HomeMy WebLinkAboutNorth Orlando Residents Asking Return to County-1966 North Orlando Residents
Asking Return To Count y
Two separate petitions are being circulated in the village of North
Orlando, a partial 'ghost town' incorporated in 1959 through efforts
of the North Orlando Co., developers of the area.
Disgruntled residents, disillusioned with the operation of the com-
munity by elected officials and longing for a return to county status,
have, as of Tuesday, obtained the i
names of 216 citizens favoring de-
franchisement of the charter.
The petition is to be presented
to State Senator Mack Cleveland
who has promised to present it
to the next Legislature, provided
SO percent of the residents' signa-
tures are obtained.
Present population of North Or-
lando numbers approximately 1000.
There are 212 occupied homes in
the town proper, with 16 surround-
ing ranches and ranchettes boasting
occupants. About 100 additional
homes in the village stand empty,
in a state of neglect, and an under- 6 6 0 5
termined number of residences in
the surrounding territory l a c k
tenants.
The second petition now in circu-
lation is in rebellion against a pro-
posed utility tax hike in the in-
corporated community. One hundred
seventy-six names had been affixed
to this petition early Tuesday morn-
ing. Roth petitions have now been
signed by a definite majority of the
qualified voters of the area.
Issued on May 21 by George Ful-
ler, North Orlando's mayor, is a
letter which purports to explain the
pending utility tax increase.Copies
of the letter were sent to a portion
of the population.
Mayor Fuller stated in the com-
munication that at present the ten
percent utility tax carries a limit
of 35¢ per month for each of four
possible utilities used. If the in-
crease is allowed, the tax would
remain at ten cents per utility
but the minimum wouldbe increased
to 75¢ per month.
Mayor Fuller stated that the pur-
pose of the increase is mainly to
obtain funds for construction and up-
keep of a municipal building--to
• house village offices, council room
and a meeting place for all clubs of
the village or for any beneficial
public use. Also, the contemplated
building would be used to house,
maintain and repair fire fighting
equipment.
The mayor stated in the letter
that if the charter is de-franchised
and the area returned to county
status, residents will not wait too
long before the territory between
Sanford and Winter Park is under
town or city control--with much
higher taxes.
Objections to the proposed tax
increase are being made by resi-
dents who claim that tax money in
the past has been used to construct
a road 'leading nowhere,' to alleged
failure to maintain existing roads
and to the lack of general informa-