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02-06-1945 Regular Meeting -~ ~ CITY OF CLERHOJ\"T MINUTES OF THE REGUr~R MEETING OF TIlE CITY COUNCIL HELD AT THE CITY HALL TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1945, at 7:30 p.m. ~ ~ The meeting was called to order by President F. B. Roe at 7:45 p.mt other Councilmen present being R. M. Stackhouse, R. M. Castner, C. W. Gaines and H. C. Brown. Mayor F. H. Higby, City Clerk W.H. McQuistion, Attorney Irving F. Morse, Marshal C. E. Sullins and Street and Water Superintendent H. M. Cole were also present. The minutes of the previous meeting held on January 15th, 1945, were read and appr oved. A report was made by Mr. Brown that all dances held at the Yacht Club, when soldiers are in attendance, will be paroled by M. P. 's from the Army Base according to the Provost Marshal. Fire Chief Achord reported that he answered one fire call during the month and used no help. Also, the truck was checked on January 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 and f'rnnd in good cC'nd i ti on. Mayor Higby reported that there were 13 cases in Police Court with fines and costs of' ~239.00, ~227.50 of which was collect.ed and a def'erred payment of' $11.50 due the City. ,The bonds of' seven were forfeited for non- appearance. Police Chie f' Sullins reported tha t 13 arrests were made and all fines paid amounting to ~239.00 and collected $>227.50 which was turned over to the City Clerk and $11.50 carried over to February. Mr. Castner reported that with E'ire Chief Achord he has made arrangements to get prices on repairs to the fire truck and will make a report. Mr. Brown stated that he bad written the American La France Company- on fire truck and they replied that they did not have any equipment at present but suggested that he write the Southern Wheel Company. He wrote the South- ern Wheel Company and they advised that they will have their representative call and see if new wheels can be placed on the truck so that tires can be purchased. A motion was made by Mr. Stackhouse, seconded by Mr. Brown, that a committee be appointed to work with Mr. Burke Chester of the Lake County Health Department to clean up unsanitary conditions in certain locations in the City, also to make a')p1ication for authority to construct at least 15 houses to take care of' some that are in a deplor- able condition. The President then appointed the follow- ing Committee: Mr. Brown, Chairman, Mr. Castner and Mr. Stackhouse. The motion carried. ~ ."., A motion was made by Mr. Brown, seconded by Mr. Gaines, that condemnation proceedings be instituted against the property of William Kern on Minneola Avenue as to be a f'ire hazard. Also, the place is in a very unsanitary condition and is a detriment to the health and welfare of the citizens of' Clermont. Also, a house of' Mr. Kernls on Highland Avenue occupied by a Mr. Johnson, a double house ~ccupicd by L. A. Hodge and Ruth Law and a 9 x 9 building occupancy unknown. This motion was called to a roll call vote and the f'ollowing Councilmen voted in the af'firmative to proceed as stated: Mr. Roe, Mr. Stackhouse, Mr. Gaines, Mr. Castner and Mr. Brown. The motion carried. MINUTES OF lffiETING FEBRUARY 6, 1945 Page 2 A motion was made by Mr. Stackhouse, seconded by Mr. Brow~, that all former owners of property acquired by the City from the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund shall ha va unti 1 April 1, 1945, to redeem same, plus $l5.00 t.o cover expenses of the City in acquiring said property from former owners, plus cost of recording. The motion carried. ~ ~ A motion vias made by Mr. Castner, seconded by Mr. Gaines, to cancel taxes and paving assessments due the City on the Chardevoyne grove. The motion carried. A motion was made by Mr. Stackhouse, seconded by Mr. Castner, t h9 t ~Us s Hilda Dull be employed at a salary of $25.00 per week. The motion carried. A motion was made by Mr. Stackhouse, seconded by Mr. Gaines, that all bills presented be paid. The motion car- ried. The bi Ils are as fo llows : ~ ~ 3199. 3200. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 3210. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 3220. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 3230. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 3240. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. General Fund H. l\I. Cole Bill Kie John Ding le Ro M. Morris Rufus J one s Geo. J. Dyke s." Clerk T. F. Thompson Achor ds Garage Florida Power Company Clenn ont Hardware Company H. M. Cole Bill Kia John Ding le R. M. Horris C. E. Sullins Collector cf Internal Revenue H. M. Cole Bill Kie John Dingle R. M. Morris John D. Highsmith John D. Hi@:lsmith H. M. Cole Bill Kie John Dingle R. M. M or r is Geo. J. Dykes W. H. Mc Qui s:fUon Hilda Dull Irvi ng F. Morse J. P. Acho rd Ros eM. Sharpe C. E. Sullins H. M. Cole Bill Kie John Ding le R. M. Morris Bobbie Dean C. E. Sullins Cash - ~etty items Flor ida TeIephone Cor p . Dixon Foundry & Machine Standard Oil Co. . Sun Chevro let Co. A~hords Garage Harry P. Leu 2500.00 37.70 28.30 28.90 27.40 2.40 268.90 12.51 9.75 4.04 21.76 37.70 28.35 23.70 23.70 87.50 76.67 37.70 31.25 28 . 90 27.40 31. 80 9.28 37.70 30.60 28.30 26.80 79.69 136.90 88.50 25.00 25.00 10.00 84.10 37 .70 35.40 31.80 30.80 13.80 25.00 21. 61 24.98 30 .00 11.70 1.75 22.90 11.00 Transfer MINUTES OF MEETING FEBRUARY 6, 1945 Page 3 ~ ~ 3246. 7. 8. 3250. 1. 2. 3. 4. Postal Colony Company Florida Power Company Cle rmont Hardware BiBhOp Office Equip. Co. L. J. Kindred Florida Pipe & Equipment Irving F. Mor se Mrs. Pearl Cullen 075 306.19 10.34 19.05 13.30 Co. 3293.35 14.89 138.60 A moti on vIas ma de by Mr. Ga ioo s, secom ed by Mr. Stackhouse, that the Reso lution attached he reta be adopted. There being no further business, the Council adjourns d to me at at the call of the President. d/l~. President of Ci~ Council ~~~~ Cit Y Clerk ~ .,., RES 0 L UTI 0 N - ~ VJHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Clermont have found that the interest on delinquent taxes due the City of Clermont for the year of 1930 and prior years and the interest due the City of Clermont on the delinquent specinl assessment liens now ~mounts to ~s much or more than the principal ~mount of said taxes and assessment liens; and, VffiEREAS, the City Council after careful investigation have found that a large number of property owners would be able to pay said delinquent taxes and special assessment liens under the present plan of payment, as more specifically outlined in the City's Refunding Agreement with the Fiscal Agent, Leedy-~~eeler & Company, if the interest due the City on the delinquent taxes for the year of 1930 and prior years and the interest due the City on the delinquent special assessment liens was waived; and, ~ffiEREAS, it appears to the City Council to be to the best interest of all owners of Refunding Bonds and Delinquent Tux Notes of the City of Clermont as well as to all tax payers of the City to decrease the amount of delinquent taxes for the year of 1930 ~nd prior years and delinquent assessment liens due the City; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Clermont, Q municipal corporation organized and existing under the l&ws of the state of Florida, that the owners of property situate, lying and being within the present boundaries of the City of Clermont against which there are outstanding and unpaid taxes for the year of 1930 and prior years and/or delinquent assessment liens may settle same under the present plan of settle- ment, that is, by paying 5% in cash and the balance of 95% in De- linquent Tax Notes, and all interest due the City of Clermont on said taxes and special assessment liens shall be waived; and, ~ .,., BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That this Resolution shall be and become effective immedia.tely upon its passage and adoption, sub- , ' ject to the approva.l of Leedy-~~eeler & Company, Fiscal Agents, - ..., of Orlando, Florida, and further subject to the approval of Caldwell & Raymond, Bond Attorneys, of the City of New York; and that upon approval of said Leedy-Wheeler & Company and Caldwell & Raymond, Attorneys, thereafter, ,a copy of this Reso- lution be published in the Clermont Press, a newspaper of general circulation in Lake County, Florida, for one (1) .issue. . PASSED AND ADOPTED subject to the above conditions by the City Council of the City of Clermont at its regular meeting held in said City this 6th day of February, A. D., 1945. . C?A? //_ c;:-? /c/: /L?r&. . President, City Council ( OFFI C IAL SEAL of City of Clermont) ATTEST: 1J;tbm!~~ City Clerk ~ -~ <\.~ ;-~. ..~) , ,"e:-: , \..:'-.~~. }, , \' C";" \," ~, , R E 8 0 L UTI 0 H ~ ~ WHEREAS, the Clty Councll of the Clty ot Clermont have found that the lnterest on delinquent taxes due the City of Clermont for the yeQ~ of 1930 ann prlor yeArs and the interest due the City of Clermont on the delinquent special aSBeasment liens now amount. to as much or more than the principal amount of said taxes and assessment lIens; and, ~~EREAS, the City Council ~fter careful investlgution h~ve founa that u largo nUQoor of propc~ty ovnors Dould be able to ~ ..,., p~y s~id delinquent taxos Qnd opociul USSCQsrnent liens undor the p~esent plan of payw~nt, QS more cpcclficQl1y outlined in the City's Refunding Agreement with the Fiscal Agent, Leedy-Wheeler & Company, if the interest due the City on the delinquent taxes for the year of 1930 ~nd prior years and the interest due the City on the delinquent opecial assessment liens was waived; and, [~EREAS, it =ppears to the city Council to be to the best interest of all owner~ of Refunding Bonds and Delinquent Tax Notes of the City of Clermont as well as to all tax~payer8 of the City to deerease the amount of delinquent taxes for the yemr of 1930 and prior years and deltnquont assesoment liens due the City; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVEl> by the City Council of the City of Clermont, a mun1cipal corporation orgQnized and Gx1eting under the laws of the state of Florida, that the owners of property situate, 1~1ns and being w1thin the present boundaries of the City of Clermont agninst which the~e Qra outntand1ng und unpaid taxes for the year of 1930 and prior yeaI's Qnd/or delinquent nsscosmont lions may sottlo same under the prooent plan of settle- ment, that ls" by paying 51~ in cash am. the balance or 95% in De- linquent Tax Notos, and all interest due the City of Clermont on said taxes and special aSBessment liens shall be ~nived; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That this Resolution shQl1 be and beoome effect1ve immediately upon its passage and adoption, Dub- jeot to the approval of Leedy-\~eeler & Oompany, Fiscal Agents, ~ ~ ~ -,., of Orlando, Florida, and further ~ubject to the approval of Caldwell & Raymond, Bond Attorneys, of the City of New York; and that upon approval of said Leedy-Vlheeler & CompRny and Caldwell. Raymond, Attorneys, thereafter, a copy of this Reso- lution be published in the Clermont Press, a.newspaper of. general circulation in Lake County, Florida, for one. (1) issue. PASSED AND ADOPTED subject to the above conditions by the City Council of the City of Clermont at its regular meeting held in said City this 6th day of February, A. D., 1945. (Signed) ~A. President, City Council (OFFICIAL SEAL of City of ClGrmont) (Signed) ATTEST = 1Jk?n-~~~ W. H. MoQUISTIOJf , 01 ty Clerk " . ..-. Clermont, Florida February 6, 1945 To The Mayor and City Council Clermont, Florida Gentlemens ~~I regret that my recent illness delayed getting under way with the work of this Committee - ~o establish valuations on the lots recently acquired by the City from the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund. It has been difficult to get a meeting of the entire Committee. but I have been in con- ference with all the members of the Committee, with two or more being present part of the time, and had various conferences with Mayor Higby and Councilmen Roe and Brown on several occasions. We have secured reports from officials and others at Ft. Myers, Lakeland, and Safety Harbor, as to their methods, procedure, and results, in handling similar situations, and this info~ation has been very suggestive and informative. The problem of establishing sale prices on all these lots involves far more than merely jotting down figures. The effect on property values throughout the community must be conSidered. The fair treatment of numerous other taxpayers who own lots on which they have kept taxes paid and retired paving charges is involved, and the status of those who have kept taxes paid but are delinquent in adjusting paving charges is also involved. Lot values in Clermont are, at this time, just beginning to be stabilized in value. Seve Tal lots are being offered as high as $1000 for large well located lots with paving paidD a few even higher. and the value of numerous other privately owned lots are oegis, ~ fairly well established. Lot values are like a set up of pins in a bowling alley--one ball may knock them all down 0 Real estate values in Clermont are now so related, that an unfortunate move may upset the values of all of them. This would, in my judgment, be a most unfortunate thing for our community. The primary idea is of course to get back on the tax rolls for City and County all lots possible, but this should be done with due consideration for all other interests involved, otherwise the City will feel the reaction for years. and scores of property owners will be affected adversely. Lots priced at very nominal figures will encourage speculators to buy them up and offer them in competition with other owners, who must stand helplessly by perhaps for years or sall at great sacrifices to meet competitive prices. On the other hand~ the prices must be made sufficiently attractive to stimulate buying. I think I speak for a majority of the Committee when I say that a conservative price schedule, intelligently worked out, taking in consideration location and size of lots, should be worked out, after an actual inspection of all lots. The Committee is in agreement on two fundamental propositions. First, an opportunity should first b~ given all former owners of these lots to again acquire these lots, at cost of paving and taxea~ figured on the basis of readjusted paving and tax items, plus a small charge to cover the City's expense of acquiring these lots and overhead expenses incident to ~he transfer. Based on the experience of other towns, a surprisingly large numher of such Iota will be repossessed. Since these owners have a large previous investment in these properties, they are not likely to throw them Oft the market at prices that will upset the general scale of values throughout town. A period of 30 or 60 days should be given such owners to repossess these lots. Second. all owners who yet own lots on which they are delinquent for taxes or paving. or __~bothD should be given the opportunity to bring them up to date on paving and taxes. on ~~the same basis of adjustment which the City has already worked out on the forfeited lots. .. An ordinance to this effect has been prepared by the City attorney. and the Council will doubtless act favorably on it. However, a time limit should be placed on the period during which this is allowed~ as an incentive to prompt action. If this is left open indefinitely, there would be no stimulus to prompt action. A period of' three months ought to be ample time, after which penalties should be added. During this period all~.ed for redemption of lots by former owners. your Committee can by personal inquiry and contactD gain some idea as to what maximum prices can be safely fixed on the lot~ just purchased by the City from the State. Within that period, your Committee will fL~ ampl~ time to inspect all lots, consider all phases of the situation, and arrive at a schedule of prices to submit for your consideration. ...2- other questions to be considered carefully by the Council are procedure for marketing~ private sale for a period of time, public auction sale later, the number of lots to be tmmediately placed on the market, and similar matters. ~ .e suggest to the Council that they consider selecting a small committee fram the Council '0 handle the program, with authority to act on any problems that may arise, make con- cessions in unusual situatlonf direct the preparation and delivery of deeds, and other incidental matters. Or, the Mayor, or City Attorney, could be authorized to act, with a special committee from the Council to approve any special arrangements or pass on any proposals that might require prompt attention. In any eventD the City should have a supply of deeds printed and take any steps to help facilitate transfers, and arrange for the services of the City Attorney in this connec- ti on G Our Special Committee was designe~ establish prices, and will be ready to report by any date fixed by the Council. If you wish to designate any further responsibilities to this Committee, we shall be glad to render the best service we may be able to give. Respectfully submitted, ~~A~ S. H. Bowman Chairman Price Schedule Committee e