INDIALANTIC
                RECORD        June  2004

Construction Activities Continue

Construction activities in the Town of late include street resurfacing, storm water pipe replacement, Tampa Avenue dune crossover access, parking lot construction, and mast arm traffic signal installation.

VA Paving completed a $20,765 street resurfacing project in April.  S. Shannon Avenue, from Fifth Avenue through the Sixth Avenue intersection and from Melbourne Avenue through the Orlando Blvd. intersection, the 400 block of Ormond Drive, Magnolia Drive from Melbourne Avenue to Ormond Drive, and a  section of the 300 block of Tampa Avenue had an inch of new asphalt applied.  Council approved the streets to be resurfaced on October 21, 2003.

Prior to resurfacing Atlantic Development of Cocoa, Inc. replaced  failing metal storm water pipes under Shannon Avenue at Ormond Drive and under Tampa Avenue west of Palm Avenue.

Atlantic Development also recently completed construction of a drainage retention area on the south side of the 100 block of Sixth Avenue with connecting pipe.  The drainage project, costing $23,251, is intended to lessen historic street flooding in the middle of the block.

Construction is currently under way on a buffer wall along the rear property line of the Town’s property on Sixth Avenue.  The wall will separate the retention area and future metered parking lot from the adjacent residential area.

Residents may have noticed construction activity in the north part of Town as the Melbourne Water Department replaced water lines for properties on Genesee Avenue and the 500 block of Watson Drive.

Public Works personnel have been busy completing the installation of a wooden walking area at the Tampa Avenue dune crossover.  The walking area was added to eliminate the continual eroding of the ground as beachgoers take advantage of this strategically located crossover.  Staff has installed similar connecting walkways at the Sunrise Park dune crossover and at crossover 16.

Motorists will soon notice the removal of the wire span traffic signal from the intersection of Riverside Drive and Fifth Avenue.  Traffic Control Devices was awarded the contract to replace the current signals with green, fluted post mast arm signals.  The mast arms should be delivered to the site in June for installation under the $134,025 contract. This is the final component of a Joint Participation Agreement (JPA) between the Town and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to improve the intersection

RECENT COUNCIL ACTION

April 20, 2004 Meeting

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adopted Resolution 04-04  approving a Supplemental Joint Participation Agreement with Florida Department of Transportation extending the JPA agreement through December 31, 2004 to complete mast arm installation

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approved a proclamation supporting continued operation of Patrick Air Force Base and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

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approved a proclamation designating May 16-22 as National Public Works Week

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adopted Ord. 04-08 amending the sign ordinance to clarify that permits are required for transient signs

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adopted Council goals and objectives for 2004

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accepted the audit for FY 02/03

May 18, 2004 Meeting

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received a legislative update from State Representative Mitch Needelman

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approved the Byrne State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance Grant funds to the Sheriff’s Department to be used for prisoner transportation and SHOCAP tracking (juvenile tracking program via electronic monitoring)

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 approved entering into an agreement with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Department for the Police Department to be able to continue to access the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC)

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 approved mid year budget adjustments

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adopted Ord. 04-09 extending the solid waste franchise agreement with Harris Sanitation through 9/16/09

Turtle Awareness 

Each summer, Florida beaches host the largest gathering of nesting sea turtles in the United States.  Emerging hatchlings leave their sand nests and scramble to the ocean – a journey too often disrupted by their attraction to artificial lighting.

To protect hatchlings, please remember that the Town code states that no artificial lighting may illuminate any area of the beach after 11:00 pm from May 1st through October 31st.  It is also unlawful to remove sea turtles or their eggs from the beach or to disturb turtle nests.

For more information regarding sea turtles or turtle walks, contact the Sea Turtle Preservation Society at 676-1701 or www.seaturtlespacecoast.org

NEW FACES IN TOWN

Pope Financial, Inc. -  105 S. Riverside Dr., #122 – Financial consulting

 Healthy Glow, Inc. – 425 Fifth Avenue – Tanning salon

 Evergreen Mortgage Co. -  503 Fifth Avenue, Ste 104 – Mortgage 

 Absolute Dental Image, LLC – 122 Fourth Avenue – Dental consultants

 Innovative Computerized Solutions – 103 N. Ramona – Computer consultants

VIP International – 114 Sixth Avenue, Ste 2 – Security training

Grandmother’s Trunk – 103 N. Riverside Dr. – Antiques, art and beads

Florida Outdoor Design – 18 S. Riverside Dr. – Outdoor lighting designs 

 


Mayor Daniel Trott and Parks, Recreation & Beautification Chairman Rose Benevente complete planting two East Palatka Holly trees in the southeast corner of Orlando Park.  The trees were planted in honor of the late Les Barlow, who died in January, and his wife Mae, who died in May 2003.  The two trees join a holly tree that was previously planted in honor of the Barlows’ son, Brigadier General Bruce H. Barlow, who preceded his parents in death.  Col. Barlow served the Town as Councilman, Town Manager and as a member of various boards and committees.

 The Parks, Recreation and Beautification Committee recently presented the Town Beautification Award to Karl and Kathelen Buikema, 137 Eleventh Avenue for landscape improvements.

To nominate a business or residence for recognition of efforts to improve and beautify buildings and/or grounds, contact Laurie Newman at 723-2242 or at lnewman@indialantic.com.

POLICE BEAT

Several arrests have been made over the last few months in reference to both home and car burglaries. Since the arrests, burglaries in the residential areas of Indialantic have declined dramatically. I encourage everyone to remain vigilant in their efforts to keep homes and vehicles secure and not to present an easy target to potential criminals. Almost all of the burglaries that we had reported this year were crimes of opportunity and most would not have occurred if the victim’s doors and windows had been secured.

Through a partnership with “Project Childsafe”, the nationwide firearms safety education program, the Police Department is now able to provide free firearm safety kits to local residents. Each kit contains a safety curriculum and a cable-style gunlock. The lock fits most types of handguns, rifles and shotguns. The safety kits will be  distributed to residents who come to the Police Department on a first come first serve basis.

The Police Department also has a limited supply of the new Home Safety Emergency Prep Guides available. This multi-page magnetic guide booklet has been designed to help you take action in the event of a home emergency or natural disaster. We hope you will take home safety and disaster warnings seriously by keeping this guide on your refrigerator door and by following its suggestions. The preparations you do now will reduce personal and material loss and will help create the safety net you need when an emergency arises.

If you would like additional information about these or any of the other programs and services provided by the Police Department, please contact Community Policing Officer Terry Tenpenny at 723-7788. 

Chief Troy W. Morris

Public Works Update – Ron Cassedy

DID YOU KNOW that the street right-of-way adjacent to your front yard and for corner lot adjacent to your side yard, is sixty feet in width on most streets within the Town. The right-of-way is public property and is controlled by the Town Code of Ordinances.

Sec. 13-7 of the Code states in part:  It shall be unlawful to place concrete or other solid materials upon the right-of-way of streets.

Sec. 13-2 of the Code states in part:  It shall be unlawful to destroy, deface or injure any street or portion of any public right-of-way.

FIRE FACTS

Summer is coming and the temperature is getting hotter every day.  The last thing on your mind right now is the flu. Here at Fire Rescue we’re thinking ahead to flu season and getting ready.

Influenza (the “flu”) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus.  An estimated 10% to 20% of U.S. residents get the flu each year; an average of 114,000 people are hospitalized for flu-related complications and 36,000 Americans die each year from complications of the flu.

Flu season runs from October to February.  The single best way to protect yourself from being infected is to receive the flu immunization each fall.  On Saturday, October 9, 2004 Fire Rescue will be hosting its first annual Open House during which we will be administering flu shots for a minimal fee. We will be advertising throughout the year as a reminder of this important event.

If you have any question about the flu shot or the Open House, please call us during normal business hours at 723-0366.  We look forward to seeing you in October.

Tom Barker, Fire Chief

CODE COMMENTARY – Mike McCaughin

The Town Council has recently adopted ordinance 04-07 regulating the placement and use of temporary portable storage units, more commonly known by the trade name PODS (portable on demand storage).   The purpose of the ordinance is to protect the public safety and welfare by ensuring  that PODS are placed in a safe manner and to maintain the aesthetic character of our neighborhoods.  The following is a synopsis of the regulations:

ü    PODS require that a no cost permit be obtained prior to placement

ü    PODS must be removed within 10 days of placement

 ü    Only one (1) PODS unit is allowed at a time per property

ü    PODS are not allowed on vacant land

ü    PODS must be 10 feet from side lot lines and 5 feet from the front property line 

ü    PODS are not allowed on a public right-of-way

ü    PODS cannot exceed 8 feet in height or 130 square feet in area

ü    PODS must be removed when National Weather Service issues a tropical storm or hurricane watch. 

You can find a copy of ordinance 04-07 on the Town web site, www.indialantic.com. or drop by Town Hall

ü          Town Hall will be closed Monday, July 5th

ü          State Representative Mitch Needelman will be holding a Town Hall meeting on Saturday, June 26th from 10:00 to noon in the Town Council Chambers

ü          The annual Craft Show will be held July 24th & 25th in Nance Park


Q-tee the Clown (Terri Qualls) entertains at the annual Easter Egg Hunt in Orlando Park

UPCOMING BOARD AND COMMITTEE OPENINGS

There will be openings, including reappointments, on the Board of Adjustment, the Parks, Recreation and Beautification Committee, the Code Enforcement Board and the Budget and Finance Committee.  Applications are available at Town Hall and on the web site.  For more information on meeting days and time for these or any board or committee, please call the Town Clerk’s office at 723-2242.

 The Indialantic Record is published every other month by the Town of Indialantic, 216 Fifth Avenue, Indialantic, FL  32903 at an outside cost of $.22 per resident.  Daniel S. Trott, Mayor; Vincent Benevente, Deputy Mayor; Councilmembers  Bruce Bogert, Cliff Cook and Michael McCabe; Christopher W. Chinault, Town Manager; Laura Eaton, Town Clerk – www.indialantic.com - (321) 723-2242

UPCOMING MEETINGS 

JUNE

            15             8:00 AM        Heritage Committee

15             7:00 PM        Town Council

            22             5:30 PM        Zoning and Planning

            28             9:00 AM        Parks/Recreation

JULY

20             8:00 AM        Heritage Committee

20             7:00 PM        Town Council

21           10:00 AM        Pension Boards

26             9:00 AM        Parks/Recreation

27             5:30 PM        Zoning and Planning

 The Volunteer Fire Department meets every Wednesday at 7:00 PM at the Fire Department, 216 Fourth Ave.

COUNCIL ADOPTS GOALS/OBJECTIVES FOR 2004

The Town Council recently adopted the following goals for the Town for 2004:

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Preserve/protect  the single-family characteristics of the Town

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Address the Town’s aging infrastructure

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Improve the appearance of the Melbourne Causeway

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Explore annexation opportunities

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Decrease the ponding of water in public rights-of-ways

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Continue to bid or piggy-back prior bid for securing goods and services

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Strive to ensure that Council actions are consistent with the charter, code and comprehensive plan

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Maintain the historic high quality level of service within the police and fire departments

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Share information concerning the Town’s activities including use of the Town newsletter and web site

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Allow for events to occur – including park concerts, local sporting events, etc.

Specific objectives to attain these goals are available at Town Hall or on the website