The lights go up on Matlacha
One of the best ways to protect your property from unwanted visitors after dark is with lighting. One property owner in Matlacha seeks not only to protect his own property, but also the interest of others.
“We have begun to move forward with an effort begun by another Matlacha property owner by installing more lighting to some of the buildings along Pine Island Road in Matlacha. Not only are the lights a benefit when it comes to being a crime deterrent, we also feel that the lights will also make the area more friendly to our visitors,” said Frank “Friendly Frankie” Richard. “Proper lighting, however, is very expensive. I was astounded when I called LCEC to find out what it would cost to bring in street lights, but we have begun a fund to help subsidize the effort.”
Richard recently had lights installed over the doorways of five Matlacha business, Traders Hitching Post, Elaina’s, Matlacha Menagerie and both locations of the Frills Galleries.
In a recent correspondence with Gary Settle from Lee County Electrical Co-op, the cost of installing pole lights along Pine Island Road would cost approximately $8,500 per light.
“To place new decorative lights and add underground light circuit, the ballpark cost is $8,500 each. To add a pole to the existing overhead primary power line and place a light on that pole, the ball park cost is $5,000. To add a light to a pole without a power source for the light, the ballpark to add the power source is between $200 and $1,000,” wrote Settle.
In addition, Settle said that Richard would have to sign a 10-year contract for each light for service from LCEC.
To generate funds, Richard has begun a lighting fund to help defray the cost of “lighting up Matlacha.”
“The new lights that I had placed on some of my buildings are a start, but I think the area really needs proper street lights. I have opened a special account by depositing $2,000 toward having LCEC install street lights and each of the business owners from Traders, Elaina’s, Frills and Matlacha Menagerie have pledged to donate an additional $500 each,” Richard said. “It is our hope that other property owners along Pine Island Road will pitch in and make a donation to make the street light installation possible.”
In addition to soliciting donations, Richard also has approached the Lee County Historical Society for assistance.
“We are hoping that the Historical Society will help us out with this project by perhaps helping us to acquire grant money to help fund the lighting project,” Richard said. “The lights we would like to have installed would be decorative and in keeping with the historical elements of the area and not just your standard street lights.”
The owner of Traders Hitching Post, Cindee Tolliver, is among those who feel that lighting is a matter of security.
“In the last year and a half, Matlacha has been the target of several break-ins and fires. I think if all of the buildings and the street were properly lit at night a lot of that would have been avoided,” Tolliver said. “For those of us with shops, our businesses are our livelihoods and should we become victims, it could mean disaster. I personally commend Friendly Frankie for taking on this project and will do what ever I can to help. Not just for me and my business, but for my neighbors here in Matlacha. The lights will benefit everyone.”