04-27-1982 Regular Meeting
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CITY OF CLERMONT
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MINUTES
REGULAR AND TOWN HALL MEETINGS
April 27, 1982
A Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was
held on April 27, 1982 in Jenkins Auditorium. The meeting was called
to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Hoskinson, with the following Council-
men in attendance: Michael Conley, Robert Pool, Dennis Thomas, and
Hal Turville. Other City officials present were: City Manager Forbes,
City Attorney Baird, Finance Director Saunders, and City Clerk Rozar.
The Invocation was offered by Councilman Thomas, followed by repeating
of the Pledge of Allegiance by all present.
MINUTES
A motion was made by Councilman Pool, seconded by Councilman
Thomas, and unanimously carried that the Minutes of the April 14,
1982 meeting be approved as presented.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
SURPLUS VEHICLES
City Manager Forbes recommended that the following two vehicles
be' ,declared surplus in order to be sold at the auto auction to
be held in Leesburg on May 15, 1982: 1966 IHC Tractor ( a
replacement was purchased this year), and a 1974 GMC Truck with
a clamshell trash loader (a flatbed truck no longer in use for
trash collection).
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~ MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN CONLEY, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN
THOMAS AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED THAT THE 1966 IHC TRACTOR AND
1974 GMC TRUCK WITH CLAMSHELL TRASH LOADER BE DECLARED SURPLUS
EQUIPMENT AND SOLD AT THE LEESBURG AUCTION TO BE HELD ON
MAY 15, 1982.
HIGHLAND AVENUE WATER TANK
City Manager Forbes reported that the City's Consulting Engineer
has recommended painting of the entire interior and exterior of
the tank. He stated that, with no Council objections the City
Engineer will prepare bid specifications for this work.'
WELL ABANDONMENT
City Manager Forbes reported that the State has required the
City to properly abandon four water wells that are no longer
in use by the City. These are the Lake Avenue wells, North
and South, the Highland Avenue, and Bloxam Avenue wells. These
wells no longer meet the State's safe drinking water standards.
Before a price can be obtained on the cost of sealing the wells,
we must first pull all the pumps and motors from the wells and
have the,wells logged. The City water contractors, Mechanical
and Chemical Co. has stated that they will remove the pumps and
related equipment for a cost of $80 per hour. After they are
removed and the logging completed, a report will be brought
back to the Council with a cost estimate for the completion of
the proper sealing of the wells.
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A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN TURVILLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL-
MAN THOMAS AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED THAT MECHANICAL AND CHEMICAL
COMPANY BE AUTHORIZED TO PULL THE PUMPS AND RELATED EQUIPMENT
FROM THE LAKE AVENUE WELLS, NORTH AND SOUTH, THE HIGHLAND AVE-
NUE AND BLOXAM AVENUE WELLS AT A PRICE OF $80 PER HOUR.
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CITY OF CLERMONT
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MINUTES
April 27, 1982
Page 2
PROPERTY PURCHASE
City Manager Forbes reported that he has discussed the pos-
sibility of purchasing Lots 9 and 10, Block 76 with Mrs. McCarthy.
She informed him that her price for the lots is a firm $60,000.
Mr. Forbes recommended that we offer her $25,000 for the property
and if it is ~ accepted, that negotiations be discontinued.
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After discussion, A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN POOL, SECONDED
BY COUNCILMAN THOMAS AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED THAT $25,000 BE
OFFERED TO MRS. MC CARTHY FOR THE PURCHASE OF LOTS 9 AND 10,
BLOCK 76 AND IF IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, THAT NEGOTIATIONS FOR
THE PROPERTY CEASE.
MAYOR'S REPORT
TRAFFIC LIGHTS ON HIGHWAY 50
Mayor Hoskinson stated that there have been numerous inquiries
why the turn signals do not work on the traffic lights on
Highway 50. He reported that the Department of Transportation
has not installed the sensory loops that control the turn
signals, and the lights are on manual time controls until the
loops are installed.
COUNCILMAN CONLEY'S REPORT
BISHOP FIELD
Councilman Conley commented on the painting of the bleachers
at Bishop Field and inquired if the building is scheduled to
be painted. City Manager Forbes stated that the building is
to be painted.
COUNCILMAN POOL'S REPORT
JAYCEE BEACH
Councilman Pool reported that residents are inquiring if the
weeds at Jaycee Beach can be removed from the beach area.
City Manager Forbes stated he will contact the Lake County
Pollution Control Board for suggestions and possibilities of
controlling the aquatic weeds.
UTILITY RATES: Ordinance No. 144-M
Ordinance No. 144-M was read by title only.
City Manager Forbes explained that the conditions of the FmHA
requires the City to establish a rate schedule with a $5 min-
imum charge for the first 3,000 gallons, and $1 per thousand
gallons for all usage over 3,000 gallons.
The reason for these rates is the FmHA agency philosophy that
a rate schedule should be established which will allow the
system to operate for five years or more without another increase.
Since FmHA will be purchasing revenue bonds for this project,
they must also be assured that the funds pledged toward the
bonds can pay for the cost of operating our sewer and water
services.
The City proposed a rate ordinance with the position that it may
be better to adopt a lower schedule that would be adequate for
a few years. With a lower rate schedule, the City would be
operating at a loss after the first year and be required to
draw on our utility fund balance to operate the utility services.
The FmHA will not accept a lower rate schedule and finance the
City's water and sewer improvements.
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CITY OF CLERMONT
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MINUTES
April 27, 1982
Page 3
UTILITY RATES CONT'D.
82-65
After discussion, A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN THOMAS,
SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN CONLEY AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED TO TABLE
THE MATTER UNTIL THE REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 11 SO FURTHER
CONSLDERATION MAY BE GIVEN.
Ordinance No. 144-M will be presented at the May 11 meeting
with the rates recommended by the FmHA.
There being no further business or reports, the meeting adjourned
at 8:00 p.m. into the Town Hall Meeting.
INTRODUCTION OF DEPARTMENT HEADS AND COUNCIL
Mayor Hoskinson introduced the Council and City staff present.
Department Head in attendance were: Preston Davis, Utilities Director;
Harvey Nagel, Building Inspector and Code Enforcement Officer;
Bob Smythe, Public Works Director; and Prentice Tyndal, Police Chief.
PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD REPORT: Barrie Rakow
Barrie Rakow, Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Board, reported
on the function and activities of the Parks and Recreation Board.
Ms. Rakow reported that the committee worked in the Parks aspect
by helping develop the landscaping project at the Cooper Memorial
Library along with the Kiwanis Club and City workers, as wells
as other areas of the City. Seedlings were distributed in con-
junction with the Arbor Day celebration and brochures distributed
giving instructions for the care of them. She reported that the
Summer Recreation Program has been broadened. The results of
last year's questionnaires and the program's success stimulated
new ideas and activities for this year's program. The Fit Trail
was a major project the Board worked on in conjunction with the
South Lake Memorial Hospital. Ms. Rakow related some of the
Board's projected short and long range plans for parks and
recreation.
JAYCEE BEACH FEES
Mayor Hoskinson explained that since the City is accepting
State funds for the Jaycee Beach Boat Ramp renovations, we
can not discriminate between resident and nonresident users
of the beach and boat ramp facilities. The City can charge
fees for the use of these facilities, however, everyone must
be charged the same. Beach fees are earmarked to go into the
City's Parks and Recreation account for beayh improvements.
In the past, fees have been on weekends and holidays from
Memorial Day to Labor Day. Citizen input is requested in
order to determine whether to charge fees and if so, recommend-
ations for amounts to charge. Some suggestions by citizens
in attendance were as follows:
1) Charge $2 for the Boat Ramp; $1 adults, ~50 children for the
beach.
2) Charge $2 for the Boat Ramp only.
3) Do not accept the State money because of the regulations
that are stipulated with it and do not improve the areas
if the money is not available within the City budget.
4) Do not improve the Boat Ramp due to possible damage to the lake.
Mayor Hoskinson stated that the City will evaluate the question-
naires that have been distributed and will consider the suggesuions
of the citizens before a final decision is made on the matter.
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CITY OF CLERMONT
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MINUTES
April 27, 1982
Page 4
WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS REPORT: Preston Davis
Utilities Director, Preston Davis explained why the City's
water improvements are needed and what is being done.
Improvements are needed to the City's water system to provide
an adequate supply of safe drinking water, increase fire
protection, and improve the entire water distribution system.
A new 500,000 gallon storage tank has been installed and has
been in operation approximately two months. During dry periods
of the year, the water supply has reached emergency lows, since
the storage tanks are emptied. When the water is used faster
than it is pumped, it creates a very dangerous situation,
especially if a fire should occur. New transmission line are
being installed in order to have mains large enough to properly
distribute the water to all users. The City has two pressure
systems that are interconnected, yet act independently of one
antother. In order to maintain proper water pressure ranges
it is necessary to connect the two systems. With a single
system, all wells throughout the City would be pumping into
the same system, providing the flexibility needed in the event
of a well breakdown or natural disaster. The new mains will
improve the taste ~f the water and eliminate a large portion
of the rusty water problem.
The new well on Minnehaha Avenue was required due td the mandated
abandonment of four of the City's wells.
Citizens were given an opportunity to inquire and express their
views on water improvement matters. There were expressions of
concern by some that the restoration of lawns have not been
done adequately. City Manager Forbes explained that approximately
60 areas have problems and will be rectified before the project
is finsihed, which will take a few months.
SEWER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
City Manager Forbes gave a synopsis of the history of the City's
sewer system stating why improvements are needed and the methods
that have been studied to ensure that the City will be utilizing
the most cost effective and safe methoQ of disposing of the City's
treated effluent.
The present waste treatment plant was placed in operation in
1972. It is efficiently operated and provides a high quality
secondary effluent. The original plant construction used a
six (6) acre percolation pond, constructed in an adjacent marsh,
for disposal of the effluent. Within months after the plant
was placed in operation, it became apparent that the percolation
pond would not handle the effluent. In 1973, the City bega~_
spraying the effluent on several adjacent small parcels of land
at an extremely high rate. This procedure was approved by the
regulatory agencies as an emergency and temporary method of
disposal. As the plant flow increased, it became necessary
for the City to obtain land for additional spray area. In 1974,
the City obtained the use of an abandoned borrow pit approximately
~ mile South of the plant for use as a percolation/evaporation
pond for a port~on of the effluent. In late 1974 the Lake
County Pollution Control Board notified the City that it would
be required to apply for a variance to their "No Discharge" rule.
During 1975 and 1976, the regulatory agencies continued pressuring
the City to resolve this problem. The City made grant applications
for full scale, low rate landspreading facilities, but was un-
successful.
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CITY OF CLERMONT
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MINUTES
April 27, 1982
Page 5
SEWER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS CONT'D.
In 1977, the City and the University of Florida entered
into an innovative program and the University of Florida
commenced a ; ',study of the plant to determine the effects
of applying secondarily treated domestic effluent to a fresh
water marsh. This study was supported by the City, County,
and regulatory agencies. The study was completed and its
results indicated the ability of the marsh to treat the
effluent without adverse impact on the marsh. Based on the
report from the University of Florida, the City and its
Engineers attempted to gain approval for many methods of
using surrounding wetlands for disposal of the treated
effluent, but were unsuccessful. In the fall of 1980, the
people of the City of Clermont, in a straw vote, rejected the
wetland disposal concept and the City Council voted to proceed
with a landspreading concept.
The waste treatment plant is operating under temporary operat-
ing permits from the State, DER and variances from the Lake
County Pollution Control Board. The area surrounding the City
is unique in that the only land that is not inhabited is citrus
groves, wetlands, or lakes. There is no usable upland such
as scrub or pasture land. This makes land acquisition very
costly since the only land suitable for land spreading is in
producing citrus grove. A review of several potential sites,
including a private gol~ course, resulted in the site selection
which the City has optioned containing 65 acres. This parcel-
is approximately three miles West of the City on Hook's Road.
It is proposed to retain the existing percolation pond as a
polishing pond and emergency retention area. The pond does
reduce the nutrient concentration in the effluent. A pumping
station will be constructed at the Southeast corner of the pond
and the effluent will be pumped to the landspreading site.
After extensive study and testing of several landspreading
methods, a slow rate irrigation system will be used, utilizing
a forage crop as a marketable crop.
Citizens were given an opportunity to ask questions and express
thier views. Mr. Don Smith opined that the minimum water rates
should be raised high enough that the overage gallons would
not be charged at a higher rate. There was also the suggestion
that the proposed improvements be included in the City's operating
budget as a capital item and funded through ad valorem taxation,
and user charges be charged in relation to the cost of operating
the systems and relaying the services.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Mayor Hoskinson urged all citizens to complete the provided
questionnaire evaluating City services and encourage others to
obtain one to complete and return to City Hall. These question-
naires give the City guidance as to the needs of its citizens
and their eveluation of our performance. Citizens were again
encouraged to express their views on City services. Persons
spoke in reference to Animal Control, Zoning Variances, the
Clermont Hotel and the current method of garbage pick-up.
All citizens' input was acknowledged and appreciated, and
assurance 'given that all matters will be considered individually.
There being no further business or discussion, the meeting adjourned
at 9:55 p.m.
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San ra O. Rozar, y Clerk
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names M. oskinson, Mayor