TIMBERRR!
To the editor:
Many of you have noticed the huge, felled Australian pine on Strandview Avenue at Estero Boulevard (it’s laid there since being cut down about 5 months ago, so it’s hard to miss). I would like to call attention to the total disregard that our elected officials, as well as the Town Manager (Terry Stewart) apparently have toward the health and public safety of the residents of Fort Myers Beach.
Initial contact to City Hall, (notifying them of, and asking for action by, the Town) was made in August. After waiting months for action on behalf of the Town, this week I called our Code Enforcement department, the Mayor, and the Town Manager. Regardless of the tree being on the Town’s easement, all I received was: it is the property owner’s responsibility, and the Town either does not care about public health and safety, or it brings dollars before its residents’ health and safety. Additionally, just in time for full season, we can add to that: the seasonal residents, the Holiday guests, our visitors and tourists.
All will be treated to a symbolically visual representation of the Town officials involved: just lying there, deaf as a post, doing nothing. This felled tree is right across the street from our long-awaited, millions-of-dollars-in-cost-overruns Town jewel of Newton Park. Also, should this dried-out, dead tree catch fire, a fire department response would cost more than cutting it up and hauling it away (not to mention the danger of a high-speed run to the firemen, as well as those on Estero Boulevard during such a response).
I have heard all of the excuses: “legally, we cannot remove it” (again, partially on the easement and Strandview Avenue); and “we must wait for the notification period to expire;” (it seems that there was a long delay in notifying the property owner, due to mismanagement of our Code Enforcement department). Incredibly, the Mayor even told me how he was a “volunteer elected official”.I mean, really!, does anyone of authority take any responsibility?
I take great care of my property; I expect other residents to do the same, and, failing this, I expect the Town to step in and resolve any lapses. Is this unreasonable, considering that we not only need to be neighborly, but to continue to attract visitors and investors to our tourist-based economy?
Meanwhile, as regards this eyesore, I have put the Town Manager on notice that any injuries incurred by my family, visitors or residents of the area will be the Town’s legal responsibility, regardless of their belief that they have no culpability. I am ashamed and embarrassed to call myself a resident/property owner on Fort Myers Beach with such pathetic and incompetent leadership of our beach.
Town Officials: Enough already! Cut up this tree and haul it off!
Mike Funk
Fort Myers Beach