MOUNT DORA CITY COUNCIL UPDATE: June 1 Meeting

By Marc Crail
District 4 City Council Representative

I've chosen several items from our June 1, City Council meeting agenda to report on this evening. I ask you to keep in mind that what follows comes from me as an individual city council member, not on behalf of City Council as a whole.

June is "Pride Month", the mayor read a proclamation acknowledging LGBTQIA+ Pride and stressing that Mount Dora is a welcoming city that supports diversity.

District 2 Council Member, Cal Rolfson and recently retired City Clerk, Gwen Johns were recognized for their efforts to promote "Home Rule" in Florida which continues to be eroded by our State Legislature.

We approved a Settlement Agreement and General Release to resolve a Federal Lawsuit brought by a former Mount Dora Police Department employee who according to the agreement, "voluntarily separated" last year. The plaintiff will receive $260,000. from our insurance company.  The cost to the city is the $5,000. deductible. This settlement will prevent the case from being tried in Federal Court and was recommended by our attorney and our insurance carrier.

By a vote of 2 - 5 (Doug Bryant and I were in the minority) City Council rejected a $400,000. Land & Water Conservation Matching Grant that would have been used to help construct a pickelball complex at Lincoln Park. I felt strongly that a compromise could be reached to allay concerns about the precise location of the proposed pickelball courts but the majority voted not to move forward.

I've read some excellent quotes over the Memorial Day weekend regarding the sacrifices of our military but this one by President Harry Truman really touched me. "Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of their country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices."

By Marc Crail
District 4 City Council Representative

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