THREE DAYS A WEEK POST COMMENTS AT CAPE-CORAL-DAILY-BREEZE.COM Series CAPE CORAL sweep St. Lucie Mets hand Miracle third straight loss BREEZE — SPORTS MID-WEEK EDITION WEATHER: Partly Cloudy• Tonight: Mostly Clear • Friday: Partly Cloudy — 2A cape-coral-daily-breeze.com Vol. 50, No. 45 Thursday, April 14, 2011 50 cents Stewart requests apology, threatens lawsuit By DREW WINCHESTER on Wednesday. FAC members claimed that Stewart said that he simply information that was presented [email protected] Stewart is eyeing Mayor John Stewart signed a construction wrote the wrong date on the con- contained no malice “toward him Former City Manager Terry Sullivan, Councilmembers Bill contract 11 months prior to City tract, and that he was never in or anybody else.” Stewart plans on moving forward Deile, Pete Brandt, Erick Kuehn Council ever seeing the docu- league with MWH. Grasso said there was “no with his lawsuit against the city and Chris Chulakes-Leetz, and ments. He added that since he was way” he would apologize to and certain members of City Finance Advisory Committee FAC Chairman Don maligned publicly, a public apol- Stewart because he did not make Council, he said Wednesday, member Sal Grasso for the suit, McKiernan also said during the ogy would negate his desire to the presentation Monday night — unless those parties make a public following a presentation on presentation that MWH manipu- move forward with the lawsuit. that was handled by McKiernan apology for statements that he Monday that used Stewart’s name lated population and water usage “Yes, it would take away the — and that he “never accused” said impugned his professional in conjunction with “manipulated projections over the course of need for legal action,” Stewart Stewart of “ever doing anything reputation. data” provided by MWH to three years — between the plant’s said. wrong.” Stewart said he was talking ensure, at all costs, the construc- inception and construction — to Grasso said he would not apol- with his attorney about the matter tion of the North RO water plant. make sure it was built. ogize to Stewart because the See STEWART, page 6A Monumental facelift Report: Fire vehicles had ‘unacceptable mechanical conditions’ Consultant Towler lists at least four trucks By DREW WINCHESTER The “Operational [email protected] Effectiveness Consultant” identi- A new report filed by Bill fied the four vehicles as being in Towler claims at least four city various states of disrepair, includ- fire department vehicles had ing leaking radiators, worn brake “unacceptable mechanical condi- pads, possible steering hazards tions” as a result of “irregular and and various oil leaks, among substandard preventative mainte- other issues. nance and inadequate inspec- Towler also wrote that a vehi- tions.” cle serviced by the city’s fleet Towler wrote that the vehicles department was returned to serv- — which included two 2002 ice with a host of problems, Pierce Rescue Pumpers, a 2002 including unchanged oil, non- Pierce Pumper/Tanker and 2003 operating emergency lights, bare Pierce Pumper Rescue trucks — wires and a frozen pumping were neglected and have since gauge cable, to name a few. been inspected and repaired by Towler, Chief Bill Van Helden Lee County Fleet Fleet and Financial Services Director Maintenance staff. Victoria Bateman did not return MICHAEL PISTELLA Eighteen more fire department requests for comment. Councilmember Bill Deile Kyle Samuels of C.J. Wilkins Core Drilling creates ventilation holes on the Iwo Jima vehicles are waiting to be sched- statue in the Veterans Memorial area of Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve. The uled for inspection by county staff, according to Towler. See REPORT, page 6A drilling serves to dry the core of the statue in preparation for the build-back. The restoration project is being done by Fort Myers sculptor D.J. Wilkins. County staff looking Weight loss challenge to help into newest swim raise funds for summer camp By MEGHAN McCOY day of the event. Each participant center proposal [email protected] To go can build his or her own team of A weight loss challenge is two for the challenge. If an indi- By TIFFANY REPECKI On Monday, the group sub- being held to help raise funds for What: Let’s Do It Together vidual does not have a partner, [email protected] mitted a new proposal involv- a summer camp that teaches Weight Loss Challenge organizers can choose one at the The Lee County ing no county dollars. event or have a partner assigned “It provides everything that young adults how to change their When: 11 a.m. until 6 Commission has directed staff to them. to look into a new proposal we have been looking for,” lifestyle while defeating weight p.m., April 30 issues. The participants will be given brought forward by the Commissioner Ray Judah said. Dr. Mark Smith of Island Where: Coralwood Mall a weight loss challenge sheet, so National Swimming Center According to Judah, the new Coast Pain & Rehabilitation they can track their weigh-ins Corporation. plan suggests that the project be Associates said the weight loss Why: To benefit the Kid’s every two weeks at L.A. Fitness. At Tuesday’s meeting, the completed in phases and the challenge is designed to be a Count Children’s Obesity The first weigh-in will be held Lee County Board of County group would put up $18.2 mil- fund-raiser for the Kid’s Count Foundation to provide from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April Commissioners was expected to lion. The group would provide Children’s Obesity Foundation, scholarships for kids 30. Other weigh-ins will be held reject a proposal from the group the county with $100,000 which will provide scholarships who attend Camp F.I.T. May 14, May 28, June 11, June to turn City of Palms Park into annually on a lease, and if the for Camp F.I.T. He said the foun- 25, July 9 and the final one on an Olympic-caliber swimming project did not pan out, it would dation came about because there July 30. facility. The group was asking reportedly cost only $400,000 are a lot of folks in need in this from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Coach Chris Casey said the the county to put up a $40 mil- to $450,000 to revert to a stadi- economy and the group wants to The challenge is for individu- weight loss challenge will pro- lion bond on the facility. um. be able to provide funds to send als who are 18 years old and vide the foundation with money, County staff had recom- “They would incur all the some kids to camp. older. so it can offer scholarships to help mended that commissioners risk in constructing and recon- The kick-off event for the An entry fee of $10 is required assist parents in paying for Camp reject all proposals from the structing this,” Judah said. Let’s Do It Together Weight Loss for those who wish to participate F.I.T. group because they “are not “They have verified that Challenge will be held in the L.A. in the challenge, which can be “It will bring attention to the financially feasible,” according Fitness parking lot at the done online at to records. See COUNTY, page 6A Coralwood Mall on April 30 www.KidsCountCOF.com or the See CHALLENGE, page 6A Woman reportedly injured while in police custody to file suit against city By TIFFANY REPECKI intent to file suit after providing Georgeann Lytle was trying to police supervisors one month then. [email protected] the city with a reasonable time transfer Sposito, who was 18 at later. Herskowitz argued that one A woman reportedly injured period to investigate and evaluate the time, from one holding cell to Sposito sustained a bruise on only needs to look at the surveil- by a Cape Coral police officer their claim. another following a DUI arrest the side of her face from the lance video of the incident to tell while in custody in 2008 plans to State statute dictates that after when the teen reportedly struck actions. that there was no basis for that file a lawsuit against the city over filing the notice of intent, parties Lytle in the throat with her elbow. In a June 2008 review of the level of force. the incident in the coming must wait six months before fil- “As this time, I put her in an incident, police supervisors found “You only need to look at the months. ing a lawsuit. Herskowitz said arm bar, using the booking room that “the level of force used was video to make that determina- Attorney Jon Herskowitz, who Wednesday that he and Sposito exit door as counter pressure, within policy” and “Lytle’s tion,” he said. is representing Brittany Lynn intend to file the suit when that where I kept her positioned until actions were objectively reason- The only issue police supervi- Sposito, notified the city in six-month period has passed. she could be secured in hand- able in light of the facts and cir- February of his and his client’s On May 20, 2008, Officer cuffs,” Lytle wrote in a report to cumstances confronting her” See WOMAN, page 6A ATAGLANCE COMING EVENT NEWS OF NOTE WHAT’S INSIDE Believe Concert CCPD to host Candlelight Annie’s Mailbox ....9A Horoscopes........9A to support foster care Ceremony this evening Business............8A Obituaries..........3A Several local churches, businesses and The Cape Coral Police Department’s CASH 3: individuals have come together to help sup- victim advocates will host the First Annual Classifieds.............1-5B Police Blotter......2A 9-8-3 / 0-0-9 PLAY 4: port the foster care system.