1981-10-19 Public Hearing 2947
$1-6 COMMUNICATIONS WITH COUNCILMEN
DOWLING WATFORD, JR.
__ Councilman Watford stated that at the last meeting of the Central Florida Regional Planning
Council, the Council voted to appeal the County's approval of the Country Club of Champions.
Councilman Watford stated that the County has voted to pull out of the Planning Council
but their withdrawal will in no way affect the City's membership in the Council.
gl-133 MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE
Anna Jane Breland appeared before the Council to again question payment of garbage fees for
rental property that is vacant for months at a time.
After discussion between Council members and Mrs. Breland, the consensus of the Council
was to allow Mr. Fellows to research how the problem is handled in other towns who have a large
number of migratory people and garbage is mandatory.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to discuss, Councilman Knight moved to adjourn the meeting,
seconded by Councilman Burk. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:50 P.M.
Chairman/Mayor
City of Okeechobee
ATTEST:
Bonnie S. Thomas
City Clerk
City of Okeechobee
PUBLIC HEARING MONDAY~ OCTOBER 19, 1981
The Okeechobee City Council convened at 7:00 P.M, Monday, October 19, 1981, for the purpose
of holding a public hearing for the proposed 1981-82 budget and setting of the 1981-82 millage
rate.
Chairman/Mayor Edward W. Douglas presided with the following Councilmen present: Dowling
Watford, Jr., Jim Knight, Donald Burk, and Oakland Chapman.
Others present were: Administrative Assistant Richard Fellows, City Clerk Bonnie S. Thomas,
City Attorney David Conlon, Public Works Director L. C. Fortner, Jr., Fire Chief Keith Tomey,
Police Chief Larry Mobley and Deputy Clerk Mary Ann Holt.
Chairman Douglas called the meeting to order. Councilman Watford offered the invocation.
Chairman Douglas spoke briefly to members of the audience regarding the proposed budget and
millage rate. Councilmen heard input from members of the audience including Steve Borenstein,
Andrew Rubin and Frank Altobello.
2948
$1-1~2 ADOPTION OF 1981-82 TENATIVE
MILLAGE RATE
Councilman Knight moved to adopt the tenative millage rate for 1981-82:
General 5. 184
I & S .127
Total 5.31
Seconded by Councilman Burk. Motion carried.
Chairman Douglas stated the tenative millage rate of 5.31 mills does not exceed the rollback
rate.
$1-1#2 ADOPTION OF TENATIVE 1981-82
BUDGET
Councilman Watford moved to adopt the tenative budget as presented. Seconded by Councilman
Knight. Motion carried.
CHANGES IN PROPOSED BUDGET
Chairman Douglas called for suggestions and comments from the audience and Council members.
PARKS AND LANDSCAPING
Chairman Douglas proposed deletion of the $73,500 grant money for the development of the
Okee Hatchie Park.
Councilman Burk proposed taking $50,000 of the reamining $75,000 Farks and Landscaping Budget
and begin paving city streets. Chairman Douglas called for a vote on the proposals with the
following results: Councilmen Knight, Burk and Chapman registered a "yes" vote, Councilman
Warlord registered a "no" vote. Froposals to delete the $73,500 grant money from the budget and
transfer $50,000 of the reamining $75,000 to begin paving of city streets carried.
After a brief discussion regarding the paving of streets, Councilman Warlord proposed to
delete $20,000 of the remaining $25,000 in Farks and Landscaping leaving $5,000 for the upkeep
of Flagler Fark. Councilman Knight stated he had been working with Director Fortner on Flagler
Fark and his recommendation would be to leave $9,000 in Farks and Landscaping deleting only
$16,000.
Chairman Douglas called for a decision of the Council. A vote was taken on the original
proposal to delete $20,000 leaving $5,000 and passed.
FLANS AND SFECS FOR WATER FLANT
Council discussed briefly with Director Fortner the possibility of deleting $75,000 of the
$150,000 budgeted for Water Flant Flans and Specs. This possibility was abandoned due to the
fact the city is now at 80% capacity.
MECHANICS HELFER AND PAINTING OF WATER TOWER
On the recommendation of Director Fortner, Councilman Burk proposed to delete $14,000 alloted
for mechanic helpers and $12,500 for the painting of the new water tower. Council voted to
approve deletions.
2949
SALARY INCREASES
Councilmen discussed briefly with members of the audience the percentage of salary increase
alloted for city employees.
STREET DEPARTMENT
EQUIPMENT OPERATOR
Councilman Watford recommended the deletion of a new position for equipment operator in the
Street Department. Deletion of $8,366 of the alloted $11,366 would allow $3,000 to be transferred
into overtime, which had previously been cut when the new position was created.
Council voted to approve this deletion and transfer.
CONTRIBUTIONS
Councilman Burk proposed to delete the following contributions previously approved by the
Council:
$2,000.00 Library
$2,000.00 Council on Aging
$1,500.00 Chamber of Commerce
After a brief discussion with members of the audience, Chairman Douglas called for a vote on
the proposal. Councilmen Watford and Burk voted to approve the deletion. Councilmen Knight and
Chapman voted against the deletion. Chairman Douglas voted in favor of the deletion. Proposal
to delete $5,500 in contributions carried.
UTILITIES
Council members briefly discussed the proposed utilities budgets with members of the
audience.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Councilman Burk stated he felt the City could utilize the services of the Sheriff's Department
detectives thereby eleminating the position of detective in the Police Deparment and $15,896 in
salary, eliminate the alloted $30,000 for two vacant patrol positions, $11,495 alloted for the
records clerk position and the $1,200 alloted for a typewriter for the records clerk.
The consensus of the Council was to handle each of these recommendations on an individual
basis. Council members discussed the detective's position with Chief Mobley and members of the
audience. The vote on this recommendation was registered as follows: Councilmen Burk and
Chapman "yes", Councilmen Watford and Knight "no". Chairman Douglas voted "no" on the
recommendation. The recommendation to delete the detective's position was not passed.
Council discussed with Chief Mobley and members of the audience Councilman Burk's
recommendation to delete two vacant patrol positions within the Police Department. Councilmen
Burk and Chapman voted in favor of the deletion, Councilmen Watford and Knight voted against the
recommendation. Chairman Douglas voted against the recommendation. Recommendation not carried.
Council discussed with Chief Mobley and members of the audience the proposal to delete the
newly created records clerk position in the Police Department. Councilmen Watford, Burk and
2950
Chapman voted in favor of the deletion, Councilman Knight voted against the deletion.
Recommendation to delete the records clerk position was passed. The Council voted unanimously
to delete the $1,200 alloted for records clerk typewriter.
PAPER SHREDDER AND P.A. SYSTEM
Council voted unanimously to delete $460 alloted for a paper shredder and $750 alloted for
a P.A. System.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
After discussion with Chief Tomey, Councilman Watford recommended deferring purchase of the
new fire truck until the 1982-83 budget year. Councilman Watford voted in favor of the
recommendation. Councilmen Chapman, Knight and Burk voted against the recommendation.
Recommendation to defer purchase of the new fire truck was not passed.
CASH RESERVES
Members of the audience commended the Council for the cuts made in the proposed budget.
There were also recommendations from members of the audience to use a portion of the cash reserves
Councilman Burk recommended the Council not use any additional cash reserves for the 1981-82
budget. Council voted unanimously in favor of leaving the cash reserves as they are.
ADOPTION OF TENATIVE BUDGET
WITH CUTS
Chairman Douglas informed the Council they were to the point of adoption of the tenative
budget with cuts.
Councilman Knight moved to adopt the amended tenative budget with deletions for 1981-82.
Seconded by Councilman Burk. Motion carried.
Chairman Douglas recessed the meeting at 9:20 P.M. to allow the Clerk to recompute the
millage rate.
Meeting reconvened at 9:40 P.M. with Clerk Thomas giving the following information after
recommended cuts:
MILLAGE RATE AD VALOREM TAXES
General 4.25 to bring $291,007
I & S .127 to bring 10,293
Total 4.377 ~301,300
Chairman Douglas stated these figures roll the millage back to 4.377 which includes the
debt service of .127.
Chairman Douglas stated that due to advertising laws the final budget hearing is scheduled
for 8:00 P.M. on Saturday, October 31, 1981.
Councilman Burk moved to adopt the tenative millage rate of 4.377 which includes the debt
service of .127. Seconded by Councilman Knight. Motion carried. ._~
ADJOURNMENT
Chairman Douglas adjourned the meeting at 9:50 P.M.
E~d~ara W. Douglas _ /r
Cha irman/May or f
City of Okeechobee
ATTEST:
~6-nnie-S. T~omas, ui~y Clerk
City of Okeechobee
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