Council OKs fiber optic cable installation
There will be more construction work along North Estero Boulevard.
On Monday, the Fort Myers Beach Town Council approved CenturyLink’s request to install fiber optic cable lines underground along the recently completed northern mile-long section of the Beach’s main road.
The primary reason for the request was to provide service to Verizon, another communication service, at the Gateway Condominiums at 500 Estero Blvd. CenturyLink has agreed to install all of the infrastructure at this juncture for the entire road section as well as cover the cost of the town’s inspector for the duration of the project, provide a full set of construction drawings prior to the construction and warrant their work for a period of two years from completion.
The utility work is expected to be done under the landscape areas and not under the freshly paved road surface or the newly installed sidewalks along the boulevard. The cable company will place fiber cable by way of directional bore of a two-inch pipe from Times Square to Bowditch Point Park.
Before the action was unanimously passed, council members and town officials expressed their dismay with the insufficient timing of the request.
“We strongly encouraged CenturyLink to do the work in the midst of the North Estero Boulevard project. The representatives at the local office were very much in favor of (doing the work then) and made their appeal to the corporate office but were rejected. It was kind of puzzling to us,” said Town Manager Terry Stewart. “I’m not particularly pleased with the fact that the folks that were so patient and so understanding for such a long period of time are now going to be faced with more intrusion into their community.”
“It’s really unconscionable,” said Councilwoman Jo List.
Even with the concerns, the town could not restrict the type of work pursuant to the new legislation enacted in the Communications Services Tax Simplification Law. Since the enactment, local governments may no longer regulate communication service providers through franchise agreements that contain franchise fees.
CenturyLink Project Engineer Ronald Popp was present to answer any questions regarding the work. The local utility engineer originally designed the work to be done during the North Estero Boulevard project but was turned down by his corporate office in his request to install the service at that time.
CenturyLink has accepted liability for warranty issues that will be voided due to the work. Prior to the North Estero Boulevard project, all utility companies were informed by town staff at the pre-construction meeting to install all infrastructure within the project area.
Stewart said town staff would work together with CenturyLink so that the public is kept informed.
“We will make sure they provide us with a schedule, and we will help them manage,” he said.
CRAB to help in Beach park name selection
The FMB Council provided consensus to allow the town’s Community Resources Advisory Board to help in the selection process to name the under-construction Beach park at the foot of Matanzas Pass Bridge.
Lee County, which owns the park, and Town officials are both involved in the naming process. Two names — Crescent Beach Park and Pierside Park — are among the selections currently being weighed.
CRAB meets Thursday at 3 p.m. Council members encourage anyone with suggestions to attend the meeting. Residents can also email ideas@fortmyersbeachfl.gov to reach council members for suggestions.
The FMB Council may be narrowing their selection for naming the Beach park during its Monday, May 16 meeting at 6:30 p.m.
Town fills advisory committee positions
Three positions have been filled regarding the Town of Fort Myers Beach advisory committees. The voluntary assignments were made official by approval at the FMB Town Council meeting Monday morning.
Beach residents Tom Cameron, Ed Scott and John Bennett were appointed to town committee openings.
Cameron, who has prior volunteer work on the Marine Resources Task Force and the Traffic Mitigation Agency, was unanimously chosen to serve on the Local Planning Agency.
Scott, who has previous work experience for IBM as well as Real Estate sales and brokerage, was selected to the Anchorage Advisory Committee.
Bennett, who is a 12-year veteran of the US Navy and possesses four years of experience as a certified law enforcement officer, was designated to fill the open position on the Marine Resources Task Force.
Currently, one vacancy exists on the Community Resources Advisory Board. David Anderson of Krusty Pete’s On-The Beach was denied candidacy to that committee due to the fact he currently lives off Estero Island.