Residents get informed on Town Hall referendum
Should Beach residents support the Town of Fort Myers Beach through bonds to finance the acquisition and possible construction of a Town Hall through ad valorem property taxes?
That will be the question proposed to Estero Island residents on the Bond Referendum Election at the Republican Presidential Primary ballot on Jan. 31. All Beach residents -Independents, Republicans and Democrats- are allowed to vote.
According to the Lee County Supervisor of Elections office, early voting for the Beach bond referendum will be held this weekend (Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and throughout the week (Monday through Friday from 10-6).
Town officials held an informal meeting in Council Chambers to educate and hear public comment and concern during the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 10. For those who could not attend the first session, a similar meeting will be held on Monday, Jan. 23, at 6:30 p.m.
Roughly 30 Beach residents listened to Town Manager Terry Stewart’s presentation. The Town has been leasing at its present location for 15 years now by paying an average of $100,000 per year. The current lease, which has less than two years remaining on it, was acquired at a 10-percent reduction from previous cost.
“We have a limited amount of time on our lease and, instead of waiting until the end of that period, it makes good business sense to work within that at the current time,” said Stewart. “At a prior Council meeting, there was a unanimous agreement that if there was talk about purchasing or building a Town Hall, this was a matter that needed to go to public in a referendum.”
Many public speakers questioned the principle amount (not exceeding $7 million) on the referendum question. At a bond issued for 30 years, that amount would require an annual payment of $371,593, according to numbers provided by Town Financial Advisor Evelyn Wicks. The general obligation debt would require payment through ad valorem taxes.
“If you pledge ad valorem taxes to the payment of that debt in the future, you must do a referendum,” said Stewart. “When that is done, there must be a dollar amount provided to the public to understand the scope of what it is they are going to be voting on.”
The explanation given for arriving at the top-sided principle figure in question involved a $1 million to $1.5 million investment in purchasing property and additional funds for the possibility of tearing down an existing structure, building a new structure, equipping and furnishing it, according to Stewart.
“That does not mean that the Council has to go out and spend $7 million. It is not obligated to do that. Council can and will continue to work with staff to keep the dollars as low as possible,” said Stewart.
Beach resident Lee Melsek hoped the larger-than-expected figure didn’t mean an expansion of Town government.
“Would a new Town hall turn out to be 30,000 square feet with plenty of room for a bigger government?,” he questioned.
Other public concern centered on imminent domain, the taking of a private property for public purpose. Stewart admitted that imminent domain remains an option, but could be an involved process and a costly endeavor due to compensation of full value of the property and the possibility of a court challenge with full cost of attorneys, agents and witnesses placed on the Town.
“It would involve whatever it takes for that property owner to defend his or her position on the value of the property,” said Stewart.
Former Mayor Dennis Boback told the current Town officials that they are in control of their own destination, and that they should begin the imminent domain process.
“At worst, the judge will decide what the property is worth,” he said.
Boback noted that, based on the Town’s appraisals, the property is worth just under $1.1 million, which he stated was similar to an amount that his Council had in a fund originally started as a Beach re-nourishment fund before leaving office.
“If that hasn’t been spent already, you have the money to buy the building with imminent domain without even moving,” he said. “Should the owner decide to challenge you, and we have to pay attorney’s costs and a few other things, I can guarantee you that it will be a whole lot cheaper than $7 million.”
Public speakers also questioned the added burden of bonds needed for the water utility system that needs to be replaced on Fort Myers Beach. It was reported to be an additional burden of $13 to $14 million to fall on the Beach residents to replace such a system.
“I seriously question putting a $7 million proposal in front of the taxpayers in this town,” said Beach resident Pat Smith. “That is on top of the debt obligation for the water utility.”
Beach residents are encouraged to vote on this important matter. Again, even though the question will be placed on the Republican Presidential Primary ballot, all registered voters -not just Republicans- will be able to cast their ballot for the Town Hall referendum.
If the simple majority vote does not pass, Town officials will be ready to move on to perhaps secure a longer lease at their current site or seek an alternative path. While Councilman Joe Kosinski called the referendum a “progressive move and Councilman Alan Mandel stated that it “gives the Town another alternative,” Mayor Larry Kiker cautioned everyone about the future.
“This is all about options,” he said. “The assumption that this place is here forever may not be a good one to make. I am hoping we are in the driver’s seat all the way through.”
The town manager has been unsuccessful in his efforts to purchase the existing Town Hall site or get a lease option, due to the present owners’ fear that breaking up their trust of 20 to 30 properties to sell one would be too costly for them. At that time, Council asked Stewart to begin negotiations to renew the lease and seek alternative Beach locations for future usage.
“Quite frankly, the search for an alternative site was not all productive. There are not that many commercial properties available on the island that have the size and utility of the current site to allow us to have operations,” said Stewart.
Residents get informed on Town Hall referendum
Should Beach residents support the Town of Fort Myers Beach through bonds to finance the acquisition and possible construction of a Town Hall through ad valorem property taxes?
That will be the question proposed to Estero Island residents on the Bond Referendum Election at the Republican Presidential Primary ballot on Jan. 31. All Beach residents -Independents, Republicans and Democrats- are allowed to vote.
Town officials held an informal meeting in Council Chambers to educate and hear public comment and concern during the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 10. For those who could not attend the first session, a similar meeting will be held on Monday, Jan. 23, at 6:30 p.m.
Roughly 30 Beach residents listened to Town Manager Terry Stewart’s presentation. The Town has been leasing at its present location for 15 years now by paying an average of $100,000 per year. The current lease, which has less than two years remaining on it, was acquired at a 10-percent reduction from previous cost.
“We have a limited amount of time on our lease and, instead of waiting until the end of that period, it makes good business sense to work within that at the current time,” said Stewart. “At a prior Council meeting, there was a unanimous agreement that if there was talk about purchasing or building a Town Hall, this was a matter that needed to go to public in a referendum.”
Many public speakers questioned the principle amount (not exceeding $7 million) on the referendum question. At a bond issued for 30 years, that amount would require an annual payment of $371,593, according to numbers provided by Town Financial Advisor Evelyn Wicks. The general obligation debt would require payment through ad valorem taxes.
“If you pledge ad valorem taxes to the payment of that debt in the future, you must do a referendum,” said Stewart. “When that is done, there must be a dollar amount provided to the public to understand the scope of what it is they are going to be voting on.”
The explanation given for arriving at the top-sided principle figure in question involved a $1 million to $1.5 million investment in purchasing property and additional funds for the possibility of tearing down an existing structure, building a new structure, equipping and furnishing it, according to Stewart.
“That does not mean that the Council has to go out and spend $7 million. It is not obligated to do that. Council can and will continue to work with staff to keep the dollars as low as possible,” said Stewart.
Beach resident Lee Melsek hoped the larger-than-expected figure didn’t mean an expansion of Town government.
“Would a new Town hall turn out to be 30,000 square feet with plenty of room for a bigger government?,” he questioned.
Other public concern centered on imminent domain, the taking of a private property for public purpose. Stewart admitted that imminent domain remains an option, but could be an involved process and a costly endeavor due to compensation of full value of the property and the possibility of a court challenge with full cost of attorneys, agents and witnesses placed on the Town.
“It would involve whatever it takes for that property owner to defend his or her position on the value of the property,” said Stewart.
Former Mayor Dennis Boback told the current Town officials that they are in control of their own destination, and that they should begin the imminent domain process.
“At worst, the judge will decide what the property is worth,” he said.
Boback noted that, based on the Town’s appraisals, the property is worth just under $1.1 million, which he stated was similar to an amount that his Council had in a fund originally started as a Beach re-nourishment fund before leaving office.
“If that hasn’t been spent already, you have the money to buy the building with imminent domain without even moving,” he said. “Should the owner decide to challenge you, and we have to pay attorney’s costs and a few other things, I can guarantee you that it will be a whole lot cheaper than $7 million.”
Public speakers also questioned the added burden of bonds needed for the water utility system that needs to be replaced on Fort Myers Beach. It was reported to be an additional burden of $13 to $14 million to fall on the Beach residents to replace such a system.
“I seriously question putting a $7 million proposal in front of the taxpayers in this town,” said Beach resident Pat Smith. “That is on top of the debt obligation for the water utility.”
Beach residents are encouraged to vote on this important matter. Again, even though the question will be placed on the Republican Presidential Primary ballot, all registered voters -not just Republicans- will be able to cast their ballot for the Town Hall referendum.
If the simple majority vote does not pass, Town officials will be ready to move on to perhaps secure a longer lease at their current site or seek an alternative path. While Councilman Joe Kosinski called the referendum a “progressive move and Councilman Alan Mandel stated that it “gives the Town another alternative,” Mayor Larry Kiker cautioned everyone about the future.
“This is all about options,” he said. “The assumption that this place is here forever may not be a good one to make. I am hoping we are in the driver’s seat all the way through.”
Upon Stewart’s appointment to town manager, he learned the Town had engaged in three-year leases for its existing home, and that the current town hall lease was coming to an end. The Town charter read that it could not incur a public debt on the part of the Town for more than three years.
“It was determined by the attorney at the time that three years was the maximum that we could go out on a lease,” he said.
The Town’s current attorneys found a “mechanism recognized by the state of Florida” for a non-funding clause that could extend that time frame.
“A non-funding clause simply says that, should a Council decide in preparing its budget for the assuming year decide not to fund the cost of a lease, the Town would not be bound to stay within that lease,” said Stewart.
The town manager was unsuccessful in his efforts to purchase the existing Town Hall site or get a lease option, due to the present owners’ fear that breaking up their trust of 20 to 30 properties to sell one would be too costly for them. At that time, Council asked Stewart to begin negotiations to renew the lease and seek alternative Beach locations for future usage.
“Quite frankly, the search for an alternative site was not all productive. There are not that many commercial properties available on the island that have the size and utility of the current site to allow us to have operations,” said Stewart.