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published: Friday, January 16, 2009
Remember When
By Ann Dupee
21 Years Ago - 1988
Lake County Commissioners approved the proposed financing of the Resource Recovery Project (burn plant) by a 3-2 vote at the Tuesday, Nov. 8 meeting. South Lake's Commissioners Claude Smoak and Don Bailey voted "no."
Mr. Smoak expressed reservations supporting the $70 million tax-exempt, $9 million taxable variable rate demand bonds and $10 million equity contribution from NRG. He remembers when, in May, the amount of the IRBs was to have been $50 million.
Mr. Bailey did not support the vote and stated that, when the discussions first started, the county was going to work with the cities. He was also concerned there is not enough garbage to burn.
The same 3-2 split showed up again when the Board voted to approve two resolutions necessary to finalize the financial documents.
Clermont Council member Hal Turville and Umatilla school teacher Bob Willets made last ditch efforts to convince the Board members that a multi-million dollar burn plant may not be in the best interest for Lake County's residents.
At one point, Mr. Turville was told that if the county said "no" today and "let the new folks on the Board make the decision" the cost to the county would be $12 million more. County Attorney Chris Ford quoted this figure based on the bid price of the same size plant recently made by Ogden Martin in the State of Connecticut, expected to be in the $92 to $95 million bracket.
Ground breaking was scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 15 at the Okahumpka site.
On October 25th, Clermont City Council voted down an inter-local agreement with Lake County to deliver garbage to the proposed facility.
At issue was the mass burn concept, the lack of city involvement and knowledge in the decision making process, cities getting stuck with the cost and the County Commission's credibility in handling the issue.
Through the inter-local agreement, the county was looking for commitments from 75% of the population, mostly within the 14 cities, to insure enough garbage flow (130,000 tons a year minimum) to feed the proposed $66 million mass burn plant.
The 75% was part of a 20-year service contract with the county, the builder and bond financer and can be changed if all principals agree. Even if they get 50% participation, said City Attorney Leonard Baird, he felt the county will still go ahead. City Manager Wayne Saunders questioned that should the county get less than 75%, would the participating cities carry the cost?
The cities objected to assessing residents as the method to pay for garbage disposal; this was replaced with tipping fees. Trash haulers will be charged a per ton fee at the gate, expected to be about $40 a ton (instead of the present $12.50.) Leesburg has signed the revised agreement.
Officials also questioned the county's 5% recycling projection. Council member Ann Dupee and the city manager expressed dismay in the face of state requirements of 30%. Recycling was never discussed by the county, neither was the option of accepting garbage from Disney.
Council member Richard Huff pointed out the county will have to spend additional funds for a landfill and cost of disposal will go to $50 per ton anyway. There are really only two choices, to put raw waste in the ground or burn it.
The county will have to close the present landfill and build separate facilities, a double lined receptacle for the ash, which will be smaller in volume, and one for the unburnable garbage. A new landfill is expected to cost $10 million. The 7-cent county sales tax was to go toward a new jail and closing the present landfill.
Clermont vote was 3-1 with Turville, Dupee and Mayor Bob Pool voting against the motion and Huff voting for, Council member Lester Cole was absent.
Lighted Boat Parade
It seemed the whole community turned out for the Music Program at Jaycee Beach, followed by the area's first Lighted Boat Parade.
Parade sponsors were the Kiwanis Club of Clermont and South Lake Kiwanis and chaired by Richard Bell. The South Lake Council for the Arts coordinated the music, Nick Jones, chairman.
Nineteen boats entered, making it difficult for judges Cathy Kyle, Sue Cerelli, Sue Mecanick and Don Wickham.
First in the pontoon division were Norquist Construction, Clermont Pool and Spa, Annie's Fancy and The Design Group (John and Pam Ladd, Steve and Anne Monn, Ann Ritch, David Ossman and John Billings) with "A Florida Christmas;" second was Jack and Jackie Ulch for "Noel" and third was Clermont Marine and Nautilus, with Santa going down the chimney head first.
Winners in the 19-foot and under division were Winnie's Interiors with an angel with moving wings; David and Carol Coggshall, with a sailing boat outlined in all white lights; and the flag, entered by South Lake Kiwanis.
In the 19-foot and over category the winner was the New Leader; second, United National Real Estate; and third, Tom and Robin Crawford.
