1980-09-09 Regular Meeting2700
FIRST REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9~ 1980
The City Council of the City of Okeechobee, Florida, convened in a Regular Meeting in
Council Chambers, City Hall, on Tuesday, September 9, 1980, at 7:00 P.M. ~
Chairman Edward W. Douglas presiding with the following Councilmen present: Oakland
Chapman, Jim Knight, Donald Burk and Lytle Raulerson.
Others present were: Janice M. Mann, Deputy Clerk; David Conlon, City Attorney; Dean
Tooker; Assistant Attorney; Larry Mobley, Police Chief; Keith Tomey, Fire Chief; L.C.
Fortner, Jr., Director of Public Works; Mallette Westbrook, Building Official and Sylvia
Christian, Deputy Clerk.
The Invocation was offered by Chairman Edward W. Douglas.
DENNIS MULBERGER-NEMEC SETTLEMENT
Dennis Mulberger of D & D Development Company, appeared before the Council and presented
plans and proposals for a Nemec property settlement.
Mr. Mulberger has purchased the property to renovate the present structure into a
proposed shopping center/office building complex.
Council to study proposal and render a decision at the September 2B, 1980, meeting.
80-57 ATTORNEY CONLON
Prior to leaving, Attorney Conlon presented five affadavits one for each Councilman to
sign, stating they (Council) designated individuals to research and answer the Interrogatories
concerning the discrimination suit, and believe to the best of their knowledge are true
answers.
The affadavits are in place of Council having to personally study each question and
answer.
DEBRA BAKER - GRANTS CONSULTANT
Ms. Debra Baker, grants consultant with International Systems, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia,
described in depth the services offered by her organization, guaranteeing results and
answered Council's questions.
Chairman Douglas expressed appreciation for Ms. Baker's information.
WILLIAM I. ROOKS - REQUEST SEWER HOOK-UP
William I. Rooks, contractor, appeared before the Council to request sewer hook-up
for two ten unit apartment buildings to be built on Block 254, Southeast 2nd Street and 4th
Avenue. Capacity requested is 2,500 gallons per day per building.
Councilman Knight moved to grant the requested sewer capacity allotment, seconded by
Councilman Raulerson, vote carried.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS
A. ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY
i) LA GROW SUIT
Assistant Attorney Tooker gave an up-dated report on the La,row suit. Still awaiting a
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2701
report to be submitted by Sverdrup & Associates regarding the tests run on the clearwell.
80-39 2) LAND LEASE
Assistant Tooker presented a corrected land lease for grazing purposes on the one
hundred fifty-one (151) acres. Lease to be left at Clerk's office for public to review
when advertisement for bids go out.
Council discussed the amount of liability insurance needed. Councilman Knight to
check into a feasible insurance premium, and report back.
B. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
1) ABNEY & ABNEY - PAYMENT REQUEST
Director Fortner presented a request for final payment to Abney & Abney for the new
maintenance barn and addition in the amounts of Six Thousand One Hundred Fifty-Three Dollars
($6,153.00) and Eight Thousand Three Hundred Twenty-Six and 40/lOOths Dollars ($8,326.40).
Councilman Raulerson moved to grant final payment as requested, seconded by Councilman
Burk, vote carried.
2). DRAINAGE PLAN - NORTH PORTION OF CITY
Director Fortner requested authorization to retain a local engineer to draw a detailed
drainage plan for the north portion of the city. Maximum cost not to exceed Three Thousand
Dollars ($3,000.00).
Councilman Burk moved to proceed with the initial drainage plan for north Okeechobee,
draw out of contingencies not to exceed Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00),. seconded by
Councilman Knight, vote carried.
3) "NO PARKING" SIGNS
Director Fortner informed the Council a complaint has been registered regarding the
"NO PARKING" signs north of Northwest 6th Street in front of Sportman North Motel. Owners
of the motel feel this is unfair treatment. The problem of parking exists all along the
highway.
Councilman Knight suggested Council instruct Director Fortner to request D.O.T. to
survey the street for problem areas. Council agreed.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM COUNCILMEN
A. EDWARD W. DOUGLAS
1) PLANNING BOARD RECOMMENDATION
Chairman Douglas read the Planning Board recommendation handed down on the rezoning
request of Brenda Mason. The Planning Board arrived at a split decision which the Attorney
advised should be considered the same as a denial.
Attorney advised Council to determine whether or not they could review the request
unbiased at a public hearing and if so, so declare. Councilmen Burk, Knight, Chapman and
Raulerson declared having no problem in reconsidering this request in spite of the former
objection.
Councilman Raulerson suggested selecting a member of the Planning Board to fill the
vacancy, then re-submit the request to a full Board.
Councilman Knight moved to advertise for a second and final hearing to be held on
October 28, 1980, seconded by Councilman Chapman, motion passed.
2) MEETING CALENDAR --'
The Regular meeting calendar was presented as follows:
October 14th and 28th, 1980
November llth and 25th, 1980
December 2nd and , 1980
Councilman Burk moved to accept the meeting calendar as submitted, seconded by Council-
man Raulerson, vote carried.
3) BUDGET WORKSHOP
Chairman Douglas reminded the Council of the Budget Workshop set for Thursday,
September 11, 1980, at 7:00 P.M.
80-8 4) 201 FACILITY - COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Chairman Douglas read a letter received from the County Commissioners concerning the
201 Facility Plan.
County Commissioners expressed the continuing desire to meet with the City Council at
the Civic Center in a joint Workshop session to discuss the sewer plan.
DISBURSEMENTS
Vouchers on the following funds were approved:
Water & Sewer Operation & Maintenance $54,650.40
Water & Sewer Revenue Fund $529,083.64 --~
Cigarette Tax Fund $153,000.00
Payroll Account $16,924.20
General Fund $85,974.94
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:27 P.M.
City of Okeechobee
ATTEST:
~onnie S. Thoffas
City Clerk
City of Okeechobee
BUDGET WORKSHOP THURSDAY~ SEPTEMBER 11~ 1980
The City Council of the City of Okeechobee, Florida, convened in a Budget Workshop in
the City Clerk's office, City Hall, Okeechobee, on Thursday, September 11, 1980, at 7:00 P.M.
Chairman Edward W. Douglas presiding with the following Councilmen present: Lytle
Raulerson, Oakland Chapman, Donald Burk and Jim Knight.
Others present were: Sylvia Christian, Deputy Clerk; David Conlon, City Attorney; L.C.
Fortner, Jr., Director of Public Works; Mallette Westbrook, Building Official; Larry Mobley,