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HomeMy Public PortalAbout03/17/1956PROCEEDINGS OF THE TOWN MEETING OF THE TOWN OF GULF STREAM, FLORIDA HELD ON MARCH 172 1956 at 10:00 A.M. Mayor Lindsay called the meeting to order et 10;05 A.M. and thanked Mr. and Mrs. Johnston for allowing the Town to use their school meet- ing room. NEW TAX ROLL The Mayor stated that the first order of business was report about the Town's Tax Roll. He explained that the Town does not attempt to appraise various pieces of real estate in the Town, but follows the lead of the County and adopts as the assessed valuation of the various properties in the Town, the same assessed value as that assessed by the County. He went on to explain that in order for the Commissioners to sit as a Board of Equalization during the Spring and while the majority of the taxpayers are in resi- dence, it meant that we would have to, in most cases, use the valu- ations adopted by the County Commission the year before. This brought up the question as to how a taxpayer could find out whether or not the assessed valuation of his property was to be raised. After considerable discussion of the question, it was pointed out that an individual taxpayer, either personally or through a representative, should find out what the County is assessing his property for, an d if he felt that the assessed value was too high, take the muter up with the County when they sit as a. Board of Equalization. Commissioner Igle hart pointed out that it was really a personal matter for each taxpayer and that it is not practical to have the Town be responsible for notifying taxpayers what the County was doing with regard to assessed values. THE WATER DEPARTMENT The Mayor stated the second order of business was the report on the Water Department. He quoted figures from the Audit Report of the Town of Gulf Stream dated September 30, 1955, showing that the Town had accumulated some $14,000, which it was holding as a reserve in the Water Department's account; $8,520 of this amount was represented by the redemption value of Government bonds and some $5,500 was in cash. The Mayor pointed out that the Town did not own its wells or the pumps and the water storage tank and that the Commissioners had felt it was a wise thing to accumu- late a fund for emergencies and in this connection read the following extract from the Commissioners' meeting of January 16, 1956, addressed to the voters and taxpayers: "An inspection of the full audit report will show that the Water Department has been making a little profit, each year, and now has in its reserve funds, Government bonds, cost value of which was $7,300. It is the opinion of the Commissioners that it is very important to accumulate con- siderable reserve fund in view of the fact that the Town does not own its own water supply, and might some day be faced with an emergency requiring the expenditure of con- siderable funds. Furthermore, some of the water pipes have now been down for a good many years and repairs are becoming more and more frequent." There followed considerable discussion, some of those present feel- ing that the Town should not accumulate money from the profits in the Water Department, but should possibly reduce water rates. The Mayor then asked for votes on whether present practice should be con- tinued of accumulating the surplus in the Water Department. Twenty - six voted to continue the present program; nine voted "no" and asked that their negative vote be recorded. Those voting "no were: General Carter, A. B. Royce, Mr. Williams, Mr. and Mrs. Hornney, Mr. Christensen, Mrs. Thomas, Mr. Cousins, and Colonel C. P. Young, A THIRD POLICEMAN Mayor Lindsay stated that the Commissioners felt we had two very capable police officers and that we did not at this time need a third officer, inasmuch as the summer was approaching. He also pointed out that a third policeman would mean an increase in taxes as a second car would have to be purchased. After a good deal of discussion Commissioner Iglehart suggested that we postpone the appointment of the third policeman until next fall and then endeavor to get a man for six months, possibly with his own car. The Mayor suggested a vote on the subject, but Colonel Young objected and asked that no action be taken with regard to the police force until a. Committee had been appointed and had made an investi- gation of the Police Department. The Mayor replied that he did not think an investigation was necessary, but would be glad to put the 1, matter to a vote. The Mayor then asked those in favor of proceeding with the Iglehart suggestion of a third police officer in the fall rather than to appoint a Committee to make an investigation of the Police Department to say "aye ". The "ayes" carried with only one dissenting vote by Colonel Young. IN CONCLUSION, the Mayor asked for co- operation and patience, point- ing out l�t the Town was being run by Commissioners who volunteered and that c ld not expect as complete service as you would receive if we had a salaried staff. He then went on to express his apprecia- tion for the number of people present and the lively and helpful sug- gestions. He pointed out that there would be an election next year and if there was any dissatisfaction, the thing to do would be to elect other Commissioners. There was a general murmur of "noes" and then Mr. Royce moved a vote of thanks for the fine job the Mayor and Commissioners were doing, which was generally applauded aid the meet- ing then adjourned. The following were present at the .Town Meeting of the Town of Gulf Stream, Florida on March 11) 1956: Mayor Commissioner L. Seton Lindsay Vice -Mayor N. J. Clarke Attorney H. A. Johnston Town Clerk J. R. Fountain Commissioner S. B. Iglehart henry T' „ . " Wm. F. Koch, Jr. Vote in Town A s s e:mbly Yes No Eugene Williams x General A. H. Carter x Elizabeth B. Hornney x Barbara B. Royce x Alexander B. Royce x Harriett Phipps x Anne Phipps x Ada Belle Johnson x Bill Johnston x Margaret F. Thomas x W. L. Christensen x J. D. Stetson Coleman x Herbert Krancer x H. E. Cousins x William S. LaPorte x L. C. Quackenbush x Clifford W. Hagemeyer x Curtis H. Dodson x A. L. Tyler x Cecil P. Young x Sarah C. Dickenson x Martha D. Whittaker x Gertrude E. Skelly x Harold J. Roig x Katherine S. Smith x Talbot T. Speer x Henry N. Whitney x Byran G. Webster x D. W. Colhoun x Edith Lindsay x Ella 5. Colhoun x Florence J. Clough x C. L. Langlotz x Henry V. Pope Commissioner x Stewart B. Iglehart " x Wm. F. Koch, Jr. " x Norris J. Clarke " x L. Seton Lindsay - Mayor - Commissioner x Totals 21- 17 Minutes of the Meeting of the Town Commissioners sitting as a Board of Equalizers on March 289 29, and 20, 1956. l The Town Commission of the Town of Gulf Stream, Florida, on March 28 and from day to day thereafter until and through March 30th, 1956 between the hours of Ten (10) O?Clock A.M. and Twelve (12) O'Clock Noon, met at the Town Hall as a Board of Equalizers, to hear and con- sider any and all complaints of taxpayers, and to receive and equa- lize values of real a state and improved properties on the Town's Tax Assessment roll as of January 1, 1956. The Town Clerk presented, to the Board of Equalizers, a notice which was posted on the Town Hall bulletin board on March 10, 1956 and remained, thereon, in plain sight until April 2, 1956. The Commission ordered a copy of said notice attached to these minutes and made a part thereto by this reference. The Town's Tax Assessment Roll was presented to the Commissioners sitting as a Board of Equalizers. The following valuations were dis- closed: Total Value of all Real Estate and Improvements as recorded on the Town's Tax Assessment Roll on January 1, 1956 2,070,542.00 Less Homestead Exemptions and 1,920,292.00 Less Widows' Exemptions Property held under Town Tax Sale Certificates None Total valuation of Real Estate and Imrpovements $ 1,920,292.00 After reviewing the Tax Roll and the Assess Valuations as shown thereon, the Town Commission sitting as a Board of Equalizers proposed the following Resolution: Ze:sekz/;-/ CAI f -J'7 WHEREAS, THE TOWN COMMISSION SITTING AS A BOARD OF EQUALIZERS AT TEE TOWN HALL IN THE TOWN OF GULF STREAM, FLORIDA, FROM MAI!.28, 1956 THROUGH AND INCLUDING MAR -30, 1956, between the hours of 10:00 A.M. and 12 NOON EACH DAY AND ADJOURNING FROM DAY TO DAY, DID HEAR ALL COMPLAINTS BY THE TAXPAYERS OF THE TOWN OF GULF STREAM, FLORIDA RELATIVE TO THE VALUATIONS PLACED ON THE RESPECTIVE PIECES OF PROPERTY BY THE TAX ASSESSOR OF THE TOWN OF GULF STREAM, FLORIDA ON THE 1956 TAX ROLL, AND DO HEREBY STATE, AFFIRM AND AGREE THAT THE SAID VALUATIONS ARE FAIR, REASONABLE AND JUST AND DO HEREBY RESOLVE THAT THE SAID TAX ASSESSMENT AND VALUATION ROLL AS RECORDED BY THE TOWN TAX ASSESSOR AS OF JANUARY 1, 1956, BE HEREBY APPROVED AND ADOPTED. BE IT RECORDED, ALSO, THAT NO TAXPAYER APPEARED BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS SITTING AS A BOARD OF EQUALIZERS ANY TIME DURING THE DAYS UPON WHICH IT MET FOR THE PURPOSE OF BEARING COM- PLAINTS AND EQUALIZING TAX VALUES. On motion duly made and seconded, the above Resolution was unanimously approved and adopted. A motion was made that the following Resolution be adopted: /0Es C c v 7-1 C?Al — ? BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE 1956 TAX ROLL,AS HAS THIS DAY BEEN REVISED AND EQUALIZED, BE RETURNED TO THE TAX ASSESSOR AND THAT THE TAX ASSESSOR IS HEREBY INSTRUCTED AND DIRECTED BY THE TOWN COMMISSION TO COR- RECT, EQUALIZE AND FIX VALUES ON THE SAID ASSESSMENT ROLL AS HAVING BEEN EQUALIZED BY THE TOWN COMMISSION AND SAID VALUES SHALL NOT BE ALTERED OR CHANGED. The above few was seconded and adopted a:-id approved. There being no further business to come before the Commissioners sitting as a Board of Equalizers this the 30th day of March, 1956, the Meeting was adjourned. The foregoing minutes were read and approved. Attest: J Town Clerk