Town of Shalimar

Town Commission Meeting Minutes

March 11, 2008

 

CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Gary Combs called the meeting to order at 6:01 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 Ricardo Garcia - present

 

Commissioner Jerry McCallister - absent

 

Commissioner Ursel Behnken -   present

 

Commissioner Glenn Wagner -   present

 

Others in attendance:  Town Manager Tom Burns, Deputy Clerk Tina Smith, Town Attorney Mike Chesser, Police Chief John Cash, Residents Art Johanson, Harry Wickliffe, Tim and Sharon Smith, and Planning and Zoning member Johann Behnken.

 

PLANNING AND ZONING BUSINESS - The Planning and Zoning Board held a special hearing last night and approved the maintenance building setback variance.  Also, the draft EAR was approved for transmission to the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) - Mayor Combs asked the staff to e-mail the EAR to everyone.

 

TOWN RESIDENTS' TIME - The residents would like to speak about issues already on the agenda.

 

TOWN ATTORNEY'S REPORT - Attorney Chesser had nothing to report.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

I.

 

APPROVE MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 12, 2008 TOWN COMMISSION MEETING - Commissioner Garcia moved to approve the minutes from the February 12, 2008 Town Commission Meeting as written.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Behnken and passed unanimously.

II.

 

MAINTENANCE BUILDING UPDATE - The shed is scheduled to be moved by Friday.  Also, a contractor has been asked to come in and prepare the site (grubbing, tree removal, etc.).

 

NEW BUSINESS:

I.

 

TIDBITS - A March Tidbits newsletter will go out at the end of the month.  Everyone was asked to have their articles to Tina by March 24.

II.

 

SHALIMAR PLANTATION OWNER’S ASSOCIATION - 2 representatives from the Shalimar Plantation Homeowner’s Association asked about the specifics of the Richbourg storage lot.  Mayor Combs gave a brief history and reasons for the lot as a service to residents of the town.  The representatives expressed their concern about the lot as they feel it will eventually be an eyesore.  Mayor Combs stated that the town is still in the planning phase - not yet to the “artist’s rendition” phase.  He also stated that the town is not planning the storage lot as a way to generate revenue - it is simply another service offered to residents.  Upcoming storage lot meetings will be advertised in the town newsletter or on the marquee.

 

Mr. Smith asked about the “lake” in front of the subdivision - how for down the priority list is this project.  Manager Burns believes there may be an easy fix for the drainage and will look into it and how much it will cost.  

III.

 

RUSSELL ARNEY PROPERTY - 14 CHEROKEE ROAD - Manager Burns reported that it has almost been a year since the Building Permit was issued to the owner of 14 Cherokee Road.  Attorney Chesser stated that, according to Shalimar Ordinances, the town has the right to remove the items if the town sends the owner notice along with a date to have it cleaned up.  Mayor Combs asked Manager Burns to write the owner a letter and specify the date as one year from the date of the original Building Permit.

IV.

 

FLOC GREEN RESOLUTION - 2008-01 - Commissioner Garcia moved to approve the Green Resolution - 2008-01 as written.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Behnken and passed unanimously.

 

MAYOR COMBS’ REPORT - Mayor Combs briefed that they are still open to purchasing the Shalimar Yacht Basin.  He had lunch with one of the owners and Manager Burns is trying to get the accounting figures.  Mayor Combs will keep the Commission updated.

 

The Okaloosa County League of Cities will probably have a special meeting on April 7 to receive a JLUS briefing from Okaloosa County.

 

COMMISSIONER GARCIA’S REPORT - Commissioner Garcia reported that Officer Shadwell worked comp time last month in order to receive a pay check this month.  Manager Burns recommended that he pay Officer Shadwell for the first pay period of the month, but allow him to carry the remaining hours over to when he returns.  The commission agreed to this.

 

COMMISSIONER MCCALLISTER’S REPORT - Commissioner McCallister was not present.

 

COMMISSIONER BEHNKEN’S REPORT - Commissioner Behnken will be leaving to go on vacation in 2 days and doesn’t think she’ll have time to drive around for the Yard of the Quarter before the Tidbits article deadline.

 

COMMISSIONER WAGNER’S REPORT - Commissioner Wagner had nothing to report.

 

POLICE REPORT:

-  Officer Spohn was recently promoted

-  Detective Roberts will have surgery soon and the surgery will require 4 weeks of recovery

 

 

TOWN MANAGER UPDATE:

-  The Commission approved Manager Burns to buy another doggi-pot station

-  The port-a-potty will be moved to the town hall property from Cherokee Park during the maintenance building construction

-  The spring cleanup dumpsters are scheduled to be in place from April 11-21.  They will be placed on the lot next to town hall and on the corner of Shalimar Drive and Erwin Fleet

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 

MARCH 26, 2008 - PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING

 

APRIL 8, 2008 - TOWN COMMISSION MEETING

 

ADJOURNMENT:  Commissioner Garcia moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:24 p.m.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Wagner and it passed unanimously.

 

 

 

 

___________________________________              __April 8, 2008____________

Tina Smith, Secretary                                                                                              Date approved