09-10-1974 Regular Meeting
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MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
NQ 1056
A Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Clermont was held in the
Council Chambers on Tuesday, September 10, 1974. The meeting was called to order at
7:45 P.M. by Mayor Claude E. Smoak, Jr. with the following members present:
Councilmen Waller, Byrd, Schroedel and Oswalt. Other officials present were: City
Controller Fleming, City Clerk Carroll, City Attorney Vason, City Manager Hopkins,
Director of Community Services Smythe and Chief of Police Tyndal. Others present
were; Mrs. Ella Mae Sheldon, Mr. and Mrs. Carle Bishop and Messrs. Adair, Carden,
Lofgren, Plummer, Sargent, Prior and Black. Coach Clifford Cox and a delegation
of youths from Clermont High School were also present.
The Invocation was given by Councilman Byrd, followed by repeating of the Pledge of
Allegiance in unison by those present.
The Minutes of the meeting held on August 27, 1974 were approved as written.
Coach Clifford Cox appeared before Council in an appeal for their consideration
in providing an outdoor basketball court(s) for the numerious interested youth in the
city. He advised that there had been a large attendance by both boys and girls
in swimming, socializing and playing basketball at the Minnehaha Beach during
the summer, but they were now prohibited from using these facilities inasmuch as
it is private property, and he was now concerned about the lack of a proper
recreational site for the young people. He inquired of a possible site at the Jaycee
Beach inasmuch as there was ample space, it was public property and the bathing
beach could be utilized also. Mayor Smoak advised that he was in full accord
with there being a place provided for the young people to gather and utilize their
energies in a wholesome way and felt there must be such a suitable location some place
in the city, but he also felt that such a facility at Jaycee Beach would curtail
the use of the facility existing for what it's intended for today. He assured Mr.
Cox that Council and the City Manager would investigate and consider the possib11tty,
in this year's budget, of providing such a facility as requested. Mayor Smoak
further advised that due to recent action of the legislature, municipalities could
now approach county commissions for refunding of municipal services/facilities utilized
by county residents, based on double taxation, and that he had already requested
City Manager Hopkins to compile some figures as to the cost to the people of Clermont
to furnish recreational facilities for out-of-city residents, in order to approach
the Lake County Commission for a refunding. He cited the tennis courts-the shuffle-
board courts-Jaycee Beach-the Little League Fields, etc. as city facilities which
were utilized by county residents.
City Manager Hopkins submitted his report both orally and written, and a copy is
attached hereto. Mr. Hopkins additionally reported that a meeting of the Lakes
Improvement Committee would be held in his office on Thursday, September 12th at
3:30 P.M.
With regards the offer from Mr. Ken Armstrong of one of the drive-in windows from
the old bank building at a cost of $500.00 plus $100.00 to repair the building after
removal, it was consensus of Council that this matter be referred to City Manager
Hopkins.
Councilman Schroede1 reported that he had attended the meeting of the Cooper Memorial
Library Board on Saturday, September 7th, and it was their intention to construct
a two room addition to the existing building with hopes of recouping at least
one half the cost from the Florida Bi-Centennial Commission.
City Controller Flem)ng reported to Council on the several delinquent street paving
and lot mowing liens, covering a considerable number of years, which had not been
collected, and inquired of Council as to their desire for disposition. It was
consensus of Council that this information be referred to City Attorney Vason for
his investigation and subsequent recommendation to Council at their next"'lneeting.
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MINUTES
NQ 1057
City Attor~~y Vason reported that he was hopeful the City of Clermont vs Peter H.
Johnson case would come to trial and be resolved before the end of the year.
Mayor Smoak commended Chief Smytbe and the members of the local volunteer fire
department for their quick and efficient response to a recent fire which he
had observed.
Councilman Oswalt reported briefly on the organization meeting of the Clermont
Lakes Improvement Committee held on AUgBst 28th, and advised he felt the
committee would be a very beneficial and worthwhile one in the concern for
protecting the city's lakes. Mayor Smoak requested the Minutes of that meeting
be incorporated with these, and a copy is attached hereto. Mayor Smoak was highly
commendable of the committee's efforts and research todate and advised it was
his hope that the committee would be set up as an on-going city board such as
the city's electrical and plumbing boards, etc. Mayor Smoak requested that City
Attorney Vason research the necessary procedure for doing this and report back
to Counci 1.
City Clerk Carroll read a communication from Mayor Jean Thrower of Minneola wherein
she felt it would be advantageous for the municipalities of South Lake County to
immediately phase out their municipal courts rather tban wait until the mandatory
date in 1977, whereby these municipalities would be provided a central court room
and served by a circuit judge. She felt that such action would relieve present
pressures and responsibilities from the municipal employees as well as be a
substantial savings to the municipalities.
City Clerk Carroll read a communication from R. W. Waters, Municipal Judge, wherein
he opposed the phasing out of the local court prior to the mandatory date and felt
that the people of Clermont were happy with the existing fo~m of justice. Judge
Waters questioned the substantial savings as referred to in Mayor Thrower's
letter inasmuch as there would be a loss of police officers' time in traveling to
and from the city to testify in court, as well as a loss of court costs. He still
further reported that inasmuch as the ramifications involved in the transformation
fromoonicipa1 to county jurisdiction would be many, that perhaps Council should
now be thinking about this for the January 1, 1977 effective date. It was consensus
of Council and City Attorney Vason that a court annex located in South Lake
County would be a necessity in order to ably accommodate the municipalities
in this area, City Manager Hopkins was requested to advise Mayor Thrower that
Council would be happy to meet with her and members of other municipalities and/or
county officials with regards Council's feeling on the matter and also to further
discuss it.
City Clerk Carroll read a communication from Lillian Hunt, Secretary of "Project
Clermont" wherein she ,-expressed appreciation to Council for their efforts to
keep downtown Clermont clean, and suggested that October 1-15 be designated as
"Clean Up-Paint'Up-Fix Up Time" for all '(:;lermont residents.
Mayor Smoak reported as follows: That September 17th had been designated as "Blood
Donor Day" to be held at the parking lot of South Lake Memorial Hospital between
5:00 P.M. and 9:00 P.M.; and, That he had received a request for financial
assistance in the amount of $1,209.00 as Clermont's designated share to help fund
the Lake Sumter Mental Health District.
Motion was made by Councilman Oswalt, seconded by Councilman Waller and carried
that the bills be paid.
Councilman Oswalt offered and moved the adoption of a RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING
1974-75 budget of the City of Clermont Water and Sanitary Sewers Department. The
motion was seconded by Councilman Waller and unanimously carried. The RESOLUTION
was read by City Attorney Vason, by title only, and the Number 235 assigned to it.
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MINUTES
NQ 1058
With regards Council's desire to service the Minnehaha Estates Subdivision with
sanitary sewer facilities and to extend water service south of Hook Street and
East of Highway #27, Dawkins and Associates, Inc. submitted estimated cost proposals
in the amounts of $187,707.60 and $31,000.00 respectively. City Manager Hopkins
advised that it would be necessary to borrow funds to finance such projects,
whereupon motion was made by Councilman Schroedel seconded by Councilman Oswalt
and unanimously carried that the proposals as su~itted by Dawkins & Associates, Inc.
for the water main and sanitary sewer extensions be accepted and that they be
requested to proceed with making the necessary application for a loan from Farmers
Home Administration.
With regards Councils' desire to bring the Code of Ordinances up todate and in
conformity with the Home Rule Act as passed, City Attorney Vason reported it would
entail a great deal of time,.knowledge and advice of ~ny persons in the particular
fields as covered in the Code, and he thereby inquired of Council~if they desired
to revise the entire Code - concentrate only on those powers which have been
repealed by passage of the Home Rule Act, or concentrate on particular areas in
the Code, one at a time, such as the criminal powers area, etc.
It was consensus of Council that Mr. Vason be requested to prepare a concrete outline
as to his opinion of particular problem areas in the Code, what the alternatives
for these would be, and to submit his recommendations for priority in revising them.
With regards the city's pension program report as submitted by DR. H. Russell Fogler
of the University of Florida, it was consensus that Council meet with Dr. Fogler
in further discussion before taking any action, whereupon Mayor Smoak cal1ed0a
Special Meeting of Council to be held on Thursday, September 19, 1974 at 7:30 P. M.
in the Council Chambers, and that Dr. Fogler be reimbursed for his efforts.
With regards request for payment in the amount of $50,000.00 by Michaels-Stiggins, Inc.
for work done on the sanitary sewer system, motion was made by Councilman Schroedel,
seconded by Councilman Oswalt and carried that the payment be authorized upon
receipt of a signed legal document, as prepared by City Attorney Vason, from
Michaels-Stiggins, Inc. granting the use of their sewer plans which they developed
for the Minnehaha Estates Subdivision.
The meeting was adjourned
by Mayor Smoak at 10:15 P. M.
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Do ores w. Carro ,City Clerk