Mound House “fishing pier” not needed
To the editor:
To all taxpaying residents of Fort Myers Beach:
We’re being dumped on again by the Lee County Commission.
Ray Judah and his Tourist Development Council gave $700,000 to Theresa Schober, director of the Mound House, to construct an observation tower/fishing pier on Mound House property into the back bay. It was needed so a group of 10 to 20 school children could be preached to (educated?) on the Calusa Indians.
The first notice of the pier from the Army Corp of Engineers stated that it was to be a 2,520 square foot pier. But a new notice from the state Internal Improvement Trust Fund, which bought the Mound House for the town, states that it will be a 2,774 square foot pier.
The Mound House property sits on 2.7 acres of land. With a house and a barn, that should be ample for space for whatever the director needs.
This $700,000 observation tower/fishing pier is a royal sham. It will become a public fishing pier. That was so stated by the Town Manager.
Whoever initiated this grant had no concern for the safety and well being of the families living in the residential zoned areas surrounding the Mound House.
The Mound House has been 10 years in the making at $5 million to $6 million in grants and taxes to maintain the property and the house and museum are still not open to the public.
Connecticut Street is a dead end street with no parking. Residents want no part of the fishing pier that will be built. The environmental impact to the area streets and properties will get worse and further deteriorate the back bay waters.
We have less than 30 days to act. All concerned residents should file your objections today with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection south district office at 2295 Victoria Avenue, Suite 364, Fort Myers Florida, 33902.
Also make your objections known to our Town Council.
Paul Abraham
Fort Myers Beach