SEMINOLE – The City Council will consider yet another proposal concerning dock construction on city-owned lakes.
During a workshop Oct. 23, councilors authorized city staff to draft a pair of ordinances for consideration at the next City Council meeting on Nov. 13.
The first would authorize the city to issue permits for dock requests on Lake Kersey, Blossom Lake and any future lakes the city owns.
The ordinance would set a permit fee, specify a maximum size for decks, indemnify the city from liability and give the city the right to inspect docks.
A second ordinance, if found to be legal by City Attorney John Elias, would create a special assessment for Lake Kersey homeowners to recover the annual cost of maintaining the lake.
The city installed an aerator in Lake Kersey for $4,000 and pays about $62 a month for electricity to operate it. It also changes the filter once a month.
Homeowners on Blossom Lake would not pay an assessment.
City Manager Frank Edmunds suggested the permit process following a meeting Oct. 16 at City Hall with Lake Kersey homeowners.
The purpose of the meeting was to see what direction the homeowners preferred to go on the issue and most favored the city deeding a portion of submerged land for the construction of a dock.
“I’ve given this a lot of additional thought since that meeting,” said Edmunds, “and there would be a lot of cost associated with this such as survey cost, preparation of the deed and recording of the deed. It could be several hundreds of dollars. For that reason, I suggest we turn it over to administration to permit docks.”
Councilors Peter Hofstra and John Counts agreed with the proposal, but Hofstra said he would prefer a lease agreement to offset the city’s annual costs of maintaining the lake.
Councilor Dan Hester emphasized his previous stance that the lake should be deeded over to the homeowners.
“What we have here is a public lake that the public can’t get into to enjoy,” said Hester. “It would be a win-win situation if the homeowners maintain it.”
In other action, the council:
• Was introduced to Mike Masem, an applicant for the city’s Recreation Advisory Board.
• Discussed options for filling an open spot on the Greater Seminole Area Special Recreation District, which owns the land where the Seminole Youth Athletic Association operates. Discussion centered on the possibility of nominating Dr. Clyde McMullen and researching the legality of a council member performing the role.
• Discussed an ordinance that would prohibit parking in drive aisles at commercial, office and industrial sites for more than 15 minutes.
• Discussed different categories of a proposed future land use element within the city’s comprehensive plan.
• Discussed a proposed resolution in support of the Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Livable Communities Initiative. The concept involves land use and transportation planning strategies with site and street design elements that encourage walking, bicycling, transit use and public gathering.
