Minutes

Town of Shalimar

Commission Meeting

February 10, 2004

 

CALL TO ORDER:  Mayor Gary Combs called the meeting 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 Rik Larson:  present       

            Commissioner Ursel Behnken:  present  

            Commissioner Kevin Reeves:  present     

            Commissioner Jerry McCallister:  present           

         

Others in attendance:  Town Manager Tom Burns, Police Chief Charles Self, Deputy Town Clerk Tina Smith, Town Attorney Mike Chesser, Mark Siner with Choctaw Engineering and resident Johann Behnken.

 

PLANNING AND ZONING BUSINESS:  Review of the Planning and Zoning Meeting minutes and proposed hotel recommendations.  Commissioner Behnken moved to approve the proposed hotel recommendations of the Planning and Zoning Board.  Commissioner Larson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

TOWN RESIDENTS' TIME:  There were no issues mentioned at this time.

 

TOWN ATTORNEY'S REPORT:  The Billboard lawsuit is still cruising on.  Attorney Chesser reported that the billboard company was going to amend their complaint to include damages against the Town of Shalimar because they have been precluded from putting their sign up.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

I.

 

APPROVE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 13, 2004 COMMISSION MEETING - Commissioner Behnken briefed an error that she found.   Commissioner Behnken moved to approve the minutes of the January 13, 2004 Commission Meeting with changes.  Commissioner Larson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

II.

 

APPROVE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 28, 2004 SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING - Commissioner Larson moved to accept the minutes of the January 28, 2004 Special Commission Meeting.  Commissioner Behnken seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

III.

 

CONFERENCE ROOM ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY RESOLUTION 2004-03 - After some discussion, it was decided to add another sentence to this resolution.  Commissioner Larson moved to approve the Conference Room Administrative Policy Resolution 2004-03 with the addition.  Commissioner McCallister seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

Mayor Combs asked Attorney Chesser if it was legal to allow a religious group to use the town conference room because it’s a government facility.  Attorney Chesser stated that if you treat all organizations the same, there will never be a problem.

         

NEW BUSINESS:

I.

 

FDOT/SIS RESOLUTION 2004-02 - Commissioner Behnken pointed out one typo in the resolution.  Commissioner Larson moved to adopt the FDOT/SIS Resolution 2004-02 with the typo changed.  Commissioner Reeves seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

II.

 

GOALS FOR SHALIMAR 2004 - Mayor Combs stated that if there is anything that any of the Commissioners would like to see as a goal, e-mail it to Deputy Clerk Tina Smith.  Also, if there are existing goals that any of the Commissioners would like to start working on, inform someone at Town Hall.  The goals will be finalized at the next Commission Meeting and added to the web site once they are finalized.

 

Commissioner Behnken inquired about Shalimar being a Tree City.  Manager Burns stated that he would look up the paperwork from when Commissioner Brown applied years ago.

                    

MAYOR COMBS’ REPORT:

I.

 

OKALOOSA COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES REPORT - Mayor Combs briefed that the Executive Board approved the By-Laws Change to have the quarterly dinners moved back one month.  This change will take affect after the March dinner meeting.

 

Mayor Combs briefly ran down the current state of the Clean Water issue.  He informed the Commission that the Clean Water Committee (appointed by the OCLOC) is now looking at possible ways to give boat owners monetary incentives to install a Type I or Type II Coast Guard Certified Marine Sanitation Device.

 

COMMISSIONER LARSON'S REPORT:  Commissioner Larson asked Town Manager Burns if there were any traps available to borrow.  Manager Burns stated that they were all lent out to residents and Commissioner Larson but the town could purchase/use another.

 

COMMISSIONER REEVES’ REPORT:  Commissioner Reeves asked if a speed bump sign was going to be put in on Gardner Drive.  He was informed that one had been put in within the last couple of days.

 

COMMISSIONER BEHNKEN’S REPORT:  Commissioner Behnken inquired about the proposed grand opening for the park.  Manager Burns briefed that he was in contact with a landscape wholesaler who will be coming out to look at the park and make suggestions regarding the types of plants to put in the park.  Manager Burns and Mayor Combs are projecting to have the park complete by March.

 

COMMISSIONER McCALLISTER’S REPORT:  

I.

 

BUDGET REPORT - Manager Burns explained the possibility of another Workmen’s Compensation claim being filed by ex-employee, Jeff Dowda.  Attorney Chesser stated that he would like to help Shalimar appeal any future claims.

 

Manager Burns asked Attorney Chesser if he could project a ballpark figure for upcoming billboard lawsuit fees.  Attorney Chesser said that he would get that information to Manager Burns.

 

POLICE REPORT:  Chief Self informed the commission that there are homeless people that have been living under the Shalimar Bridge and bothering residents by fishing from private property.  There was some discussion regarding the town limits and whether or not any part of the bridge is in the town.  Attorney Chesser recommended pulling the town charter to confirm the specific boundaries.

 

Mayor Combs briefed the Chief Self on the current complaints and suggested that either he or Chief Self include in their next Tidbits article some clarifications regarding Shalimar being a "speed trap".

 

TOWN MANAGER UPDATE:  Manager Burns suggested everyone take one last look at the garbage contract specifications that are located on the web site and e-mail their suggestions before he gets the advertisement out.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 

FEBRUARY 25, 2004 -- PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING, 6:00 P.M.

 

MARCH 9, 2004 -- NEXT TOWN COMMISSION MEETING, 6:00 P.M.

 

ADJOURNMENT:  Commissioner Larson moved to adjourn at 7:20 p.m.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner McCallister and it passed unanimously.