BOCA RATON NEWS Vol. 14, No. 140 Thursday, Oct. 23, 1969 30 Pages 10 Cents City beach bond vote expected in February Coimcilmen stop short of voting By JOHN OPEL A city referendum for beach pur- chase bonds seems destined for a place on the February municipal ballot. Although the question wasn't on-the fC- floor at Tuesday's City Council meeting, members of the council all but voted in favor of the issue as they debated the cons — not the pros — of the proposed county beach acquisition bonds. One after another, the Coun- cilmen spoke out in favor of a February referendum to expand the Additional beach acquisition north of the present south beach probably city's beach holdings. will be on the city ballot for bond issue approval in February. The discussions stemmed from the feeling that the city probably would get nothing but debt service from the Road bonds would extend county plan. Councilmen voted in favor of a motion to "go on record opposing the (county) referendum as presented." . Pa Ime tto, Mi li ta ry Trail Councilman James Foreman cast IBEW striker pickets local office of Florida Power and light Co. the lone dissenting vote, noting that ByKATHIEKEIM are for the most part access roads to "We're living in a mobile society... if Interstate-95, were chopped from the county budget to keep the budget 9 9 the people want to vote for a beach in Building projects for nine state under the 10-mill ad valorem tax Jupiter, it's their business. I wouldn't roads — including two west of Boca Where ya goin Laurie? ceiling. The budget cut followed on the pressure to tell them how to vote." Raton — that were cut from the 1969-70 heels of a freeze of 1-95 construction by Councilman Pat Honchell was more county budget may yet be funded the state. succinct in his view of the proposal: through a $3-million bond program. "The plan stinks." He noted, however, The Palm Beach County Board of Gov. Claude Kirk, however, an- Storm swings back to coast that he thought the idea of acquiring County Commissioners instructed its nounced a thawing of the freeze when beachfront recreation area was financial consultant, Curtis Goss, to. he said construction of 1-95 and several "laudable" and that his objection was check into the necessary steps for a other road projects would continue. By JIM RIFENBURG whole thing. Many of them still are reach hurricane force (75 miles per to the specific plan, or lack of plan. bond issue to be repaid from gasoline hour) Sunday night. She was still Hill gave the commissioners a rough Map and stories, pages 10-11A without homes destroyed by Camille. Deputy Mayor Harold Maull was the tax money, while County Engineer Forecasters predicted Laurie might moving on a north-northwestward first to speak out in favor of a new William Hill was directed to compile a estimate of $3 million for the nine road Will Laurie be a lady and spare south track at about 15 miles an hour. municipal bond issue for beach final list of priority projects and programs but was asked to go back Florida. Or will she be a vicious, Monday night residents of acquisition, a position he hinted at estimated costs. and develope a more precise estimate spiteful woman and turn her fury JFP&L workers Louisiana's low-lying areas left their during brief remarks at ceremonies Both men will report back to the for the next meeting. against us? homes by the thousands 'as Laurie* dedicating Spanish River Park. commissioners at their melting nest In the meantime, Goss will check Today should tell the tale. pointed 90 miles an hour winds at New "My fondest hope," Maull saia, "is Tuesday, ^ hen the commissioners into the financing of a road bond Yesterday afternoon Hurricane out on strike Orleans. During the day, she has that we go to referendum in February make a final decision on whether they program. Laurie was headed on a direct course shifted from her northwest course to a to buy some more beach. We've got to are willing to float bonds for the road- Eighty employes of Florida Power The remaining eight projects are for Dry Tortugas and the Florida more northerly track and forecasters show the way. We should buy it, ad- building projects. Keys. She could continue her path due and Light Co. here have joined fellow access routes for 1-95, two of them in said she might shift even more Mon- minister it here in Boca Raton and Commission Chairman E. D. Gaynor east or follow trends set by many members of the International the area of Boca Raton. The two access day night. then we can control it for our own stated his feeling that since con- hurricanes before her and swing north Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in a routes Hill recommended including in Laurie apparently didn't like the people." struction costs are rapidly increasing, east, following the Gulfstream. strike which has put the local company a bond issue were the extension of cold, dry air that was creeping south Councilman Sid Brodhead suggested interest paid on a short-term bond Laurie was born last Friday mor- into a "state of emergency." and decided to head for the sunny Palmetto Park road (State Road 808) that in the "absence of any com- issue would be less than the added westward, and the extension of State ning. Forecasters called her a tropical The strikers, according to John Ray climes once more. But instead of mittment by the county (to buy beach costs resulting if building is put off. depression with winds of about 30 FPL district manager, are linemen Road 809 (Military Trail) from Glades shifting to the east as expected, she did The nine state road projects, which miles an hour. When first discovered, and members of FPL outside working a turnabout and headed south east. (Continued on Page 14A) south to 18th street. she was about 150 miles south of the crews. Tuesday Laurie was reported as "a western tip of Cuba. "This puts us under a state of very large, wet hurricane capable of A bulletin said she "is not well emergency similar to the state of bringing considerable damage to Commissioners issue fact sheet defined but conditions favor in- emergency called during a much of Florida's west coast." The tensification." hurricane," Ray said. looping storm seemed to have settled She did. He said the office will be working 24 on a steady, due east course. The • Sunday Laurie suddenly grew up and hours a day and the local FPL will try watch was revised while Laurie was on beach acquisition bonds became a tropical storm. That's when to keep switchboards open for all calls. 350 miles west-southwest of Tampa. she got her name and became the 12th "We will be able to keep the power The storm at this time was packing in position for matching funds. storm named this season. we have now, but new homes or new A fact sheet on the proposed $6 Beach council's actions into the peak winds of 110 miles an hour. These record, after which the other com- Under the proposal, $6 million in She headed in a northwest direction buildings will have to wait until we can winds diminished, however, early million bond issue for county beach missioners declined to act or comment bonds would be issued over a 30-year and a hurricane watch was ordered get to them," he said. Wednesday as some of the cold air acquisition and a formal reply to the period at 6 per cent interest. Boca Raton City Council's petition for on the city's decision not to go along from Galveston, Tex., to Pensacola in What happens if hurricane Laurie caught up with our gal and put the chill In an example of what it would cost more data on the proposal were issued with the county-wide beach bond extreme Northwest Florida. decides to show her force here? on her. The peak gusts dropped off to Palm Beach County homeowners, a People living in the Louisiana area "We hope the boys will come back in 80 miles an hour. Forecasters warned Tuesday by County Commissioners. proposal. The commission, meanwhile, issued person owning a home valued at became extremely nervous about the to help us out in that case," Ray said. she could re-intensify before she hit But they failed to win a vote of $20,000 with $5,000 Homestead Florida. a "fact sheet" on the bond issue, which confidence at a City Council session stated the eommissioners's beliefs that Exemption would pay $2.73 a year in At 9 a.m. yesterday, Laurie's later that same day as Boca Raton ad valorem taxes to support the beach position was given as 315 miles west since prices and high-rise buildings City forces taking joined the ranks of other cities up and along the coast are increasing rapidly acquisition program. southwest of Fort Myers. By noon she down the county coastline who don't had moved slightly south and a few the county must act now to set aside like the plan. Delray Beach formally land for public beaches. miles east. The Miami Weather asked the County Commission at Bureau said the present track would Only 11.4 miles of ocean front are Slick streets storm precautions Tuesday's meeting to be excluded now left for recreation development.