Town Commission Meeting

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[9:17] How are you doing.
[9:18] I saw you on the agenda.
[9:20] Makes you look expelled.
[9:21] They must be working you too hard.
[9:23] Something like that.
[9:27] I saw you, you were two months early.
[9:29] So good to see you.
[9:31] Thank you.
[9:33] That I love you.
[9:37] How are you.
[9:38] Good, good.
[9:40] I'm glad you're here.
[9:44] Thank you.
[9:48] During 2000.
[9:54] And six.
[10:09] I think it's o'clock.
[10:12] O'clock good evening.
[10:18] Mics thanks, Robert.
[10:21] Thank you.
[10:22] Good evening.
[10:24] This is the regular commission meeting
[10:25] of the town of Lady lake, and it is August 17, 2026
[10:31] and is now called to order.
[10:33] Roll call please.
[10:35] Commissioner sage here, Commissioner Michele here.
[10:38] Commissioner Regan here.
[10:39] Commissioner Roberts here.
[10:40] Mayor editor.
[10:41] Freeman, here.
[10:42] Thank you.
[10:43] We'll now have an invocation from pastor Titus Odom
[10:47] of the lady lake church of God.
[10:49] Followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
[10:57] Let's bow our heads together tonight.
[10:59] Heavenly Father, we thank you for this opportunity, Lord,
[11:02] that we have together as leaders, God as business owners,
[11:05] God as members of this community.
[11:07] God, we are grateful for the men and the women
[11:09] who work every day to make this community what it is.
[11:12] God a better place for us to live and to do business.
[11:15] Lord, I pray that you will help each and every one of us
[11:18] tonight.
[11:18] God as we operate.
[11:20] Lord, in the spirit of excellence,
[11:21] as we strive, Lord, to make this town
[11:24] a place that you would be pleased
[11:26] with as our Heavenly Father.
[11:27] Lord, I pray blessings on us tonight.
[11:29] God, as we gather to conduct business for this town
[11:31] that we love so dearly.
[11:33] God in Romans 13 and 1 God, we know that everyone must
[11:36] submit to governing authorities, for all authority
[11:39] comes from God.
[11:40] And those Lord in positions of authority
[11:42] have been placed here by God and Lord.
[11:45] I'm a firm believer that you are a sovereign God,
[11:48] that each and everyone of us, Lord, that have been positioned
[11:51] here, God that have been placed here, God, we have been placed
[11:53] here by you and your power.
[11:55] God, I pray that you will let your Holy Spirit
[11:57] dwell on us tonight.
[11:58] God, as we conduct business for your glory and we all
[12:01] say amen and amen.
[12:03] In the name of Jesus, amen.
[12:05] Amen I pledge allegiance to the flag
[12:10] of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which
[12:15] it stands.
[12:16] One nation under God, indivisible,
[12:19] with liberty and justice for all.
[12:25] Thank you.
[12:32] We now have a presentation.
[12:51] Good evening, everyone.
[12:52] It's my.
[12:55] Privilege take a moment to recognize and thank public works
[13:00] director, CTP for his initiative and in applying
[13:04] for an appropriation from the state of Florida and 26th
[13:10] district representative named Cobb for her outstanding efforts
[13:16] on behalf of our community.
[13:18] Representative Cobb worked diligently
[13:21] to secure a state of Florida appropriation
[13:24] to support the expansion of our wastewater utility.
[13:28] This investment is about much more than infrastructure.
[13:32] It's about preparing our community
[13:34] for responsible growth, protecting our environment,
[13:37] and improving the quality of life for our residents.
[13:42] We are grateful for representative Cobb's
[13:44] leadership, dedication, and commitment to helping
[13:48] our community move forward.
[13:49] Her efforts will make a real difference
[13:52] and we sincerely appreciate your partnership and support.
[13:57] Representative Cobb, on behalf of our community,
[14:00] thank you for standing with us and helping us bring
[14:03] an important project possible.
[14:06] Please join with me in giving representative
[14:10] Cobb, round of applause.
[14:27] All right.
[14:29] So we'll do the picture first.
[14:33] All right.
[14:38] It's already spent.
[14:41] You'd be right.
[14:43] Is it, love.
[14:44] I don't know.
[14:47] Do you guys want to.
[14:48] Yeah you guys want to stand up.
[14:49] Come behind us.
[14:52] I'm fine.
[14:53] All right.
[14:57] Push on.
[14:58] All right.
[15:02] It's the people's money coming back to the people.
[15:05] That's right.
[15:09] Come over here.
[15:09] Come on.
[15:10] Rose between two thorns.
[15:14] Come on in.
[15:16] One two.
[15:16] Three two three.
[15:25] Smile thank you.
[15:29] Thank you.
[15:36] Thank you.
[15:38] OK, so I'd like to say a little something so that in case
[15:44] you who don't know me, my name is Dan,
[15:45] and I have the honor and pleasure of being your state
[15:49] representative for district 26.
[15:52] When lady lake, small town lady lake put the appropriations in.
[15:57] It was a pleasure.
[16:00] The stuff that we do that I like to do in Tallahassee
[16:04] is not sexy.
[16:05] I don't like to do a bunch of buildings and things
[16:08] that are fun.
[16:09] I like to do things that are needed.
[16:11] Infrastructure is not sexy.
[16:13] You can't see it.
[16:14] You can see the road, but you can't see them.
[16:16] The wastewater treatment.
[16:17] I can tell you go one day without wastewater.
[16:20] You'll know real quick how that need it.
[16:22] And I'd like to applaud you for also being proactive.
[16:27] Because we more times than not, emergency.
[16:32] We're in dire straits.
[16:34] We didn't save enough.
[16:35] We didn't act quick enough.
[16:38] The town of Lady lake has.
[16:40] I want to thank you for viewing that.
[16:43] And I understand it's already spent.
[16:49] It's gone.
[16:50] And I will tell you, just so you know.
[16:53] And there's other I'm sure, other staff in here as well.
[16:56] We start committee weeks in November.
[16:58] And you'll start hearing from our office
[17:02] it's time to get the appropriations in again.
[17:04] And so we look at those worthwhile things.
[17:06] I will tell you, many, many cities have lobbyists,
[17:10] I think bigger cities, bigger budgets for towns.
[17:14] Like maybe I am a lobbyist.
[17:18] And so we've worked twice as hard, very diligent also
[17:23] with Senator true.
[17:24] Now I can't do this alone.
[17:25] They couldn't be here tonight.
[17:27] But, Senator, I have to have a Senate companion.
[17:30] Senator true.
[17:30] Now is all in.
[17:31] Not one question asked.
[17:33] And this is a huge priority for me.
[17:37] And so I can't do this without him.
[17:40] So don't forget.
[17:41] Start getting your appropriations in.
[17:43] And so this was your first time, correct Yes yes.
[17:46] And so it went back and forth a couple times
[17:48] because there are certain buzzwords
[17:51] you need to use in Tallahassee.
[17:52] And we know how to get things bought.
[17:54] And it was real important.
[17:56] So sometimes we go back and forth
[17:57] and you'll get more experienced in the whole city
[17:59] will come up, to my knowledge Mr. Lawrence, am I correct.
[18:04] This is the very first time that you received state funds.
[18:08] Very proud of that.
[18:10] Very proud of that.
[18:11] So please keep up the good work.
[18:13] You're doing a great job.
[18:15] And those appropriations look like if we don't feel that,
[18:20] they're up to snuff.
[18:21] Or we could go for something else.
[18:23] Put in 2, 3, 4 things, and then we'll
[18:25] let you know what we can buy.
[18:27] You'll get more this year.
[18:33] So I look forward to I don't know
[18:35] if you're going to do a ribbon cutting
[18:38] at the wastewater treatment.
[18:39] I know if that's a fancy thing out here or not.
[18:41] It's not real fancy.
[18:42] At the wastewater treatment plant.
[18:45] But if you decide to do that.
[18:47] Beautiful if you decide to do that, just let our staff know.
[18:51] And if I hear we'll all be here, if I'm asking,
[18:55] somebody will be here.
[18:56] All right.
[18:57] So thank you again for indulging me and allowing me to speak.
[19:00] And thank you again for allowing me to represent
[19:03] you in Tallahassee.
[19:05] And great job guys.
[19:08] Thank you.
[19:17] I want to say a special thank you to Senator Juneau.
[19:19] I met with him last year.
[19:21] Great guy.
[19:22] And he had her full support.
[19:24] And I appreciate you so much.
[19:26] We appreciate you.
[19:27] Thank you.
[19:54] And do we.
[19:55] We're on to consent items.
[19:58] Does anybody have anything they want to pull.
[20:02] No move for approval.
[20:04] I have something I want to pull.
[20:07] The The minutes from our last meeting were dated in July.
[20:19] And they should have been dated in August.
[20:22] I believe our meeting was, what, August three.
[20:30] Sir, if I may, the minutes that were listed on the agenda
[20:35] were dated for July, but they were
[20:37] actually in the minutes that were in the packet were correct.
[20:40] They were the August three minutes.
[20:42] I know the minutes are correct.
[20:43] It's just a wrong date.
[20:44] Yeah so the clerk's office is going to correct that.
[20:50] It was dated July and now we have a.
[20:56] Oh all in favor do we need a second motion.
[21:04] I'll make a second.
[21:07] Did we hear it first.
[21:08] Amanda Yeah.
[21:09] Moved for approval.
[21:10] OK thank you.
[21:13] All in favor, please say Aye.
[21:14] Aye Opposed.
[21:17] Motion passes.
[21:22] Now we have a discussion.
[21:24] A discussion from Lake County Development partners, LLC.
[21:40] Thank you, Mr. mayor.
[21:41] Could we.
[21:41] Could I get this.
[21:43] Just go up like this.
[21:47] There you go.
[21:48] Thank you.
[21:58] Mayor Freeman, members of the commission Mr. City attorney.
[22:01] City manager.
[22:03] My name is Kent Gwynne Douglas law firm.
[22:05] Our office address is 110 North Magnolia Avenue, Ocala, Florida.
[22:10] 34471 I'm here tonight representing lake County
[22:14] Development partners, which you have in the audience
[22:16] out here along with our general contractor.
[22:21] We've been working with kt and Thad and Becky
[22:25] on this for some time.
[22:27] And, we sent this in on Friday, which obviously you're closed,
[22:30] but someone was kind enough to put
[22:32] this on the agenda at 8:24 Friday
[22:35] morning and amended the agenda.
[22:37] So whoever did that, God bless them, because it wasn't
[22:40] going to be on the agenda.
[22:42] So thank you.
[22:44] And I know you have this agreement I'll put up here.
[22:48] You probably haven't had time to read it,
[22:50] but I just wanted to go over it with you
[22:52] and see if there's some interest in doing this.
[22:56] So what I was trying to do was to create
[23:01] kind of a win-win, not a win-win situation for the town.
[23:07] And my client.
[23:09] So what I had in mind was this.
[23:11] And you just got $1 million, which
[23:14] is fantastic for this project.
[23:17] But the city of Lady lake wants the $544,201
[23:24] and reservation fee.
[23:26] Now for the ilf and townhomes that are in this agreement.
[23:32] And if you look on page.
[23:37] Three of 12.
[23:39] Thank you ma'am.
[23:40] Three of 12.
[23:42] You see that number.
[23:44] The 524 201.
[23:48] So you want that for two reasons.
[23:50] One, that you actually have it, then you have it in hand,
[23:54] and you could invest it if you wanted to for some time
[23:58] get some amount of interest on it.
[24:01] This morning two year treasuries were at 4.2.
[24:05] We're just going to use an interest rate of 5%
[24:10] and do it that way.
[24:12] So you could have the lost opportunity cost on 544,201
[24:20] for a period of time.
[24:22] So my client recognizes the fact that you
[24:26] would want all those things.
[24:31] And we're offering a letter of credit for the entire $764,926
[24:38] to secure the payment and then also recover
[24:42] your lost opportunity cost.
[24:44] We'd be willing to pay you $27,000,
[24:47] which represents that 5% on the $544,000 that you
[24:53] wouldn't get had you taken that money and invested
[24:56] it on an annual basis.
[25:00] So that's what we're offering the $27,000
[25:04] to be paid in 30 days after this agreement would be signed.
[25:09] I know you haven't seen it and Derek hasn't had time to go over
[25:12] it, but what I would do if there's some interest would be
[25:18] to have it approved tonight, subject to legal review,
[25:23] so it wouldn't have to come back on the seventh agenda
[25:26] to be gone over again.
[25:28] And let Derek and our staff, the attorneys
[25:30] at our office work on it between now and then to get it
[25:35] finalized.
[25:36] So that's what my proposal would be.
[25:40] And I know that CTE and Thad are going
[25:43] to come up here and tell you that they don't want to do this.
[25:47] But my goal I mean, I've sat where you sat.
[25:49] I was a city councilman for 12 years and Mayor for 12 years,
[25:53] and I always wanted to get things before the council
[25:56] and commission.
[25:57] I no vote as the mayor, but before council
[25:59] that you could look at it, and make
[26:02] a decision as far as yay or nay, just
[26:05] the way you made the decision.
[26:07] He owned the trees when we were up here earlier.
[26:10] So that's the purpose of me being here tonight.
[26:13] And that's the purpose of this giving you this agreement
[26:16] this late in the day.
[26:17] So we're prepared to answer any questions you might have.
[26:22] The development company is here.
[26:23] General contractor is here for the project,
[26:27] but we're open for questions.
[26:29] Thank you commissioner.
[26:30] So for the record.
[26:36] What project are we talking about here.
[26:38] Lake Ella project down the road here.
[26:42] Oh, OK.
[26:44] That was the project with the trees.
[26:48] How does this benefit.
[26:52] How is it benefiting you.
[26:55] The city.
[26:55] How is it benefiting the city.
[26:58] How is it benefiting us to give you a line of credit.
[27:01] Well, because you're not well.
[27:03] Well, you're going to get the interest on the money
[27:06] just as you had it.
[27:08] You get $27,000 to be 5% on $544,000.
[27:14] You're going to have an irrevocable letter of credit
[27:17] that's secured so that if things go south,
[27:20] you've always got that letter of credit that you can exercise on.
[27:24] So you're going to always get your money either way
[27:27] whether you have the money in hand
[27:29] or you don't have the money in hand,
[27:30] you're going to get it through the letter
[27:32] of credit that's secured by a national or state
[27:35] chartered bank.
[27:36] $544,000 is going to be in the bank.
[27:40] You just don't want to give it to us.
[27:42] Yeah I mean, working capital they're working on to clear land
[27:45] and such, and things like that.
[27:48] So they want didn't want to take it out of that to do this.
[27:52] There's not going to be the capacity won't be needed
[27:55] for about 2 and 1/2 years.
[28:00] Anybody else.
[28:02] And just one more thing, Mayor, if I may.
[28:06] I was talking to and I think that documents
[28:09] also in your packet that I gave you talking to the property
[28:13] appraiser's office.
[28:15] I here in Lake County, a gentleman named Clayton Carter.
[28:19] Once this project is fully built out,
[28:22] it would generate between 1.2 and $1.3 million dollars
[28:26] annually on valorem taxes just for the city of Lady lake,
[28:31] not counting Lake County School board and such.
[28:38] So, respectfully, I have corresponded with you.
[28:42] Yes, ma'am particular subject.
[28:44] One of the requests I had was, is there a timeline,
[28:47] and has that been provided to our staff of this project.
[28:51] Well, we can Paul can come up here, but I think it has.
[28:55] But it's about 2 and 1/2 years before the ilf and the townhomes
[28:59] would be ready to go.
[29:01] We would need this capacity.
[29:03] They're going to break ground once we
[29:05] get the site plan approved.
[29:07] There's a traffic study being done.
[29:09] We're working with FDOT about a traffic light, which is somewhat
[29:13] part of this project, but they're
[29:15] ready to get the site plan approved and probably a couple
[29:18] of months and come back here.
[29:21] And that's been communicated to city.
[29:25] Yes, I believe there have been aware of it.
[29:27] And is this a standard bill.
[29:31] I'm looking towards you because this is, my first rodeo here.
[29:35] Is this a standard that we offer a line of credit
[29:38] to for this sort of thing.
[29:39] No, this has never been done.
[29:43] And another newbie question here.
[29:46] Does this, so to speak, capture that usage CT where we can no
[29:52] longer bring on someone that's ready to build
[29:57] within 2 and 1/2 years.
[29:59] Does that prevent that so to speak, to happen.
[30:04] I'm sorry.
[30:06] Sorry sorry.
[30:08] Public works director.
[30:09] Yes so.
[30:11] Yes if this was approved, they would reserve
[30:14] that capacity without payment.
[30:17] It would be on a letter of credit
[30:19] that would take it away from anybody else that
[30:22] would come in and pay for that.
[30:24] Up and said, I'm ready to go.
[30:25] I've got a site plan.
[30:27] It's approved.
[30:28] We can break ground next week.
[30:30] And we didn't have the capacity because of this letter
[30:33] or this agreement.
[30:36] We could not do that.
[30:38] Yeah that's correct.
[30:39] We are hamstrung for 2 and 1/2 years for this project
[30:42] to begin on capacity for this.
[30:46] That's correct.
[30:47] Without payment.
[30:48] Yes thank you.
[30:49] Don't run away.
[30:51] Don't run away.
[30:52] So in my several years here, we've not done any
[30:56] of these projects in this way.
[30:59] And my concern being when you start to do this, then who else
[31:03] is going to come up next and pay what they need to pay for us.
[31:07] And this upends the Apple cart, so to speak.
[31:11] Am I correct in thinking that.
[31:13] Yeah we have limited capacity for sale in the existing plant.
[31:16] Now, as we're building another one,
[31:19] but it's not going to be online for a few years.
[31:21] And that's why we were looking for the time
[31:24] frame for this big project to come
[31:27] on board, to make sure they align
[31:28] with the new plant opening.
[31:30] So that.
[31:32] So yeah, if we put this out, we cannot sell that twice.
[31:36] So we've only got a limited amount of capacity left.
[31:39] Sure and from a staff perspective,
[31:42] and acknowledging that I was unable to get
[31:45] into my laptop over the weekend because I
[31:47] was locked out from security.
[31:49] So I have not had appropriate time to review this.
[31:52] What is your staff recommendation on this.
[31:55] My current recommendation is denial.
[31:59] Thank you.
[31:59] Yes I say just one more thing to Commissioner clay.
[32:03] Commissioner clay, they can go ahead and start doing this.
[32:06] We're not holding the city up for 2 and 1/2 years.
[32:09] We just don't need it for 2 and 1/2 years.
[32:11] You can go ahead and build it and have it ready,
[32:14] but we just don't need it for 2 and 1/2 years on the ilf.
[32:17] But we wouldn't prevent the city from beginning
[32:20] construction on it.
[32:26] Are you aware that we have a plant coming online in 2030.
[32:31] In 23.
[32:33] Yes 23 2030.
[32:38] OK yes.
[32:41] Which is.
[32:44] Yeah which would be about the same time 27 around that time.
[32:49] Yeah so it would kind of really coincide.
[32:52] OK Just pointing that out.
[32:57] Go ahead I'm sorry.
[32:59] Good afternoon, Nathan Coker Kaufman Lynn construction.
[33:02] So just to be clear, we are prepared to start
[33:05] construction very soon.
[33:08] We can't obviously know that date until we understand
[33:11] if there's capacity for us, so we can get site plan approval
[33:13] and move forward.
[33:15] Our hope is to start in October of this year.
[33:17] Call it October 1 ish.
[33:20] The project is approximately 26 months long, 27 months long.
[33:23] So we'll be finishing around the end of the year of 2028.
[33:28] So if we were to wait for the new water treatment plant,
[33:31] we would not be able to commence this project
[33:33] for another couple of years.
[33:35] We want to commence the project now and finish in 2028.
[33:37] But of course, we can't do that if we don't know
[33:40] that we have capacity building.
[33:42] What are you building first.
[33:45] I'm sorry.
[33:48] Townhomes or the nursing home or.
[33:51] Oh the.
[33:52] Yeah the independent living facility and townhomes.
[33:54] Clubhouse yeah.
[33:56] Both of those are happening.
[33:57] Yes simultaneously.
[33:59] October 1.
[33:59] Yes, ma'am.
[34:00] OK starting October 1 and all 400 ish units
[34:04] will be done at the end of 26 months.
[34:06] OK thank you.
[34:07] Yeah thank you.
[34:12] Thank you.
[34:13] Is this a development that we've already approved.
[34:17] Yes, sir.
[34:17] And this is part of the hammock oak.
[34:19] Coke no no, no.
[34:21] OK oh, no no no.
[34:23] Coke no, sir.
[34:24] No this is down on the corner of Lake Ella and 441.
[34:29] Why is this the first time that this sort of procedure
[34:33] has come up in the past.
[34:37] We've not had developers come in and ask for a reservation
[34:42] of sewer capacity.
[34:46] Have we.
[34:47] No that's why we're here.
[34:49] That's why they're here.
[34:50] Asking them.
[34:52] We don't.
[34:53] They don't own it until they buy it.
[34:55] So that's always been my mission.
[34:59] Or that's what I was directed from our commission for 19 years
[35:04] now.
[35:05] And especially when we're running out of capacity
[35:09] on the current plant.
[35:10] Now they can do it in phases.
[35:13] They could buy they could put it in the agreement
[35:15] where they buy this for the ilf, this for the homes, this
[35:19] for the other buildings over a set time,
[35:23] but they don't count it until they pay for it.
[35:26] So capacity is not guaranteed until time of payment.
[35:30] So that's why we're here today.
[35:33] And isn't it true in years past that we have approved
[35:36] developments that never came to fruition,
[35:39] and we might have even built a sewer system
[35:42] to develop capacity for them in the development
[35:49] didn't go through.
[35:51] Oh, yeah.
[35:51] We've got plenty of developments around that
[35:53] never happened that never paid.
[35:55] And we had a soft allotment in the plant for it,
[36:01] but they never came to fruition.
[36:03] So I think it would be prudent to wait until they actually
[36:08] get a shovel in the ground before they
[36:10] ask for sewage capacity.
[36:13] Yeah I mean, they could we have the capacity right
[36:16] now to sell them today, but that might not happen.
[36:20] Knowing their time schedule, we're
[36:21] OK if it's going to come on whenever
[36:24] our new plant is going to come unlined, it should be OK.
[36:27] That's why I wanted to know the time frame.
[36:29] But the capacity is not reserved until time of payment.
[36:34] That's why we're here.
[36:36] OK thank you.
[36:40] Thank you.
[36:42] But just to answer your question,
[36:43] Commissioner, that would have been the reason
[36:47] to have a letter of credit or some vehicle like that to secure
[36:51] the payment so that these people that didn't pay you
[36:54] would go to that letter of credit and have the bank,
[36:57] exercise and get paid.
[36:59] So that was what that would be for.
[37:02] But if there's capacity, I mean, we're
[37:04] ready to do it, to pay it, and get this project going
[37:11] if we have to.
[37:11] But I just wanted to get this in front of you
[37:14] and give you an opportunity to say yay or nay on this project,
[37:18] but just at least wanted to present the idea to you.
[37:23] Thank you, and I appreciate your thoughts,
[37:25] but it seems to me that we're already
[37:29] under a financial pressure now, and to delay or some
[37:33] of the funds that would be coming in
[37:35] to sell the capacity means that the people of Lady lake
[37:40] are kind of supporting you for a little while,
[37:44] since you want to do something in a way
[37:45] that's not been done before.
[37:47] And my concern is that once you open
[37:51] that floodgate, then others.
[37:52] And now suddenly we have upended our funding stream
[37:56] and it becomes problematic.
[37:58] Especially under the potential of what may or may not
[38:01] happen in November, it becomes all the more prudent
[38:04] that we keep our tried and true methods in line and move
[38:10] at that pace.
[38:10] And the phased amount of buying your capacity as you move
[38:15] forward with your building seems like, from my perspective,
[38:18] a great way for you guys to proceed.
[38:20] If you're not ready to build the hotel
[38:22] or you're not doing the memory care unit yet, or whatever,
[38:25] I would suggest that I'm really not in favor
[38:28] of the line of credit, just from my perspective,
[38:31] and we are ready to build.
[38:33] My client is ready to build, but we
[38:34] can figure that out on our end and get you your money.
[38:37] And then we'll figure it out on our end.
[38:40] We had that discussion before we walked in here,
[38:43] so I appreciate it.
[38:44] Yeah thank you.
[38:45] I appreciate creative finance I really do.
[38:48] But we don't get to do that here.
[38:50] We have to balance our budget.
[38:52] And we're already under tough financial constraints.
[38:54] And the staff knows just exactly what
[38:57] it is to cut things they would like
[38:59] to do because we can't do them.
[39:01] Yes, ma'am.
[39:02] Thank you.
[39:08] So any discussion anybody else just one thing
[39:16] that I had talked about before.
[39:19] And Derek, maybe you can weigh in on this.
[39:22] Is there a way that we could work
[39:24] on this between now and the next meeting
[39:28] and have it approved, except for.
[39:32] The letter of credit, but the other language
[39:35] work on that as far as just the agreement draft,
[39:41] I reviewed it thoroughly.
[39:42] But for that portion that's consistent with our
[39:47] standard template agreement.
[39:51] So I think if they were to remove that and run it by me
[39:54] and that again, we could probably put it on an agenda
[39:57] unless, I'm sorry, we wouldn't see it again.
[40:00] No, of course you wouldn't.
[40:01] Yeah the town commission approves
[40:03] all capacity agreements.
[40:06] Oh, yes.
[40:06] I'm sorry.
[40:07] Yes, sir.
[40:07] Yeah no, you would definitely see it again.
[40:09] But I don't know if we have capacity.
[40:11] And I want to speak to that because we
[40:14] have wastewater capacity issues now for about 18 months.
[40:20] So if we have capacity, yes.
[40:21] If we do not, then no.
[40:23] With the timing of this Derrick, then yes, we will have capacity.
[40:29] Yeah because this one will be coming online
[40:32] when our plants under construction
[40:34] and we have a limited amount that's still sellable right now.
[40:41] This will eat up some of that.
[40:42] And is that because the project only demands 750 aircrew as
[40:46] opposed to some other projects we've seen
[40:48] that demand more than that.
[40:49] Yeah plus this will get phased in.
[40:51] I don't remember what the first phase is.
[40:53] But yeah, we were working on the timing of it
[40:59] at our last meeting.
[41:00] And so yeah.
[41:02] So it's 250 yards.
[41:05] No, it's 28,000 gallons a day.
[41:08] Yeah and we have that available right now.
[41:09] We 150,000 50,000 gallons left to sell.
[41:13] So it'll take from that 150,000 gallons.
[41:16] Well, the hotel's 250.
[41:17] The ilfs 250.
[41:19] And the memory cares 250.
[41:20] Yeah the first phase is what they're talking about today.
[41:23] Correct Yes.
[41:25] Yeah so just to recap for the Commission,
[41:27] the amount of capacity they're requesting
[41:28] is less than other projects that we
[41:30] have previously the commission previously denied.
[41:32] So there is capacity.
[41:37] All right.
[41:38] So we are going to basically table this with new discussion.
[41:46] Make the changes and bring it forward
[41:48] to the September 9 meeting.
[41:50] Correct is that I'm OK with that.
[41:53] And do we need to vote on this.
[41:57] I don't think so.
[41:58] No no.
[41:58] The direction from the commission is clear.
[42:00] So where you stand.
[42:04] All right.
[42:05] Thank you.
[42:05] Thank you.
[42:06] Now we have Mayor and Commissioner reports.
[42:16] Commissioners report.
[42:18] I just want to report.
[42:19] I was so excited to go to our back
[42:24] to school teacher breakfast held in Leesburg for all of the Lake
[42:27] County teachers villages elementary, Carver
[42:30] middle school, and Leesburg high school
[42:32] attended, which is where all of our kiddos and Lady lake go.
[42:36] So it's very exciting.
[42:38] Glad to represent the town of Lady lake
[42:41] and we have some really devoted teachers to Lake County.
[42:50] Would you do the night out to let's come.
[42:52] Oh yeah, I did.
[42:53] Yes, yes.
[42:54] Thank you.
[42:55] And thank you to Chief.
[42:57] We went around town, a lady lake,
[42:59] for its first National Night out in August.
[43:02] We were able to visit the quarters
[43:04] apartment complex, the Cove, and also skyline hills.
[43:08] So great to get out there and be with our police.
[43:12] Police department and see our residents.
[43:14] So yes.
[43:15] Thank you for that reminder.
[43:16] Yeah, absolutely.
[43:20] Thank you, Commissioner McLean.
[43:23] Since we last met, I had the opportunity
[43:26] to attend the Florida league of mayors conference
[43:29] annual conference that was in conjunction with the Florida
[43:33] league of cities, where we were educated
[43:37] about the current issues facing various municipalities.
[43:40] And as has been requested at an earlier meeting
[43:43] from my fellow commissioners, I will be drafting a more detailed
[43:48] report as to the things that were spoken about
[43:52] and things learned in that particular set of conferences
[43:58] made a lot of connections with other commissioners
[44:01] around the state at their council members,
[44:04] and came to understand how the potential of the new Amendment
[44:08] three may affect their municipalities, towns,
[44:12] and villages.
[44:13] I find it amazing that there are so many bright
[44:18] and engaged individuals willing to give their time, some
[44:22] for no compensation whatsoever.
[44:25] It's an amazing event to talk and to become
[44:29] more aware of our state with our 411 municipalities.
[44:33] And the mayor was there, too, and I'll let you do the rest.
[44:38] All right.
[44:40] Do you have anything.
[44:41] Commissioner?
[44:41] I do not.
[44:42] All right.
[44:44] Too, went to Hollywood.
[44:47] That's Hollywood, Florida, and.
[44:53] I serve on a number of committees,
[44:57] and I'm going to resign from a couple
[45:00] because I don't have time for anything else.
[45:04] So I spent most of my time doing committee work
[45:10] and I went to two or three.
[45:15] What do we call them.
[45:16] Seminars, workshops, seminars.
[45:19] Something like that.
[45:21] Anyway, a couple of them were very good
[45:24] and one or two were, I don't know.
[45:28] I left before they were over.
[45:32] When you have a panel of people who are talking about,
[45:35] there's a subject you're supposed to be hearing about
[45:38] and they end up bragging on themselves
[45:42] rather than telling you anything new.
[45:45] Anyhow, it was a long week and I arrived home on Saturday night.
[45:54] I didn't stay for the final dinner and that's all I've got.
[46:01] Do we have anything from the town manager.
[46:05] Good evening, Mayor.
[46:06] Commissioners first of all, I want to give a special thanks
[46:10] to Nathan Cobb.
[46:12] And we love the million dollars.
[46:15] We'll be applying for more.
[46:17] And behind every great representative,
[46:19] there's always like behind every great team town manager.
[46:23] There's department managers that apply for these.
[46:27] Thank you.
[46:28] And so I just want to recognize your staff.
[46:31] And so faith and Christian just for the audience
[46:33] where you just stand up, turn around.
[46:35] They help seat.
[46:40] They're doing the work behind the scenes
[46:42] to help people like Katie and me get it right.
[46:45] And Mike, if he's left, Mike didn't receive his this year,
[46:50] but we appreciate all the help we get from you.
[46:53] So thank you.
[46:54] Thank you.
[46:55] And yeah thank you.
[47:00] And I also want to congratulate mayor Friedman.
[47:04] Mayor Pro Tem Roberts and Commissioner sage.
[47:08] They're running unopposed this year.
[47:11] So there'll be no election.
[47:13] And they'll be choosing a new mayor in November.
[47:16] So I want to congratulate them.
[47:18] So I get the same bosses for a little while.
[47:22] And I also just want to mention we had no upcoming events.
[47:27] I'm going now.
[47:28] So will that be it for me tonight.
[47:29] Thank you.
[47:31] Do you have anything from our.
[47:33] Yes, Mayor.
[47:34] Just one item.
[47:35] If you recall, the group they own and operate
[47:39] wireless tower infrastructure.
[47:42] And so my understanding that the direction from the majority
[47:46] of the commission was to ask them to allow for a site
[47:51] specific approval process so that the town new town
[47:55] commission knew exactly where these cell phone towers were
[47:57] going and to approve them on that basis, as opposed
[48:01] to a master list of properties that would govern
[48:04] approvals moving forward.
[48:05] So we proposed that to them about a week ago,
[48:09] and they wrote back essentially that they
[48:11] could not accept that change.
[48:12] And before spending more staff time and effort on this,
[48:16] I wanted direction from the Commission
[48:18] on whether or not the majority still
[48:20] wants to proceed with that site specific
[48:22] approval process or not.
[48:26] Well, in my way of thinking by not having any control
[48:35] over the sites that they choose, we're kind of just
[48:39] giving it away.
[48:41] I mean, if they decide they want to put
[48:42] a tower in one of the entrances to Snoopy park,
[48:47] it would seem untenable.
[48:55] And I don't know what their criteria for a site is.
[48:59] Maybe they're saying that some sites won't work better,
[49:02] will work better than others.
[49:04] I don't know.
[49:06] They had, I think.
[49:07] What was it.
[49:07] 15 sites, possible sites on their map.
[49:11] And many of them.
[49:13] I couldn't understand why they were so close together.
[49:18] It seemed.
[49:19] I don't it seems like we need a little bit of control here.
[49:24] Yeah and the other thing, I think Commissioner sage
[49:26] had some concerns about the financial opportunity,
[49:32] how it was going to affect the town and.
[49:38] And I thought that presentation was
[49:42] I didn't know why they didn't have
[49:43] someone standing at the podium.
[49:45] The idea of talking to us over the phone that was a little less
[49:49] than professional.
[49:51] It's a big deal for them.
[49:53] It's a big deal for us.
[49:56] So an in-person, in-person visit would have been
[50:00] a more appropriate, I think.
[50:03] So anybody else.
[50:05] Yeah, I just had a comment.
[50:07] I actually was under the impression
[50:09] that it was more the Commission's ability
[50:12] to deny a site versus a site specific approval process, which
[50:17] is a different horse of the same color,
[50:21] is that they had proposed their 13 sites.
[50:24] And we just wanted to make sure, like the mayor said,
[50:26] that it wasn't in some place that we thought inappropriate.
[50:30] So it's kind of different than saying
[50:33] we want to approve each one.
[50:35] We just want to say, no, not there.
[50:38] Over there was what I left thinking.
[50:42] What was your I agree.
[50:44] And also the financial piece is still very unclear.
[50:47] So I think Commissioner sage and I both agree that we needed
[50:51] to see more financially concrete numbers of what we would be
[50:55] receiving to make sure it's a palatable project,
[50:59] so I agree with Commissioner Roberts.
[51:02] That wasn't necessarily site specific
[51:04] that we wanted in the agreement, just the ability
[51:07] to say no or yes.
[51:09] And then how much are we going to make.
[51:10] I mean, if it's $2 or $10 million,
[51:13] that's a whole different animal.
[51:15] So I'm still very unclear on the financial side,
[51:18] which is much more I think, directional at that point.
[51:23] We can debate the rest.
[51:26] Yeah, I came away with the impression
[51:28] that Taylor was going to go do the research
[51:29] and I said, no, you guys shouldn't do the research.
[51:31] They should be able to put a package together and tell us
[51:35] what does their tower, one tower make with two providers,
[51:40] three providers, four providers based upon the other places
[51:43] that they already have contracts.
[51:45] I would assume that it would be generally a similar amount
[51:50] within a range.
[51:50] Certainly ballpark was basically what we were asking for,
[51:54] not a down to a penny type of thing,
[51:57] but to understand what the range or parameter
[52:00] was per possible site that they might place a tower.
[52:06] And I concur with Mayor Freeman.
[52:09] Their presentation was less than to be desired.
[52:12] So come talk to us and do the work right.
[52:18] Yeah so with regard to the veto, it sounds like you
[52:22] just want veto authority.
[52:24] Their point was that it's easier to market sites
[52:27] that have already some vesting.
[52:28] And so I think that was the core concern
[52:30] of a specific approval process.
[52:32] It would be the same with the veto process.
[52:34] But I'll get clarification from them
[52:36] that the commission, the majority commission,
[52:38] wants veto authority over any particular site.
[52:41] Is that correct Yes All right.
[52:43] That was what we thought.
[52:44] If they're willing to do that, which I don't think they are,
[52:47] then I'll ask them to present again the financials moving
[52:51] forward and what they anticipate the revenue to be for the town.
[52:54] Is that.
[52:55] Yes Fair.
[52:57] Here I find it hard to believe that every municipality
[53:03] that they go to says, well, you can put them wherever you want.
[53:11] Well, they have a master list of properties.
[53:13] And so I think what their intention
[53:16] is to market that whole list.
[53:18] And then if it conforms with the zoning, then it goes through
[53:21] and you really have no discretion.
[53:22] If it.
[53:23] Well, it seemed to me when I saw the map that most of it
[53:26] was public land.
[53:28] Oh, all of it.
[53:29] All of it.
[53:29] Yes, sir.
[53:33] I think I understood clearly.
[53:35] I have nothing, nothing further.
[53:37] Thank you.
[53:37] Thank you.
[53:39] And now we have public comment.
[53:41] Do we have any comment cards.
[53:43] We have one speaker, Mr. mayor.
[53:44] Jason accurso.
[53:46] OK good evening, Jason Caruso.
[54:05] I'd like to just place it on public record
[54:07] that there has been a request for a proclamation
[54:11] to honor Charlie Kirk.
[54:13] I hopefully, we put that in properly
[54:17] if it was not submitted in the proper way,
[54:19] if you would let me know at the end of the meeting
[54:21] so it can be submitted properly.
[54:24] But I want to make sure that was on public record
[54:27] so that everybody knew that proclamation has been submitted.
[54:33] Now since nobody has decided to take
[54:39] me up on a face to face meeting, I hate to come back to this.
[54:42] It's like beating a dead horse.
[54:43] We talked about it the last time I was up here,
[54:46] but all I want to do is meet with a couple of you guys
[54:51] and talk about it.
[54:52] What guides your moral compass.
[54:54] Where do you draw the line.
[54:55] I don't understand, I don't know.
[54:57] I'd love to be your advocate and say to the people,
[55:00] well, no, this is what they actually think.
[55:02] I can't do that.
[55:03] I have to assume what you think by the actions
[55:07] and by what's out there in the community.
[55:10] I want you to understand what I think.
[55:13] I want you to know what I think and why I think that way.
[55:17] So you might be able to be an advocate for me,
[55:19] saying at some point saying, no, no, no,
[55:22] that's not what they think.
[55:23] We might still think each other is wrong.
[55:25] We might not change our minds, but we'll have an understanding
[55:28] which we don't have right now.
[55:30] I know we don't have it.
[55:31] There's no way we have it because we've not talked.
[55:34] And it's not possible to have an understanding
[55:36] without conversation.
[55:38] That's what Charlie Kirk did so well.
[55:40] That's why he deserves a proclamation.
[55:42] He deserves a proclamation because he stood up
[55:45] and he had conversations with people he did not agree with.
[55:49] So once again, what is your moral compass.
[55:52] How do you draw the line.
[55:54] Where do you draw the line and why do you draw the line there.
[55:58] You feel it's God made you this way.
[56:00] That's fine.
[56:01] You're an adult. You can be that way.
[56:03] You can live in whatever way you wish to live.
[56:06] I don't have a problem with that.
[56:07] I do have a problem with government
[56:09] honoring that, though, because that's not government's place
[56:12] to honor that.
[56:14] Once again, government's place is to deal with municipal items
[56:16] like you've done tonight.
[56:17] What you've done tonight is absolutely stupendous work.
[56:21] I appreciated listening to the work that
[56:23] was being performed tonight.
[56:25] It was great.
[56:26] I agreed with a lot of what you said.
[56:28] I disagreed with some of it, and that's fine.
[56:31] I disagree with people that I normally agree with.
[56:34] And I agree with some of the things that people
[56:36] I normally disagree with.
[56:37] That's the way it's supposed to be in government.
[56:39] We're supposed to be able to stand
[56:41] up here and talk about that.
[56:42] We're not supposed to be talking about moral or religious issues
[56:46] at the government level.
[56:47] So let's get back to that.
[56:52] I will say that overall you guys have a tough job.
[56:57] I don't envy a lot of times what you do.
[56:59] I did run, I did lose, I wish that I could have won.
[57:03] It's a tough job that you guys perform up there.
[57:07] You guys take a lot of criticism duly, unduly.
[57:09] However, I think this is duly.
[57:11] Duly noted.
[57:12] Criticism please help us understand
[57:15] where you're coming from.
[57:16] Because without that understanding,
[57:18] all we're going to do is keep on coming up here.
[57:21] Thank you guys and have a great evening.
[57:22] Thank you.
[57:28] We have one more little piece of business.
[57:31] Not so little, actually.
[57:36] I would just like to offer my condolences to Mike sage,
[57:40] who lost his mother last week.
[57:43] And I know she was very elderly, but doesn't make any difference.
[57:49] Still a tough thing.
[57:50] Thank you.
[57:51] Thank you very much.
[57:54] And this meeting is adjourned.