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02-07-1974 - Special 1 ~ v u THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDGEWATER SPECIAL MEETING HELD FEBRUARY 7, 1974 The Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Edgewater, Florida was called to order by Vice-Mayor David C. Severance due to the illness of Mayor George M. Dimm, on Thursday, February 7, 1974 at 7:30 P.M. ROLL CALL Mayor George M. Oimm Councilman Jacob Lodico Councilman Edward K. Clinton Councilman David C. Severance Councilman John G. Bevel City Attorney Joseph E. Weaver City Clerk Sue Blackwell Deputy Clerk Pam Bryant Police Chief George R. Katez APPROVAL OF MINUTES NONE BILLS & ACCOUNTS NONE OFF I CERS REPORTS NONE COMMUNICATIONS NONE PROCLAMATIONS NONE RESOLUTIONS NONE ORDINANCES NONE OLD BUSINESS NONE NEW BUSINESS Absent Present Present Present Present Present Present Absent Present Viee Mayor Severance stated that we will discuss what the meeting was called for and that is the possibility of purchasing a building for -1- o o the Police Department located at 1600, 1602 & 1604 South Ridgewood Avenue. Vice Mayor Severance opened the subject to each Councilman to comment on the building. Councilman Bevel stated that there is plenty of space, and quite a bit of property out front. He also stated that it was a lot of money to spend in his opinion. He thinks that it will cost the City some- where in the area of $55,000.00. We haven't discussed what the actual purchase of property will be. He said that with that amount of money we could own a piece of property and put a building on it. When we first started talking about this, we were real happy to be able to get the building next to, the old Fire Stat'6n, and make improvements on that, then all of a sudden we are going to spend $55,000.00 for the Police Department. He said that he thinks that we have more press- ing things we need to spend the money on. Vice Mayor Severance asked Mr. Cole how much money we are talking about to buy this building. Mr. Cole stated that he was asking $42,000.00 for the building. Councilman Clinton stated that he has talked to different people, he checked on the price of the real estate. He said that he didn't think that it was all that much money, and that it is a good buy. He said that when he got elected to City Council, he made a statement about the City, about 13 years ago, didn't like to spend money and that's the reason we've got all of these expenses. He said that he is not going to worry about spending money, and thinks that we should spend a little money. He stated that he would be proud to say that he helped put the Police Department up on the highway. As far as it costing a lot to fix the inside of that building, he said that he wouldn't beleive it. The old Fire Station would b~~y have been adequate for 4 or 5 years -a~ter fixing it up. You are sure that that building on the highway is going to last a lot ~onger than 5 years. It's a big building~ There is plenty of room for a jail, and a kitchen. This is why I think we should buy it. Councilman Lodico stated that the rooms are very large, it's a nice size building, but is that the kind of building that we want? He said that he would rather spend more money on the highway and build something that we want. He said that he noticed that down there in the building that he heard that echo and furniture will not change the echo. He stated that he would go along with it if when he sees the plans by an architect as to how they want it and how much it is going to cost us. If we have to spend a lot of money, lets spend it if it is what we want. He said that he would like to know all of the figures on it, not just one. What is it going to take to rebuild it to the way it should be done before the Police Dept. moves in. Councilman Bevel stated that he is for getting the Police Department a new building, but we are so far behind in everything ,else. Police Chief Katez stated that he would like to answer the questions of Councilman Bevel and Lodico about the space~ He said that we are three filing cabinets short. It is true that the Police Department has advanced but we have not advanced in space. He said that his office is used for everything from a dining room to addressing room. There is a $3,000.00 machine in the vault that he has no place to put it. The Police Department got the machine thinking that they were going to move to the old Fire Station, but the Council rejected the bids because the bids were too far apart. Chief Katez stated that Mayor Dimm told him to look into that building, $0 he did. Then he talked to each one of the Councilmen. The dispatcher's office needs 3 times as much room as she has now. He stated that tt wpuld be cheaper to remodel the old Fire Station. - - J -2- o o Vice Mayor Severance asked Mr. Cole if he had another mortgage, a second mortgage on that building. Mr. Cole stated that there was no second mortgage. There's a first mortgage of about $7,000.00. Vice Mayor Severance asked Mr. Cole if we were to check into this thing with an architect and come with plans for the remodeling of that building on the highway, is that going to possi~ly cause the Cities opportunity in purchasing it to be lessened? Mr. Cole replied that if the City doesn't take it tonight, the building is already sold. Vice Mayor Severance stated that we could assume the mortgage of $7,000.00 ( in round figures) and give Mr. Cole the difference from the $7,000.00 to the half way mark of the $42,000.00. Which is about $14,000.00 and the remaining $21,000.00 next year. Councilman Clinton stated that there is always an expense in building a new building. Can we build a building as ~ig as this one on the Highway for $50,000.00? Mr. Cole stated that the City could break it down in either two or three payments. He said that he would have to check into it before he could give the Council an answer tonight. Councilman Bevel stated that Mr. Cole has a strong building but it -needs mwnor repairs on it. He said that he really did not like the building for a Police Station. Police Chief Katez stated that he has already talked to an architect and a subcontractor. Councilman Bevel stated that we should decide on an amount of money that we want to use on the building, and see if it is feasible and that the building is what you want to use. If we decide we want that building, we can make it. Councilman Clinton asked Mr. Loeffler what his opinion was on the building. Mr. Loeffler stated that he did not know what we want in it, you need something to go by. Mr. Weaver stated that he wanted to point out to Mr. Cole that if we set this up on a deferred payment situation, that we assume the first mortgage. The mortgage that he would get back would be our second mortgage. Vice Mayor Severance asked Mr. Cole if he could possibly wait, in case we don't decide on an answer tonight, until the 18th of February, which is our next meeting. ," ,- .-- . .... Mr. Cole said that he would call tomorrow morning and let the Cou~cil know something. Vice Mayor Severance stated that Mr. Cole couad let us know in the morning by calling the City Clerk or anyone on the Council. Councilman Bevel stated that he doesn't like that building and if the Council wants to build a new building for the same amount or more he will go along with that. He asked if anyone had looked at any other buildings or any property. -3- o o Vice Mayor Severance asked Chief Katez if the Council was to give the Police Department the room that Mr. LaBonde is presently in, if that will give him enough room to hook up his machinery temporarily until they found a building for him. Police Chief Katez said that the teletype has to be close to the dispatcher. Vice Mayor Severance stated that if we are going to have problems deciding on this, there is going to be more discussion on it and a lot more different views, than we must try to think of a temporary solution for the Police Department until we do come to an agreement or a settlement on whether we are going to build a new building or buy one. City Attorney Weaver stated that he asked the City Clerk about the boundaries on the property where the Fire Station sets. If we could put something in conjunction and still have it facing or near U.S.#l, instead of back on Rhode Island. Councilman Clinton stated that he would go along with building a new building. If we go ahead and get it statted and have our builder to in there and give so many days to get it done and complete that building. City Attorney Weaver said that the only thing with this is that your going to have to specify in your bids that so much is going to be paid on the job, and so much one year thereafter. Vice Mayor~Severance stated that we could go through xhe banks to build a new building, there is no problem there. Police Chief Katez stated that he didn't think that it would take more than $7,000.00 or $8,000.00 to do what he wants to do on that building on the highway. Vice Mayor Severance stated that to buy a piece of land close to the size of the lot that that building on the ~ghway sits on right now, would probably run around $15,000.00 to $18,000.00. Vice Mayor Severance stated that the Fire Chief told him that if we can put a building on that lot with the Fire Department, compariable to the Fire Department, as far as structure and looks go, to where it won't take away from the looks of the fire house, go ahead and build one. He stated that there are more departments than the Fire Department in Edgewater, we bought the lot down there for the Fire Department, but if the demand comes to where some other department needs to utilize part of that land, then we're going to have to. He said that we don't want any friction between departments, but you have to realize there is more than one department that has to be taken care of in this City. Vice Mayor Severance said that the first question would be, is there money in the budget to buy Mr. Coles property, to make the necessary first tnstalljng. He asked, do we have $24,000.00 we could use for the first installment and remodeling. The answer is, yes we do have this money. Second question is, do we want Mr. Coles property and building or do we want to get an architect and go over new floor plans for a new building. Vice Mayor Severance stated that the building (Mr. Coles) is plenty big enough, it can be face lifted to where it would compliament the City. Councilman Clinton said that the building is there, we don't have to go -4- o o around buying property or starting a new building. Tbeapole building just got a new roof on it, it is a well constructed building. Vice Mayor Severance stated that we know that we could probably stretch the payments into 3 years. Councilman Bevel stated that if we spend so much money here, then he is against it because he felt that we need more things for the City. If we can buy the equipment that is necessary for the City, then he will go along with it. He asked if we take $24,000.00 out of this budget that we have right here, do we have enough money to buy the other things that we want to get this year? Vice Mayor Severance stated that from bis viewpoint we would have enough money to purchase the backhoe, we put $61,152.00 for street paving, that can only be used in street paving. Councilman Clinton duly made a motion to purchase the Cole property and building to be remodeled inside and face lifted outside with plans for the remodeling to be drawn up by Chief of Police Katez for the Police Department. Motion being seconded by Councilman Bevel. Upon roll call vote said motion denied due to a two - two tie. Councilman Bevel and Councilman Lodico voted NO. Councilman Lodico stated that we are still g6tng to buy this property and building with out knowing what it is going to cost. Vice Mayor Severance stated that he didn't find out how much the interest was going to be on the balance. He said that he asked Mr. Cole to wait a little longer so that the Council would have time to get some estimates and have an architect draw up some plans. Vice Mayor Sevetance said that due to the tie on the motion for the Police Department, we will either have to table this until the next workshop for more discussion or make another motion. Police Chief Katez stated that he thinks that ~t will take 7 months before the Police Department to get out of City Hall. said that if this is the way that the Council wants it, then for it. Vice Mayor Severance said that all that he could see for the Police Department to do as of now is to use the Building Inspectors room to hook up his equipment, so that it is not taken back. to 8 He he is Police Chief Katez stated that he is badly in need of two Police cars and that it was put to him that if the Police Department wants a new Police Station then they will get only one car. He said that he took just one car, and if the Police Department isn't going to get a station, then how about giving us a new Police car, which we badly need. Vice Mayor Severance stated that we can not vote on this subject again tonight, you can only vote on it one time in a meeting. He suggested that the Council table it until the next workshop meeting' for more discussion. Vice Mayor Severance stated that he will talk to Mr. Rotundo and have him come to the workshop meeting and give us a reason why there was such a large estimate on the old Fire Station. Councilman Clinton stated that the Council has already given part of the old Fire Station to the Chamber of Commerce and the Civil Defense. -5- '. ~ v o , Vice Mayor Severance stated that we haven't signed anything and that we could give the Chamber of Commerce and the Civil Defense the two rooms in the front. Councilman Bevel stated that he had some specifications in Daytona and that he could use: He will get together with Police Chief Katez and write up some specifications for the Police Department. Vice Mayor Severance said that they should go ahead and draw up some specifications, and he will hold off on this other thing and go ahead and send out for bids again and see what wee get. ADJOURN OR RECESS Councilman Clinton duly made a motion to adjourn this meeting being seconded by Councilman Bevel. Upon roll call vote said motionCeARRIED. MINUTES TAKEN BY: Sue Blackwell !1rrJ t 1~~~-L4M yor I 0 Councilman F- Attest: ~~/ -6-