Scanned
documents regarding North Lake Weed Control Agreements:
January 26, 1956.
Agreement between Westwood Lake, Inc. (the Mackle company that developed Westwood Lake),
Veterans Administration, Dade County and Dade County Health Department requiring as
"a covenant running with the ownership of" Westwood Lake's water and sewage
disposal plants to maintain the lakes and canals. The agreement provides that this
obligation is to continue until some government agency takes over the maintenance.
Clerk's File FF#-18746 (or 19746, not sure).
September 24, 1959.
Letter number C-2: 619 from E. A. Anderson, County Engineer, Metropolitan Dade
County to R. F. Mackle, President, Westwood Lake, Inc. acknowledging Dade County's
responsibility to maintain Westwood Lake's waterways regardless of any notations on
recorded plats indicating otherwise.
October 7, 1959.
Letter from John A. Grubbs, Director, Federal Housing Administration to James Vensel, The
Mackle Company, Inc. discussing how the Heftler subdivision to the east of 107th Avenue
will drain through Westwood Lake's waterways.
October 8, 1959.
Letter from James E. Vensel, AIA, Architect, The Mackle Company, Inc. to H. L. McNally,
Land Planner, Veterans Administration, explaining how the Westwood Lake Water and Sewer
Plan would be responsible for maintaining the waterways.
October 8, 1959.
Letter from R. F. Mackle, President, Westwood Lake, Inc. to Westwood Lake Civic
Association explaining that Dade County agreed to maintain the Westwood Lake Canal System
for consideration of using Westwood Lake as a drainage outlet for adjacent developments.
October 9, 1959.
Letter from David Jennings, Jr., Chief, Construction & Valuation Section to The Mackle
Company, Inc. acknowledging The Veterans Administration's concurrence with the drainage
plan.
December 15, 1965.
Letter from P. W. Homer, County Manager to R. F. Mackle, President, Westwood Lake, Inc.
stating that Metropolitan Dade County believed that Westwood Lake Inc., not Dade County,
was responsible for maintaining the waters of the lakes, although the letter implies the
county recognizes its responsibility to the drainage canals. This is a key letter
because later Dade County purchases the Westwood Lake Water and Sewer Plant, including its
responsibilities. So in essence, this is the county saying it is responsible for
maintaining the lake.
June 3, 1966.
Letter from Robert F. Mackle to W. P. Wilcox, Director, Federal Housing Administration
providing copies of some of these letters.
November 9, 1966.
Order No. 66-102 of the Metropolitan Dade County Water and Sewer Board declared that
"Metropolitan Dade County, through the Public Works Department, committed itself to
pay for all the manpower and equipment costs to remove the excess growth ... if the owners
... agree to pay the costs" for the necessary chemicals. Further, Westwood Lake
Inc. (through its water and sewer plants) agreed to contribute collection of fees from the
property owners.
November 23, 1970.
The Metropolitan Dade County Water and Sewer Board issued Order No. 70-118 concluding that
"it would be in the public interest to continue the monthly assessment" for
Westwood Lake weed control.
November
5, 1973.
The Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Authority purchased the water and sewer systems of Westwood
Lake, Inc.
Scanned documents are
not available for the following important events, if you have a copy, please send a
message to westwoodlake@yahoo.com:
February 14,
1974.
The Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Authority unanimously approved "the collection of a
special charge, to be included in the water and sewer billings to customers, from the
owners of property abutting Westwood Lake" through Resolution No. 334.
October 21, 1980.
Metropolitan Dade County Board of County Commissioners amended ordinance No. 80-48 to
require the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Authority to collect monies from Westwood Lake
property owners for weed control. Further, the authority to enforce collections
under the same basis as collection of other water or sewer fees was granted.