Town of Shalimar

Town Commission Meeting Minutes

February 8, 2005

CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Gary Combs called the regularly scheduled Town Commission 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:  absent

          Commissioner Ursel Behnken:  present  

          Commissioner Kevin Reeves:  present   

          Commissioner Jerry McCallister:  absent

Others in attendance:  Town Manager Tom Burns, Deputy Town Clerk Tina Smith, Police Chief John Cash, Al and Melissa Wemyss, Herb and Annie Reid, Johann Behnken, and Joe Brewster (with Cox Cable).

PLANNING AND ZONING BUSINESS: There is no Planning and Zoning Recommendations to approve.

TOWN RESIDENTS' TIME:  The town residents had nothing to discuss.

TOWN ATTORNEY'S REPORT:

Billboard Lawsuit Update – There are no new updates on the lawsuit.

OLD BUSINESS:

NEW BUSINESS:

MAYOR COMBS’ REPORT:  Mayor Combs briefed the Commission that Manager Burns has had several disagreements with the owner of Spiffy Car Wash because of non-permitted sign activity.  At present, the car wash owner has placed a painted wood sign in front of his store and, while Manager Burns was on vacation, a moving marquee sign was parked in the parking lot.  Manager Burns has already sent a certified letter to the owner but Mayor Combs directed Manager Burns to start fining him the maximum amount possible and to draft up another letter to inform him of the Commission’s decision.

Mayor Combs inquired about the house between Shalimar Yacht Basin and Snug Harbor.  Manager Burns stated that he sent the owner a certified letter notifying the him that the Town Commission authorized Manager Burns to demolish the house if nothing was done by March 1.

COMMISSIONER LARSON'S REPORT:  Commissioner Larson was not present.   Town Manager Burns briefed that Commissioner Larson was presently in ICU.  He had an aneurysm on Sunday and was taken to the hospital.  It appears that he may be there for a while though the doctor is not expecting to operate.  Commissioner Larson is paralyzed on his right side, he can’t eat, and not speaking.  Manager Burns has the visitation schedule for anyone interested.

COMMISSIONER REEVES’ REPORT:  Next month’s meeting was supposed to be Commissioner Reeves’ last meeting but he stated that he is able to stand in for Commissioner Larson until his return.  We will be installing one new Commissioner, Ricardo Garcia, at the April Meeting.

COMMISSIONER BEHNKEN’S REPORT:  Commissioner Behnken had nothing to report.

COMMISSIONER McCALLISTER’S REPORT:  Commissioner McCallister was not present.  Town Manager, Tom Burns, asked if the commission would authorize another $100,000 CD.  The rates are slightly higher than the quote given at last month’s meeting.  Commissioner Behnken moved to authorize Manager Burns to purchase another $100,000 CD for the town.  Commissioner Reeves seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

POLICE REPORT:  Chief Cash stated that he has been talking with a car dealership about trading 2 of the old police cars, the Honda CRV and possibly another vehicle for a new police car.  Chief Cash is supposed to talk to the dealer some time tomorrow for more information.  Mayor Combs suggested that they sell all of the vehicles outright and keep the blue Dodge truck for the town.  Manager Burns stated that the easiest way to sell the vehicles would be by sealed bids.  Commissioner Behnken moved to authorize Manager Burns to sell all of the vehicles as soon as the town owns them and she moved to authorize Manager Burns and Mayor Combs will set a minimum price that will not be advertised.  Commissioner Reeves seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Chief Cash reported that he received a demo laptop computer for his car.  He would like to get more of these computers for the other officers.  Mayor Combs asked that Chief Cash and Manager Burns meet before the next meeting and draft up an executive summary.

Mayor Combs would like Chief Cash to start the Monthly Activity Reports again.  If necessary, he can print them out and put them in the boxes.

TOWN MANAGER UPDATE:

Mayor Combs asked Manager Burns to inquire about the Municipal Service Tax to Danielle Slaterpryce at Okaloosa County.

One resident in attendance inquired about Homeowner’s Associations.  She also stated that she pays the Gulf Power bill for a street light in her subdivision on Avalon Lane .  The Commission agreed that the town would start paying this bill.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

ADJOURNMENT:  Commissioner Behnken moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:27 p.m.  Commissioner Reeves seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.