FMB Town Council reaches principal agreement with BOCC over Beach Nourishment
The Fort Myers Beach Town Council has agreed to take a stand in dealing with the issue of Beach nourishment with the Lee County Board of County Commissioners.
The town council agreed to re-tender its ongoing interlocal agreement with the county – the same one that was already approved and tendered by them – along with a cover letter which will urgently request the issue be put on the BOCC agenda in the near future.
The urgency identifies the easement project and anticipated state funding which may be lost in time.
“If these easements aren’t well under way from being acquired, we’re going to lose state funding,” said Town Manager Scott Janke. “It’s tenuous at best anyway. That’s $2 million that we don’t have to make up. I think the county needs to prioritize using the acquisition as the highest priority in their workload until we have 70 percent of the easements at hand.”
The council discussed the need to attend a future BOCC meeting as a group.
“We need to try to get on their agenda,” said Mayor Larry Kiker. “We can convey our message, but we still have to pursue it in a public forum directly with the (BOCC).”
The following is a letter sent by Mayor Kiker to the Board of County Commissioners and chairman Ray Judah on Tuesday, April 7:
Mr. Judah,
At the joint meeting between the Town Council and the Board of County Commissioners on January 7, 2009, we all were very pleased to have reached an agreement in principle on all major issues extant regarding the Interlocal Agreement for Beach Renourishment on Estero Island.
The Town subsequently presented a proposed Interlocal Agreement reflecting the understanding which the Town believes was reached at our joint meeting. Unfortunately, County staff subsequently revised several critical deal points in that Interlocal. As a result, the current County draft no longer reflects the results of our joint meeting. Our most significant concern is that the primary responsibility for easement acquisition has now been shifted to the Town. In addition, various elements have been added that change the agreed-upon cap to the Town’s financial responsibility and increase the Town’s financial risk. The town is committed to work under the leadership of the County to acquire the proper amount of easements on a priority basis, since the timelines to acquire the easements need to be resolved with this team to ensure the success of the program. A copy of the latest revision sent to the Town is enclosed herewith for your convenience.
On Monday night, the Town Council formally considered the changes proposed by County staff and has reaffirmed its commitment to the Town’s original Interlocal submitted to the County on February 18, 2009. A copy of that document is enclosed herewith for your convenience.
The Town Council continues to support this important project. However, we are concerned that we are running out of time. According to statements by many, the funds may disappear in short order. This has been an abnormally long process; however, the viability of the renourishment project has become essential to the health of the beach and its businesses as well as to the recreation of the Lee County community and its visitors.
We will be at the Tuesday BOCC meeting, April 14th to answer any questions in hopes to finalize the agreement and begin the task of securing easements to accomplish the program.
Respectfully,
Larry Kiker, Mayor