Town to look into water quality testing group
A water quality advocacy group approached the town of Fort Myers Beach Tuesday, asking for help with their grass roots campaign for testing.
While the Southwest Florida Commercial Watermen did not get the commitment they were hoping for, they did find some support
Capt. Casey Streeter, a commercial fisherman, spoke about how important businesses like his are to the local economy.
“The water is our office and we see the destruction. We make our living on the water and everyone else is in need of it,” Streeter said. “Offshore water is the key to everything and we don’t pay enough attention to it.
The price of doing nothing would be high, Council was told.
“The consequences could be the loss of the fishing industry and tourists won’t want to come here,” said scientist Chris Kelble of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.
The Southwest Florida Commercial Watermen representatives said they are looking to raise money and awareness so they can conduct water tests in the gulf. Any donation the town could give would be a bonus, they added.
While the town council thought it was a great idea, the town also is speaking with other groups and needed to see what they think, said Councilmember Rexann Hosafros.
In other business:
– Mayor Anita Cereceda expressed her pleasure regarding a new app that Becky Weber, of the Community Resource Advisory Board (CRAB), had created.
It would allow people to navigate the site and see what’s happening in town and where to go, on foot or in the car.
It would provide island tools, show users the wildlife and places to eat and entertainment, and even tell you where the restrooms are, Weber said.
“This is exactly what CRAB was meant to do,” Cereceda said. “When we had started this we had hoped for a calendar, not an app. Then again they didn’t have them 20 years ago.”
– Voted unanimously to grant a special event permit to the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce for an event they’re putting on at Bayside Park, with a waiver in fees for electric use and park rental at a cost of $180.
– Authorized the construction of Phase 3B of the Estero Boulevard Waterline Replacement Project from Lanark Avenue to Albatross Street. Mitchell & Stark will do the more than $5 million project.
– Moved an ordinance regarding street design and construction standards to a second and final public hearing set for May 6.
– Approved a temporary street performer permit to Brittany Sparkles, a circus style performer.