By BEN GRAFTON
Freeport City Planner Latilda Hughes opened the business portion of the City Council meeting with a request for approval to purchase a GIS (Graphic Information System) Program License to use with planning computer system. The Council approved the request.
Hughes reported that a Relay for Life team out of DeFuniak Springs wants to have a 5K run and in addition a one-mile fun run for children and people not capable of doing the longer run on city streets. The event will be on Dec. 13. The team has asked the city to provide them with a “hold harmless” agreement for this event. The subject was continued until the Council meeting Nov. 10 so that a check can be made to find out if the American Cancer Society provides liability coverage for this type of event.
The Walton County GIS department will hold an information meeting about how to navigate their web site. The meeting will be from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Nov. 19 in the Freeport Community Center. The Council waved the usual fee for this event.
Diana Ferrell spoke to the Council about her inability to get city approval for utility hookups to recreational type vehicles when such connections were allowed on a nearby property for more than two years. City Attorney Clay Adkinson said Hughes has advised that this type of vehicle is not appropriate as a dwelling in this part of the city. If instructed by the Council, a letter would be sent to the owner of the vehicle on the nearby property to either remove it or otherwise show proof that it is in compliance with the code. The Council approved a motion to have Hughes check for code compliance as it pertains to this issue.
Adkinson presented the second reading of an ordinance to annex a number of properties in different areas to the city. Some properties are excluded from annexation at this time because of possible formation of enclaves. Councilwoman Elizabeth Brannon reported getting a map of the properties with help from the Walton County GIS Department.
Interim Fire Chief Tom Palmer advised the Council that the Fire Department will hold an open house at the station from 12 – 4 p.m. on Nov. 8 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Freeport Fire Department . There will be refreshments and the public is invited to attend.
Anna Hudson of Preble-Rish reported that the model of the Freeport water system has been completed and a workshop to review the model will be scheduled on Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. The work on the sewer model is still in process. The Council approved rescheduling the regular Council of Nov. 13 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 10 to accommodate conflicts that have developed.
A recess of the meeting was called so that Hughes could tally the ranking scores given by the Council to select applicants for the open city clerk position. Upon reconvening the Council elected to interview the two top scoring applicants. Mayor Russ Barley will check references for the interviewees and report back to the Council on findings. Interviews will be done one on one in separate offices by individual Council members .
The Council approved a one-year extension of the contract for the Inmate Maintenance Crew. The new expiration date is April 17, 2016.
Brannon reported that committees of the Northwest Florida League of Cities are working on developing priorities for subjects to be presented to the Legislature.
Councilwoman Kasey Cuchens reported she understands personnel evaluations, which were to have been done in July, have not yet been done. She pointed out that these are to be done twice each year and that they should be scheduled as soon as the city clerk position has been filled.
Cuchens also asked for and received approval to go ahead with the purchase of a service truck from Triangle Chevrolet.
Councilwoman Jennifer Laird advised the Council that that are issues with managing use of lights at the Sports Complex. Users are not filling out required agreements. These are necessary to record who uses the lights, how often and for what periods of time. She also reported that the Council needs to review its policies and fee schedules and that she favors a uniform pay policy across the board for using the lights.
Among problems noted in the discussion about the lights were that one of the 15 keys for the system is missing and that Freeport Youth Sports has not yet paid its bill for 2013. The Council instructed that invoices for 3013 and 2014 be sent to Freeport Youth Sports.
Joann Howell spoke to the Council about pruning trees in rights-of way. She said no notices are given, debris from pruning is left behind and that residents do not get an option to do the pruning on trees in the rights-of way at their properties. The Council agreed to put notices on utility bills to announce pruning schedules and to have contractors do a thorough job on debris removal.
Chandler Williams addressed the Council about the use of golf carts on the streets of Hammock Bay. He said the development should be designated as a golf cart community. He also asked for confirmation that monthly $5 park and recreation fees paid by residents are actually used for parks in the development. The city will follow up on the fee question. Council members also pointed out that the Hammock Bay Homeowners Association is supposed to research the requirements for designating the development as a golf cart community and report back to the Council with their findings.
