Tidbits for March 2006

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MAYOR

In December, I mentioned that the town has signed an engineering contract to evaluate our storm water drainage issues. We now have statement of work and a $20K cost estimate from our engineering firm to begin the evaluation. This topic will be an item of discussion and hopefully approval during the April 11 Town Commission meeting.

Shalimar’s new hotel opened this month. Please let your visitors, both business and family, know that they can now avoid the heavy beach traffic. I also understand our Cheers Pub is now offering Pizza. Please endorse and publicize all the local businesses. Remember they pay both property taxes and business license fees.

We may soon have 128 new residences in the Town. The Shalimar Yacht Club condominium development project is yet to be approved; however, there is development progress on meeting the Town’s guidelines and ordinances for approval. The project will include a mix of residential units and marina-related businesses. Developers plan to maintain the marina as a public commercial facility and the Town is working with the developers to maintain a full-service maintenance yard for the 100+ boat slips. There are no current plans to maintain the commercial dry storage capability.

I continue to remind folks that we are a small town, and as such, we are able to offer amenities not available to many in Okaloosa County. For example, the Town hall facility is available to you free of charge on a no interference basis. We realize parking at our facility is limited and we are working on purchasing the adjacent vacant lots. Over the years, the Town has used these lots for parking; however, as property is scare, the owner could sell these lots for development or build housing whenever he wants. You never know what service you might need in the future, call us (651-5723) for whatever you need, and we’ll attempt to help you or find someone who can.

Help us welcome new residents to Shalimar—give us a call or send a quick e-mail when you see new neighbors!

Mayor Gary Combs

As the Mayor mentioned, the conference room is always available for parties, get togethers, homeowners’ association meetings, etc. Please remember that the Cherokee Park Pavilion may also be reserved. There is a $40 deposit required. If you think you might be interested in using the pavilion for a special function, please reserve it early because the weekend reservations go quickly this time of year. The town also offers many “hometown” services to our residents such as free notary service, free limited photocopies, free faxes (sending and receiving), some town equipment loans (utility trailer, tractor, tables, etc.), HazMat drop off at town hall, spring cleanup dumpsters, and flood insurance library/services. Our police department also offers house watches for when you are out of town. The house watch form is on our web site if you are interested.

NOTES FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

Spring Break is here which means that summer is just around the corner. The kids will be out of school before we know it. Please watch out for children playing in and around the streets at all hours of the day. Always drive defensively and be cautious of the possibility that a child may dart out from behind a parked car into the street at any time.

Speaking of parked cars please reread the below excerpt from the December Tidbits:

PLEASE REMEMBER that parking on Shalimar streets (or on the right-of-way) is against town ordinances. This practice not only reduces a driver’s ability to monitor the road for darting children, but can also restrict a neighbor’s ability to safely enter and exit their driveways. We will enforce the rules against parking on the street. If you have a temporary need for overflow parking for a special event, please coordinate this requirement with the police department or town hall staff.

Parking on Shalimar streets has gotten worse since December so expect to be warned and/or ticketed if you park in the street for an extended period of time.

Chief John E. Cash

NOTES FROM THE SPECIAL SERVICES COMMISSIONER

Yard of the Quarter

The Yard of the Quarter honors go to the home at 904 Sara Drive. Others in the running were the yards at 906 and 910 Sunset Bay Court, 18 and 38 Shalimar Drive, 911 Sara Drive, 2587 Dana Court, and 2556 and 2561 Barron Court.

10 Plew Avenue and the miniature garden at 216 Snug Harbor also show a lot of loving care and imagination.

We would like to thank our residents for all their efforts to make Shalimar a beautiful town. Keep up the good work!

Ursel Behnken, Commissioner

ONTRACTORS – Please make sure that all of the contractors you hire have a license from the Town of Shalimar. We keep records of each licensed contractor’s Liability and Worker’s Compensation Insurance, along with a copy of the contractor’s Okaloosa County Occupational License. A contractor’s unwillingness to secure a Town license may very well be the first RED FLAG indicating possible unscrupulous business practices. It happens in Shalimar more often than many realize. Please feel free call Town Hall before entering into any contractor agreement and avoid being a victim of illegal contractors.

TREES – The Town takes the protection of its trees very seriously. Many trees are on the protected tree list and may only be legally removed under certain circumstances. Pruning and maintenance of trees requires no permit, but, any tree to be removed requires a permit from the Town. Please call Town Hall with all questions on the tree ordinances – we will respond quickly.

PETS – The weather is getting nice and our canine friends will be out and about. The town does not require that your pet be on a leash (though it is recommended for the safety of your pet as well as your neighbors) but it MUST be under strict voice command. All pet owners are also responsible for picking up pet waste when off their property – to include our public areas and rights-of-way. Town ordinances require pet owners to have suitable waste removal systems on their persons when in these areas.

SPRING CLEANUP REGULATIONS

THE DUMPSTERS WILL BE DROPPED OFF ON FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2006 AND REMOVED ON MONDAY, MAY 1, 2006.

Two dumpsters will be located in the town for disposal of household items and yard waste - no household garbage please. One will be placed on the far end of the lot to the right of Town Hall and the other will be on the corner of Shalimar Drive and Erwin Fleet. These dumpsters are NOT for Hazardous Materials (HazMat). There will be a pallet for HazMat somewhere near each dumpster designated as the HAZMAT DISPOSAL AREA. Please ONLY PUT HAZMAT IN/ON POSTED RECEPTACLE. If it is full, you may lay your item next to the HAZMAT DISPOSAL AREA, drop it off at town hall behind the dumpster or call us and someone will come pick it up. (WM charges the Town approximately 700% more if HazMat is found in either of the two large dumpsters.)

Hazardous Materials include:

smoke alarms

paint thinners

engine degreasers

fluorescent bulbs

pesticides

paint strippers

brake fluid

oil filters

used oil

furniture polish

anti-freeze

gas cylinders

solvents

tar

pool chemicals

explosives

stale gasoline

fire extinguishers

insecticides

flares

paint

batteries

spot removers

shells

Please refer Hazardous Materials questions to Waste Management at 862-7141.