Easement issues need to be resolved for beach renourishment
After both Mayor Kiker and Vice Mayor Herb Aiken were reappointed by unanimous decisions during its first March meeting Monday, the Fort Myers Beach Town Council decided to proceed with the current plan to secure easements from local property owners as part of the renourishment interlocal agreement with Lee County.
The securement of easements is fast becoming the biggest issue left to be resolved by town and county in the matter, according to Kiker.
“The town council said we wanted to do beach renourishment, but there were things we wanted to take care of in order for it to be the program that we thought this town needed,” he said. “Many of the subjects are now taken care of. There are some of them still unresolved but being addressed in the interlocal agreement.”
“It’s all about easements right now,” he continued. “There’s a direct correlation between the easements tied into the money and the percentages of what’s required to do the project.”
Kiker discussed the matter further.
“We’re going to stand firm and keep our cap at $1 million,” he said. “Having said that, the lower the easement, the bigger the contribution will be from Lee County.
After the 9 a.m. meeting and beach renourishment discussion was recessed at noon, all five council members and town manager Scott Janke attended the Board of County Commissioners’ Management and Planning meeting to hear Steve Boutelle, Lee County’s director of Marine Resources, make a presentation on the matter.
After Boutelle spoke, Kiker presented the council’s views and both sides agreed to have Janke and Boutelle meet with residential owners to discuss the rescinding issue. The council set forth that plan of action during its reconvening at 6:30 p.m.
“Once we have this input, then we can go back and talk to the Board of County Commissioners,” said Kiker.
Councilwoman Jo List expressed her concerns.
“I think the biggest problem we have is the lack of trust,” she said. “You build trust by listening and talking to people and doing what you’re saying you’re going to do.”
Janke proposed to put a schedule together of all the remaining properties that need to be visited by next week.
“It’s about informal communication to find out exactly why that property owner has problems with the easements,” he said. “They applied to rescind. They didn’t say specifically why they wanted to rescind.”
Aiken agreed with Janke’s direction on the matter.
“We are gathering information,” he said. “We are not hammering a plan down their throat.”
Kiker’s message was to stay on course.
“Two weeks ago we decided to allow Scott to work with Lee County to singularly locate each property owner who wants to rescind and to work with them one at a time,” he said. “He then he needs to come back with a plan and schedule.”
Kiker said both town and county will continue talk on the interlocal agreement.
“We made an official presentation of our interlocal agreement,” he said. “The staff will continue to work with Lee County and await a response.”