12-10-1968 Regular Meeting
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MINUTES
REGULAR r~EETI~G
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A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held
in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, December 10, 1968. The meeting was
called to order at 8:00 P. M. by Mayor Don E. Smith with all members
present excepting Councilman Oswalt. Other officials present were:
City Manager Johnson, City Clerk Carroll, City Controller Fleming, City
Attorney Langley, Chief of Police Tyndal and Building Inspector Snyder.
Others present were the Messrs: C. A. r1angold, Herman Barbery, Max Judy,
George Hovis, William Norris, George Gallup, William Baker and Robert Stahl.
Representatives of the local Press were also present.
The Invocation was given by Mr. 8arbery.
The Minutes of the meetings held on November 26, 1968, December 2, 1968
and December 4, 1968 were approved as written.
RESOLUTION NO. 140 which was passed at the meeting of November 26 regarding
extending a protection of a water supply well owned by Mr. William Baker
which would be located near the proposed new water supply well of the
City to be constructed on property purchased from Mr. Baker was not
agreeable to Mr. Baker and he appeared before the Council at this time
in an attempt to reach a suitable agreement with the Council. City Manager
Johnson advised that such an agreement was an urgent matter and should be
reached as soon as possible inasmuch as the Layne-Atlantic Company was
ready to start construction of the new well. Mayor Don Smith requested
that it be a matter of record that inasmuch as there existed in this same area
a 60. street right-of-way, that such well be constructed on 20. of this
right-of.." instead of purcbas1ng additional property with possible "strings
attached" for a period of years or maybe indefinitely. Considerable
discussion took place regarding this matter, whereupon motion was made by
Councilman Beals and seconded by Councilman VanderMeer that the City
Manager be authorized to purchase a small parcel of land, to be used as
a well site, from William Baker at a price of $200.00 and that the City
Manager be further authorized to enter into a lease agreement with William
Baker whereby he leases an eXisting well to the City of Clermont for a term
not to exceed twenty years at an annual lease fee of $100.00, and that
the City of Clermont agrees to furnish William Baker the necessary water
to irrigate and spray a twenty-eight acre citrus grove for a term not to
exceed twenty years at an annual water charge of $200.00; it being under-
stood, however, that should any part of the twenty-eight acres be used for
any purpose other than citriculture, the obligation of the City to furnish
water on that portion shall cease. Upon roll call vote on passage of the"
motion the result was as follows: Ayes: VanderMeer, Cochran, Beals and
Prior. Total Ayes: Four. Absent: Oswalt. A copy of the Lease Agreement
appears immediately following these minutes.
During discussion of the above motion, Councilman Prior requested that
the fOllowing be a matter of record. City Attorney Langley advised that
this record must be recorded as being opinions of Councilman Prior.
That between:$50,OOO and $60,000 had already been spent on the abandoned
Bloxam Avenue L~elli That the committment to iiil1tam Baker plus the cost
of construction of the new well from $25,000 to $30,000 would make a total
new well cost of between $77,000.00 to $87,000.00
r~r. Robert Stahl, Psychology Teacher at Clermont High School 8p'pe,red before
the Council and requested permission to express ideas to "Boost C ermontl.
The Council granted this permission, whereby Mr. Stahl expressed the
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following ideas:
That no positive steps had been or were being taken to
bring industry into Clermont; That neither were there any
steps being taken to prevent industry from leaving Clermont;
that nothing was being done to hold or bring young people
into Clermont; that he highly recommended that an annual
Fishathon be held or Fishing Tournaments of some kind;
That the local Library should be available to students in
the evenings and the present Library facilities expanded
and recommended that the Council propose such a program
to the Library Board.
Motion was made by Councilman VanderMeer, seconded by Councilman Beals
and carried that Mr. Stahl meet with the official Board of the Chamber
of Commerce, with the Council.s blessings, to consider promotions as he.
had mentioned.
Motion was made by Councilman Beals, seconded by Councilman Cochran and
carrie~ that the City r1anager be instructed to set up a jOint meeting
of the Council and the Cooper Memorial Library Board.
Mayor Smith advised that the Council would now sit as a Doard of Adjustment
to consider application of John Aull for a variance in the front and rear
set-back requirements of Lots 9, 10, 11 and 12 of Forty Pines Subdivision.
Attorney George Hovis represented the petitioner, Mr. Aull. Messrs.
Norris and Gallup, adjacent property owners in Forty Pines Subdivision,
appeared before the Council and objected to the variance. Attorney
Hovis and City Attorney Langley advised Councilman VanderMeer to refrain
from taking part in discussion of this matter and front voting on this
matter. Considerable discussion followed, Whereupon motion was made by
Councilman Cochran and seconded by Councilman Beals that the petition
of Mr. Aull as presented to thembe denied. Upon roll call vote on passage
of the motion, the result was as follows: Ayes: Cochran and Beals. Total
Ayes: Two. Abstaining: Prior. Absent: Oswalt. The motion carried and the
petition thereby denied.
Mayor Smith advised that inasmuch as the next regularly scheduled meeting
falls on Christmas Eve, that the next meeting would be held on January 14,
1969.
Mayor Smith announced that a joint meeting of the Central Florida Regional
Planning Council and the State Road Department would be held on Wednesday,
December 11th, in Mt. Dora and he urged that as many Councilmen as Possible,
attend.
City Manager Johnson reported he had received favorable communication from
t~~Fresh Water and Game Commission regarding the city.s request for
a fiShing pier to be constructed on Lake Minneola; that he had found it
necessary to make some changes in the near future with regards supervision
of the Highlander Hut, but had no definite plans at this time.
City Controller Fleming reported as follows: That roughly only 1/10 of
11 of the total water accounts were delinquent and that these had been
notified in writing that service would be discontinued if not paid within
5 days; that the Auditors had been working on the City.s audit for three
weeks and should come up with their final figures shortly; that all
businesses which had not renewed their occupational licenses would be
notified by mail, and that this ftgure represented apprOXimately 20 to 25
businesses; that ad valorem tax collections had been good to date, but
had now slowed down but would probably pick up near the end of the month
in order to take advantage of the 31 discount period.
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City Attorney Langley reported as follows: that he felt a favorable
solution would be worked out whereby William Hunt of Meeker Garden Supply
could continue to spray small citrus areas in the city; That with regards
tax refunds being made to Mr. Laurence Russell and John Parks on property
which has been determined to be outside the city limits, they had not
exercised their statutory rights by submitting a request for such a
refund in writing and therefore it would be a matter of policy of whether
or not the Council desired to refund the money. There was no action taken
on this matter.
Councilman VanderMeer advised that in his opinion, it was very important
that soundings for depth from septic tanks to sewer mains be made and
inquired of City Manager Johnson if this was being done by Michaels
Engineering. The City f.1anager did not kno'., but assured Councilman Prior
he would bring this matter to their attention.
Councilman VanderMeer advised he would contact Council President Oswalt
to set up a Special Neeting of the Council to review the recently adopted
Zoning Ordinance.
Councilman Prior inquired of the City Manager as to progress on lighting
of the Little League Ball Fields and he was advised that he was getting
pri ces on same.
Motion was made by Councilman Beals, seconded by Councilman Prior and
carried that the bills be paid.
Motion was made by Councilman Beals, seconded by Councilman Prior and
carried that the meeting be adjourned.
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Don E. Smith, halrman
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Do ores ll. Carro , erk