11-17-1939 Special Meeting MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF
MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE COUNCIL
Nov. 17, 1939.
A Special Meeting of Miami Shores Village Council was held on
November 17, 1939, for the purpose of discussing the proposals outlined
in Bessemer Properties' letter of November 14th, all members of the
Council being present.
After some discussion, Mr. Pruitt moved that the Council accept this
proposition in accordance with terms set out and have an election as
set forth in the charter and let the people approve or disapprove same.
There was no second to this motion.
Mr. Lindsey moved, in the absence of a second to Mr,. Pruitt's
motion, that this proposition be declinedland this motion was seconded
by Mr. Mill edge.
Mr. Ray Earnest asked to be heard and said he had given this matter
very careful consideration and had tried to analyze same and tried to
figure out what would be best for the tax payer. He gave in length his
views of the Golf Course matter.
Mr. Lindsey withdrew his motion, and Mr. Hawkins of Bessemer
Properties being present was asked to explain any part of Bessemer' s
letter that any member of the Council did not understand. Mr. Hawkins
said he would be glad to answer anything that the Council wanted to
know.
Mr. Stockdell asked what the attorney' s fee and costs would be
in this matter.
Mr. Hawkins said he could not answer this but that Mr. Paul Scott,
Bessemer' s attorney, was present.
Mr. Scott said if the Council voted to settle this matter contingent
to the attorney' s fee he would be glad to discuss it with them.
Mr. Gordon, as a tax payer, asked the Council to accept this proposal
and let the tax payers of the Village approve or disapprove same.
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Mr. Renuart as a tax
payer and one of the largest creditors,
appeared before the Council and said he believed this thing could be
settled in a very satisfactory manner by going back to the people of
Miami Shores.
Mr. Carl Anderson asked the Council to open the Golf Course as
soon as possible.
Mr. Stockdell said he was trying to run the Village affairs as
he would run his own and he wouldn't borrow money from a man and have
him run that money and not be permitted to know how it was run and take
the whole thing away from him. "I think the Village has a lot at stake. "
Mr. Pruitt again made a motion to accept this proposal and to
have an election as set out in the charter and let the people decide what
to do. There was no second to thismotion and the meeting was adjourned.
Mr. Fulkes, of Hector Supply Company, persuaded the Council to
convene again to reconsider their action. He talked at length about the
situation. He said,as to the attorney' s fees, he thought Mr. Scott made
a statement that was fair and reasonable. He thought the attorney' s fees
could be arranged some way, that it would be a good idea to appoint a committ
ee to work this out and get it settled. He asked the Council to accept this
proposal subject to the minor details that were in question. He thought
possibly the creditors could arrange to pay part of this attorney fee in
order to get this thing settled.
Mr. Stockdell said he was afraid of getting in trouble with the
W.P.A. if this proposal was accepted.
Mr. Milledge said that if this proposal was agreed upon that it
would be a confession to a fraudulent scheme to get $158,000.00 from the
government and he explained to those present about the trouble had with
the W. P.A. previous 1Y. and the agreement that was entered into with
them.
Mr. Lindseysaid he
was perfectly willing for Bessemer Properties
to take the Golf Course over when they paid what they agreed to pay. He
thought the attorney' s fee should be taken care of by the Golf Course
funds and not by the Village.
Mr. Lindsey moved that it be declared to be the will and
sense of this Council that if the cost, including attorney' s fees of
plaintiff, of the present litigation be paid out of the Golf Course
revenues and funds heretofore established; and the taxing power of Miami
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Shores Village be exonerated from any liability therefor; and the approval
of the United States Yiorks Progress Administration be obtained in
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writing; that the Village will cause to be executed such mortgage
for sum or sums as has been expended and incurred under the
authority given the Golf Course Committee, upon such terms
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of repayment of principal and interest not to exceed 5%,
and to be executed and confirmed in such manner as shall
be demanded by Bessmer Properties, and that the present
receivers in the case of Bessemer Properties vs. Miami Shores
Village may be allowed to take over the complete control
of said Golf Course. Said motion was seconded by Mr. Milledge and
carried by 3/5th vote, with Mr. Pruitt and Mr. Kitson voting against
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it.
After which the meeting was adjourned.
Z-F-Villag-e--HantaXterand C rk _
APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL:
Mayor
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