Town of Shalimar

Town Commission Meeting Minutes

March 8, 2005

 

Mayor Combs appointed Commissioner Kevin Reeves as Mayor Pro-Tem while he is away.

 

CALL TO ORDER – Commissioner Kevin Reeves called the regularly scheduled Town Commission 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:  absent

          Commissioner Ursel Behnken:  present  

          Commissioner Kevin Reeves:  present   

          Commissioner Jerry McCallister:  present        

         

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, J.H. Ortega, Rick Garcia and Joe Brewster (with Cox Cable).

 

PLANNING AND ZONING BUSINESS: There is no Planning and Zoning Recommendations to approve.  There was a meeting where the board discussed a variance for a resident to remove an Oak Tree.

 

TOWN RESIDENTS' TIME:  Resident Melissa Wemyss inquired about the Gulf Power bill for her street light.  The Town Commission decided at the last meeting that the town would pay this bill.  Manager Burns explained that he called Gulf Power to have the accounts switched over but it probably just hadn’t switched at the time that Gulf Power printed out their bills.

 

TOWN ATTORNEY'S REPORT:

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

 

OLD BUSINESS:

I.

 

APPROVE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 8, 2005 TOWN COMMISSION MEETING – Commissioner Behnken moved that the Commission approve the minutes of the February 8, 2005 Town Commission Meeting as written.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner McCallister and passed unanimously.

II.

 

FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 2005-03 COX COMMUNICATIONS AGREEMENT – Commissioner Behnken moved to approve the first reading of Ordinance 2005-03 Cox Communications Agreement as written.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner McCallister and passed unanimously.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

I.

 

APRIL MEETING GET TOGETHER – Deputy Clerk Tina Smith explained that there will be a small get together/ceremony before the next meeting and confirmed that Commissioner Reeves would be there.

II.

 

TIDBITS – The March Tidbits will be going out at the end of March.  If anyone would like to submit an article, please e-mail it to Deputy Clerk Smith some time in the next couple of weeks.

 

MAYOR COMBS’ REPORT:  Mayor Combs was not present.

 

COMMISSIONER LARSON'S REPORT:  A moment of silence was called for Commissioner Larson.

  

COMMISSIONER REEVES’ REPORT:  Commissioner Reeves had nothing to report.

 

COMMISSIONER BEHNKEN’S REPORT:  Commissioner Behnken had nothing to report but wanted to thank everyone that helped out with Commissioner Larson’s Reception.

  

COMMISSIONER McCALLISTER’S REPORT:  Commissioner McCallister explained that the Commission will go over the 6 month line item changes at the next meeting.

 

POLICE REPORT:

I.

 

APPOINT CHIEF CASH TO FLORIDA MUNICIPAL PENSION TRUST FUND BOARD – Commissioner Behnken moved to appoint Ricardo Garcia to the FMPTF board.  Commissioner McCallister seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

II.

 

LAPTOP COMPUTER PURCHASE DISCUSSION – Chief Cash explained that he was able to find laptops for $549 apiece and the monthly charge per car will be $29.99.  No decisions will be made on the police car computers until after Commissioner McCallister does the line item adjustments.

 

The issue of the ride-along program was questioned by Attorney Chesser.  Chief Cash and Manager Burns explained that the residents that ride have to sign a disclaimer but Attorney Chesser is concerned that the town’s insurance company will not cover residents riding in the town’s vehicles and that the disclaimer might not be enough to hold up in court.  Manager Burns will call the insurance company. 

 

TOWN MANAGER UPDATE:

Manager Burns briefed that the billboard company appealed his rejections of the last 2 billboard application and will come before the Commission soon.

Also, the owner of the house between Snug Harbor and Shalimar Yacht Basin has agreed to remove the building by March 18.

  

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 

MARCH 30, 2005 -- PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING, 6:00 P.M.

 

APRIL 12, 2005 -- TOWN COMMISSION MEETING, 6:00 P.M.

 

ADJOURNMENT:  There was no further business so the meeting adjourned at 6:29 p.m.