WEEk of JaNuarY 3, 2024 FLIER INSIDE
Off the shelf January programs and activities set at Pine Island Public Library — INSIDE pINEISlaND-EaglE.com
VolumE 47, NumbEr 35
Fire Board ratifies settlement with former employee By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
The Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District Board of Fire Commissioners on Dec. 20 unanimously ratified a $750,000 settlement with a former employee who alleged his termination was a violation of both his contract with the district and the Firefighter's Bill of Rights. The district settled the lawsuit with former deputy chief Shawn Brant, who had served with the department for 20-plus years. A settlement notification was filed with Lee County Circuit Court on July 26 and board members saying an agreement was formerly reached on Aug. 16. Brant's lawsuit alleged damages in lost base salary wages of $563,000, $1.7 million in retirement benefits and $500,000 in other benefits. The lawsuit also requested attorney fees, which commissioners said at the meeting
totaled approximately $80,000. The district had offered to allow Brant, who had been placed on administrative leave by Fire Chief Ben Mickuleit pending an outside administrative investigation into “compliance with district contract and administrative guidelines,” the option to voluntarily resign. In exchange the district offered 10 weeks of severance and said it would keep the completed investigation report secret, giving Brant 21 days to take the offer or be terminated with cause. Brant declined the offer, retained an attorney and filed suit. The decision to settle was a carefully thought out choice made unanimously by the district, according to Commissioner Tonya Player. That did not make some meeting attendees happy.
Matlacha resident Leo Amos said that terminating Brant could have been avoided and suggested the board terminate Mickuleit for that decision. Amos contended that cases like this one are often a reason used to dissolve special districts. Several M/PIFCD commissioners and employees immediately came to the defense of Mickuleit, both personally and professionally. St. James City resident and M/PIFCD Capt. Cliff Simer, who said he worked with Brant through the ranks, defended the chief's decision and said Mickuleit should be supported. “Firing the chief that we have now — he’s got character… to make threats at him, I take that personally,” See SETTLEMENT, page 6
Resurfacing and utility installation slated for along Pine Island Road
Celebrating Pine Islanders: Elsie Stearns By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
lsie Stearns, manager of Centennial Bank’s Pine Island branch, wife of Stearns Custom Builders owner Scott Stearns, who is also a proud mother and grandmother, as well as a Beacon of Hope board member, describes her relationship with Pine Island as love at first sight, which is fitting due to her love for both fishing and the water. Anyone who knows her can attest that her love for the island is almost as vibrant as her love for the people who live here. In fact, she loves islanders so much, she joked that she thinks of them as her babies and should likely get a baby bag, in which to carry her things. Although, she and Scott started out on Useppa Island, they moved to Pine Island in 1980, after she had already begun a life-long friendship with the late, beloved artist Mel Meo. “When I first met Mel, I was definitely a city girl coming into an island life. My love for all the islands was pretty much apparent right off the bat. I often tell my grandkids, people spend a year saving up just so they can come here for one week, and we spend every day of our life here and usually leave here for one week to go elsewhere — it’s that kind of place,” Stearns said. When the couple began living on Pine Island, she said, there were no banks, and there was no neighborhood Winn-Dixie yet, so she had to drive all the way to North Fort Myers to do her banking and shopping. When it comes to what Stearns has offered Pine Island, she said it began early on with things which she learned from her parents. “I lost my dad at an early age. He and my mother both were very caring of people. My parents were
PHOTO PROVIDED
See ELSIE STEARNS, page 9
Longtime island resident Else Stearns, left, and her mother Rose Gulli.
E
According to the Florida Department of Transportation’s weekly roadwork update, as part of the Emergency Restoration of the Pine Island Road Causeway and Bridge, crews will be working in the project boundaries along CR 78 Pine Island Road from west of Little Pine Island Bridge (Bridge #120111) to west of Shoreview Drive in Matlacha. The ongoing FDOT work project is to complete permanent repairs for damage caused by Hurricane Ian, which swept over the islands and the rest of Southwest Florida on Sept. 28, 2022. UPDATE: The contractor will be resurfacing and working on installation of utilities on the north side of the causeway beginning today, Jan. 3. Crews continue to work on desilting and drainage on the shoulders west of Matlacha Pass Bridge. Islanders and visitors are urged to please be alerted to construction equipment in the construction zone. To maintain safety, motorists should find alternate parking areas. Drivers are also asked to please use caution and watch for workers and construction vehicles entering and exiting the roadway. Crews are maintaining two-lane traffic on causeway, FDOT reported. Motorists can expect occasional delays due to flagging operations for delivery/removal of materials, transfer of equipment. ■ Pedestrians and bicyclists are not permitted within the construction zone. ■ Noise from construction equipment in the area is to be expected. ■ Please be patient and plan for additional travel time as it may be slower than usual in the area. For more information, visit the FDOT project web page at https://www.swflroads.com/project/451937-2 or email at shana.overhulser@dot.state.fl.us.
Athlete of the Week.........12 Island Mahjongg...............7 On the Water......................8 insidetoday Calusa Waterkeeper..........6 Letters................................4 Worship Directory.............6 Classifieds & Obituaries