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County considers sewer system for original Cape Haze neighborhood

Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community History, News.

As Charlotte County is preparing an engineering report for a new sewer system for the original Cape Haze development, current residents there are asking questions about its need.

“It’s a long process,” said Caroline Wannall, public relations manager for Charlotte County Utilities, who says that to build a sewer system includes not only design and engineering, but costs. There are also meetings with residents, and public comment throughout the process.

“We want them to know they have a say,” said Wannall.

Dog park, pickleball, beach renourishment items in 2023-24 Lee County budget

Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, News, Sports & Outdoors.

For the Parks and Recreation Department, the county has budgeted for Boca Grande tennis and pickleball. For fiscal year 23-24, there is $40,500 that was approved to help fund design and permitting. The $1,049,425 requested for FY 24-25 is for construction. 

For the dog park, there is carry over from this fiscal year to FY 23-24 of $430,660, as the project is not done.

Overall, countywide taxable values increased, on average, 6.67 percent this year. The general fund tax rate for the upcoming year is 3.7623 mills, which is the same as last year.

Lee County vote increases Captiva building height in the name of ‘resilience’

Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Featured News.

Last week, the Lee County Board of County Commissioners voted 4 to 1 to overturn longstanding height restrictions due to a storm “resilience” initiative and a need for the rebuilding of the South Seas Resort on Captiva.

“We were very, very disappointed with the 4-1 vote to move that forward,” said James Evans, CEO of the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation, which advocates for the islands and manages 2,100 acres of coastal lands. They presented over 13,000 signatures against the changes, 6,000 of which where from across Lee County.

Evans said that it was incredible that density and building heights were increased in what is defined as a Coastal High Hazard area in the “guise of resiliency.”

The exciting world of Lee County library cards

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Education, News.

Signing up for a library card is easy. If you live, work or go to school in Lee County, you can get a free library card by visiting any branch with proof of eligibility such as valid driver’s license, current school ID and proof of address, utility bill or tax statement. For a complete list of eligibility options, visit leelibrary.net/card. Not a resident of Lee County? No problem. Visitors can obtain a Lee County Library System card for a small fee with a valid ID. 

Lee County puts $3.3 billion valuation on island real estate

Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community.

This year, preliminary tax roll values show the Lee County real estate on Boca Grande as valued at just under $3.3 billion. The $3,292,284,149 valuation for the Boca Grande Fire District, up from $3,162,022,991 in 2022, is an increase of 4.12 percent, and contrasts with the Sanibel Fire District, which had valuations drop from about $6.5 billion in 2022 to $4.2 billion in 2023, a 34 percent decrease.
This is the first property assessment year since Hurricane Ian. It reflects the greater damage to Sanibel.

Public participation meetings for federal disaster recovery funds planned throughout Lee County (but not here)

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, News.

Resident participation meetings throughout unincorporated Lee County and in municipalities are planned in August to receive public comment and input on the Draft Action Plan for the $1.1 billion Community Development Block Grant – disaster recovery funds received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Draft Action Plan will be published at […]

EDITORIAL: This dead parrot is a lawsuit waiting to happen … please, Lee County, let us take down the Bakery Building

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Editorial.

It took 15 days to complete the Sanibel Causeway after Hurricane Ian crunched it. It took two-and-a-half months for the severely damaged Gasparilla Inn & Club to open up again. But we still don’t have a cell phone tower.
It certainly isn’t for a lack of trying on the community’s part. We have a cell phone tower committee that has met on a constant basis to get this ball rolling. Calls and meetings have been had with Vertical Bridge, the tower company, and a lot of the footwork to get this done has taken place. So why don’t we have a cell phone tower yet, 10 months after Hurricane Ian?

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Lee County remains in top five for Florida recycling

Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.

To the Editor: Lee County has been named as one of Florida’s top five recycling counties by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). Strong participation by both residents and businesses has enabled Lee County to earn the fourth spot out of 67 counties.  Lee County received credit for recycling 1.5 million tons of the […]

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Lee County clerk, property appraiser and tax collector to host free class on property assessments, collections and disputes

Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.

To the Editor: The public is invited to join Lee County’s Clerk and Comptroller Kevin Karnes, Property Appraiser Matt Caldwell and Tax Collector Noelle Branning for a comprehensive presentation on the property assessment, collection and dispute process.  The class will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 2 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Estero Recreation […]