01-23-1945 Special Meeting J
MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF
MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE COUNCIL
JANUARY 23, 1945
A Special Meeting was called by the Village
Council for the purpose of hearing the Chairman and
representative members of the Property Owners Association
on the matter of Miami Shores Golf Course settlement pro-
posals. Those attending were : Mayor Oscar E. Dooly and,
Councilmen Earnest, Arnold, Reynolds and Thompson., as
well as Mr. Sappenfield and Mr. McCall. Mr. Frank Lautz,
as Chairman, represented the Property Owners Association.
Mr. Dooly opened the meeting, stating that the
purpose of this meeting was to allow members of the Prop-
erty Owners Association to familiarize themselves with
facts concerning the Golf Course. Mr. Lautz called upon
Mr. Stanley Milledge (Council for the Property Owners
Association) to discuss this matter of calling a bond
issue.
Mr. Dooly discussed previous action which had
been taken by the Village to protect their equity in the
Golf Course stating that he thought there was no necessity
of having a bond issue floated at that time.
Mr. Milledge stated that the Village should have
a definite objective regarding the Golf Course as to action
that would be taken at the end of the 10 year period.
The question was asked if there is a final decree
of foreclosure. Mr. Dooly explained the operation of the
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Golf Course under the receivership. Mr. Sappenfield also
explained status of the receivership and stated that
there is no decree of sale.
Mr. Milledge presented his legal interpretation
of the Golf Course situation.
Mr. Dooly stated that the Golf Course would be
continued to operate as a "going" concern until the ten
year receivership expired.
Mr. Milledge stated that the concern of the
Property Owners is the ultimate outcome of the Golf
Course and whether interest was accumulating on the debt
that the Tax Payers would eventually have to pay.
Mr. Dooly asked if the Property Owners thought
that Municipal operation of the Golf Course would be
more economical than the Court operation is. Several
members of the Property Owners Association expressed them-
selves in the afirmative. The possibility of a bond
issue was discussed.
Mr. Reynolds stated that, in his opinion, the
Village should wait for 3, 4, or 5 years to act, either
in floating a bond issue or to bargain with the Mortgagee.
Mr. Arnold said that the reason he moved to
Miami Shores was because there was no bonded indebtedness
and because of the low taxes.
Mr. Millege discussed interest rates on bonds,
also stating that he could not see that if an election on
the bond issue did not carry, that it would be detri.men-
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tal to the Community. And further, that it was not
reasonable to suppose that the Judge would favor Miami
Shores Village in protecting them on this issue of own-
ership of the Golf Course, inasmuch as it has already
been a receivership for five years and it could be said
that the Village had not been interested all this time,
so why should it be considered now?
Mr. Arnold definitely stated that he was opposed
to bond issues, but if 10% of the voters were in favor of
this, he would be also.
Mr. Milledge stated that if the Golf Course
was operated as a Municipal Course intead of an exclus-
ive, private club, it would be successful.
The Property Owners Association wanted to know
if any final (legal) opinion had been given on this matter
of the Golf Course foreclosure. Mr. Dooly said that there
had not been, but that the Council was responsible for
its actions. Mr. Dooly suggested that if a bond issue
was called, that the facilities should be enlarged, such
as construction of a swimming pool, tennis courts, etc.
The Property Owners Association proposed that
these things be listed and presented to everyone in the
Village to show what would be accomplished, ultimately
in a •bond issue. Such objective would be worth putting
up to the people.
Mr. Dooly stated he was diametrically opposed
to a bond issue, but if the Golf Course could be made an
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enlarged facility for the Village that everyone could
enjoy, he would suggest that such action be instituted
by the Property Owners Association rather than by the
Council*
Mr. Arnold stressed the necessity of includ-
ing Playground space for children of the Village in the
event the Golf Course property was enlarged to include
these other facilities.
Mr. Franck, of the Property Owners Association
spoke in behalf of the Association, asking that a writ-
ten opinion be drawn up as to the intention of the mort-
gagors by the Village Attorney.
Mr. McKee, of the Association, favored the
operation of the Golf Course by the people. Especially
if enlarged facilities are added.
Mr. Garvey, of the Association, said he had
never joined the Golf Club, but does not think the
Village should lose the Golf Course but questioned whether
the people will vote for it- unless it is clearly pre-
sented to them so they will understand the true situation.
Mr. Reynolds reminded Mr. Garvey that the
people should also understand that the Club has not
made money but for one year since its operation.
Mrs . Franck asked if securing the opinion of
the Village Attorney would be the first step to clarify
this matter, stating that the Property Owners did not
want to antagonize or act to the detriment of any one.
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Mr. Milledge stated that the property owners
now understood the Council would vote favorably on this
issue if a bond election carried.
Mr. Dooly � property Owners Associa-
tion to get a petition signed by 10% of the Freeholders
and that the Council would present a good picture of the
proposition to the voters, from an unbiased viewpoint.
The Property+Owners Association stated that
they would give a report of their action to the Council
at their next regular monthly session.
-Meeting adjourned.
Vil e Mana r and Clerk
Approved:
Mayor
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