Town of Shalimar

Town Commission Meeting Minutes

July 8, 2008

 

CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Combs called the meeting to order at 6:39 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 - present

 

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, Police Lieutenant John Spohn, Planning and Zoning Member Johann Behnken, residents John Herby and Ron Brooks, Jack Dorman, Jeremy Goek, and Anthony Crawford.

 

PLANNING AND ZONING BUSINESS - The Planning and Zoning Business was discussed at the Public Hearing.

 

TOWN RESIDENTS' TIME - The residents present had no new business.

 

TOWN ATTORNEY'S REPORT - Attorney Chesser reported that the civil action on the school property swap will be filed by the end of the week.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

I.

 

APPROVE MINUTES FROM THE JUNE 10, 2008 COMMISSION MEETING - Commissioner McCallister moved to approve the minutes from the June 10, 2008 Town Commission Meeting as written.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Garcia and passed unanimously.

II.

 

MAINTENANCE BUILDING UPDATE - The contractor who is in charge of the building had a family emergency and doesn’t know when he will return to the job.  Mayor Combs expressed his concern about having an open, unfinished building during hurricane season.  The Commission agreed and would like it to be sealed up soon.  Manager Burns was directed to call the contractor to express their concerns and ask for a timeline.  He will e-mail everyone the update and timeline.

III.

 

RICHBOURG STORAGE LOT UPDATE - This was discussed briefly in the Town Attorney’s Report (above).  There are several derelict cars on the town’s lot as well as part of the school’s lot.  One of the car owners (a Dana Court resident) has been warned that her car will be towed if she doesn’t move it.  Chief Cash tried to contact her one last time as a courtesy but no one answered her door.  Manager Burns stated that, if the car isn’t moved by tomorrow, it will be towed.  The Commission also directed Chief Cash to talk to someone at the school and let them know that the Shalimar Police Department will enforce illegal parking on their part of the lot.

IV.

 

LOT BETWEEN SNUG HARBOUR AND SYB UPDATE - Mayor Combs stated that he and Manager Burns are trying to set up a meeting with Shalimar Yacht Basin owner, Steve Peterson.  They would like to discuss the different options for the property the town just purchased.  Mr. Peterson currently has an agreement with the previous owner to lease that property and store boat trailers on it.  Mayor Combs stated that he would like to meet with Steve before next Friday.

 

Mayor Combs also stated that Mr. Arney’s property still has debris and large pieces of concrete on it.  The maintenance department was asked to assess the situation but there’s not a lot the town can help with right now because the tractor’s up in Crestview getting fixed.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

I.

 

EMERALD COAST FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION REQUEST - The Emerald Coast Firefighters Association is in the midst of a fundraiser and has come to the commission to ask for an extension of the current soliciting hours.  Right now they are only allowed to solicit Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.  The commission agreed to add Saturday and allow them to solicit from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.  This will be done on a case-by-case basis in the future.

 

MAYOR COMBS’ REPORT - Mayor Combs reported that he contacted the Department of Transportation again regarding a golf cart crossing across Eglin Parkway/Hwy. 85.  They are still against it but told him to resubmit the paperwork again.

 

COMMISSIONER GARCIA’S REPORT - Commissioner Garcia had nothing to report.

 

COMMISSIONER MCCALLISTER’S REPORT - Commissioner McCallister had nothing to report.

 

COMMISSIONER BEHNKEN’S REPORT - Commissioner Behnken complimented Kent Beck on a wonderful, well-written Yard of the Quarter Tidbits article.

 

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

 

POLICE REPORT - The Police Report is in the packets.

 

TOWN MANAGER UPDATE - Manager Burns stated that one of the $150,000 CDs will be maturing tomorrow and he was offered a CD from Colonial Bank for 18 months at 4.05%.  Commissioner Behnken stated that she thought Beach Community Bank had a CD for 4.5%.  Manager Burns stated that, unfortunately, some offers don’t apply to us but that he would call around before locking into anything.  Commissioner Wagner authorized Manager Tom Burns to put the money from the mature CD into the 18-month CD at 4.05% (unless he can find a better rate).  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Garcia and passed unanimously.

 

Attorney Chesser briefed that he received a letter and contract from the State Attorney’s office.  The State Attorney’s office would prosecute anytime a Shalimar law is broken (not a state law).  Mayor Combs was told that all of the other local cities have signed the contract.  He will ask around to make sure this is the case before he agrees to the contract.

 

Manager Burns asked for support in pursuing the acquisition of a small piece of right-of-way property on Carl Brandt.  The Commission all agreed.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 

JULY 30, 2008 - PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING

 

AUGUST 12, 2008 - NEXT TOWN COMMISSION MEETING

 

ADJOURNMENT:  Commissioner Garcia moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:40 p.m.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Wagner and it passed unanimously.