New council sets sights on next three years
Now that the town elections are over, the Fort Myers Beach Town Council will re-assemble with four similar members and one new face this Monday (March 21) at a 6:30 p.m. meeting in town hall.
Along with Mayor Larry Kiker and Councilman Alan Mandel, newly re-elected members Bob Raymond and Jo List will welcome newcomer Joe Kosinski to the dais and say goodbye to Councilman Tom Babcock, who is finishing his three-year term and decided not to re-run this year.
“As a group as a whole, I’m very pleased,” said Kiker about the new council. “I look forward to working with them because they all express the desire that I have which is to work together as a team, identify what the projects are and get them done.”
Having the core of the council returning should produce continuity in working on the same projects. The outlook is good.
“It’s huge because there is no re-identifying the same issues. We are in the position to take things and run,” said Kiker.
It should be business as usual for the Beach council who plod on to tackle issues such as Estero Boulevard (traffic), Seafarer’s Mall building (plan with county/ demolition likely), replacing decrepit water utility system (breaks in line/validation) and remain attentive to downtown redevelopment.
Most of the council’s upcoming projects link with the Beach’s main road that is owned and maintained by Lee County. Kiker is optimistic a judge will favor the
validation hearing for the water utility referendum that was overwhelmingly approved years ago to begin the process to replace the water system.
“We are going to assume that it will pass and that we will be in a position to figure out how to get the funding. We should also be in a better position with the county in terms of they have to start working on Estero Boulevard to keep up with the projects that we will be doing on that road. I hope the county is ready to take on that task,” he said.
Kiker joked that Mandel would probably be the happiest council member since he will no longer be called the new guy.
“We now have a new guy to pick on besides him,” said Kiker.
The Beach mayor believes Kosinski should be ready to jump right in due to his knowledge about the tasks at hand with his attendance at council meetings.
“I think that is one of the advantages we have with Joe Kosinski coming on board. He is bringing a whole year on the LPA (Local Planning Agency) and the work ethics that go along with that. He’s been to a lot of council meetings, especially lately. I think he’s ready to go,” said Kiker.
At the after-election party at Junkanoo on the Beach Tuesday, March 8, the three winning council candidates expressed a strong liking to the newly assembled team and a positive direction for the next three years.
Said Raymond: “I think we probably have the best group we’ve ever had. I think we are going to work as a team and work well with the county.”
Said List: “We have to get to work on the water utility and Estero Boulevard and get the parcels in Times Square straightened out. I really foresee this council working their butts off.”
Said Kosinski: “I love the present council, and I think they are heading in the right direction. I’m there to continue that. I think I can give good direction to the community, and I want to make paradise a better place.”
Mandel is also looking forward to working with the newly formed group of council members.
“It’s been enjoyable working with Bob Raymond and Jo List even though we don’t always agree about everything. I think their input is good for the council,” he said. “Joe Kosinski having spent a year on the LPA now comes in which gives us another opinion, and a diversity of opinions is good. I look forward to working with all of them.”
Mandel had some kind words for Councilman Tom Babcock, who will attend his final meeting as a town official (at this time) Monday after deciding not to seek re-election.
“I wish him the best,” said Mandel. “He chatted with me about things he will be working on, and he seemed really interested in that. After all the years he put in on the LPA and the council, the town people should really appreciate that contribution and wish him the best. I’m jealous he has more time to go boating than I do.”
All in all, the new council appears ready to work and looks forward to meeting the lofty standards set forth by their collective constituents.
“I think there is a lot of excitement in the air, not only with this council but the people who elected us. There is high expectation that has been set by this election. I hope we can rise to the occasion,” said Kiker.