Get to the Lee County Courthouse to visit Commissioners
Last week, after a visit to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners, a reader asked the Beacon what you had to do to speak at a Lee County meeting if you have concerns.
The answer is simple. You need to drive to Ft. Myers, attend the meeting and speak. If you are addressing an item on the agenda, the commission will call you up and ask if there is anyone from the public who would like to speak. There is also a public comment period at the end of the meeting, where any subject relevant to Lee County can be raised.
To speak, you need to fill out a comment card. They have them available at the Old Courthouse, and before each meeting, they will ask around for them.
The trip is about two hours, so plan accordingly. There is plentiful parking downtown, and regardless of the outcome on whether there will be parking charges in Boca Grande, you can observe how paid parking is managed.
There are also good places to eat, so don’t rush.
Commission meetings typically begin at 9:30 a.m. and can take the entire morning.
The courthouse, built in 1916, will be at the center of your trip. It may seem familiar, as it was designed in the neoclassical style by Francis J. Kennard, the same architect who designed The Gasparilla Inn. So, in a way, we are kin, in a manner of speaking. Outside, you’ll find items like a World War I plaque, a time capsule and a 1920s banyan tree. The building gained some glamour in 1995, as it was featured in the Sean Connery film “Just Cause.”
The county restored the building in 1989, and it now contains county history exhibits, including a lobby filled with photos and relics, such as Red Sox World Series rings. Each commissioner’s office sits just off the public halls, making them accessible. Additionally, commissioners are available after meetings, though it’s best to message ahead if you wish to meet with them.
The Commissioners’ meeting room features a large portrait of Gen. Robert E. Lee, the namesake of Lee County, painted by artist Kermit Larson. The portrait was sent from the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1929 and has always hung in the meeting room, as the county was named after Lee by the state in his honor.
When speaking, commissioners remind participants to address them, not individuals. They do pay close attention to public comments, and there is a timer on the podium. Unlike many courthouses, the layout is quite democratic — the commissioners sit on the same level as the speakers, so they are not “above” the general public.
This week, Lee County announced a new document and public meeting module on its website. While a new software module might not be high news elsewhere, this system helps keep documents, videos and agendas easily accessible to the public. The system provides an overview of each meeting, meeting files and options to share meeting information with others. Interested parties can create an account and opt-in to receive notifications when a new BoCC agenda is published. You can search for terms like “Boca Grande” or “Gasparilla” to see if anything comes up.
The new system also allows people who do not attend meetings to submit public comments. While it has been possible to email commissioners in the past, you can now submit comments directly through the website once the agenda for the next meeting is posted. Comments must be received by 11 a.m. on the Monday prior to the meeting. While these comments won’t be read aloud during the meeting, they will be shared with the commissioners.
The website is available at leecofl.portal.civicclerk.com
Garland Pollard is editor of the Beacon. Email letters and comments to editor@bocabeacon.com.
