Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 02-27-1979 Regular — reading text

There is no progress on that as far as traffic goes. We have some correspondence on it and I can give you a report. But none of this will give you immediate relief. Dr. Houghton said we do have pedestrian walks down there but a person driving down the street really doesn' t notice them.  2/ 27/ 79 i ~q v Mayor said, we really need something done before the summer. Mr. Ryan explained that we have two areas planning involved. of One is the Redevelopment Commission. The I planning firm will have to complete a study within seven months. We have joined with the County to try to get traffic planning money out of the Coas- tal Plains Council, which is EDA money. We have a letter from Representative Hutto. He has written the Coastal Plains Commission office in Tallahassee. They a man over here sent and I showed him around to show him the traffic in the City. He was impressed and said he would do everything he could for us. But that will not be reviewed until the 15th of March. We are looking too far ahead for any relief for this particu- lar problem. The only way I know of that we can expedite some of these things is if by April or May we know we are going to get money, then this we can come back to you and maybe start the study earlier. We are working as fast as we can. Mr. Baughman moved to write DOT and ask them to put in a yellow flashing light and a 20 mph sign. Motion was seconded by Dr. Houghton and carried unanimously. CONTRACTORIS LICENSES Mr. Hill said that he had received a call from an electrical contractor. In Escambia County they are having the same problem we are having over here. A person could have passed the H & R Block test in the county, but could not use that score and go into the City and receive a license. My only concern is that this particular contractorls bid included work inside the city and out- I side the city, but he found out that he had to go back and take a city test al- though he had passed the Block test here in Fort Walton Beach. The City of Pensacola would not recognize his license. I want to make sure we are on target and are not recognizing any licenses from Pensacola unless they have passed the Block test. Is that right? City Manager replied, that is correct.  2/ 27/ 79 1.50 A request was presented for a variance on Lot 6, Block Oakland Addition for 3 construction of six townhouses ( Wright Parkway). Requesting variance for R- 2 construction in a C- I zone. Mr. Hunt said we have never handled a rezoning request through Council. Mr. Longwell, requestor, said he only wants a variance, not a rezoning. City Attorney said there is no provision in the ordinance for residences in a C- I zone. Mr. Rigdon said he felt the request should be sent back to the boards. Mr. Baughman said he agreed and could not vote on it without it going through the boards. Dr. Houghton moved to refer the request to the proper board. Motion was secon- ded by Mr. Baughman and carried unani- mously. INTRODUCTION OF VISTA Mr. Dan Bednar, Vista Volunteer for VOLUNTEER the Okaloosa Councin on Aging, intro- duced himself to Council and said he had been impressed with the town and hoped to be working with Council in the future. NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR Mayor read a notice of the Public Hear- CLOSING OF MR& R TERMINAL ing on the closing of the MR& R Trucking Companyls Fort Walton Beach office, to be held Thursday, March 8, 1979. He encouraged all Councilmen to attend. VOLUNTARY DISMISSAL RE Mayor read a Voluntary Dismissal per- SUMRALL & JANSEN VS OKALOOSA taining to Sumrall and Jansen vs Okal- BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS oosa County Board of Commissioners, et al. City Attorney explained that this was the suit which has been pending over a couple of years involving the County, Northgate, the City Tanglewood, etc. pertaining to a couple of houses flood- ing out at the end of Gap Creek. We were successful in obtaining a judgment against the property owner. The case was settled by the various parties  2/ 27/ 79 I 6 ~I picking up the court costs. The City and' USF& G ended up paying the court costs. However, the City got a refund check for part of the court costs. REPORT ON RBJ ENTERPRISES City Attorney presented a report on PAVING ASSESSMENT the RBJ Enterprises paving assessment. I In 1974, Blake Street was paved. assessment was a roll requested. was Two years not An public hearing was to be held for made since it later, when the ~ aving of Anchors Street-- Browning Marine had bought the property from the time it was paved on Blake Avenue. Browning Marine had sold it to RBJ Enterprises. They bought the property without knowledge that there was an assessment lien. More than two years had passed. Therefore a suit was filed as to the validity of both liens. They have paid the second lien under protest. They filed suit. They have offered to pay $ 1, 000 toward the principal on the early lien that was filed. This was on the property which has changed hands twice. But they are willing to pay 1, 000 of the $ 4, 800 lien and to dis- pense of the law suit and not protest the $ 10, 000 paid on the early lien. Mr. Brock moved that the City accept the $ 1, 000. Motion was seconded by Mr. Hunt and carried unanimously. RECOMMENDATION FROM THORNTON, City Clerk presented a recommendation FARISH & GAUNTT from Thornton, Farish & Gauntt, Inc. to purchase insurance, which would cost about $ 40, 000-$ 45, 000, guaranteeing the