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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986 01 01 History of City of Winter SpringsJ ~~\NTEIq S,o ' ~~ ~RPORgr ~'~ U ?G ~° U~ CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, ~k ~9 ~~r mF -,/ ~~ TELEPHONE ~~HOtE couN~+~ (305) 327-1800 FLORIDA WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA ZLP CODE 3270$ HISTORY OF THE CITY OF WINTFsR SPRINGS Often referred to, by the news media, as the "sleeping giant," because of its land size, Tdinter Springs can trace its history back to the sixteen hundreds. The tract of land now known as Winter Springs was historically designated the Levy Grant when it was deeded in 1611 to Moses B. Levy by the King of Spain for supplying horsefeed for the King's cavalry in the war fought over the Florida peninsula. From that time, till 1956, the land lay dormant, a placid area of scrub pines, palmetto trees and swamps, until Raymond Moss and William Edgemon surveyed the tract for its' financial potential. Moss and Edgemon purchased the land under the name of the North Orlando Company in the year 1957. The North Orlando Company was a subsidiary of the Silver Creek Precision Company, Silver Creek, New York. The first residents, some 300 in a11, moved into homes in 1959. The area was incorporated that same year by the Florida Legislature, as the Village of North Orlando. The chief reason for the incorporation originally was to benefit the developers as their instrument for establishing their own ordinances and regulations. The North Orlando also developed water and sewer utilities at that time. Truly a "company town", even the political scene was controlled by the North Orlando Company for some years. From 1959 thru 1961 the Company appointed the five council members. By secret ballot those five members selected a Mayor. The Village's first Mayor was Roy Liddicott. It wasn't until 1962 that the villagers had an opportunity to select members of council who would represent their needs. In 1962 Robert Stephenson and Woody Anderson were elected by the people, to seats on council. However, the majority vote, the three other council seats were still appointed by the Company. The following year a.nd for several years thereafter, a full council was elected by the people, but the Mayor was still being selected by secret ballot from the five councilmen. In 1966, by a Referendum Charter change, it was decided to have a Mayor who was elected by the people. The Village's first "people's Mayor" was George Fuller. The year 1970 marked the beginnings of the Village's most dramatic changes.' North Orlando contained, at that time, 300 or. so homes Located on either side of SR 434, a.n area of 1-5 acre lots known as the Ranchlands,..one store known appropriately as the North Orlando Super Market, and .one building on SR 434 owned by Florida Land Company which Housed the Water Company's Office, offices for Florida Land Company employees and an office used •by the Village as J -2- a City Hall. Folks who remember "back when" still talk of the cramped smoke- filled room that served the Village as a City Hall, Building Department, Fire and Police Station, Public Works, and Court. Many a night, if there was an important matter under discussion, all windows and doors in the room were opened so that the citizens who could not fit into the small room could stand outside and see and hear the proceedings: From 1971 through the next few years, progress really took an upswing. Building boomed with Meadowlark, the Terraces, Hacienda Mobile Home Park, and other areas of construction taking shape. During that same period, t~Ze area now known as Tuscawilla, formerly the Winter Springs Development, was annexed into the City, thereby almost doub ling the City's land area, making it the largest land area in Seminole County. The new stores became part of the City, the Shop and Go, and Jack's Mini Market at Five Points asked to be annexed into the City. Construction began on the Sheoah Golf Course, the Condominiums, the Highlands and other areas of the City. The political scene wasnot being neglected during this time. Fed up with a character that was designed to aid the developers rather than the citizens, both new and old residents banded together in an inspiring community effort, to make some changes. A new City charter was drawn up and in a City-wide election held in March of 1972, the new charter was adopted, new city officials were elected, and most importantly, the Village of North Orlando became the City of Winter Springs. At the helm of the City during that transition period was Mayor Granville Brown. Successfully winning a bid for re-election at the Special March Election, Brown became the last Mayor of the Village of North Orlando, and the first Mayor of the City of Winter Springs (1971-1973). ACCORDING TO THE NEW CHARTER, THAT FIRST ELECTION designated that five Council Seats would be open, the Seats to be called Seat 1-2-3 -4 and 5. The candidates seeking election to the odd numbered seats would be elected for a two year term, and the candidates for the even numbered seats and the Mayor's seat would be for a one year term. All elections held thereafter would be for a two year term. The Charter also specified that future elections shall be held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in the month of December of each year. (This has since been changed to the month of November.) Successful candidates shall take office on the first Monday after the first day of January following their election. (This has since been changed to the month of December.) Building, which generally constitutes progress, peaked during the year 1973 with permits issued for 300 homes and 17 mobile home sites. The City -3 - received its first church, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, located on Moss Road and construction was going on everywhere. In 1973 a heated controversy went on over toll call charges to residents serviced by Southern Bell Tele{~~one Company to the Orlando area. Most of the new home owners were under the impression, at the time of purchase, that they could call Orlando. When they found out that this was not possible, they appealed to their Council for help since this fact would create a ffinan- cial hardship. The Council responded by passing a resolution to appeal to the Public Service Commission to force Southern Bell to allow. toll free calls to the Orlando areas. Southern Bell came before-the Council to request a 90 day extension to allow them time to research the feasibility of this proposal. They ex- plained that ten or so years ago, the City had been given a choice between toll free service to either Sanford or Orlando. Since, at that time, most residents were stationed at the Sanford Naval Air Station or did business in that City, the residents chose Sanford. Council explained to Southern Bell that this situation no longer was true; that the majority of new residents had moved from or did busines s in the Orlando area and needed toll free service to that vicinity. After ninety days, Southern Be11 came before the Council and agreed to the proposal. In February of 1976, toll free service to Orlando became a fact: By 1974 building decreased rapidly. Winter Springs, as well as the rest of the nation, found itself in the grips of an energy crisis, soaring inflation, and other related problems. Despite this fact, that year saw construction begin on the City's first school, Winter Springs Elementary, the City's first Fire Station/Interim City Hall, and a second church, the Redeemer Moravian, located in the Tuscawilla area. Building permits for new homes, however, hit a low peak with only 57 permits for homes being issued and permits for 13 mobile home sites, in the year 1975. The year 1974 also marked the introduction of the City's first ad valorem (property) tax, set at 3.5 mills. In 1975 the County reassessed house valuations, and that figure was cut back to 2.43 mills, but the City still received the same amount of revenue. Building permits for residential areas hit a Low in the year 1975 with only 57 home and 13 mobile home permits issued. Major projects e.g. water treatment plants, club houses etc. managed to keep revenue at a reasonable level. A second fire~station_was'donated by Culf Stream Land Development Corporation, Located on Northern Way in the Tuscawilla Area. In October 1978, the Police Department moved into the Fire Station on Moss Road and the City Hall offices were moved into the Community Center on North Edgemon Avenue. -4 - No history would be complete without mentioning the City's police and fire Departments. Their history is as colorful and controversial as the City's. The Fire Department was started in 1960, but .only lasted a few months. In 1962, under the direction of Fire Chief Bill Hahn the City finally had its first real department. At that time, the City assumed all management costs. This situation continued until 1963 when, due to politics, the Fire Department broke away from the City and became a Volunteer Department entirely on its' ot.m without any financial" assistance from the City. It wasn't until 1974 when an ordinance was passed creating a City managed Fire Department that this situation was resolved. At that time, Charles Holzman was appointed the first Fire Chief of the City of Winter Springs and by the same ordinance became Fire Chief of the Volunteers. In two short years the Fire Department, has grown dramatically. The history of the Police Department shows a total of thirteen police chiefs most of which were part time and unpaid. According to City records, the first patrolmen were appointed by the North Orlando Company from their employees who worked a full time job and then patrolled the City. Throughout the first ten or so years of the Department, various citizens joined the Department as unpaid reserves. Arthur Devoe seems to be the first paid police chief for the grand sum of $200 a month. Records indicate that he didn't work full time. That was in the year 1965. The City didn't have a full time fully paid police chief until the year 1971 when Walter Bachelor became Police Chief at a salary of $6,000. Bachelor was Police Chief from 1971-1972 making him the City of Winter Springs first chief. He had two patrolmen at that time and one vehicle. John Govoruhk has been Police Chief since 1974. In the early seventies a trailer was purchased and placed on S.R. 434 near Hacienda. Village. When the Fire Station was opened, the trailer was moved to that site. A communications center and the Chief's office was Located in that building. (In 1979 the trailer was sold due to its need for repairs and the entire department was housed in the Fire Station). In April 1979 Richard Rozansky was appointed the First City Manager. This was a major change in the operations of the City. In 1981 A Charter Revision Committee was appointed. They made many recommendations to the City Council. Council accepted some of the recommendations and rejected others. An ordinance was drawn up and voted on by the citizens, and was passed. The Council was then changed to Commission and the terms were changed to three years instead of two. In 1982 Troy Piland resigned as Mayor. He had been Mayor since 1974. He resigned to run for the Florida House of Representatives. John V. Torcaso was. elected Mayor of Winter Springs in the November Election. On August 22, 1984, Mayor John V. Torcaso signed the agreement to purchase the North Orlando Water & Sewer Corp. Attorney Tom Lang with the firm of Swann & Haddock, P. A., Orlando, negotiated the purchase for the City. The City closed 10/5/84. Groundbreaking for the Municipal Complex was held on Friday, November 30, 1984 at 11:00 a.m. The employees moved into the new complex on Sept. 9, 1985. The opening festivities for Mayors and officials was 9/20 and for the general public 9/21/85. ~~,.-~-~ GIB-~*"G'vi