HomeMy Public PortalAboutSummer 2012Town of Gulf Stream
Summer 2012 Newsletter
It is with great sadness that we report the death of our beloved Mayor William F. Koch, Jr. on
June le, 2012.
The following remarks were delivered by Town Attorney John C. Randolph at the July 13, 2012
Town of Gulf Stream Commission Meeting:
A TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM F. KOCH, JR.
Forty-one years ago, as a wet behind the ears new lawyer, I attended my first Town
Commission meeting in the Town of Gulf Stream as the Town Attorney. It was then that I fust met
Mayor William F. Koch, in my eyes then, a larger than life figure, to me a somewhat intimidating
man who, because I did not know him well then, caused me to shake in my boots.
It took me a while, but I ultimately learned that Bill Koch's gruff exterior was just a facade
and that his bark was much worse than his bite. I never let on to Mayor Koch that I had figured him
out as I believed he relished the persona he portrayed as a hard driving Mayor and businessman in
command of all those with whom he came in contact.
In truth he was a pussycat. I never told him that, but in his later years I believe he realized
that I had figured him out. I guess he realized it when he noticed I no longer took his biting remarks
seriously, but instead laughed at his barbs.
Barbs such as, "You're just another one of those damned lawyers."
Or, "We're paying you too damn much."
Or, "Are you going to charge us for attending this meeting? You ought to be paying us for
all we're teaching you."
How many of us who worked with Bill Koch were at the receiving end of what we knew to
be his kidding? And, we loved it. Because, we knew then that he liked us.
And, how we loved him.
Gulf Stream has always been my favorite client for many reasons. Because it was my very
fust municipal client; because I could always count on getting a donut before each meeting; because
it is such a beautiful easy going Town without a lot of controversy; because of its wonderful
employees with whom I have had the pleasure of working; because of the congeniality of its
residents and because of the congeniality of its Commission members who have always been kind
and have respected one another even when they disagreed, which was seldom. My reasons were
many for enjoying representing Gulf Stream, but the primary reason was Mayor Koch.
I miss him greatly. I will miss the meetings we had before each Commission meeting in
Rita's office when I would traditionally greet him with "Good morning Mayor", only to have him
retort,"Humpf — what's so good about it?"
I will miss the barbs he threw my way during the meetings, barbs which I considered a sign
of his respect for me.
I will miss the way in which he ran the Commission meetings with a firm but gentle hand.
I will miss the way he always seemed to bring consensus among the rest of the
Commissioners in the face of disagreement.
I will miss his congeniality during public meetings and the respect he gave his fellow
Commissioners and the residents.
I will miss the way he always kept things running smoothly in the Town.
I will miss the respect he showed others and the respect he commanded from others in
settings where he negotiated to obtain the best result for his Town, always looking out for the best
interests of the Town of Gulf Stream.
I will miss the way in which he could bring harmony to the Town in those rare instances in
which there was antagonism.
I will miss watching him trim the budget at budget time in an effort to keep the millage rate
in Gulf Steam one of the lowest in Palm Beach County and I will miss watching the managers
squirm as he proposed his cuts.
I will miss his sense of humor and his sense of right and wrong.
I will miss his wry smile and his wit.
hi my estimation, the mark of a great man is the respect he has for others and the respect he,
in turn, receives from others. Bill Koch was a great man.
I believe, next to his beloved Freddie to whom he was so devoted and his children and his
grandchildren whom he loved so much, the love of Bill Koch's life was his little Town of Gulf
Stream. He devoted the better part of his adult life to this Town, devoting great amounts of time
Spring 2011 Newsletter Page 2
and energy toward making Gulf Stream one of the most desirable towns in the State of Florida in
which to live. He would do anything for Gulf Stream and he did everything for Gulf Stream.
We all saw Mayor Koch failing in his last year of life, particularly during the last few
months. It amazed me to hear how sick he had been, how he had been bedridden to the point he had
to have Rita bring documents to his bedside to be signed, only to see him rally time and time again
to make it to these Commission meetings. I remarked to him recently how good he looked and how
amazed I was that he was able to get to the Commission meetings. His response, characteristically,
was, "I'm a tough guy."
Yes, Mayor Koch, you were a tough guy, or so you would have had us believe. But, I
learned in knowing you for 41 years, whether you would admit it or not, you were a kind and gentle
man who had a heart of gold.
So, here's to you Mr. Tough Guy. We miss you. And let all who are listening hear this.
Your little Town of Gulf Steam will never be the same without you.
POLICE DEPARTMENT UPDATES
New stop signs have been installed on all intersections along Gulf Stream Road, Polo Drive and at
Sea Road and County Road. In addition, a school zone has been established from Sea Road and
County Road to Gulf Stream Road and Lakeview Drive. The school zone will reduce the speed limit
from 20 mph to 15 mph on school days during designated hours. During those time periods,
speeding fines will be doubled in compliance with Florida Traffic Statutes.
These measures have been undertaken to address traffic generated by construction trucks and other
types of large commercial and delivery vehicles during daytime hours and to provide an additional
layer of safety for our school children, many of whom walk and ride their bicycles to and from
school.
We know that our residents will be supportive of our efforts to improve safety on the streets of Gulf
Stream and we welcome suggestions for additional improvements.
With the phase out of the Ford Crown Victoria, the Police Department has had to choose new patrol
vehicles from a host of new products offered by all major American auto manufacturers. After
careful consideration, we have decided on the Ford Interceptor SUV. A Ford Explorer modified to a
high level of safety and performance standards. While all of the new vehicles come at a higher price
tag than the Crown Victoria, the Pursuit SUV provides better vision; more easily accommodates
electronic equipment in the forward cabin and provides a larger storage area for emergency
equipment in the rear compartment. Most importantly, it provides a higher level of safety for our
patrol officers.
Please remember to utilize your home alarm system, lock your car doors and secure your watercraft.
Thousands of property crimes occur in Palm Beach County annually.
COIVMSSION UPDATE
On the August 10, 2012 Town Commission Agenda, there will be an item under Commission
Action to appoint two (2) new Commissioners. One will fill our late Mayor's seat and the other will
be as a result of Commissioner Fred Devitt's recent resignation from the Commission. These
appointments will be made by the three remaining Commissioners, and the appointees will serve
until the next election in March of 2013.
Presently, there are two residents that have submitted their resume and letters indicating their
willingness to serve this Community. Also, the Town has received several letters of
recommendation from Town residents for each candidate. The two submittals are from Mr. Robert
Ganger and Mr. Thomas Stanley, both highly qualified.
Although there are two openings and two residents that have submitted letters of interest, if there
are any other residents that would like to be considered for these appointments, please mail your
letter of interest and resume to the Town Hall for consideration.
On BehaCf of the Town Commission andStaff,
?4x, &dwez�
Mayor Joan Orthwein
Spring 2011 Newsletter Page 3
COMMUNITY REMINDERS
• In order to preserve our unique community character, the Town adopted Design
Guidelines in 1995 that address exterior aspects of your home. If you are planning
exterior improvements or painting of any kind, or major landscaping work, please contact
Town Hall to determine what requirements may apply.
All workers hired to conduct services for your property (employees and deliveries not
included) must be registered to do work in the Town. If you are hiring a contractor (for
example, to do lawn work or make improvements to your home) please ask them to
register at Town Hall if they are not currently on file. Occupational registration is
designed to ensure workers are properly licensed and insured, which enhances the safety
of our community.
Effective March 15, 2010, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) has
enacted Year -Round Landscape Irrigation Conservation Measures. Even numbered
addresses may irrigate existing landscape on Thursdays and Sundays from 12 am to 10 am
and/or 4 pm to 11:59 pm. Odd numbered addresses may irrigate existing landscape on
Wednesdays and Saturdays from 12 am to 10 am and/or 4 pm to 11:59 pm. New
landscape installation may be irrigated during non -daylight hours without restriction for
the fust day of installation. The 2"d through 30th day can be watered on Monday — Sunday
during the hours allowed for regular landscape irrigation. The 3151 through 90th day can be
watered Monday —Saturday during the hours allowed for regular landscape irrigation.
• When walking your dog, please be courteous to other residents and pedestrians by taking
responsibility for your dog's waste.
Please note that lawn maintenance firms and tree trimmers must take their cuttings with
them. The Town's contract with Waste Management does not include cuttings and lawn
maintenance debris. You may be billed for the pickups outside the scope of our contract.