Greater Pine Island Civic Association addresses multiple topics
The Greater Pine Island Civic Asso-ciation held its monthly meeting at the Elk’s Lodge last Tuesday night. Topics covered were revisions to Bob and Annie’s Boatyard; an update on the study for incorporating Pine Island; an update on the Cape Coral annexation lawsuit and a presentation on “Five Easy Ways to Improve Water Quality.”
James Ink from InkWerks Coastal Design and Development Consultants presented a development order application for revisions to Bob and Annie’s Boatyard in St. James City. The existing railway ramp boat haul-out is to be removed and replaced with a travel lift basin. There are also dock renovations and additional parking spaces planned. The proposal was accepted unanimously.
GPICA President Roger Wood reported that the initial study of the financial feasibility of incorporating Pine Island and Matlacha is being preparing by Joe Mazurkiewicz, an incorporation planner. A sub-committee has been formed with seven representatives of the “villages” of the Lee Islands: Matlacha, Bokeelia, Pineland, St. James City and the Center. The seven-member sub-committee includes: Roger Wood, Michael Dreikorn, Noel Andress, Ken Cox, Greg Stewart, Mike Shevlin and Linn Hynds.
Mazurkiewicz was hired by G.P.I.C.A. to prepare an analysis on the basis that the maximum number of services remain shared with Lee County; such as building permits, roads, garbage, library, schools, parks and sewer treatment. Water, fire and emergency services would remain as presently structured and only the minimum government would be formed under incorporation.
The annexation lawsuit is progressing slowly.
“We’ve been told this is a ‘political’ problem,” Wood said. “It’s important we wear our T-shirts, meet with the County Commissioners, write letters to the editor, make your feelings known because there needs to be a lot of political pressure.”
The Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District (M/PIFCD) has a legal action against Cape Coral regarding the annexation. The department’s lawsuit claims Cape Coral is in violation of Statute 164, which stipulates that “governmental disputes” must be mediated. In this case, the dispute between the city of Cape Coral and the M/PIFCD is related to public safety. The aggrieved parties, Matlacha and Pine Island, were not given 10 days notice in the newspaper of widest circulation prior to the City Council meeting.
The law further stipulates that “Mediation means a process whereby a neutral third person called a ‘mediator’ acts to encourage and facilitate the resolution of a conflict between two or more parties. The role of the mediator includes, but is not limited to, assisting the parties in identifying issues and exploring settlement alternatives. A 3-hour public meeting will be scheduled with 1 hour set aside for public comment.”
“We think this meeting will be in late February or early March,” Wood said. “Both organizations, the GPICA and the Matlacha Civic Association, will be sending out emails about the meeting. It’s very important that we all turn out for this very important meeting.”
“In the mean time, the Matlacha Civic Association is having a meeting next week with Commissioner Frank Mann. The Matlacha Civic Association meets on the third Wednesday of every month (October May) at 6 p.m.”
The next meeting is today, Feb. 15, at the Matlacha Art Building in Matlacha Park.
Claudia Bringe made a short presentation “Five Easy Ways That You Can Help Improve Water Quality.” The presentation included ways to dispose of residential waste, including appliances, auto parts, household chemicals, sharps and syringes and yard waste.
All GPICA meetings are open to the public at no charge. The GPICA meets at the Elks Club on Pine Island Road, west of Stringfellow, on the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.
Join or renew membership for $10 per person annual fee. Contact Wood at 920-421-3984.