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Um, I'd like to call to order the regular town council meeting. Today is August 10th and it's 5:32 p.m. Tonight, I have the honor of asking Pastor Richard North from the Trinity Lutheran Church if he'll lead us in

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invocation. If everybody could please stand. Let us bow our heads for prayer. James 1:5 says, "If anyone if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God who gives generously to all without reproach, and

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it will be given him." Lord, grant wisdom and discernment to all our council members during this meeting this evening where decisions need to be made and planning accomplished. Give patience to all who are in attendance so all comments and discussions may lead to

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beneficial outcomes for our entire community. Bless the discussion this evening. And as we stand on the eve of yet another new school year, we pray for the students, faculty, staff, bus drivers, resource officers, and parents of our

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schools here in Lake Placid that the year ahead may be filled with positive gains and accomplishments that everyone can be proud of together. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. >> Amen. And I also have the privilege of asking

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Dan Bush to come up and lead us in the pledge. Dan joined the United States Coast Guard in June of 1973 and was sent to Cape May, New Jersey for basic training. Afterward, he attended aviation machinist school in Elizabeth

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City, North Carolina and transferred to first duty assignment at Air Station Kodiak, Alaska. completing his tour, transferred to Air Station Traverse City, Michigan, and was honorably discharged in June 1977. Welcome, Mr. Bush. If you would please

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lead us with the pledge. >> Thank you. I present our flag. Gentlemen, remove your hats if you're a veteran. Salute. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

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republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you, Mr. Bush, and thank you for your service. >> And thank you for the proper placement of the flag. Good evening.

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Eva, could you please take the role? >> Mayor Charles >> here. >> Council member Royce >> here. >> Council member Hayes >> here. >> Council member Sap. >> Council member Everheart >> here. >> So, just some brief comments, please. Um, this week continues early voting

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here at the uh, government center through uh, this Saturday, August 15th, and it's been pretty steady. Uh, the first day of school starts tomorrow. I see all the smiles on parents and grandparents' facees. And then tomorrow is traditional senior

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parade where it forms at the subway to proceed down Dale Hall to Maine to um to the high school and they gather at 8:00 and typically I'll look over the chief but I think it's 8:15 they start their parade heading down.

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Um, so if you're anywhere on the parade route, give them a cheer, give them a honk, give them a thumbs up, and then also please be mindful of the school speed limits. We're going to have a lot of children out again walking to school. Um, and also respect our

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resource, our resource officers. That's not an easy job to stand there in the morning and in the heat in the afternoon to help direct the children. Um, there's sometimes where we have people in vehicles aren't realizing that

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those are school crossing areas. Um so please be mindful of that. And then August 17th, next week, the town council meeting has been cancelled and we've set a special meeting for August 27th at

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5:30. Friday night was a water main break at US 27 and 621 is we're working on the communication that's going to go out to all of Lake Plaza to sign up for text alerts andor emails for emergency

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contact communication which is going to be beyond water and um any wastewater. This can also be used for hurricane and other type of emergency communications beyond the water issues. And for those of you who do have water, we'll be

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sending a notification out next week also in the water bill. So going to do a a good uh program to get the communication out how to sign up for that. Friday night was a difficult night beyond the water main break because

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there was a lot of lightning in the area and we got hit three different times. um a a new one of the new lift station, the generator got hit and KDL is working on um getting that repaired. The Pennsylvania water tower which is behind

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the basketball court, the pressure transmit transmitter got hit and then the actual new plant got struck. Um but everything was able to be reset right away. So I want to thank Brandon and his

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team. you know, we don't just select it's going to be water employees overtime. We decided it's going to be wastewater, too. And then also to the police department for the water main break. They quickly uh reacted and got the road closures and got signs set up

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so that there could be a detour. So, just want to thank everybody um for your patience and also thank the team for a lot of extra hours were put in to try to um accommodate um not just the break

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issue but then also the the weather. Uh then with that I have a moving on. I have a couple um requests to speak uh for tonight and uh the first is Wanda Hall at 322

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Hibiscus Street Lake Placid. Wanda >> Hiscus, >> do you want to come up and >> Yeah. Well, I have a request to speak. Is that >> Yes, ma'am. >> Welcome to your office, Miss Mayor. It's been a while since I've seen you on my doorstep.

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>> Oh, hi. >> Um, the residents, Miss Mayor, have a concern. And the concern, one of the main concerns that they have is that there is no they're not receiving anything in the mail as

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far as a print out as such as the meetings that you're having now. And basically what the meetings are and I believe it was said because we do not have enough monies to print them out and

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mail them. I beg the differ on that because I've been here since 1997 and being now that it's 226, we have more people living in this town and we have more revenue than we ever have. And as you can see as I look

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around, it's very slim on the residents now that are in the meeting. A lot of the residents don't have computers to print out to see what's

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going on as far as the agendas that are taking place um in the city council meetings. And so that's one of the reasons that I am here. And the other thing that I'm uh requesting if it's

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possible tonight um is the name of the code enforcer, his boss, because we um are lacking in so many areas as far as um monies that was put aside in 2024 for

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for our community. Our community is going down, but we would really like to have some type of meeting for the C code enforcer of revamping revamping and um renewing some of the codes because our

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our area is very much lacking. Um, and before I I close out, what I wanted to mention, uh, Miss Mayor, the main thing is lots that people have purchased, but there's

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no building of the lots and it's being ran over with trees and and so it's really discouraged for our community. And we don't feel like we should have to take people that own those lots that

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have purchased them 10 years ago that nothing's being done. They're not they're not cutting the trees and it's really a mess. And I was personally thinking being that there was a grant from 2024

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to up to 2026 uh that we were supposed to have monies to revamp our community. So maybe if we can um get in touch with the code enforcer or the code enforcer's boss and I would

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like very much to take place in that meeting because we very much need to have that re revamped as far as the codes >> and that's that's basically it. So, let me just respond please and and let me respond to um some of the things that

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you've said >> as far as the mailing of town meetings in the packet. It is cost prohibitive. >> So, I'd like to come up with, you know, to make sure how people get informed. We do put it on Facebook. We do put it on

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um Next Door. So, we're trying to use electronic communications versus mailing a package out to over 1,000 homes and that. Let me let me just finish please. And then also the meetings are published. >> Um they're always the second and the

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third Monday of the month. Um so just there's going to be a balance of people able to go get the information of where it's published. It's published on the website. You can also sign up on the website and get an email to you that the um agenda and the materials are

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available. >> And I understand that. But again, let me reiterate, a lot of these are senior citizens who don't have computers and who were used to receiving that. Now, and and it is very very important, don't

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get me wrong, about the water bill and the quality of the water. And here I have three pages here. So, I'm thinking that if I got three pages here and it only takes just one page just to send it out. And these are the residents

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that voted for you. So I would think, Miss Mayor, that we could at least look out for them. I mean, you don't have to send it out on the agenda every time that you're having a city town meeting. But maybe if you could

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because it only one these are three pages here that has to do with the water that could so easily be put in the newspaper. So all that we are asking Miss Mayor and even if it's just one paper that would give them the series if

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you would for the months the date and what's on the agenda would not take up that much money. And then maybe if we trickle down if you may on all of the trees that are being put up on the medium,

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excuse me, maybe then we would have enough money because like I said, the town has grown since 1997. And if 1997 we had the revenue, the monies to circulate,

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I'm much sure now that we have re we really have the revenue. So maybe if we could cut down on some of the things to put in that agenda because again these are the voters that voted for you. So let's not take away from them because

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they don't know what's going on other than what's in the newspaper and then there's no followup. So, so what I'll do is just for the sake of time regarding code enforcement, the code enforcement reports to the chief and so what we'll do is set up some time and we are

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addressing a lot of the lots >> that haven't been for your but no thank you uh Miss Hall. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. And I don't know what to do. I understand. I didn't realize that people didn't have computers. And um the problem, Miss Hall, is that the agenda

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is set the Thursday's day before the Monday meeting. So to put the agenda in a letter, it won't get there in time. Okay. >> So, I But if you can come up with an idea or pass the word on to your friends that it's always the first and the

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second Monday, >> second, second, third, >> second, excuse me, second and third Monday of the month. >> I'm very good at coming up. >> Good. [laughter] >> Okay. Thank you. And next up, um, a

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request to speak is, uh, Deborah Worley. I put my address on the form, but it's Debbie Worley, 380 East, Interlate Boulevard, Lake Placid, Florida. Good evening. Um, I'm talking about Lake Serena, and we did have a sewage spill

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um at the new lift station. So, um, it was on early in the early hours of June 16, 2026. There's a lift station malfunction at the new lift station by the high school. This lift station is used to handle the new sewage from the camping conference center and the

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previous sewage from the schools. I am thankful because also the schools were not in not in session. So the sewage spill didn't contain that but um it did spill. This sewage spill almost made it

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into Lake Serena. Pristine Lake Serena. it would have if we'd had a rainstorm. And I'm gonna back this up with sending you all the videos and pictures I took. Um, this is a blessing. This happening sounds bad, but it's really a blessing

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because it's a wakeup call that sewage very well would go into the lake. That massive runoff is going into the lake. We are dismantling the old lift station that's in between the new one and the

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lake. So that might be a possibility to capture sewage. But when I went back over there during a heavy rainstorm, it was more. I went and videotape photography the massive runoff going into Lake Serena a couple of days ago.

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It was the most massive runoff going into any of the lakes that I've ever seen. And that's my things. I do I try to fix the lakes from runoff. It was You Wait till you see the videos. You won't believe it. Now, a tornado picked about four house three houses away. So, you

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have the road and three houses. A tornado came through there in the last hurricane and actually picked up a whole boat house and put it in the lake. I'm not saying that will ever happen again. It couldn't. I mean, it might happen, it might not, but look how close that

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location was to that. So, we cannot predict the future. So, what we need to do, we must take care of the runoff now. yesterday. When you see these videos and photographs, you're not going to believe it. I was calf deep and runoff. And when

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it when it's not raining, there's nothing there. And if it had rained on that day, raw sewage would have gone into the lake. No doubt. You you can see it for yourself. So, we must prepare for the worst. But that can happen. We did

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get our drinking water right out of Lake Serene at one point in town's history. That's how clean this lake is. is pristine. It is probably one of the best in Highlands County, probably further than that. I'll be posting the pictures and videos. I'm not sure how yet. It is

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really a picture that's worth a thousand words. I will also notify the people that live on the lake. I think they need to know. Um I didn't know and and this has been going on. So anyway, um, anybody that wants to contact me can let's work

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together to solve this very serious pro problem for Lake Serena in our in our town. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Anyone else, sir? Jack Connley, 607 Sunset Point Drive. I

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just have two quick questions. Uh the the bids for the pickle ball court, I believe, are due tomorrow. >> Yes. >> Is uh what time, where, and >> they're due at 2 o'clock. >> Two o'clock in the other conference room over there where

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>> So the bids are due back at two. is your question is when we're going to have open them. >> Yes. >> Okay. We're going to open them at 2:30. >> Oh, 2:30. >> And >> we'll use the small conference room because the voting is taking place, I think.

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>> Okay. And the public is invited >> if they want. Yes. >> Okay. Uh the other >> and and I guess if a lot of people come, we'll have to move to a larger, you know, we may come down here then. Yeah. >> I guess we could say we'll just meet down here. So, how about if we just say

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we'll just meet in this room at 2:30. >> All right. And and the other question which uh probably the police chief will have have to look into. Uh there's a lot of talk in the newspapers and TV and

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whatnot about the flock cameras. I don't know if the public knows what they are. They're automated uh tag readers. Uh I would like maybe on the on our next uh commission meeting if you could give us

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a little presentation on those or somebody could as far as do do we have them? How many uh are >> the town of Lake Placid has no license plate readers or flocked cameras?

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>> There no there are no readers on US 27. >> We do not have any. No, the Lake Placa Police Department and the town of Lake Placa do not have any. >> Okay, so >> the state does not have any. I believe the sheriff's department may have some out there,

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>> but as far as license plate reader or flock cameras, the town of Lake Plaza does not have any. >> Okay. So, you think they're the sheriff's department? >> It's possible >> responsible for that. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else?

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Okay, moving on to the consent agenda. I'll take a motion to accept it. >> So move. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. We have a motion. We have a second. Any comments

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out to the audience? Seeing none, bring it back. Eva, please take the role. >> Council member Hayes. >> Yes. >> Council member Royce. >> Yes. >> Council member Ebart. >> Yes. Uh moving on, there are no presentations or citizens on the agenda and we'll

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we'll move further to six public hearings. And the first is ordinance 2026-10. I need to read it into the record and you got it in front of. [snorts] So, ordinance number 2026-10,

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an ordinance of the town of Lake Placid, Florida, amending chapter 80 of the town code, amending section 80-49 to increase commercial dumpster collection rates and to revise the weekend, the weekend

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collection search charge, amending section 80-50 to establish a non-refundable setup fee for dumpster delivery, removal, and change of service, providing for legislative findings, providing for severability,

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providing for inclusion in the code, providing for conflict, and providing for an effective date. >> I'll take a motion and a second. >> Madame Mayor, I'll make a motion that we adopt we that we approve on first

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reading ordinance 202610. I'll second to open discussion. >> Okay, we have a motion. We have a second. Comments, questions from the dis. >> I have one question. >> Okay, >> madam. >> We have Allen here. Um, >> it it looks like the increase in fees is

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a nominal percentage. The only thing that seems significant and I guess make sure I want to understand it is the what I'll call the weekend search charges going from 50 to 125. Do people like regularly schedule Saturday or Sunday or

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is that more of almost an emergency situation? >> So, and let me just make a comment is and thank you. So, from when you know we saw this, it's like a straight 3%. That just makes it easier. We have like 11 customers on Saturday for pickup and

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we've never addressed the fee and we're paying overtime rates and a lot. So, this purposely is trying to at least >> cover our charges of our team that has to go out there on Saturday and and it

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it should move a lot of people to the weekend. >> Yeah. Oh, I'm sorry. To the to the no to the weekday from the weekend. What Alan? Anything else on that? >> You pretty much nailed it. Yeah, I had the the uh the current search charge

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does not fully recover the town's cost associated for providing the service and this uh proposed increase will help bring the fee closer to the actual cost of providing Saturday collection uh and reduce any losses. >> I I presumed it was something like that.

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I just wanted to have someone publicly say that's why we are having that significant of an increase to both >> cover our costs and to dissuade people from scheduling those dates if at all possible. Correct. and and yes and and like McDonald's is every day, right? So,

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they're going to continue. You're going to have some of them. They're just going to continue and then now we're going to bill them accordingly to recoup our costs. >> Thank you. [clears throat] >> Um I'm I'm baffled on the um the raise is okay, no problem. But I'm just kind

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of baffled on the mathematics. Um for example, if you circle the two cubic yard dumpsters and two pickups per week, it's 71 a month. If you look down at 4 cubic yards, which is the same

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volume, it's 246 a month. So, if I was a business person, I would get the two cubic yards and schedule twice a month, twice a week for less cost on the same volume. And another thing that befuddles me is that because you have to

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run there twice with the two cubic yards, there's more wear and tear in the trucks, more labor. Why would that be less in the same volume at once a week? Once. Yeah, once a week. >> So, a lot of this depends on uh

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scheduled deliveries. When they get say deliveries for their products, they might want to break it up into more than than one. Um and also yeah that's I mean that's pretty much why they they get to decide and if we

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have any conflict with it then then we will basically evaluate what they're producing and if they are at the current uh say tier that they should be >> okay I you know I can understand that they want it twice a week that's fine but it just seems that the twice a week

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for the same volume should cost equal or more and the same volume once a week >> because you have to go out there twice. So you have more, as you said, more work trucks, more gas to get the same amount of product

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>> twice a week rather than once on four. Yeah. >> Exactly. >> Exactly. So I don't know. >> So yeah, our our routes are basically structured to where they're kind of one business after another instead of going from one side attempt to the next. So

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although we are going to the same business more than once, it's kind of on the route. >> So you're saying it's kind of on the way to the next place. >> Correct. >> I see. >> Okay. >> Any other comments?

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Any comments from the audience? Seeing none, bring it back. Eva, please take the role. >> Council member Royce. >> Yes. >> Council member Everheart. >> Yes. >> Council member Hayes. >> Yes. [clears throat] Motion passes. Thank you, Alan. Thank you.

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>> Uh moving on to action agenda. The first up is US27 um the FDOT landscaping project that um the team's coming back with some further information and answers to some of the questions we had at the last time. And I

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think Chief, you're going to take on this one. You introduce our our guests here. I could introduce myself if you'd like. >> Yes. >> I'm Daryl Rashard. I'm the district landscape architect for District 1 and also your state transportation landscape

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architect for F DOT. And I'm happy to be here today because uh we're um we've been working on this project for a number of years in coordination with the town to revitalize the landscaping on the corridor there with Allen and his crew. And um yeah, we're kind of at a

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juncture right now where we're getting ready to tie down the plans to what we call final submitt or phase 4 plans in DOT which is considered final. So our bid letting day where bids would be due is scheduled for January 27th, 2027.

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And in DOT's terms, that means we're coming up close. Um I see the roadways construction still ongoing. I'll have to check in with the project manager there to confirm that his his completion date because we can't have our landscape guy doing installing landscaping without

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that roadway completion done. So that's in the back of my mind. It's not the highlight of today's discussion, but I'm going to be checking in with them later. But either way, to maintain our project schedule for our landscaping, we're looking at the budget. We have $1.7

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million set aside for the project. And uh if we did the maximum which would be the scope that we had previously I think you guys have seen the plans but from uh basically McCoy Drive all the way to Tamaka about right where your facility

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is here it burns up about that $1.7 million and the concern right now from a management standpoint is our bids are coming in higher in DOT about 20 to 30% higher. So we're thinking strategically it'd be wise for us to curtail the scope

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just a tad like to end it at Lake View and we could come back with another phase of the project then that would be a plan strategy in order to maintain that we'll be underneath the total budget because if we exceed the budget it's possible that management may decide

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or there may not be a available funds to cover the project. So, um, just from a planning standpoint and processing, we'd like you to consider that as an option because we could always come back with another phase of the project. Um, we

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have funding in consecutive years going out, but this specific year, we're limited in our funds. So, I'm just bringing that to a point to see if you would would consider that as an option. Uh the total project budget if we trim

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the bud the length of the project down would be well we're looking at probably about $ 1.5 million as a total and it's well under the 1.7 maximum. So I'm just proposing that from a management standpoint to see if that would be something you'd be interested in doing.

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Otherwise the project you know design is proceeding. We have one proposed pump and well system that' be about centrally located. We did move it down first. Our the designer for some reason wanted at the end of the project which was the the optimal. So we moved

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it to more the central central location and um the plant material pallet plant pallet plant choices we reviewed with your staff and yourselves. If you have any comments please share them with Allen and he could include those in our

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comments. Uh that's that can be changed pretty easily. The plant material selections the species themselves. Uh um we do have some direction. I think we do have some irrigated floor tam side still

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maintained within your your roadway corridor if I'm not mistaken, Jessica. Right. We do there. Um, the only concern I'd have as far as that goes is it may be something that you may want to

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consider transferring all your irrigated floor to either unerrigated beea or either uh peanut grass palo peanut. I'm not sure Allan if you guys are a big fan of pruno peanut but we just saw some is really looking good on 27 heading down here. It's been looking good for years

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without irrigation. So it's it's a good choice. Um the concern about irrigated floor side St. Augustine grass it's very intensive as far you have to you know have ongoing chemical applications and you know herbicide you know for test and

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and uh you just have to chem chemically treat it and it's so that's a concern is it's a it's more intensive to maintain so um >> peanut grass our preference. So if you have any comments or questions, I'd

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entertain those. I want to introduce my colleagues here, Jessica with our design team, Dix Height and also Mason. He's one of our engineers in House Varta. Uh so I could entertain any questions if you have some.

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Um it was my understanding that we had already uh expressed to you that we would like to switch to the peanut grass and uh continue the grass down to Tamoka Boulevard as well. So uh we were I spoke with uh Mr. Harris and he did clarify

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that he was uh interested in Baja uh more or less all the way with the exception of the flag island and one north and one south of that being the peanut grass. >> Okay. All right. We could we can work with you on that. Make those changes. >> Um you don't have to get into

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>> Could you say that again? Are you switching from bea to peanut grass? Is that what you said? in the central portion of town. I think they went the perennial peanut where the flag pole is. >> Yep. So, three three islands would have

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the peanut crest. The rest would be swapped from uh the floritam to the bea. Floritam is much more >> I know water, >> but that bea in a week looks like the devil because it's got that stock.

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Exhibit A, our cemetery. That's all bea. You want that again? Really? I don't I don't I I'll go peanut crust, but not to change floor tram for for bea >> that dollars and cents we lose on that

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one. >> I I can just say the floor is is significantly more expensive, but as far as far as far as maintenance, >> you know, remember what I do for a living. >> Yeah. Yeah. We're [laughter] well like I say with the with the uh the chemical treatments and everything else.

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Uh we do have to uh it takes quite a while to it grows over the curb a lot more than say BA would. So it's a whole another aspect of maintenance is having to edge which is our guys walking along that roadway around each island each

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week. And regardless of whether it was Florida tame or bea we would still be maintaining or mowing it every single week. as or as needed. >> Well, we can have revised plans and distribute those plans for review. Um,

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so you'll see the details of what's proposed and where. >> Madame Mayor, if I might, I I I've spoke with Chief Schneider and I spoke with Mr. Harris. I have not spoken with Allen. I understand they've had several meetings about what to do. And so what I've passed along is obviously a work

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product primarily from Mr. Harris and um in a moment I'll make a motion that we um approve the a resolution that includes this information if not now then bring it back to a future agenda. But and again a couple weeks ago I

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expressed that I did not want to see us cut back and then look towards future years secondary thing. I understand their budget concerns. I understand that FDOT has, you know, they're way past time already on a project because they

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they conducted their contractor conducted no work at all for months on end. And that's why we're now in the rainy season we're in is because they did nothing for months on end on this project. So, I think it's important for us to make sure that the irrigation

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system is done correctly. I in my mind I can't see not having multiple zones. It seems nonsensical to be relying on a mile and a half or two mile stretch of just one irrigation system and if we have problems then the whole thing goes

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down. So um I'm assuming also we're going to take down the one remaining big palm tree and make everything you know look better. And I think that the chief interim administrator and Allan and Bird

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have had a good conversation about and I think they've come to agreement. And so for the sake of this conversation, I'll make a motion that we create a resolution utilizing the verbiage contained below

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um for either approval tonight or in a future meeting, whichever the council p perceives they want to do. I have a problem with number 10 because this part of the town does not prefer bear grass because it's more

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drought tolerant. I don't ever prefer bear grass. >> Well, I'm I'm not I'm not really hung up on that. And if if if the consensus is that I know one thing that you know it's it's hard to maintain the floor team. stuff. So, someone said, "Hey, let's go

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with peanut grass the whole way." I mean, I I don't care. I think it's how do we best do something that is maintainable and um moving forward. I mean, what happens is, you know, they get all kinds

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of shell mixed in with stuff. So, whatever is hard, I mean, I think the reason behind behe is it's a hardier grass. when there's not irrigation then it it it it survives you know it doesn't it doesn't it handles weed pressure better I can't speak to peanut grass I

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know up in the sbran area when they maintain the peanut grass up there it looks very good it's a very aesthetically pleasing things at times lets it go up there and it gets a little problematic but I'm assuming

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since we have a contract to maintain it then then that may not be the problem they have up there around the south side of Lake Jackson. >> I I believe I was told that it takes about two years to like fully establish. Uh there might be a little bit of

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maintenance in between, but otherwise once it's fully established, it's to be mowed at around 6 in, which is essentially just not lowering the deck on our mowers. Uh but that would again just be those those three islands were the three that we were interested in. I've got a list of other things we spoke

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of, but uh we don't have to get into every specific, but if it's all right with you, I could just uh keep in contact with him and Mr. Harris and we can review this list and I can provide this to you.

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>> Would you do peanut grass the whole way? I mean, >> north of Seabbring too, you know, now that I know what peanut grass is with a cute little yellow flowers and that they've broadened it, you know, quite a bit north, too. And it really does look

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nice. Peanut grass is used in a lot of places, not just in Florida, but in a lot of places on roadsides, and it's very good to keep from from erosion and things like that. I I am just so set against bea. You just you can't even know it because once again I went to the

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to the cemetery on Sunday like I do every Sunday and it Allan I'm sorry it looks terrible but you can't help it. You can't mow it every other day but that's what BA does when we have it may be drought intolerant. That's lovely but

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boy when we have rain it sets up like this and it looks like the living devil. We're going to get creamed by the people. They're going to hate it. I think you said that the pean the peanut grass is less maintenance too. Correct. >> Yeah, peanut grass is a lot less mainted. >> Yeah. The the cemetery had uh several

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large >> mainline irrigation breaks. It took three days away from doing everything else in town. >> That's not what I'm saying though, Ellen. You're you're you're just like like you can't keep up with that grass. It's just not your fault. And then people will, you know, they'll nail you,

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they'll nail me, but you can't keep up with that bee. And then we're not going to be able to keep up with it in the median. And then people are going to say, "Look what you did. You took the trees and now you got this." They don't know a grass from a weed. All they know is it looks like the devil. >> What was the rationale for not using

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peanut grass everywhere? this I believe it was just the vision of uh well not to put birds on the spot but that's what he mentioned say making that that the focal point and then two on

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either side of it and and something different the rest of the way so that was the central focus point but uh as far as it going the whole way I don't know if there is >> constraints budget constraints and also I think that it's good to have a mix you don't want to put all your eggs in one

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basket So they say, right? And I think that the end result will probably have some prenal prenut and I appreciate your concern about it. It's just like anything, it's not without its maintenance um component. So it's not like it's perfect, right? So what we'll

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do is revise the plans, you know, work with Allen and your staff to revise the plans and and I know there was a motion on the table with no second. And what I would suggest is to allow your staff person Allan to review this like we were just handed this literally today as I

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understand from birds. So I think that we should review it and I think one of the things too like number eight talks about the well. See currently in DOT we have one well and we can cover the job of one well and I know it's sort of like I appreciate you know if we had multiple

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that makes sense too but the budget can only allocate one well and we do do a new well installation because our contractor can warranty that whenever we have a contractual relationship it works a lot better that way if it's a new well that they installed and uh so that's the

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logic there. So, know you guys have existing wells and I think like I'm when working with Allen once this job's installed, you can always supplement it with either the reclaim water once that's online or you know we could go in and and you could hook up to another existing well

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as well if you if you need to. But but in terms of a contract you for DOT we always go with a new installation so we could make sure that that contractor is going to warranty it because that's very important you know. So >> and and mayor the the intention of this

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is probably exactly what we're talking about that is to use these as >> the talking points of a conversation not that it has to be exactly like this. I think the intent is also that while they have the world torn up >> then let's put in whatever at least main

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irrigation lines are there. Let's put in the purple pipe. Let's do these things. You know, even if even if on the med the medians or the shoulders, we aren't doing the final irrigation, at least put the main pipe in the ground. Let's, you know, let's do the the jack and bores

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or, you know, put the sleeves in to get to the medians. Let's do the hard part now so that it is set up for the future and we don't have to um worry about that. Yeah, we've got that covered in our contract for the landscaping that

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our design team's preparing. Now, the contractor that's out there right now won't be the one that's going to install it, but it will be a new contractor after we get our bids in in January. He's going to do that work for us. So, um, it's just because we can't, you

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know, the roadway guy, he's focused on the roadway and we can't modify his contract to include, >> as an aside, are you, are you assuming that the road contract, the road work will be done by January? >> Sure. So, that's the way this was originally set up. And there was

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obviously a delay and the roadway guys aren't here to speak for themselves, but let me tell you, tomorrow there's who that's who I'm going to call on. where's your project and when is your anticipated completion date because I know everyone in your community is probably thinking the same exact thing

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cuz uh you know according to my original notes they were supposed to be almost done by now and they got cones everywhere out there so obviously it's not I don't want to throw my own department under the br under the bus here >> well they have to work on it to complete it I mean that's the biggest problem is they have to work on it to complete it

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and since they they very rarely work on it >> that's that's not that's why it's not nearing completion So maybe Allan and I can set up a meeting with the roadway guys and kind of, you know, get some commitments from them for in terms of time, right? Because that's within your purview as

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this, you know, town employee. Am I the DOT? We could do that. Uh because I'm concerned about it as well because I I was anticipating at this point they would be almost finished and it doesn't look like that presently. So yeah. So

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that's a concern I have. I think that right now we we are set for your your plans to be bid in January. It it doesn't seem like you guys are excited about reducing the scope if I get the consensus properly. No one's jumping at the opportunity to produce and say,

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"Hey, Darl, we'll get you under your $1.7 million. No problem." But you if you without hearing anything, I'll just continue like we have it and we'll just maximize the budget. But I'm a little concerned if a bid's coming high and we

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could just deal with that factor as we come as we get it because sometimes we we have had to deal with it and I can move some money depending on the situation and the timing. But um I'll just take that no you know no one's jumping up and down to say hey yeah

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we're ready to reduce the scope. So I'm just going to take that as consensus that you're not considering that. >> Oh we're jumping up and down to spend the 1.7 million. Let me just clarify there. >> I think where we're at is some differences of >> the details.

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>> I mean, council member Royce is making some great comments about, >> you know, the irrigation line and the well and and then we are having discussions on the grass. The rest of it, I think, is coming together well. And just for the audience, we've added

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keep Lake Placid beautiful. Bert Harrises has also been working with Allan and the chief on that and yourself. So, um it's going to come together. So, and I do like the idea there are things that can get prepared for it now as we're making the selection of the the trees,

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the ornamental, and the grasses. >> And and Madame Mayor, I I mean, I'll withdraw my original motion and modify it if it's okay. I mean, I'm I will I'll make a motion that we utilize the information provided in the handout minus item number 10 as the basis of

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talking points for the staff to work with FDOT in um coming up with a potential program. I mean, I think these are just ideas that that the chief and Allen have talked

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about, and I think they just want to make sure that we're expressing our interest in a town that we move forward, we move forward to the full range of of the project and that we expend every available dime from FDOT since they've

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inconvenienced us for several years now on this project, let's at least come out of it with a better looking segment roadway. So, that's my motion. >> I'll second that. >> Okay. And just clarification for u those

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in the audience, uh what was passed out is there's always last minute information that comes forward for an agenda item. And what was put together, it's like a two-page of, you know, we've referred to as a motion or some

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guidelines. And and I just want to quickly comment there's a section on history comments on the plans what the goal is reuse irrigation scope of the irrigation reduction in scope controllers wells trees grass is number

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10. So under number 10 that was just asked to be stricken from this is the town prefers bea grass because it's more uh drought tolerant. So that's what's been pulled for further discussion. The next is ornamental peanut grass where that would be and then other species. So

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I think this is a well-written um document that's kind of summarizing some of the last minute discussions and try to move that along. So it's like an organized thought process of the various areas. In support of the motion, I'll say madame mayor that

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by striking 10, the intent is to move to something other than probably floritan. Understanding, you know, that if the experts said, "Boy, we can't do peanut grass the whole way. There needs to be conversations, but we understand that

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it's problematic to maintain floritan." So there may be areas, you know, moving north or moving south that despite Nay's disliking them, there may be a few areas that they have to be ba or something just because we don't want to we don't

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want to plant floritan out here in the middle of the road and then and never be able to maintain it. >> There's more than one grass, >> right? That's my point. That's my point. >> Grasses, >> right? >> What's the rightway now? Bea. >> The rightway. Yeah.

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>> Yeah. the right way and >> that's what the cemetery has. >> Yeah, I get that. That's clear. >> Trust me. >> It's it's what's in the medians as well uh in in certain areas. >> Okay. >> Any other comments from the dis? >> I noticed in the last meeting when we

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got the catalog of plants to be put in that the uh the sawrass palmetto was crossed out. Can you confirm it is indeed crossed out? I do not have guidance regarding salt pomemetto. Allan and I have had a discussion on that. We don't want to plant any new salt

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pomemetto. There's some existing that we'll probably have to have remain there, but in this project we're not going to plant any new salt pomemetto because they just get extremely high and it's a maintenance problem for his crews. >> Okay. All right. Yep. Great. Thank you.

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>> They have the direction no palmettos. So >> I just wanted to make sure. >> Any other comments from the dis? I I just have maybe two quick comments. The first first is the barrels moved today. So we we have some open movement of

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traffic in front of Dunkin Donuts now. We're not one tire on one end and one tire on another. It's all smooth there now. And because I live a block from 27, not even a block a lot from 27, I will tell you they work at night because I

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can hear them. So >> sometimes. >> Yeah. Let me let me just say It's okay. >> If if we had the savings of multiple installations of the black barrier material and we weren't paying Bob's barricades a small fortune, we could have a multi-million dollar thing. But

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that's where that's where FDOT's wasting money. Thank you. [snorts] >> Okay. Other comments out to the audience? Ma'am, you have a question. Put to the microphone, please. and again state your name and address for the record.

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>> I thank you and on the discussion I understood the conversation well. However, Lake Placid is known for the lakes and the mediums on 27 in adjacent to

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Publix where the houses are being built as far as the shrubs, the trees, the palm trees. They're so high that it's affecting the view

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and all that the town, the citizens of Lake Placid is fine to want to beautify our town. However, this is what our town is noted for, the lakes.

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And if you're going to allow people to come in with their monies and build on the lakes or a portion of the lakes and then in the medium, if you will, you're going to put the landscape that

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does nothing for the town. It affects the view of the lakes. So, in making your decisions, if you will, would you please at least compromise the height and the width

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because this town has been here for years. And it doesn't do us any good to not be able to view or see the lakes. And so, I'm asking if you will if you would at least take that into

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consideration. Beautifification is a is a good thing. However, don't take away for what the town represents, which is the lakes. And all the money in the world can't beautify the town if you

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take away the view of our lakes. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other comments from the audience? Margaret dear 1504 French Street. I'm going to roll back. I've not been privy to what these plans are, but please correct me if I'm wrong. When I moved

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here 10 years ago, were the medians, particularly in front of the do it best center, not Florida St. Augustine. I have the distinct recollection of coming here and seeing saying, "Oh, dear God, look at how wonderful, how

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beautiful this grass is." So, I'm trying to understand is our objective, no offense, Alan, you guys work and and Miss Hayes, I'm 100% Bea. There ain't nothing you can do to make Ba look good. Is is our objective to be free and easy

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or is our objective to put our absolute best foot forward when somebody comes rolling through here on 27? And as a member of Highlands County Economic Development Group, we all know that the message of the appearance of a town of

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what it sends. So I am going to beg and plead that this can't be about the money. It has got to be about how can we look the absolute best. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other comments from the

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audience? >> I'm seeing none. Bring it back. Eva, please take the role. >> Council member Royce. >> Yes. >> Council member Hayes. >> Yes. >> Council member Everheart. >> Yes. [snorts] >> Motion passes. Thank you, Alan. And thank you, sir. just to wrap things up.

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So after your now that your motion's passed, we'll go ahead and revise the plans within a two-eek time frame, kind of revise plans back to you. We'll confer with your staff on the revisions and the details uh that we have in this document. Thank you. >> Okay, then we can bring this back with

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Alan the timing of September meeting work. Okay, perfect. Thank you. >> Okay. Um, next up is uh that the utility um the utility commission appointment of the

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chair and the vice chair is that Eva has that one. >> Yeah. >> So at the last meeting um you appointed Mr. Harris and Mr. Freeman to the board. Um recommendation was to go to back to blue and ask for recommendation for uh

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chairman and vice chair. Recommendation from the regional utility was that Mr. Matt Elliot remain chairman and that Mr. Bert Harris um become the vice chair. >> Okay. Is there a motion? >> Make a motion to accept the recommendation of the utility commission

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for chairperson and vice chair. >> Is that's for Matt Elliott as chair and Bert Harris as vice chair. I'll second it. Have a motion. Have a second. Any comments from the dis uh to the audience? Seeing none, bring it back. Eva, please take the role.

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>> Council member Everheart, >> yes. >> Council member Hayes, >> yes. >> Council member Royce, >> yes. >> Motion passes. Thank you. Uh, moving on to action item C regarding the disposition of 151 DH Hall Boulevard and

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the next steps for compliance with Florida statute 163-380. And I think Khera, this is to you. >> Yes, ma'am. So, to recap on what happened at the last meeting, um, we

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went to research the applicability of a state statute. Can we hit the volume on her microphone or >> is it on? I think it is on but it's very loud. >> Louder. >> Better. >> Is that better? Okay, I'll go right.

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>> It wasn't good. Thank you. >> Um, okay. So, we uh legal team went back to do research on a state statute called 163 uh 380. It is a state statute dealing with CRA property. So, what we determined from that is that any

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government-owned real property within a CRA, whether for lease or for sale, has to go out for a competitive proposal. So, today we do have for a recommended motion, which we will alter slightly after talking to staff about how we want

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to approach this. But the idea is since at the last meeting we had the idea to do um a lease there was also some commentary about selling it. So the motion recommended by legal is to move

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to direct staff and council to publish the not notice required by section 163 383 inviting proposals for the disposition of the community center parcel at 151 Dhal Boulevard to include potentials for

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sale and in the alternative or in addition for an interim lease of the parcel pending the closing of a sale. So, that is the recommended motion of council. And then there are some um factors that I was going to ask to have

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council discuss because the standard for determining what to do with the proposals that we receive after a 30-day notice is the public interest standard. So, deciding generally what should go into this bid, which is, you know,

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financial return, community benefit factors. I have some questions to go through on those factors. So the first one would be if council is inclined to go with that recommendation for that motion. It's whether the town

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in the interim from doing that solicitation wants to get an appraisal. So that would be number one to to consider is if during the time that this proposal is out there whether we get an independent appraisal that is for the

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fair market value or just for just for the sale or for the leases as well. You can do both. So basically getting a determination whether um we are concerned at all about the value of the lease or the sale. Um, and that's

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question number one for the town for um what to go into the bid. >> So, I would make a motion to um uh do the public statuary notice so on and so forth um for the lease of the building >> and that will move us along and if you

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approved that and so we can eliminate one or the other either lease or so. So, I'll start out with proposing the lease >> for I I'll second that for the sake I just I will second that motion for the sake of discussion. Miss Eart, I think what you're doing is saying let's let's

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talk about the what we need to do to move forward in a lease option, not sale at this time. >> Right. >> And then if that if we approve that, then we'll talk about what conditions we may want to impose. I think whereas Miss

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Graves is going next. Um but Groves, I'm sorry. Um is going next. Um this doesn't close the door if six months or a year from now we decide to change our mind and go sale. Correct. This is just that's where we're moving

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at this moment is towards putting out an RFI or whatever the proper statemandated process is for trying to lease the property. Okay. my second stance. >> And then the second question, if we're going forward with the lease side of it,

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would be um do we want to include any language in the lease that allows for a purchase option? >> I wouldn't be in favor of that at this time. I mean, to me, at least as one council member, I'm willing to pursue the lease, see where it comes, what

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comes in. We kind of had a little bit of interest. Um, I unless we need to, I don't want to spend money on appraisal of the building. I want to see what we can get. I mean, what's going to be important to me is that the lease certainly needs to cover the town's cost

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for maintaining and operating that building. I'm not interested in as one council member, I'm not interested in giving it away. I'm not covering whatever cost we have. And then the final question I had on the

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lease would be is there any u minimum floor for rent that we want to put in there? >> And I'll say as one person then my minimum floor is that we at least are covering whatever cost we have for utilities, you know,

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maintenance. I mean, I don't want us to be leasing a property and losing money while we're doing it. Okay. >> I I I like the idea of leasing the property. I am not interested in sale of

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the property at this time. It was my feeling and my understanding at the time when we purchased this property that it would be for the use of the citizens of the town of Lake Placid and that it would serve a purpose as a smaller meeting facility that we could rent out

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to the public. My concern with leasing is that if we get boxed into a lease where we don't have an opportunity to use it at all, um then I I don't think we're following through with what we bought it for in the first place. And I

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and I hate to see that we as a town purchased this building um and the associated playground with it with the intent that it would be used for the town of Lake Placid and then bind us into a lease where people in the town would not have the opportunity to lease

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it and I'm sorry to rent it um and use it for a birthday party or a small gathering or you know whatever. So, um I think leasing it is the only way we can keep those options open. >> So, let me amend that motion that we

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will um proceed with the proper procedures to go out to lease with the restrictions that the uh the terms of lease cover our costs >> and that the building remains open to

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the public by with a scheduling. >> Thank you. And just to be clear, what we're talking about doing is we're separating the building portion of this property from what I'm going to call the playground portion. And all we're talking about

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leasing is the building portion. We are going to maintain the playground under public management open to the public at all times. Correct. Is that Miss Everheart the intention? Okay. Okay. Thank I'm just Yeah, I'm just cons uh targeting the

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building. >> Are you You're just just dealing with the building. >> Are you just Is that just dealing with the building? It doesn't affect the playground, >> right? >> And if a lease request would come in that would include the playground, that would be different.

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>> I think we'd have to consider it. >> Yeah. >> As part of the evaluation. >> Yeah. I mean, we we're big on big on getting things for the children and making sure that I mean, that playground is right in the middle of a number of homes that do

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have children. And I have seen people actually use that park. And so, I'd kind of like to leave that open. And then if somebody wanted to rent the building for a birthday party and they wanted to use the park, I think we would have to come up with a fee just like we

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have for Steuart Park and Debbank Park and add that to the rental of the building. So yeah, >> and agree totally. The park is used a lot. That park is used daily and we also have um approved CRA monies to improve

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um the playground and the structure. So, I mean, I totally agree. The park needs to continue as our CC park right there located. It gets used a lot and that we'll continue to update it. Um, the clarification I need on the lease that

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you just made for myself is it's a difficulty of if you lease it out but with the condition that the public can still use it or to the point that you were making if they wanted to rent it out. So, that's kind of confusing and how that lease would be so um would be

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so drafted. I know that when we originally, to your point, Councilwoman Hayes, uh were pursuing this, the feedback was, oh, we can make money on it to rent it out. Well, I think we've just found there's more administrative effort in

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renting it out for the small amount of return that the town may get to rent it out to somebody to have a birthday party in a smaller building. So, but but I personally do like having different civic activities and things

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like that. That was always trying to bring young, old, whoever together and just a lot of uh volunteer activities and things that could benefit the town overall. So with I'm need clarification on your motion and maybe some of the comments that were made of

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and how the lease would need to be written that we would lease it out to somebody but it's confusing to me how we could still have it open for somebody else to have a birthday party or we the town would rent it out unless I heard something wrong. No, I think you heard

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it just right. Um, and to your point about administrative cost to, you know, to overhead on that property, that doesn't mean that that would have to be exactly the same price as Steuart Park or Devain Park. It might have to be a higher price because of the higher administrative cost to facilitate

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opening and closing that facility. But, um, I think that it's important that if and I'm I'm actually thinking Boys and Girls Club for instance. I know they wanted the the building and they have a wonderful program and that's that's all well and good, but it was my impression

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with what they were wanting to try to do is that they would have total control over that building and the playground and we would not have access to it. But in Avon Park, they have that situation and they're there Monday through Friday, but the town has access to it on the

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weekends. So, I would I would be more immunable to something like that of some sort of a lease or maybe somebody wants to lease it every Wednesday like the Rotary Club, you know. Um, but you would have access to it other times, you know. It's it just depends on on who wants

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what and how the lease would be would be proposed. So, so if the business was as I've stated that it the lease was or the uh the request to be answered by whoever applies is that the town can use it um

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at certain times. >> Um and um I guess that's it. >> Yes. And then and then to you Lou, the problem that with with with the town renting out things is that our fees are too low, >> right?

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>> So if we had a higher fee, it would cover administrative costs and so on and so forth. >> Yeah. I guess where I'm confused is, and again, we'll see how it plays out. But if we have a lease with an entity

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and then somebody wants a party at the same time, then you've got some conflicting schedules. who's going to manage that schedule, right? >> So, you've got you don't know. I don't think we would be telling the lei, oh, you've got to give me you got to give

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Eva for the town calendar all of your dates so that somebody coming in. So, I just feel that there's going to be confusion >> in that or would you allow the company to subleasase? I was just going to say have the le L le coordinate the schedule, but we would have to have

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oversight that they don't commander it 100% of the time. >> I'd like Eva handle it. Well, I I'm concerned about I mean the the time for us to do that. But >> if I can add just from legal's

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perspective, the way we can put it in the bid is that the um you are weighed more favorably depending on um the flexibility you give to the town in that regard. So it could be um you know, if council did have specific dates in mind, that could be something they want to put

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in the lease. Um or as you said with um Avon Park, certain times, maybe every Wednesday or something. So, I think we can leave it open to see what they come up with. And if they don't come up with anything and that's all we have, then council can make a decision off of that. >> I just say I share the mayor's concern.

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I think it's going to be very hard to lease it to the Smith company and then tell them and oh, by the way, we want to have access to it when we I mean, if they if they want to make it in a lease and they say, "Hey, we're going to be willing to do this, this, and this as part of their RFI." That's fine by me.

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But I don't want to be too restrictive because I think it's important as a leaser that we are going to ask them to cover costs. We're asking them to maintain the building in a certain condition and I you know I mean I think it gets a little squirly when all of a

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sudden we say we we want our cake and we want to eat it too so to speak. So, I I like where Miss Groves is going that some that we have some language in there that allows them to offer how they may

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want to handle that situation, but that we not make as a condition of the lease that we get to utilize it or our subleasasers get to utilize it when we determine >> or we make it so difficult that nobody

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is interested in leasing it. Yeah, >> because I mean right now for the Boys and Girls Club, if we're saying, "Okay, but we still want it to be available when we need to have those days, that's a deal breaker for them because they've got, you know, club five days a week." So, >> have have we leased it a single day

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since we've owned it? >> Don't get me going on this. [laughter] My disappointment is two and a half years later and it's never been opened. >> Okay? And that's why I'm very anxious to try to get some things going. >> Uh, no, I I think um

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people want to lease it Monday through Friday and have programming and I think that's that's wonderful, but I think we ought to be able to have the opportunity to lease it to um people in the area that may want to use it on a Saturday and Sunday. But if the if the if the

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lassi is only going to use Monday through Friday, why should it sit idle Saturday and Sunday? We need that opportunity to lease it those two days. My opinion. Okay. Any other comments from up here? I think we have a motion in a second,

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right? >> Yeah. >> Yes, ma'am. I have the notes. Do you want me to go over them for the record or >> I think just to clarify what the motion and the second and I think with that there was some cont some um >> kind of contingencies for part of the

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lease. >> So the motion for the lease of the building only we are not moving forward with an appraisal right now. The floor for the rent will cover the town's cost for maintaining and operating that building. No purchase option at this

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time. And then there should be some use continued use for the citizens of the town of Lake Placid. And then the bid will be weighed more favorably on who based on any flexibility given to the town.

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>> Okay. Good. Um comments from the audience. Yes, ma'am. >> Thank you all so much. At 72 getting up and down. I don't know how much my knees can take it but anyway uh from the year 2020 to 2021

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when our health department during those years was closed down um it was brought to the table at that time we didn't have a lot of uh children or um adolescence but we had spoke about and and during

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that time if you will we didn't have a building that would facilitate for the children. So on this particular building that you're speaking of, whether you rent it, you sell it or whatever, we do

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need a place for the children. Um I know I don't know how many afterchool programs we have but we do need some programs if you will that's not inclined with after school but something that would give them a place to go and a

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place um of their own and particular for um the children with disability. not the ones that are in the wheelchairs per se, but the ones that have learning disabilities where we could set up some type of programs um such as the YMCA.

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Uh I've been in this community since 1997 and so I do know a lot about the community and I do know a lot as far as what our community needs and that particular building. It's not that big. is it's is not that small but take in

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consideration um for our children like I said at the time between 2020 and 2021 we didn't have as big audience as we do with the children from the ages of maybe

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seven through 17 or 18 and they do need something to to do. At one point we did um at the museum or or or the bottle factory at that time um we did have I think it was a skating ring or something to that nature but they really don't

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have anything to do and maybe we could set up a small workshop if you will for employment to get them into um you know different types of employment. I have a lot of ideas. You all want to put me up on one of those seats. [laughter]

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But anyway, I I thank you all so kindly for your time and you all have a blessful afternoon. I'm out of here. Thank you. >> Thank you. And I've been pushing to have citizens groups put together if we can do it within Sunshine Law requirements.

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>> Any other comments from the audience? Okay, bring it back. Eva, please take the role. >> Council member Everheart, >> yes. >> Council member Rice, >> yes. Council member Hayes. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. Thank you. Okay, moving

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on. Uh the next one um is going to be chief safety and parking management along East Ener Lake during the Christmas parade. >> Uh we've placed this on the agenda. It's been addressed once before back January 13th uh 2025 to

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close both sides of Interlake for parking throughout the uh Christmas parade. Just for safety sake, uh we've had uh instances where people have tried to leave before the parade starts, during the parade, people attempting to back

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out and leave and and immediately following it when all the pedestrians are in the road. As the town grows, we're going to continue to see more and more foot traffic out there, and we need to remove that element from our parade route. So, we would like to get the council's reaffirmation that they would

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still like to continue with that to close both the north and south side of Interlake throughout the Christmas parade. Again, we had uh discussed once about uh pedestrian railing and such, but that is

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extremely cost prohibitive and we could not afford to purchase the equipment necessary to do that. But we have come up with alternative means to to block off the parking. >> Chief, you just very specifically said Interlink. Are you not going to make the

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same application on North Main? >> No, we do not have those issues along North Main at at >> present. There's no parking in there. I mean, >> because it's it's the east side of North Main for the parade and the other side is most of the diagonal parking already

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and that's not a parade route. >> You don't run into the same issue there. So you would propose to eliminate parking on entry to lake um >> through the course of the parade >> both sides. Both sides >> both sides beginning at what time on parade day?

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>> Uh we were looking at five um >> after discussing it with Captain Troutman, he's requested that we [clears throat] shift that to four just to give us additional time to make sure we get the cars out before the beginning of the parade. As you know, people like people to come and park their vehicle there the night

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before even. And so if we start getting the communication out ahead of time, we get the roping up with the signs, you know, no parking after, >> you know, four o'clock. >> Uh the first year is the roughest, right? Because that's when, you know, everybody's got their favorite pickup

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spot that they can put their car. the city of Sebring does it has done it for years and they just put up signage um I don't know how far ahead but far ahead and they say that after a particular time on parade day your vehicle will be towed and they tow them

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>> uh as far as I know because I participated in that parade too many years and um they they just they're all sitting on the street they got their they got their chairs but nobody's sitting in cars and I think that's where we need to go on Interlake So, we just ask for a motion to approve

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parking restrictions for the parade and direct direct staff to implement as appropriate. >> I'll make that motion. >> I'll second. >> Okay, we have a motion. We have a second. Any comments from the DAS?

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>> Is that going to be after four, Chief? or after five or what? >> Um, we're hoping that four will be enough. >> I I >> again, it's going to be a learning curve this year. We'll we'll figure it out as we go. Uh, but we're going to try from four to nine. I think gives us five hours to get the vehicles out of there.

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>> I I would suggest four, but I also would suggest um making sure that all all of the businesses on Interlake are fully aware that it's going to be four o'clock so they can adjust their hours accordingly. >> Yes, ma'am. We also intend to uh post

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the parking at least one day in advance to ensure that it's out there showing no parking in those areas. >> So since this changes decades decades of pre you know presidents what

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are we what are we doing? I mean are we can people claim spots? Do businesses get to rope off areas or [clears throat] I mean how are we going to handle that because we're going to create a whole different set of you know potential

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conflicts or problems with the citizenry about okay when do they get to come set up their chairs what do they get to do stuff getting roped off and >> as far as roing off this is town property they don't get to lay claim to town property it's first come first

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serve Explain to me again how it's different on North Main. I understand the parade only goes on >> the majority of it doesn't have the parallel parking and you don't have the vehicles parked in there. Generally North Main, especially if you look at it

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from Interlake past the women's club, there's no parking there. You don't start with parking there until you get to um >> just drew a blank parking center >> and then from park down you have

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parallel parking but you only have it on the one side. You don't have the other side involved in the parade. So people actually sit in the median >> you do you do have some parking by uh Gloria Jeans and that little place but

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it's not right on the street. Are you >> It's not directly on the edge of the street. >> Are you going to uh restrict parking there as well? >> Uh we can. Yes. I was going to try Inner Lake first. I wasn't going to try to restrict it everywhere all at once and just make a complete change.

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>> And and as far as roping out for businesses is I I agree. I mean that's town if you will right away. But what happens over on and actually it's happening on um the north side of Inner Lake, right? That has been open and on

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Maine. People do come early and put their lawn chairs out. >> They put their chairs out and >> um it's just the difference is now they won't be able to put their truck out. Um, and and I I understand that years ago when the decision was made to it was

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supposed to be rotating, one year it was going to be one side of Inner Lake and the other was going to be the other and that never happened. But it's just it's a safety. I mean, I I've I stopped viewing it on Inter Lake because of when that parade ended and just what Chief

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has seen. I I I can't I can't say this because of vehicles trying to back out where people were trying to leave and go over to the Genesis Center to get the cookies and the hot chocolate or kids even running between a vehicle to pick

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up some candy u or they saw a cool float that was coming but the so there's just it it's safety and I appreciate uh what you're saying from your experience of other parades and that but the first year is going to be the tough one. I don't have a problem if you think we need to also on Main Street to be

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consistent, main avenue to be consistent. And another thing we need to do better is um I I I don't know if it's the chamber or who exactly um facilitates the parade, but the year that we had the big gap and captain will

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attest to that because we were watching it together and there was a big gap in the floats and the parade wasn't over but people thought it was and they started to back out into the street and they got into the middle of the parade. Yeah. >> And and that was a disaster. Oh >> yeah.

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Other comments from the dis. >> Is the parade December 5th? >> It's the second Saturday. >> Yeah, I was going to say I don't have the exact date. >> The second Saturday, the first >> Our parade is the second Saturday. >> Okay. So, >> no December 12th.

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>> Okay. >> Okay. >> Ours is the second Saturday. >> Any comments from the audience? Seeing none, bring it back. Eva, please take the role. Council Council member Ebart. >> Yes. >> Council member Hayes. >> Yes. >> Council member Royce.

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>> Yes. >> Motion passes. Moving on to E. Approval and acceptance of D agreement NF130 town of Lake Placid Septic to sewer. And I think this is also referred to as the 319 grant. And I'll turn this over to

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Chief. We were asked to return to Lupra with this after going back to D and seeing if we could get approval for the actual step program. Um Cara, you did the write up on that. Would you mind letting them

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know what came back from that? >> Yes. So we um spoke with the program manager at the FD and she also looped in her supervisor. We asked the two questions um whether the step system could be considered number one and then number two that ownership language that

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seemed to suggest that we weren't going to own it that sort of thing. So with the step system, the D didn't necessarily foreclose the option to pursue a STEP system, but they in a nutshell said it was um inconsistent

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with the intent of that agreement, which was apparent is apparently to get um off of septic and into um private hands to to the city sewer main, town sewer main. And so separate and apart from that

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inconsistent with the intent, they also said they would need an expert report essentially to uh clarify that a step system could be used. So the town would have to make a decision tonight to hire an expert report on that issue. And then

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on the ownership, they clarified that because the um pump stations that they're going to be the grinders are on private land. That's why it shows that it would be transferred following the um installation. So that's why it reads like that. So as of as this time, uh the

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council has to decide on whether they want to put forward a um essentially hiring an expert on the step system. >> Um I suppose I need to make a motion. have discussion. So I will move that we accept the grant.

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However, I object to the same two items that I mentioned in the last meeting and that's having the um pumps owned by the individuals where they already have an ordinance that the town will own them. So there's a conflict there. And the

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second second objection that I is that the Florida D actually did approve step systems with a grant for Vero Beach and notably and you just got a cop you got a copy of that and the relevant pages are

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highlighted and tagged and in the Vero Beach system that had the Florida D grant. Um they first of all the uh town owned the pump systems and I guess the main point is um they

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did approve the step system obviously for 1500 homes. My problem is the response that came from the DP the par the person didn't understand apparently what a step system is because they keep referencing that it will send effluent

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to the uh drain field which is totally wrong. So they don't understand what a step system is that they're denying. >> Um >> so can you repeat the motion? So I will repeat the motion without all the elaboration.

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I will accept the 319 grant provided that there are two changes. One is that we do allow a step system and secondly that to be in u accordance with the ordinance the town owns the

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pumps. What was the first part of that? That >> that we will accept the 319 grant and allow the step system. >> Oh, okay. And allow the step system.

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>> So that's different from what Lupra's recommending. >> Well, actually, uh, some members of Lupra are in favor of the step system. They I couldn't hear. I just listened to the um the meeting and the last end and I couldn't hear what they were what the

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conclusion was but um if they are just how should I say this? I don't know what they wanted and I couldn't hear the rest of the meeting. >> Okay. So, and I probably shouldn't have jumped in there. So, we have a motion. Do we have a second? >> I'll second for discussion.

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>> Okay. So, we have a motion. We have a second. Comments from the dis. So, if you will turn to page three and four in that uh handout I gave you. >> Say, so uh Councilwoman Iba Hart has

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passed out to the council uh case study information for Vero Beach, Florida. So I understand it, council, the idea is we're going to go back to the state and say we still want the grant money, but

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we want to be able to have step systems, >> right? >> And then I'm assuming a criteria. I mean as I very quickly looked at this there seems to be a criteria for which

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septic I mean septic tank systems can be part of a step program in other words it takes a certification >> if if the tank is good >> right >> okay >> now if the state comes back to us and

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says no way I mean are we going to then revisit this >> I would argue with them because the det the uh determination. The person that made the determination kept saying that um uh Drew a technical distinction a

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step system moves filtered liquid effluent from a septic tank to a drain field and it does not. So the state when they gave the determination was under the wrong >> concept. This tool termination is false.

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The the point would be your point would be that we in no way the the the former septic tank is just a larger container [clears throat] >> in that the drain field would be disconnected. The septic tank would any

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ability to for fluid to leave the septic tank will only be through >> correct >> this the pumping system. >> Correct. >> Just a bigger tank than we would normally apply. And the advantage of that is if you have a power outage, you have larger reservoir to hold you

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through the power outage. Whereas with the E1 system, it's only 100 gallons. Now, in the case of Vero Beach, if they found a tank was not suitable, they replace it with a thousandgalon um I think it was a vinyl tank or plastic tank or whatever. But it's a

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cost savings to not crush in a tank. and you have the added thousandgalon or whatever your tank is reservoir. Uh and it would be less cost because we could make our money stretch further if we did not have to destroy an existing tank.

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Would it be worthwhile rather than go back to DP in writing to set up a discussion with DP so that they can, you know, benefit from the information you have and to better clarify because I'd hate to just keep

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writing back and forth and and the person still isn't understanding obviously, right? um what the question or the step system is and or maybe they're working on something outdated.

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So I think yeah from legal's perspective we would have to figure out who is best to legal really cannot u make representations about the step system to FD and I will just say from a click quick glance of this this doesn't appear

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to be a 319 grant so I don't >> well it I it may not be a 319 grant but the D approved it >> right so I think that the distinction is that it's the specific 319 funds may only be able to be used. But again, I don't know. >> But I like to see in writing where the

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the D can specify a particular vendor. >> Sure. >> Or or particular technology. >> I don't think they're trying to require a particular vendor or technology. I think the distinction in this grant comes along as it falls under septic to sewer. If you're leaving the septic in

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the ground, even if you're just reusing it, you're not going from septic to sewer. The idea was to remove the septic tanks from the ground. And I believe that was the crux of why they were saying the step was not >> feasible for this. >> Okay. Well, I think we should have a

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discussion because it was obvious that this person didn't understand. They still thought the sewage was going to the drain field. >> So, do we have anyone on staff who can [clears throat] talk about this or will we need to hire essentially an expert? >> Brandon. Brandon, you are familiar with

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these, aren't you? Yeah, I am familiar with them. Um I I'm with her uh that I think it this grant, the 319 grant. That's the reason why they're not wanting us to go to the

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the septic tanks. Uh they there are other municipalities that do use the septic tank and cap off the drain field and they use the same pump to put it on

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stands which and uh run the pipe right out and tap it into the main. So uh it's there. It's just truly all in all is a uh bigger holding tank. And so

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y'all got any questions? But I I think it just this grant by itself is just saying like it doesn't apply for apply uh to it. >> I I also wonder if the way we applied

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for the grant, we wrote it in that way and then they approved the grant in that way. And now we're going back saying, "Oh, but can we do it this way?" And they're saying, "No." >> So that's what I thought from the last

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time is, "Oh, okay. Accept the grant under these conditions." But I think we made those conditions when we wrote the application. So they were just bringing it back in. >> Good point. So that's what I was trying to get across in last meeting that the

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grant wording has to be amended to cover this and secondly amended because it's in conflict with our existing co ordinance as far as ownership. So, as far as next step, um, Cara, I agree. I don't think at this

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point it's a legal issue as much as an internal issue. And I guess I would recommendation and and council member Ibrahart, you clearly are the closest and the passionate, but the knowledgeable about this is evident

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by not giving up and the research that you've done. Would would it be fine to ask with Brandon to set up a would you participate in such a call with DP to discuss I won't say challenge but

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discuss you know the the situation to see um at least for the 319 grant do they have flexibility to allow us to apply that funding for a step system >> and and the reason they're so passionate about it is because when they first came

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up about using the low pressure system. Everybody was saying the nightmares when they had the E1 in other locations and there was a power outage and then there were overflows and it was a disaster. This at least allows the reservoir of

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the existing septic tank. That's why I'm so passionate because I've heard disasters with a 100gallon tank. Well, the flip side was always the town would either contract with somebody to go around with portable generators

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and pump out or we would do that and in practicality there's not enough resources during a hurricane that may be servicing other cities to really do that. So, this could be that alternate especially during the um power outage. So I mean those are

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kind of my comments is you have I feel the more expertise in this subject that could better support with Brandon who does have knowledge on this specific grant and if there's you know if Rachel if the Jennifer for the grant needs to

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be involved too would be unless somebody else wants to participate in that call. No, no, no. I don't I I I just I want to make sure that what the motion we pass is that we attempt to renegotiate the terms

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of the grant. >> I just don't want us to get and I don't mean this it's going to sound worse than it is, but I just don't want us to get so obsinate about it that we lose the grant funds while we're we're arguing about something an argument we're not going to if we can't win it with the A.

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>> Exactly. What is there a deadline on this? a deadline on accepting it. I >> I don't know if the deadline, but I do have a question. Isn't this the the 319 grant, the one that we already have the

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33 homes? Uh and so we have 27 of those homes already ready to to go. And so if y'all approve them, then we would be able to to move forward with installing these E1s. Um and then also

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um as for the timeline of the grant I'm not 100% that would be a Jennifer question but um uh the other just to give you a little a side note uh I guess to add a bonus at six in one hand half a dozen in the other for me. Uh but the

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way you would disconnect the drain field you could just pretty much where the outlet is cut it and cap the drain field and you're not messing up the yard. uh then you would just come out the discharge side and go straight to your main and so there's minimal damage to

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the yard uh if we do it that way. If you dig it up and you got to demolish that that subject ink, it's uh does damage to the yard. You got to bring in sand. You got to do all that and then you got to in still install that that pump. Like I

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said, either way it don't bother me. I just wanted to give a little layout which one's more makes the yard look better in the end result. And installing both of these over the years, uh I I've I've always

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put the AMGP inside the the tank, but I'm not biased. Y it's up to you on D. >> Um well, then can I withdraw my motion and table this until we have a discussion with D?

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I'd be more concerned about the timing and and first off, Council Member Royce, to your comment, absolutely. This isn't a bully them into doing something. This is a we want you to take a look another look at that we think, you know, type of a conversation that I have no doubt

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Councilwoman Ibrahart knows how to do. Um, but I would almost prefer that your motion be maybe revised to continue on. But if that doesn't u materialize,

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then we sign the grant and we proceed as it is. >> And I I guess that's what I said that that it not be a hard we have to have step. it'd be that there's a preference that step systems, you know, could be utilized and that we then Miss Everheart

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staff makes a case for why it's the smart way to move forward, but that we not just I I'd hate the clock to run out on us, >> you know, right? And I mean, because we've already kicked it a month, right? And I want to keep kicking it and I think it has been out there for a while.

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I know there are some dates um and I know they're ready to go and I know we want revenue for the new plant. So that's kind of all if you will tailwinds we're running into. So I mean if we can get that call set up that

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would be mine is sure we can take that route try to do that in the next week and if it doesn't then the motion can authorize the mayor to go ahead and sign >> as it does. So how would you state

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>> to pursue with DP if they would accept an a step system on the 319 grant and if not authorized mayor it the rest of it right here then um move to accept the grant uh for Lake Placid Septic Cass as

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is. >> Well e either way you're going to move to accept the grant. We just want to know if they would accept the step system, right? Yeah, but I didn't want it to come back another month to say, "Okay, here's where we're at." It's like, >> "Yes." >> So, it's accept the grant and and you

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had said with it the conditions that it could be ast come back next month and report back. >> Yeah. >> So, >> if I could address one of your other concerns is about the ownership of the pump. There is an user agreement that is to be signed between the property owner

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and the town when the pump is put in. You could put the maintenance agreement for it on the user agreement instead of showing ownership. So you could still have the grant say that they own it, but we accept responsibility through the user agreement. >> Okay,

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good. >> That sounds good. >> Exactly. So we have a motion and a second a revised motion or it's the same. It's just to continue on. It's just

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>> so it would be a clarification of the original or >> because I did move to accept the grant >> um provide for >> and I had provided for those two things but I got to say I'll accept the grant with the understanding that there will

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be efforts to have discussions with the D to allow a step system And if >> and that just leave it at that. >> Just that there'll be discussions. I

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mean it we don't have to say what the results of those discussions are, but that we'll just discuss it. >> Yeah, I'm good with that. >> I didn't second it though. Didn't you? >> Yeah. I think what I think what maybe the mayor wanted was some language that authorized the mayor at the appropriate time to move forward. >> Yeah. Yes. And

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>> I mean when the mayor when the mayor makes in her best opinion, okay, we've gone as far as we can in a conversation, >> we're either getting our way or we're not, then she go then we authorize her to sign and move forward. >> So the motion will be we'll have discussions with D as to whether we can

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allow a step system and if the discussions are futile, the mayor will is authorized to sign the grant >> and we'll proceed as planned. Yep. >> Okay. Other comments? Who had the second on that one originally?

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>> Council member Hayes. >> Who's doing the revised second? You are the amended second. Okay. Out to the audience. >> Bring it back. Eva, please take the [clears throat] role. >> Council member Everheart. >> Yes. >> Council member Hayes. >> Yes. >> Council member Royce. >> Yes.

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>> Thank you. Motion passes. Um then we'll move on to F. wastewater only customer billing policy. So this is where somebody is able to hook up and interested in hooking up to our wastewater but no

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water is available there yet. So Chief, I think this is you. >> Yes. Actually, uh what we're the intent here is is to have council authorize staff to move forward with uh beginning to draft a policy on this and work with

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Lupra to refine that before it comes back to council for final approval. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Have a motion. Have a second. Any comments from the dis? >> Seeing none. >> Out to the audience.

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Bring it back. Eva, please take the role. >> Council member Rice, >> yes. >> Council member Hayes, >> yes. >> Council member Everard, >> yes. >> But to be clear, Madame Mayor and Chief, this it's we're not going to be signing people up for wastewater only. This is

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only if we do not have water service to them and we and we almost have to sign them up for wastewater only. >> Yes. >> Okay. I just want to make sure. >> Or they live along a path where we know we're putting water lines in. >> Right. We can go ahead and hook them up

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to the wastewater now until those water lines are in and then it'll go back to normal building. >> I just want the public to understand that an option isn't to skip water service if available. >> No, >> it is this is those rare situations where we don't we have public wastewater

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infrastructure but no public water infrastructure at that time. Okay. >> At this time but it is planned in the future. >> Okay. And and then further clarification is um this so this went to the utility commission and one of the things um you

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know in our code is the utility commission will make recommendations to council. So this is one that they weren't just out on their own to go write up this ordinance and then it comes to us and we go. So it's like now

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sending it back to them with the approval to go ahead and uh draft um such an ordinance. So, um, okay. And then the next item is, um, and I'll reiterate again the March March August

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27th budget third budget workshop we canled. And so I just put this on and if there's any items as we're going through the budget that have come up so that we can then um, go back and start cranking

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the budget. The one thing that um I'm going to add is we're going to have to increase the IT budget about 20 to 25,000. Uh two and a half years ago, we um outsourced the um IT to a company called

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VC3 with a budget of 36,000 which has since grown up to 50,000. what that was was just our servers and it wasn't the help desk and the tickets and whenever we have problems and that and so those

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costs have escalated where we're back into discussion with that company to see how we can get the costs down um and they're coming back with another proposal uh but those costs are running over 100,000 a year something we nobody had

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ever anticipated um they've come back with a proposal uh between the help desk of the tickets whenever we call for and then also the ongoing um um cyber security and um

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um support. But then we also know that we've got some servers that are at end of life. So we're going to have to be replacing some servers. We're also looking at combining some servers. So we've got six servers today. We think we can get that to five,

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possibly four. So, just to be safe, I'm going to be increasing the IT budget and you'll see that coming through. Um I I don't know, Chief, was there anything else? Were we talking about um other costs that came through that council

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needs to be aware were after the second budget workshop? >> No, the biggest one was the IT issues. theing I thought that we had something as and after tomorrow's meeting with pickle ball we'll know but pickle ball comes through we're going to have to

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increase costs on maintenance because the maintenance green space rather than just cut it straight with the mower is going to have I think 32 concrete bumpers throughout. So, we're going to have to be >> it's going to increase the actual cost. And actually, if you look at the maintenance for the the the

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mean maintenance for a pickle ball court with lighting, average run time of 2 hours per day for the lighting, we're going to be looking at an additional between 30 and 43,000 a year. Once you factor in employee costs for the actual

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maintenance >> and the and the electrical cost >> and the electrical cost. >> Okay. So, those are those are things that we're looking at right now that um I think as we went back and did a better clean look at the budget, are there things that we missed um that we just

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need to be aware as we're pulling everything together? And I didn't know if anybody else had any other items after we did CRA. Did you get any calls on anything else that we needed to consider? It sounds like um the flood down Green

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Dragon towards Serena as what Miss Whley said earlier needs some attention too. Okay, that was all I had there. Um other words, um I think we're at the end. Um staff, anything from you all?

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I'll go around. Cara, anything? >> No, ma'am. >> Councilwoman Chief, >> no. Councilwoman Eart back to the budget. Um the generator that was hit, is that coming out of our budget? >> No, it wasn't the actual generator. It

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was >> the actual generator was hit, but we have not taken ownership of that yet. So, it's being repaired. >> It's still under contract with KDL. >> KDL is fixing it. Yeah. >> But but if it had been, would it come out of our budget? >> Yes.

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>> And that's what 40 50 >> No. Well, it would be the main I don't I don't think it destroyed at all. It would just be what parts got fried that needed to be >> right about $1,200 for the part. >> Pardon? >> About $1,200 for the part.

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>> Okay. Um and then back on the budget. Um when I was on page 15, I was going through what the uh year to dates and the estimated the uh the budget for this year for Admiral tax. So is about 1.276 276 1 million276

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and I think it was projected we're only getting um 954. Let me let me let me look back. It's on page 15. My point is if there was a shortfall this year and what we expected on advalorum taxes,

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we might can't bank too much on getting what we have in the budget for next year. C council woman. Um that line that you're looking at that says nonaval that includes your CRA. That's everything. Okay. Well, let me find that again.

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That's on the budget. No, it was on page 15 of the today's of the uh the monthly bills and expenses. >> Yeah, it's 954 has been received to date and we budgeted 1276. Right. So, so keep

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in mind that comes in throughout Yeah, but that's only No, it's only 74%. >> Yeah. >> So, yeah, we're 91% of the way through the year and we've got 70 we're short, we receive 74, >> right? We've got two more months of

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revenue coming in. But good point. I mean, it's with anything, it's like as the revenue comes in, if it's short where we expected. >> Yeah. And then I also notice some of the other revenues from field tax and so on and so forth are less than we're expected

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considering that they are projected for the rest of the year. It's still less than was hoped for. So just keep that in mind when we're doing the budget. >> Okay. Any other comments? Thank you, Councilwoman Hayes. >> No, ma'am. Council member Royce,

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>> just to make sure I understand it, there is no meeting next Monday night. We are meeting next on Thursday, August the 27th. Correct. >> Yes. >> I see at least two. >> No, it's two weeks, right? Is today the 10th? >> Not next Thursday, the following.

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Whatever. >> Say don't. Yeah. >> Okay. There's no meeting next Monday. We meet next on Thursday, August the 27th. >> Yes. Then our first budget public hearing will be our first

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meeting in September. Our adoption hearing for the budget and tax rate will be our second meeting in September. Correct. >> Right. First and second reading. Yes. >> Just want to make sure I understood what our our three dates were. And so at our

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September, both of our September meetings, we'll talk both town and CRA budget, millage rate, those kinds of things. Correct? >> Yes. Yes. So you on your first reading, you can make that adjustment. Um you can't do it the last time. We would have

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to readvertise if you waited till the second meeting. So >> just want to make sure I'm in the schedule. Thank you. And and then there is this Thursday a loop special meeting, right? >> That's this Thursday. Just a

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>> So So one other question. I heard someone from the public talk about the RFP. The bids are due for pickle ball tomorrow. If there are any bids, they'll be open tomorrow afternoon. >> So the bids are due at 2 o'clock. At 2:30,

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we're gonna come here and open them. We will log them in and then So, let's just say there are multiple bids. Explain to me the process that mayor, you and the staff would take to determine are you going to rank them

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tomorrow afternoon or is that something that takes place? >> That's that'll take. So we have tabulation sheets to be able to rank them on certain criteria very similar to what other cities have done with their projects and that and so they'll be ranked and then they'll

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be prepared to come forward to that 27th meeting with the ranking for council's approval. >> So council makes a decision. >> Absolutely. the 27th. >> Yep. Council's we're just going to rank the based on

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the certain criteria and we'll bring that forward for council's decision on the 27th. >> Okay. Thank you. >> What um what we can do is we'll log in the um the companies and the amount and we can send that to council for

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information if you're interested >> because I can't. >> Okay. Sure. Um I just had a couple um announcement is one Chief Snder has recently completed his masters at uh University of New Hampshire New

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Hampshire University Southern Southern New Hampshire University. So congratulations to him on that. >> Yay. >> And then second, Rachel Osborne has been accepted in Highlands County leadership. Do I say that right? Is it leadership?

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>> Leadership the other way. >> Leadership Highlands. >> Leadership Highlands. So, she's been uh accepted in that and we're quite proud of her. And actually in the audience is Kira who's also told me she got accepted into it. So, you'll have a little buddy with with uh Rachel, the two of you. But

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congratulations to Rachel for being accepted into that. >> Other words, it's 7:30. I call this meeting adjourned.

