Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 09-01-1964 Special — reading text

WAIVER OF NOTICE OF MEETING We, the undersigned member of City Council of the City of Fort I Walton Beach, of this time of do said meeting hereby waive notice of time, Special Meeting of City Council; as 9: 00 A. M., and Tuesday, place, do hereby September and 1, set purpose the 1964, and City Hall as the place. This Special Meeting was called for the purpose of discussing the following: Receiving and awarding of cem~ t bids Rental of Back Hoe tractor for Bel Air, Vesta sewer construction Request of Nelson Davis, concerning construction of apartments Guidry r- .... n ...~_ u~ ~: / 2-:'- iffIk: _ Carnathan J Rogers . ~- 2f- ~ .'  155 MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA September 1, 1964 I A special meeting of City Council, City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held at City Hall on September 1, 1964, at 9: 00 A. M. with the following members present: Mayor Pro Tem C. H. Long Councilman S. L. Rogers Councilman H. H. Carnathan Councilman C. H. Rigdon Councilman Joe Guidry Councilman Jimmy Ready and City Manager, and City Clerk- Finance Director. Waiver of Notice of Meeting was presented stating that the meeting had been called to discuss the following: 1. Receiving and awarding of cement bids, 2. Rental of back hoe tractor for Bel Air & Vesta sewer construction, and 3. Request of Nelson Davis concerning construction of apartments. Manager explained that some 40 acres of streets in Vesta 4th were ready for construction and had been unable to get sand dry enough to mix with asphalt and had become necessary to go to cement base. This had necessitated the taking of bids for the cement. Bids had been posted on public bulletin boards but had not been advertised in the newspaper due to the urgency of the need and lack to time. Local bidders had been notified via telephone. Bids were opened and tabulated as follows: Atlas 3350 bags @1. 25 ea. bulk delivery Fort Walton Lumber 1. 27 bag Vesta Lumber 1. 33 Gatlin 1. 28 Nelson Davis of Atlas explained that he bid bulk delivery since I that was the most economical. He said his company had ordered two spreaders which would be available to from his firm, utilizing the bulk cement. purchasers of cement 156 Manager explained that due to the inexperience of the City with cement and lack of facilities for storage of bulk shipments, it was felt that bag purchase would be more feasible. Councilman Carnathan moved that this bid be awarded to Fort Walton Lumber and Supply. Motion seconded by Councilman Rigdon and the vote was aye unanimously. Manager explained that Nelson Davis was present in the interest of persons planning to build apartments and since plans called for type construction other than masonry walls required by zoning in which it was desired to locate the apartments, the City had been unable to issue a building permit. Mr. Davispresented the drawings and showed plans and specifications for the apartments, explaining that the developers were trying to get all arrangements made and the matter was fairly urgent. He said that a project of this nature required great deal of financing and arrangements took time. He explained that some time and money was already tied up in the plans alone. He felt the a? artments would be an asset to the area as compared to the present condition of the area. He said he felt fire zone was no problem since apartments would be located almost directly across the street from the fire station. Manager said he had asked the Fire Chief Holmes to come to the meeting since he was more familiar with the fire code, etc. Chief Holmes said since this construction called for more water flow for proper protec-- tion and this might raise insurance rates at some time in the future. He said the reasons for ordinances was for protection. He added that he had not had an opportunity to study the plans and asked how far apart the buildings were? Mr. Davis said some of the apartments would be ~ djoining. He said the Chief had mentioned that fire insurance rates might be changed. He said there was more hazard already in the area than it would be with the apartments. He said the greatest hazard was already there. Chief Holmes said it was true that the City had a lot of bad construction but Mr. Davis City had to start somewhere to clean this up. asked how this would increase rates if we have already the highest rate we could have. Chief Holmes commented that City did not have the highest rate it could have. He said great deal more development could come about on this same street and Rating Bureau looked at areas from standpoint of possible disaster fires. Mr. Davis felt that when rating bureau people came to they would be Fort Walton Beach, little competent. He said they were experts and were more were experts, notwithstanding Chief Holmes expert opinion.  157 Mr. Long said he thought Chief Holmes would do until an expert came along, and he would certainly rely on what he had to say. He commented that ordinances were made to be adhered to and that there was good reason for the ordinance in question. Mr. Davis said it was for Council to decide whether or not I they would be putting the population into jeopardy. He said there were at least five southern cities allowing this type. of construction. Councilman Rigdon asked if this came under the jurisdiction of hotel commission. Mr. Davis replied that it did and their approval was pending the outcome of City Building Permit. Mr. Long asked if the architect who drew up the plans were not familiar with the Southern Building Code as adopted by Fort Walton Beach and: many other southern cities. Manager asked Chief Holmes' for his opinion concerning the rating bureau' saccepting this. Chief Holmes said that when they surveyed, they would take into consideration, the type con- struction for certain water flow. He said this type con- struction would require much larger water flow. in the area. Mr. Long asked whey this type construction was requested? Mr. Davis said it because of $ 1, 200. 00 to $ 4, 000. 00 was already invested in plans and specifications. He commented further that he would hate to have to make a decision on what had been said so far. He said developers could build this project outside the City, but inside the City there were very few building lots left. Chief Holmes said he was not arguing from standpoint of buildings, but from standpoint of what ordinances are and why they are made. Mr. Davis said he didn' t have to get a fire marshall to interpret for him. Manager said the Chief was in the meeting at his request and if Mr. Davis had any criticisms to make to make them to him. Davis said he felt Chief Holmes was expressing some pretty I broad opinions.  158 Mr. Rigdon moved that this pe put in the Municipal Advisory Board for their recommendation. Motion seconded by Council- man Carnathan. Mr. Rogers asked if Tuesday at Council meeting would be soon enough for a decision, and Mr. Davis said it would. The vote to the motion was aye unanimously. Manager reported that Council had given him previous authorization to rent three pieces of equipment to accomplish sewer system expansion. He said there was a need for a small backhoe for the Bel Air sewer job. He reported that this item could be rented on rental- purchase agreement for six months and with option to buy at 90% of rent paid toward purchase price. Council unanimously authorized this rental of new Ford backhoe for six months with option to buy with company doing all maintenance on the equipment while it is rented, on motion by Councilman Carnathan, seconded by Councilman Guidry. Manager reported that he planned to attend the meeting at Chamber of Commerce with Utilities Commission representative, called by Nelson Davis as Chairman of a Chamber Committee. He said he planned to say that the City was enjoying good relations with the local telephone office and whenever problems arose, and were called to the attention of the manager were worked out agreeably and promptly. He said company had agreed to go underground in new construction from now on. He also said City was grateful for the company' s having brought in the district office. Council generally agreed with the Manager, stating that though there were problems, they were nothing like they had been in the past and any grievances should be taken up with the telephone company, directly. The meeting adjourned at lO: 30 A. M. APPROVED: ( lhtf?pJev / ( / 9 ~X