Community speak out for Bay Oaks/Town pool
Lee County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Ray Judah was the key note speaker at the Fort Myers Beach Town Council meeting Monday but, judging by the size of the turnout and public input, a small island community took center stage.
Twenty-seven minutes of pre-Judah public comment on Bay Oaks recreational facilities and the Town of FMB pool were followed by another 30 minutes of questions and answers once the commissioner completed his special topic discussion. There were many inquiries and concerns from residents and off-island facility users about the upcoming transition period between town and county slated for Oct. 1 of this year.
Nine people stepped to the podium to represent their own groups, offer advice, seek better facility promotions and tell tales of how Bay Oaks and the town pool raised their children or could attract more families to the Beach. The public comment speakers represented 28 in town chambers for social seniors, 30 for little league and nearly a full room for the town pool.
Judah opened by stating he has “staked his entire career as a former environmental planner and a public servant on protecting endangered species.” Many in attendance that evening hope that he will extend that passion towards an endangered facility.
“My roots run deep on Fort Myers Beach,” said Judah. “As I indicated to Mayor (Larry) Kiker privately, we are not going to leave you holding the bag. We recognize that we need to have a smooth transition.”
Judah continued by calling Bay Oaks a “centerpiece to the community and those who visit Fort Myers Beach” and that it “means a lot to groups of all ages.”
“It’s better to have our seniors active and staying healthy than to incur tremendous medical costs that certainly impacts all of us as taxpayers,” he said. “Likewise with the children, it’s better to have them in the pools and the recreational center than on the streets getting in trouble.”
Judah then called the transition period a “partnership” and recognized that there are “certain improvements and repairs that need to be made before turning over Bay Oaks.”
He received an ovation for saying the county is planning on repairing the roof of Bay Oaks Recreational Center before the transition.
“Our administration feels that part of the capital funding that we are providing the town for future restoration and refurbishment is important,” he said. “But, there is one issue that I feel the county needs to take care of right at the outset. It is repairs to the roof.”
Judah assured everyone that the county staff will “continue to work shoulder to shoulder with town personnel.”
David Harner, acting deputy director of Lee County Parks and Recreation, backed up Judah on his transition plan. He and interim County Parks Director Barbara Manzo are part of the transition team.
“We want to make sure that the transition is smooth and we’re here to help in any manner possible,” said Harner. “Just feel free to call any of us.”
The two guest speakers fielded questions from the full capacity crowd – answering concerns over the imminent loss of county-paid Laurie Satalino, a program director for the Bay Oaks Social Seniors; funds to maintain operational costs; impact fees versus capital improvement funds for repairs; structured community grant funds with matching funds; maintenance of the ball fields; as well as a plea to think long-term during all the ventures and financial pressures in the process.
“The (Bay Oaks) Recreational Center will not close down,” said Judah. “We’re going to make sure that we provide the appropriate capital dollars and operational dollars for a smooth transition.”
Town Manager Scott Janke agreed a smooth transition is needed.
“I think everybody in this building including those members elected up here in the dais support pretty much everything the audience said this evening,” he said. “We’re all working very hard to meet those expectations.”
Save the BORC
Town chambers looked like “Casual Friday” on Monday evening. Most of the FMB Town Council and town staff wore white t-shirts that read “Save the BORC.” The elephant-like character was introduced as a new Bay Oaks mascot and marketing tool in their transition endeavor with Lee County.
“Let me introduce to you the island’s newest endangered species,” said Nicole Olsen, the town’s former public services supervisor turned Bay Oaks transition coordinator. “This is the BORC. It is named after the Bay Oaks Recreational Campus, and it is the very last one. If you don’t save it, it will be gone forever.”
Now that ‘saving Bay Oaks’ has a face, the character may take on a bigger personality to help promote the facilities, according to Olsen.
“It gives us something to get behind,” she said. “What’s the BORC? It’s our recreational center; it’s our pool; it’s where we go to play; and it’s the community.”
Anyone interested in purchasing a “Save the BORC” t-shirt can stop by FMB Town Hall and see Olsen.
“The high price tag is $30 with all proceeds going directly into Bay Oaks Recreational Campus,” said Olsen.