MINUTES

SHALIMAR TOWN COMMISSION

JUNE 8, 1999

The June 8, 1999 regular Town Commission meeting was called to order at 6 p.m. by Mayor Gary Combs at Town Hall Chambers. He led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

ROLL CALL FOR THE RECORD:
Mayor Gary Combs - present
Comm Gene Brown - present
Comm. Tom Callen - present
Comm. John Henderson - present
Comm. Elaine Tucker - present

Others present were Tom Thornton, Mack Kirkland, Leonard Sullivan, Brent Wright, Joann Swafford, Cline Williamson, Tiffany Mills, Patty Culjak, Johann Behnken, Laura Crouch and daughter, Nell Webb, Ursel Behnken, Attorney Mike Chesser and Police Chief John Blackburn.

P&Z MEETING NOTES - for information only

OLD BUSINESS:

I. APPROVAL OF THE MAY 11, 1999 REGULAR TOWN COMMISSION MEETING - Comm. Tucker moved to approve the May 11, 1999 minutes as written. It was seconded by Comm. Brown and the motion passed unanimously.

II. APPROVAL OF MAY 27, 1999 SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES - A change was made under Funding for paving of Snug Harbour Drive, the last sentence of the first paragraph to read, "The Mayor can get both projects done for $6,000. Comm. Henderson moved to approve the minutes as changed. It was seconded by Comm. Tucker and passed unanimously.

III. TOWN HALL RENOVATION - The Mayor said Jeff is tearing up the bathroom to make room for the ADA approved toilet and wheel chair approach. No sheet rock is available right now, but he will proceed with things he can accomplish.

IV. STATUS OF THE THREE GRANTS
A. CHEROKEE PARK - Rudy Sutton is back and is working on the reports.
B. MEIGS PARK - Pre-construction permit was applied for. Deadline for park completion is July 31, 2000.
C. STORM DRAINAGE MITIGATION - Brent Wright is taking over for Mike Thomas. He said he's only been with BCM for 2 1/2 mos and is not up to speed yet. He has spoken to the contractor. There is still a problem with the aerator. The Mayor said that he has let the contractor go for so long but now he wants a line-by-line item list. Change orders need to be done. The Mayor wants to set up a schedule and hold them to it. A priority item is fencing the drainage pond because the children are out of school and it is to dangerous. The outlet into the Bayou needs to be cleaned too, before the Town takes over. A meeting will be set up between the engineer,the Mayor, and Construction Services.

V. STATUS OF LAW SUITS
A. Como Marina - Attorney Chesser said he had talked to Como Marina and asked them to pay a significant portion for building the road, but Como, of course would like to pay only about 10%.
B. T-Square - He also reviewed the suit with Mr. Thornton, of T-Square who offered to make more drainage if the Town would give them permission to keep the ingress only off Eglin Parkway. The settlement is available, or the Town can leave it where it is. Comm. Henderson said he likes the offer. Mr. Thornton said he currently holds 1% runoff but he could retain 2% or more and place pipes under the property. It would prevent the water to run into the residents' yards. This he would do for "right in only." Comm. Henderson also asked about the access road and Mr. Thornton said he does not want all that traffic through his property and he'll lose too many parking spaces. He has the permit from DOT and will give something back to the Town by putting in more swales in the back. Comm. Tucker said it is acceptable to her. The Mayor said to draw up the plans and bring it back to the Town Commission. Mrs. Patty Culjak said that the runoff is really a concern for her neighborhood. This item will be brought up again with due notice to the residents at the next Town Commission meeting. Chief Sullivan said he has really two concerns: the water and traffic. If the right-in access is permitted there will be less traffic on Shalimar Drive, he said.
C. Racetrac - The court case with Racetrac is scheduled for August. The Town's sign ordinance is poorly drafted, said Attn. Chesser it should be done better. He has asked the FLOC for examples of their smaller cities which he has available now. Town Commissioners need to look at it, it should be basis for a good ordinance. Comm. Henderson asked whether it should be done before the law suit comes up and Attn. Chesser said it would be effective when the Town Commission says it is. He suggested to put the right ordinance on the books, have all the Commissioners review it, the Mayor can scan it into the computer and e-mail it to the other commissioners. Attn. Chesser also referred to the minutes of meetings. He said they need not be too exact or extensive- unless somebody asks for a verbatim record. Referring to the special exception of a liqueur license for Antonio's he said that they got it by default. It was an oversight, and nothing can be done now.

VI. SIGNS - Jeff Dowda said that he would like to put signs in the park prohibiting bicycles, skate boards and roller blades. He also would like to put a stop sign at the park exit.

VII. ATTORNEY CHESSER - He said that he would like to attend a FLOC meeting for lawyers near Orlando, since it is a very educational meeting. He would not mind paying for food and lodging if the Town would pay the registration fee.

NEW BUSINESS:

I. CITIZENS' REQUEST TIME
A. Mr. Ray Morgan, Snug Harbour, said he really needs the road paved, and if it's done with a curb because otherwise the asphalt is going to break off.
B. Chief Sullivan, Mandy Court, said that the fence around the holding pond needs to go up. Right now the end posts are 11 1/2 feet north from where they should be, he said. He also wanted to know whether the sod will be replaced at Mande Court that was removed during the construction.
C. Mrs. Crouch, Plew Avenue, wanted to clean her slate and apologized for lying to the Commission at an earlier time. She said she did not have the money nor the time to go for a full state license. She also had forgotten that she needed a Town occupational license and let her liability insurance laps. Nell Webb said she wanted to clarify that Mrs. Crouch has two businesses out of her home and she needed occupational licenses for both. Mr. Chesser said he would give her a copy of the State Statutes. Mrs. Crouch is now fully licensed.
D. Joan Swafford, Garniers Cay Town Home Association, said the contractor doing the drainage pond, broke some of the sprinkler heads and lines which she had replaced since the greenery was suffering. She made a list of materials and the bill will be passed on to BCM.

II. REQUEST BY MO BLUMENTHAL - NO PARKING ON CLIFFORD - Johann Behnken, 111 Clifford Drive, objected to the request saying that there is no other parking for his and the neighbor's visitors. He has no objections to put "No Parking" at the turn-around. Mr. Carey, 113 Clifford Drive had the same opinion. Mayor Combs said the truck at the corner of Clifford has to go. It has been sitting there for months without being moved. He said a letter should be written to Mr. Blumenthal stating that a no parking sign will be put across from his town home only. Comm. Tucker will do the draft letter.

III. EDC FUNDING FOR 1999-2000 - This item was tabled and will be taken up after the budget review.

MAYOR'S REPORT:
I. COMO MARINA STATUS - The Mayor received a letter from COMO but he said he is not done talking yet.
II. BOCC WASTE MANAGEMENT - Jeff Dowda went to the last meeting and will attend further meetings if the Commission would like him to.
III. BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE - Mayor asked whether Frances Brown is still the chairman. Comm. Brown said he would ask his wife and report at the next meeting.

COMM. TUCKER'S REPORT:
I. FINANCIAL REPORT - Comm. Tucker said the Town is still pretty good on the budget except with legal expenses. She wants to lower the legal bills.
II. DATE FOR BUDGET WORKSHOPS - July 20 and July 22 at 5 p.m. were set. The budget wish lists have to be in by the next meeting.
III. BCM ENGINEERS - PAYMENT REQUEST IN CONJUNCTION WITH LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY - Comm. Callen moved to authorize Okaloosa County to pay BCM Engineers. It was seconded by Comm. Henderson and passed unanimously.
IV. REORGANIZING THE OFFICE - Comm. Tucker said that Mrs. Wilkinson has resigned as of May 31, 1999. Mr. Rudy Sutton has been rehired for 6 months minimum to work with the CDBG grants. Nell Webb was named Town Clerk. Ursel Behnken will do minutes and other office work and the administration. In the future maybe a part timer could be hired from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily to also cover the lunch hour. She also would like raises for the office .
V. The computer in the front office got a virus and is now dead. The system can either get fixed or the Town could buy a new computer for about $1,200 to $1,300. We also need to buy virus software.

COMM. CALLEN'S REPORT:
I. EGLIN PARKWAY REPAVING AND CONSTRUCTION BY DOT - Jeff Dowda said he has a memo saying the paving will start on June 21 at the north end of Eglin Parkway.
II. BOCC - DEBRIS REMOVAL AFTER STORM - The County wants a county-wide generic contract. Comm. Callen said the Town had a good system before and got done much faster than the County. This item should come back to Commission. He said we could also contract with Gulf Coast Waste, our garbage contractor.

COMM. BROWN'S REPORT:
I. MILLENNIUM CELEBRATION - Comm. Brown said he attended a meeting in Crestview to represent Shalimar. He was not asked to do anything specific. But the celebration will be very nice, although not as grandiose as they envisioned it.
II. MEIGS OFFICE PARK - Comm. Brown said that former Mayor Montague does not want the Park named after him.

COMM. HENDERSON'S REPORT:
I. TICKETING - Comm. Henderson said that revenue from tickets will be way down because he asked the Police Department not to sit at Eglin Parkway to wait for speeders. He would like them to patrol the neighborhoods more. The officers will also do a bit of walking so the people can see them occasionally.

ADMIN OFFICIAL'S REPORT:
I. CONSTRUCTION REPORT - as attached
II. APPRECIATION CERTIFICATE FROM THE CHAMBER - for information only.
III. TREE CUTTING TO FREE ELECTRIC LINES - Ursel Behnken said that Gulf Power will be cutting and shaping trees around the electric lines. Before they cut they will inform the residents.
IV. PAVING - Residents need to be notified that the roads are going to be paved before June 18, 1999.

POLICE CHIEF'S REPORT:
I. POLICE REPORT - as attached
II. STOP SIGN - Chief is going to talk to Rob Maxon about the stop sign at the corner of Gardner Drive and Old Ferry Road. If street lights are out,Town Hall needs to be notified.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
I. FLOC ANNUAL CONFERENCE AUG. 19-21 IN ORLANDO
II. FLOC OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR AWARD
III. FL. ASSOC. OF STORMWATER UTILITIES CONF. JUNE 23-25 IN STUART
IV. EDC ROUNDTABLE BREAKFAST - GOV. JEB BUSH SPEAKER - Nell Webb and Ursel Behnken will attend. The fee will be paid by the Town.

ADJOURNMENT: Comm. Callen moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 p.m. It was seconded by Comm. Tucker and it passed unanimously.

Gary Combs, Mayor

ATTEST:

Nell Webb, Town Clerk