Reader sees prudent easement action
To the Editor:
The rhetoric on signing or rescinding a beach easement is about to ratchet up. You will be bombarded by governments and people on both sides.
What should a prudent person do? You do not have to be pressured into signing an easement now.
Lee County has been working on easements for 11 years and still doesn’t have 50 percent of the affected people in agreement with easements.
Maybe you would like a 10-year easement instead of the 50 years you now have. Or perhaps you do not wish to be pressured into making a decision right now about rescinding an easement… but you are not sure.
What should you do to protect yourself?
Submit a request to rescind now!! You have about 30 days before the rescind window closes.
Why?
If the county signs a beach agreement with the Town of Fort Myers Beach on April 28, we are told that your ability to rescind will expire in 30 days.
The FMB Town Council has voted to support a rescind request. If you snooze, you may lose. You cannot change your mind later and rescind.
If you rescind now you will have plenty of time in the coming months to get proper legal advice at your convenience. You can evaluate all pro’s and con’s and then decide for a 10-year easement or simply stand pat on rescinding. Either way, you win. But decide what to do in your own time after you rescind.
In 2005, The News Press and county officials told us that we had to decide then or the money was gone. Didn’t happen.
Preserve your interests. Send in your certified letter asking to rescind your easement to: Mr Steve Boutelle, Division of County Lands. P.O. Box 398, Fort Myers, Fl., 33902-0398. Include your STRAP number, property address for the property owner, with the letter signed by all owners.
After you rescind, consult a lawyer and a real estate broker on the impact of this easement on your property.value. Get expert advice at your convenience!
Frank Schilling
Fort Myers Beach