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Krivas promoted Dayton tract Arts & Crafts page 12A page 1B page1C APRIL 4, 1997 VOLUME 24 NUMBER 21 3 SECTIONS, 48 PAGES ER <l\ I t Rising with the sun Thousands turned out in prayer for the 6:30 a.m. Sanibel Community Easter Sunrise Service on the causeway island closest to Sanibel. Service goers brought blankets and beach chairs, watching the sunrise as hand- bell choirs and other musicians accompanied nature's uplifting gift. Dr. Lon Allison, actor, singer-songwriter, leader, was year's guest speaker. For more photos, please see page 14A. Council sets new sewer Leaving a good Taste' financing plan in motion By Mark S. Krzos were also thrown into the mix for the in islander's mouths News Editor first time; By Murk S. Krzos The method for connecting to the Islanders that attended Tuesday's New*. I rfilor hearing all seemed in favor of incorpo- Sanibel Sewer System is beginning to ("are and Rehabilitation of Wildlife's (CROW) volunteers arc concentrating rating ad valorem taxes. smell like roses, instead of the system's cm making sure no haun is done to rhc beach and that this year's Taste of the by-product. "I don't like the idea of a person liv- Island is the hi-st over. ing in a $125,000 duplex being Tuesday, the Sanibel City Council The fircam/iitioii'». annual fund-raider, the Th<Me of the Islands vyitt be held assessed with a $25,000 sewer assess- unanimously agreed have city staff find April 27 1'ioni nucin to 7 p.m. in Algieis Park, has been iliuwing fire from resi- ment," resident Ed Sailer said. alternative payment plans which would denis cnlit-'il of tho plan. lower the cost to residents funding the Resident Paul Cook said he's trying "I:\crything that we're doing will not only not be on tho bench, but will also to start a life on Sanibel. Cook connection to the Sanibel Sewer be behind ihe C'CCL (Coastal Construction Control Lino line," CROW explained that he paid $5,000 for a new System. Director Amra Pindcr said Monday. '"All the restaurants will be behind the septic, system last year and to pay City officials previously maintained CCCL and on the paved parking lot," $30,000 just to flush the toilet is "like a that the only to pay for the sewer sys- Hinder said evei> piecaiuion is being taken. CROW e\cn hf's volunteers on tem was through a mix of user-fees and •please see page 2A hand ID guard I he dunes and a gopher toitoise. hahitat m the suiioiinrlmg area. assessments. Tuesday, ad valorem taxes Those fuea<> will be fenced off. but CKOW wants to be. sure to provide added protection loi theenvnomneiu. Police arrest local woman "People will he allowed to go on the beach and alcohol will be served," Pinder said. "U is a city park. It was suggested to us by the city and we'll be taking every precaution." arrested for insurance fraud CROW will have massive clean up crew including CROW volunteers uml By Michelle Moran Centini walked Detective Scott Ashby the whole Bo> Scout Troop of Tort Myers. According to Pincler the scouts will Editor through her home that day pointing out be a (.nmhination oi the Fort Myeis and Sanibel Exploiei Post of the Bov Susan Centini, 42, of 1296 Par View where the property once was. Sccuts of America "We're trying to get as many as we can," Pinder said. Drive, turned herself over to the "She then led him to the garage area One of the greatest concerns foi some islanders is assurance that wildlife in Sanibel Police Department April 2 for stating this is where she felt the perpe- tliLiL aiea i<; piotected first and foremost arrest on a felony warrant for fraud. trators had exited the home. In the "The dune will be protected by a snow fence as well as the whole, length of The warrant, issued March 31, garage was a green Pontiac 2-door the city paik." said Pinder explaining that the entire Americorp enlisted on charged Centini with filing a fraudulent sports car," the report states. Sanibel will be making MIIC that no one wanders into the dune or goes neai a insurance claim, a third degree felony. Centini then made a list for the gopher tortoise habitat. The charge stemmed from a Feb. 21 detective, noting all items which were Sanibel Natuul Resources Director Rob I nflin said the city's numbui one report file by Centini claiming her stolen. "The list was extensive and spe- priority is protecting the dune vegetation. Sanibel home was burglarized and cific, indicating that the value of the "With all the people, the real concern is keeping them off the dune," Loflin more than $60,000 in property was stolen property exceeded sixty thou- said noting that it won't be a simple task. "If they can keep the people off the sand dollars." stolen. , 'please see page 8A According to police affidavits, •please see page 12A 2A • APRIL 4, 1997 • ISLAND REPORTER Council members vote against sewer propaganda By Mark S. Krzos relations firm will allow communications to flow Price admitted that some of the phrases and word- News Editor more freely and get to the public at a quicker pace. ing used in the contract appeared to be propaganda, City staff presented a sewer system marketing "I see it as an enhancement to improve communi- but wanted council to give city staff another two campaign Tuesday with a smell similar to the zealot cation between the city and its citizens," Krymski weeks to massage the language. claims of the radical propagandists regaled to history said. But Reding did not want to compromise. "I think books. Council members Wally Kain and Andrew Reding this is a very dangerous precedent. I do not want an According to City Manager Gary Price, city staff both said they could not support the language within intermediary to deal with the public." feels that it would be prudent to obtain the assistance the contract, Council member Bob Janes and Mayor Bob of a consulting firm to assist in gaining public support Kain said he has no doubt that Utilities Director Davison supported the resolution to hire K&K, but of the Sanibel Sewer Project, as well as provide a John Hefty could use the help, but this is the wrong Reding, Madison and Kain nixed the plan. third party information source and dispute resolution way to do it. The company would have been paid from the pro- service. "I will not support anything that tries to manipulate ceeds of the city's low interest loan from the In the contract drawn up by the city and K&K the press," said Kain explaining that as long as the Department of Environmental Protection for this pro- Marketing Resources Group, a Fort Myers-based current wording exists he wiU not touch it. ject and/or the assessment which will be established public relations firm, it states that K&K will: "devel- According to Reding, this would be the first time as part of the project. The contract called for hourly op a few core messages that embody what we want in the city's existence that it hired a public relations billing with a not-to-exceed order of $24,000. residents to understand; define/manage citizen issues firm to quell a citizen uprising. Reding added that the Ed Sailer and Jensen both offered the city with an before they take on a life of their own; invite, encour- city should not hire an outside entity to deal with alternative. age and actively solicit two-way communications so Sanibel's citizens. "City officials have got to realize they've got a that residents are heard and believe that they are Council member George Madison agreed. plan that the citizens don't like," Sailer said. "We heard; produce and feed local press with good news "This isn't needed right now," said Madison noting need a plan that's supported by the citizens." and progress reports; leverage local media as possible that the contract creates a sense of propaganda. Jensen said the city of Sanibel is not only great direct mail coverage to affected residents; continually But City Council member Bob Janes disagreed. because of its' environment, but also because of the position the City of Sanibel in a well-deserved good "It's very important that this project is done right. wealth of talent that lies within its citizens. light, referencing past and present citizen benefits as This is the largest capital improvement project the "There's a lot of old fossils sitting around," Jensen well as good faith intentions in the current situations; city has ever undertaken and I feel that hiring a part- said. "I'm sure their wives would love to get them out the city must be consistently viewed as "going the time consultant is absolutely the right thing to do," of the house and I think if you ask, they'd come for- extra mile" to address citizens' concerns." Janes said. "We need some expert advice on how to ward by the dozen to help." Sanibel resident Dick Walsh was furious that the go about doing this." city could even suggest hiring a firm that is attempt- ing to brainwash the citizens of Sanibel. City Hall 'art' comes under fire by council critics "This is about as gross a piece of legislation I've By Mark S.

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