Life Enrichment Senior Center honors 10th anniversary at DFS Council meeting [PREMIUM]

DFS RESIDENT J.B. Hillard, representing the Life Enrichment Senior Center (LESC), gave an information-only presentation to recognize the 10th anniversary of LESC at the July 9 DFS regular council meeting.

Story and photo by JENNA BAILEY

The DeFuniak Springs (DFS) City Council met for its regular meeting on Monday, July 9, at 6 p.m. at DFS City Hall. The July 9 meeting lasted a little over half an hour, in contrast to the typical duration of city council meetings, which ranges from one hour to two and a half hours.

Consent Agenda — Under ‘Administration Dept.’ on the Consent Agenda was 1) Walton County Tourist Development Council grant request for approval to submit applications for Lakefest 2019 and Marvel of Flight 2019; 2) Staff request for the Council to authorize the Mayor to sign the Florida Dept. of Economic Opportunity 2019 Florida job growth grant application; and 3) Approval of three new hires for the Water/Sewer Dept.

Under ‘Planning Dept.’ on the Consent Agenda was 1) Amendment Application #2018-MA-01 Richardson Family Trust, request to change FLU to commercial and zoning to C-2 Action and also for the the Council to schedule public hearings and authorize staff to advertise the first reading on August 13, 2018 and second reading/adoption on August 27, 2018; 2) Variance Application #2018-VAR-01, request for the Council to schedule public hearing on August 13, 2018 for variance application # 2018-VAR-01 and authorize staff to advertise; 3) a request for approval of special event permit application to hold a birthday party for a nine-year-old with 50 participants and loudspeakers at Wayside Park on July 28, 2018; 4) Request by Interim City Manager Craig Drake for authorization to proceed with renewal of water use permit with cost not to exceed $12,500. The Consent Agenda was approved without any additions or deletions.

Regular Agenda — The motion carried to approve the Regular Agenda as is.

Citizen Comments — During citizen comments, DFS resident Sharon Grenet representing the Walton County Heritage Association, provided an update on the Walton County Heritage Museum. This year DFS has reached 2,000 visitors. As of July 9, there is a new exhibit at the museum that displays the work of fly-dresser and craftsman John Kross. Kross’ exhibit consists of his antique tools used in fly-dressing as well as his handmade flies.

Agenda Request — For the singular item under the Agenda Request segment of the meeting, J.B. Hillard representing the Life Enrichment Senior Center (LESC), gave an information-only presentation to recognize the 10th anniversary of LESC. “About thirteen years ago the Walton County Board of County Commissioners determined the county administration building on College Avenue should be dedicated and used for active senior citizens. The City of DeFuniak Springs joined the initiative and a partnership was formed with the county,” said Hillard during his presentation.

“Over the years LESC has become a beacon of hope, help and a home away from home for hundreds of city and Walton County residents. People’s lives have been changed and many members frequent the center daily.” Over 80% of the 260 plus LESC memberships have DFS addresses. In 2009, the Florida Dept. of Elder Affairs recognized Walton County and the cities of DFS, Freeport, and Paxton with the “Communities for a Lifetime Award.” In the category of small communities, Walton County was in #1 in the state of Florida for recognizing and promoting senior citizens as a significant component in making the community great.

“The establishment of the Life Enrichment Senior Center was key on the award recognition,” said Hillard. “As former Chairman of the College Avenue Complex Committee and on behalf of the LESC membership and the community of senior citizens, I wish to express my heartfelt thanks for your [City Council] strong support and we sincerely hope it will continue for years to come.”

Resolutions & Ordinances — For this segment of the July 9 agenda was a request from Florida League of Cities to adopt Resolution 2018-11,  a resolution of DFS honoring 50 years of municipal Home Rule in the Florida Constitution and committing to an educational initiative to help Floridians to understand this right. The resolution document reads, “WHEREAS, Florida’s voters placed municipal Home Rule powers into the Florida Constitution on November 5, 1968, during the regular elections as an amendment to Article VIII; and WHEREAS, this power has enabled each city, town and village across the Sunshine State to consider, adopt, revise or remove its own laws without the need to seek legislative permission from the state and has further served as the foundation upon which every municipality builds its governmental structure; and WHEREAS, the political climate within the Florida Legislature has recently included many attacks on these powers; and WHEREAS, grassroots measures calling such actions wrong and declaring that local decisions be made at the local level by local officials must continue so that all legislators clearly understand Florida’s Home Rule as a constitutional power and one upheld in state statutes; and WHEREAS, a 50th anniversary is a fitting time for all municipalities to engage their respective citizens to educate them about the Florida Constitution and local laws, so that all Floridians may continue to receive the many benefits of Home Rule.” The motion carried to approve this item.

City Attorney Clayton Adkinson — For  this segment of the meeting City Attorney Adkinson discussed an item titled ‘Rodnev Ortiz encroachment concern’; a request to abandon a property. An encroachment is an intrusion on a person’s territory, rights, etc. According to the council approved minutes from the February 8, 2016 DFS City Council regular meeting: Planning Director Kelly Schultz presented an abandonment request for the southeast corner North 7th Street and East Toledo Avenue. Schultz stated the property owner, Rodney Ortiz, has provided two different surveys prepared by Ruben Surveying and Mapping.

The first survey showed that the dwelling located on Ortiz’s property as not encroaching on public right-of-way but the second survey did show a structure encroachment of 8.9 feet. Discussion occurred relating to the differences in the surveys presented, the location of existing city utilities, allowing the structure to remain on the public right-of-way and having the fence relocated to the property line.

Former Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director Tilman Mears discussed the location of a six-inch water main within close proximity to the existing fence that is encroaching onto the North 7th Street right-of-way. Ortiz stated he would comply with moving the fence to his property line and understood the council would grant him permission to leave his existing structure on public right-of-way until the house was destroyed or removed. The abandonment request was denied 4-0.

Planning Director Schultz, on behalf of GHD Construction Services, Inc. President Brian Smith, has submitted an agenda request asking the Council to schedule the public hearing on abandonment application ‘2018-ABANDON-01’ regarding the aforementioned property for the regular meeting on August 13, 2018. Adkinson stated that for the July 9, 2018 meeting the action needed from the council was the approval for the advertisement of the abandonment. The motion carried to approve advertisement of the abandonment.

There was no City Attorney Report or Staff Report.

The next DeFuniak Springs City Council regular meeting with be on July 23, 2018 at 6 p.m. within the DFS City Hall council chambers.