Beach Nourishment – A Process
It is of no surprise that some misinterpretation has been given to facts that are being thrown about regarding beach nourishment. Well thought-out ideas (both pro and con) by credible people with well focused concerns weave their way into conversations as though these revelations should change the entire scope of projects.
It is this situation that led me to write. The process (or lack of) that has taken these many years is truly the reason why there is so much confusion. It is the current process that is now being followed that needs to be understood.
So here goes. This present council prioritized several projects that had been on the roster that needed to either be implemented or stricken. One of the projects was beach nourishment.
Last year, during the September time-frame, the council voted to do the project. What was not obvious to many was the commitment to implement it. This council voted to go forward with the project unless there were show stoppers that no one was aware of or if the funding was not available.
The first matter at hand was to find out if the funding was still available. Actually, it was not. This council met with the Lee County Board of County Commissioners to secure those funds. That was accomplished.
In the meantime an inter-local agreement had to be developed and agreed upon between the county and the town. This process has been on going for several months and introduced the latest round of discussions regarding the project that has had so much coverage.
After countless hours of work and study- with input from so many over the years- one might ask “Where are we now?”
I believe that both the county and the town have put together the best possible contract which included the review of the input that you have heard so much about. Much of the input was not used in favor of other choices, some of them I didn’t agree to either. However majority rules and it was time to make the agreement as favorable for the town as possible. The funding and the support for the project from the federal, state, county and town have been completed.
The next important step is to secure easements from property owners. This represents a pass or a fail for the project. The easements are designed to measure the lateral feet along the beach. There is a direct effect of the cost of the project related to the amount of property that is represented by signed easements.
Because there have been so many years and so many subjects thrown at this project, this council felt it was correct to allow property owners that have signed an easement before this date to have the opportunity to rescind their agreement with the county if they felt best.
My advice is simple. Affected property owners need to be involved and knowledgeable. It is now their choice. If a property owner is not comfortable in signing the easement, please feel free to contact the Town of Fort Myers Beach or any of your elected officials with your questions and concerns. The county has primary responsibility for securing the easements and may call on the town for assistance. We have teams available that are now talking to the property owners, usually county staff, town staff, town manager and one council member present in most conversations.
Each property owner has the ability to talk or meet with the town and county to discuss any of your interests. As a property owner, if you are not comfortable with signing the agreement or for any other reason, then find out how beach nourishment may affect you personally and your property. If you want to rescind your easement, please remember that the county must receive your request no later than May 28 or your request will not be honored. Ask for assistance and familiarize yourself with the ‘entire’ plan and how it may affect your neighbors, friends and businesses.
There are many dollars pledged to this project from the federal, state, county and town. This represents a lot of time and knowledge for this project. Is it perfect? NO. Is leaving the beach alone perfect? NO.
This council has listened to anyone that wanted to discuss the possibilities. Choices have to be made at some point and those decisions need to be implemented. This council has done their job to ensure that the project and the agreement were most favorable for this community at large. The decision is now left to the property owners on the beach. In a few short months, you will either see new sand on the beach or not. Other than an update on this process, we may never see beach nourishment on the Fort Myers Beach Town Council agenda.
On behalf of the council, we extend our thanks to the many concerned citizens and experts that have spent their time and knowledge on behalf of this project. It has been a long journey indeed.