estimate of attorney fees.

 

COMMISSIONER LARSON'S REPORT -- Commissioner Larson went over the attached e-mail from his neighbor.  This e-mail suggested that there were “55,000 cats” running through the neighborhood which is a reason for her dogs to bark.  Commissioner Larson stated that he will borrow a cage and start catching the cats again.  

 

COMMISSIONER REEVES’ REPORT – Commissioner Reeves has nothing to report.    

 

COMMISSIONER BEHNKEN’S REPORT – Commissioner Behnken is not present.

 

COMMISSIONER McCALLISTER’S REPORT:  

I.

 

BUDGET REPORT – Manager Burns reported that there is still a few more checks to come in.  The town has taken in $491,000, spent $455,000 which means it is approximately $12,000 under budget.  The $455,000 includes a $30,000 final check to APAC which was earmarked for last year.

 

POLICE REPORT – The Monthly Activity Report is attached.  Chief Self thanked the commission for approving the new camera systems. 

 

TOWN MANAGER UPDATE –

-        The Palm Trees will be trimmed.  The bid is for $1,650 and the amount has already been approved.

-        Approximately 50 people from the 68EWS at Eglin A.F.B. will be working in the park on Friday, October 17, 2003 as a community service project.  County Commissioner Elaine Tucker will be there because she is an honorary squadron commander.  Mayor Combs suggested to Clerk Smith to contact the newspaper to inform them what the town is doing in cooperation with the military and the county.

-        The final check was signed for APAC

-        The bid openings for the 2nd phase of the concrete project at Cherokee Park will be on Thursday at 2:05.

 

Mayor Combs asked Chief Self to keep people off of the Basketball Court, this week particularly.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 

OCTOBER 29, 2003 -- PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING, 6:00 P.M.

 

NOVEMBER 11, 2003 -- NEXT TOWN COMMISSION MEETING, 6:00 P.M.

 

ADJOURNMENT:  Commissioner Larson moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:53.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner McCallister and passed unanimously.