MOUNT DORA CITY COUNCIL RECAP: aUGUST 5 MEETING

By Marc Crail
Mount Dora City Council District 4 representative​ 

​Your Mount Dora City Council met on Tuesday, August 5. I've selected several items from our agenda to tell you about today. Please keep in mind that what follows come only from me and not from city council as a whole.

We heard that the city has received several grants which is good news. State Representative Nan Cobb and State Senator Keith Truenow were on hand to present a giant check for $123,590.00 for purchasing barriers to protect people attending events and festivals in Mount Dora.

We also accepted a $50,000 grant from the Florida Department of Agriculture to help improve our tree canopy.

We voted to approve applying for a $200,000  50/50 match grant that would be used to enhance plantings in Lincoln and Donnelly parks.

Much of our meeting was devoted to a request from The Palms of Mount Dora Condo Association located at 1400 Eudora Road (near the former bowling alley) to reduce or forgive a lien of $100,250 plus staff costs.

In September of 2022, city code inspectors found several unsafe conditions involving deteriorating  concrete stairs and second-floor walkways at the 80 unit condo buildings. They posted "Unsafe Do Not Occupy" signs. Following the proper legal process, they sent regular mail and Certified Mail letters to the condo's management but the certified mail was returned to sender. They sent more letters the next month and got no response from management.

There were some extenuating circumstances and the needed repairs have now been made so after questions were answered and the condo association presented their case, city council voted unanimously to cut the fine by about half. Payment must be made within 90 days or the original fine will be due.

Please remember that our local schools begin classes on August 13th. To help protect kids from speeding vehicles, cameras will be checking your speed. Watch your speed in school zones for the safety of the students and to avoid costly fines.

Our quote today comes from Tanya Niedzwiecki and I think it's appropriate with the new school year about to begin..."When I asked my son (5 years old) how his day was, he said it was awesome. I asked him what made it so awesome - his response was "because I wanted it to be."

Have yourself an awesome day!

By Marc Crail
Mount Dora City Council District 4 representative

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