Captiva Current

CCP selects new members, OKs iguana funds

By TIFFANY REPECKI

trepecki@breezenewspapers.com The Captiva Community Panel filled two vacancies on the panel for the coming year and approved funds for iguana control at its recent meeting, as well as heard updates on storm recovery efforts. On Dec. 13, Panel Member and Nominating Committee Chair Linda Laird explained that there will be five open seats on the panel in January and that three island groups nominate individuals to serve. She reported that the Captiva Property Owners Association has selected current Panel Member Sandy Stilwell and newcomer Margarethe Miville to serve on the panel for two seats designated to the CPOA, while the Captiva Civic Association has picked current Panel Member Ann Brady to serve for its seat. Laird continued that the two seats to be filled by the panel are presently held by

See CCP, page 7

Fire boards OKs wavier for staff to accept storm gifts

By TIFFANY REPECKI

trepecki@breezenewspapers.com

The Captiva Island Fire Control District's commission approved waiving policies related to gifts for Hurricane Ian at its meeting, as well as were updated on housing a county ambulance at the fire station. On Dec. 13, Commissioner Sherrill Sims brought forward a resolution that would allow district employees, including the fire chief, to accept gifts associated with impacts from the storm. The district has administrative procedures in place to prevent conflicts of interest and guide ethical conduct. According to the resolution, the district and its staff have been approached in the aftermath of the hurricane with monetary donations for the district and its employees related to storm damage. Sims noted that at least two staffers were severely impacted personally by the hurricane. The commissioners voted 2-0 to approve the resolution. Also during the meeting, Fire Chief Jeff Pawul provided an update on the negotiations with the county to set up and staff a Lee County EMS ambulance at the Captiva station through a lease agreement. “The agreement with the county is not

approved, ” he said. “I've been told they're looking for another suitable location, ” Pawul added. Sims asked if the alternate site would still be on the island. Pawul reported that it would. “I do know that they have already posted the positions (for the unit) internally to start filling the rotation, ” he added. “They already have this one designated as a sector, so it's going to be out here. ” Also at the meeting, Pawul reported that crews responded to a near drowning on Dec. 10 at approximately 10:30 p.m. at a private residence. The victim in the incident was an adult male. “He was a contractor from out of state, ” he said. Pawul reported that the victim gained consciousness while being loaded onto the EMS helicopter. However, he had no further updates on the man's medical status or outcome as of the meeting.

Fire Chief Jeff Pawul

In other news

∫ The commission is looking to fill one vacant seat on the board. Those interested in being considered for the appointment can contact Pawul for information at jpawul@captivafire.com or 239-472-9494. ∫ The district responded to 24 calls in November.

CEPD approves new organization and gets updates

By TIFFANY REPECKI

trepecki@breezenewspapers.com The Captiva Erosion Prevention District's commission selected its new officers for the coming year during its recent meeting, as well as received updates from its lobbyist and one consulting firm. On Dec. 12, Executive Director Daniel Munt explained that the board approves its reorganization annually at the December meeting for the positions of chair, vice chair, treasurer and secretary. In separate but unanimous 5-0 votes, the commissioners picked: ∫ Bob Walter to serve as chair ∫ John Silvia to serve as vice chair ∫ Dick Pyle to serve as treasurer ∫ Linda Laird to serve as secretary Former Vice Chair and Secretary Rene Miville will serve as a commissioner. Also at the meeting, Becker representative Nick Matthews provided an update to the commission, explaining that there were some legislative items his lobbyist firm wanted the board to be aware of. He reported that the CEPD's local support grant for $250,000 was killed, along with project fund requests from other entities, all of which survived the legislative progress to go before the governor. Matthews explained that an administrative function was not completed, which killed the projects. “I think it's believed the governor did not want to fund that pot of money, ” he said, noting that the allocated funding ended up going toward hurricane relief. “It was intentional. I think we can say that. ” Matthews added that it had nothing to do with the viability of the CEPD project or the other ones. He also provided the commissioners with an update on the special legislative session and details regarding legislation and provisions geared toward property tax and insurance and hurricane relief. Also during the meeting, APTIM Coastal Planning & Engineering consultant Nicole Sharp told the commissioners

Most Lee County administrative operations will be closed on Dec. 23-26 in observance of the Christmas holiday. The holiday adjustments include: ∫ Domestic animal services Lee County Domestic Animal Services, at 5600 Banner Drive, Fort Myers, will be closed on Dec. 24-26. Normal hours for the Lost & Found Pet Center and the Pet Adoption Center will resume on Dec. 27. For more information, visit www.LeeLostPets.com. ∫ LeeTran LeeTran will not run bus, trolley or Passport service on Dec. 25. Normal services will resume on Dec. 26. Route schedules and maps are available at www.rideleetran.com. ∫ Library system All libraries will be closed on Dec. 24-26. They will resume regular hours on Dec. 27. Administrative offices and Talking Book Library will be closed on Dec. 23 and 26. They will resume normal operating hours on Dec. 27. The Lakes Regional Library, which is currently serving as a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center, and the Captiva Memorial Library remain closed post-Hurricane Ian. The online library is always available at www.leelibrary.net/online. ∫ Parks & Recreation The Lee County Parks & Recreation administration office will be closed on Dec. 23 and 26. It will resume normal operating hours on Dec. 27. Some boat ramps, parks and preserves will be open on Dec. 23-26. For the list of open locations, visit www.leeparks.org. All beach parks remain closed at this time. Pools will be closed on Dec. 24-26. Some will resume normal operating hours on Dec. 27. For the list of open locations, visit www.leeparks.org. The three recreation centers — North Fort Myers, Veterans and Estero — will be closed from Dec. 24 through Jan. 8 for scheduled annual maintenance. They will reopen on Jan. 9. For alternative parks sites, visit www.leeparks.org. The Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreation Center remains closed at this time. ∫ Solid waste All garbage, recycling and yard waste collections in unincorporated Lee County, City of Bonita Springs, Village of Estero and Town of Fort Myers Beach will continue on the regular collection days through the holidays. Christmas trees that have had the stand and all lights and decorations removed, including tinsel, can be set out with regular yard waste and will be ground into mulch. All wrapping paper, except metallic, is recyclable — along with cardboard boxes. Plastic ribbons, bows and lights are not recyclable. Administrative offices and the Topaz Court facilities will be closed on Dec. 23 and 26. They will resume normal operating hours on Dec. 27. On Dec. 24, the disposal facility hours for the Buckingham facilities will be from 6 a.m. to noon. and for all Hendry County facilities from 7 a.m. to noon.

County library system offers virtual programs

The Lee County Library System, which includes the Captiva Memorial Library, is offering the following free virtual programming:

Adult programs

∫ Dec. 28: Online Book Discussion for Adults at 10 a.m. Calling all readers! A live virtual book discussion for adults. There is no assigned title. Instead, participants take turns sharing about the latest books that they have read. Advance registration required before Dec. 28 at 10 a.m.

For more information or to register, visit leelibrary.librarymarket.com. Questions can also be directed to 239479-INFO (4636). Download books, stream video and other online content at www.leelibrary.net. The Captiva Memorial Library is currently closed due to Hurricane Ian. The Captiva library is at 11560 Chapin Lane, Captiva.

CCP From page 6 Treasurer Tony Lapi and Panel Member John Jensen, who have both expressed interest in serving another term. Christopher Leedom, Sarah McClure and Robert Wiesemann II also submitted applications and letters of interest. She shared that the Nominating Committee is recommending renominating both Lapi and Jensen. A motion to renominate both for the panel's designated seats was approval unanimously. At the meeting's end, the panel thanked outgoing Secretary Mike Lanigan for his years of service. “You're going to really be missed, Mike, ” President Jay Brown said. “It's been my pleasure. I've enjoyed it a great deal, ” Lanigan shared. “It's amazing how fast six years go by, ” he added. Also during the meeting, Vice President David Mintz reported that Lee County has agreed to reimburse the panel if it hires a trapper for $25,000 for the year to provide iguana eradication services on-island. “They will reimburse us for retaining our iguana person, ” he said. Brown noted that doing so should not affect the panel's cash flow. “We have plenty of cash to pay him, ” he said. Alfredo Fermin, with AAA Wildlife Trapping and Removal Services, previously provided service. A motion to hire him for $25,000 and have the county reimburse the panel was approved. Prior to the vote, Panel Member Ken Gill explained that he questions the longterm success of an eradication program and wondered if there is another way to approach the issue of the iguanas. “It's nothing against Alfredo at all. I'm just looking for a long-term solution, ” he said, adding that he supports the proposal to hire Fermin for the year and would vote in favor of the motion to do so. Also at the meeting, Brown explained that part-time Administrator Ken Gooderham last received a pay raise two years ago. He proposed raising his annual salary 25 percent from about $21,000 to $26,400. In the following discussion, several panel members voiced support for a larger pay raise. “It seems to me Ken is worth $30,000, ” Mintz said. “I understand he's part-time, and I understand he's a contractor. But I can't imagine he's not valued, not worth $30,000 to this community. ” Panel Member Bob Walter agreed, explaining that any time he needs Gooderham he is available. “I am totally supportive, ” Laird said, adding that Gooderham might be worth even more. “I think $30,000 is a deal, ” Brady said, explaining that when compared to positions at similar state and even national organizations, his job would be a fulltime position. “It would easily be a

CEPD From page 6 that the firm conducted its post-Hurricane Ian survey last month in order to determine the sand losses from the storm. Staff $90,000 job. ” She also pointed to Gooderham's years of experience and his familiarity with the island. “I think we are getting a deal at $30,000, ” Brady said. A motion to increase his annual compensation to $30,000 effective immediately and then create a committee to conduct a full salary reassessment and provide a recommendation was approved.

In other news

∫ Sanibel City Manager Dana Souza told the panel that it would take a couple of years to see a full recovery on Sanibel in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. He also provided an update on the ongoing study to possibly expand sewer services to Captiva, and the anticipated Jan. 2 reopening of the causeway. “Our beaches are not open. Our beach parking access is not open, ” Souza added. He reported that the Sanibel City Council will review the most current information at its Dec. 20 meeting. If it feels the city needs to change the tentative plans, then it will direct staff to pivot. Later in the meeting, the panel voted to write a letter of support about the causeway to the city. ∫ With the anticipated reopening of the causeway, Lee County Sheriff's Office Lt. Mike Sawicki provided island residents and businesses with the following tips to keep their property safe: — Make sure your security system and cameras are functional. — Do your best to vet contractors before hiring them. — Make sure to lock all of your doors. — Make sure no items of value are visible, such as on a vessel. “We want to avoid those crimes of opportunity, ” he said. ∫ Captiva Island Fire Control District Fire Chief Jeff Pawul recommended that those installing a new electric gate have the emergency access module installed. Also, keep fire hydrants clear of debris. “It takes us a long time to try to dig through a pile to get a hydrant, ” he said. ∫ Comcast Senior Manager of External Affairs Jen Boyett reported that service has been restored. “All of our equipment is now functional, ” she said. “We are 90 percent restored. ” Boyett explained that the remaining 10 percent of customers involve uninhabitable structures. Those who have no service should contact Comcast to schedule an appointment. ∫ Walter, who is the regional managing director at the South Seas Island Resort, reported that debris pickup is ongoing. The resort is in full clean up mode as it shifts from remediation to restoration. “Most of the roofs need to be replaced, ” he said. “There's a lot of work that still needs to be done. ”