Copp Declines City Manager Position
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
#*.##*#*#**** CAR-RT **R003 15900001003486 IHL .. PAN2 BEL. LJ.BKARY 770 DUNLOP RD island SAM'J BEL FL 33957 REPORT Week of Aug. 9-15,2001 SANIBEL & CAPTIVA, FLORIDA VOLUME 28, NUMBER 31, 24 PAGES 75 CENTS Rally for Sposato Copp declines city manager position The Fraternal Order of Police is hosting a rally for former Sanibel Police Ackley to help city council find more candidates Officer Patsy Sposato on By Pete Bishop finalists, Bonnie Kraft and Bernie Saturday at Gulfside City Staff writer Murphy, withdrew from considera- Park. tion. With the last remaining finalist Although the council scheduled —See page 3 for the city manager post declining a 9 a.m. meeting Friday morning to accept an offer, Sanibel City hoping to have an answer from Council members have authorized Copp, he had not responded by the MJSHNB8S Interim City Manager Sam Ackley council's third meeting of the day, to consult with Florida League of at 3 p.m. AAA.to.the rescue Cities and find a handful of new "He's looking at all the t's and candidates for the council to con- i's; trying to make sure," The American Automobile sider. Councilmember Marty Harrity Association comes to the Michael Copp, currently city told the council. Harrity had been resue of 3.4 million Auto manager of Glenwood Springs, coordinating the city's communi- Club South members in Colo., said no to the job after con- cations with the three finalists. "I Florida, Georgia and sidering an offer that included a told him to look at all the options, Tennessee. ; " $105,000 salary plus $1,300 per but maybe I didn't convey the Michael .Pistella month in car and housing urgency we all feel." Standing water on the island provides mosquitoes with a —See page 7 allowances. The council decided breeding ground, but it also provides the Lee County to make the offer during a special t> See City manager Mosquito Control District with a target to spray, killing J.Peg on snakes meeting July 27, after two other page 4 mosquitoes in their larval state. See page 3. The Webster goes on an Internet search of slithery snakes that are venomous and call Honda home Fort Myers man drowns at Lighthouse Beach Lost child causes —See page 8 By Pete Bishop second in local waters this second search Staff writer summer, On June 21, a Sanibel resident drowned ; ; A Fort Myers man who while swimming on, the effort in two days Ml \i;" ;v r!r^L drowned off" Lighthouse Gulf side of the Sanibel ByAnne Bellew . Workman responds Beach Sunday afternoon Causeway. A swift rip cur- Associate editor may have been caught by a rent has been blamed in that City Councilmember Judy strong undertow, Sanibel incident. Seven-year-old Valeria Workman responds to a DANGEROUS Deputy Fire Chief Dave Lacomb said all areas Hernandez from Cali, recent commentary by Lacomb said Tuesday. around Sanibel are safe for Colombia disappeared from her Mayor Nola Theiss. Ivan Stoller, 65, was swimming, but swimmers family group near the Tarpon CURRENT pronounced dead at 6 p.m. need to take precautions Bay Beach access on Monday —See page 9 Sunday, two hours after the and realize that conditions afternoon. She was last seen at Sanibel Police Department in the water are not always the water's edge- about 4:10 Editorial cartoon and the Sanibel Fire & the same. p.m, but it was a few minutes Rescue District began a "First, know your limita- before the family realized she Alex Rheault's editorial search in response to a 911 tions," said ' Lacomb. was riot in sight and a few more cartoon says good-bye to call. In addition to Sanibel "Know your personal Before they realized they could- 'Ding' Darling's Lou authorities, the U.S. Coast strength and stamina and n't find her. Hinds. Guard, the Lee County the conditions you usually 911 was called. "Within 15 Sheriff's Department and experience while swim- —See page 9 minutes of the original call," county Emergency Medical ming versus the current said Sgt. Mike "Moon" Murray, Services joined in the effort. conditions." one of the Sanibel officers who Letters Stoller was found near Conditions in the Gulf shore at 5:25 p.m. and air- responded, ' "Sanibel Fire Islanders get their say. Sunday may have been District was there with the per- lifted ... to HealthPark affected by Tropical Storm Medical Center at 5:45 p.m. sonal watercraft, the Coast —See page 9 Barry, which created chop- Guard was there; we had two Although the Gulf of pier waves and possibly a helicopters, EMS and. -the Mexico and Southwest stronger undertow than nor- Sheriff's Department, and Michael Pistella Florida are known for calm One of three signs at the five parking lot surf and safe beaches, \> See Drowning entrances to the Lighthouse Beach area. Sunday's drowning was the page 3 t> See Child, page 2 Island Gardening Ron Sympson says now is the time to plant. County commission asks for contract on Bunche Beach —See page 15 By Pete Bishop purchased, providing a sanctuary sition program manager. the purchase total only about $3.5 Staff writer for local wildlife and possibly pas- According to terms of a court million. The commissioners have sive recreation opportunities for order, the land could be developed decided they will take the remain- Lee County Commissioners tourists and residents. at a rate of two units per acre, mak- ing money out of county reserves, have asked county staff members Although the U.S. Fish and ing it possible that 1,460 homes to be replenished when more •ENVIRONMENT——.page 6 to complete preparation of a pur- Wildlife Service has tentatively could be built on the tract if the Conservation 2020 money •BUSINESS , page 7 chase agreement concerning 733 agreed to split the costs of the pur- county does not make the pur- becomes available toward the end acres of undeveloped land sur- chase, commissioners authorized chase, Clemens told the commis- of this year. If Fish & Wildlife • OPINION .-.page 9 rounding Bunche Beach before the drafting of a $6.38 million con- sion at Monday's management and expands its boundaries as expected next Tuesday's board meeting. The tract whether the federal govern- planning board meeting. early next year, the service will •LOOKING BACK page 10 land, which lies off Summerlin and ment-helps or not. , Summerlin S ands Limited then pay Conservation 2020 about •DATELINE— .page 11 John Morris roads between the The county has been consider- Partnership, which owns the land, one-half the total purchase price. Sanibel Causeway and San Carlos ing the property since at least would like to sell the acreage in the •TV LISTINGS . page 16 Boulevard, will go into the coun- 1998, according to Robert next few months, but Conservation t> See.-Bnnehe Beach ty's Conservation 2020 program if Clemens, the county's land acqui- 2020 funds currently available for • CLASSIFIEDS- -page 21 page 4 2 • Week of Aug. 9-15, 2001 • ISLAND REPORTER and asked if he was looking for a lost little OPTIMIST CHECK TO REC girl who spoke Spanish. CHILD "Yes. Have you seen her?" From page 1 They said she had appeared tired and frightened and a family that spoke Spanish had taken her with them and headed back dozens of emergency workers and civil- west from the lighthouse. The individual ians —- all of them looking for this little on the beach said he thought the family girl- was staying at Sanibel Arms West and Murray started at Tarpon Beach, head- ing west, Officer TC Tyus headed east, and that's where Murray found them, about 6 Officer Mark Steele stayed with the fami- p.m., just short of the resort. ly, along with Police Aide Rene Gonzalez "That little girl had walked all the way who was called in as an interpreter. As to Lighthouse Beach — that's four miles," Murray went up the beach, he realized Murray said. "She apparently came away there were not too many people on the from the water looking for her parents and beach and the little girl would have been went the wrong way. so conspicuous that someone, anyone, "This was a remarkable example of a would have noticed her (or he himself 100-percent cooperative effort," Murray Michael Pistella would have seen her). So Murray went continued, "with a really good response Richard McCurry and Randy Carson, officer and president of the back the other way, toward Lighthouse time from everyone. And I'm so glad we Sanibel-Captiva Optimist Club, present Sanibel Recreation Center Beach where someone waved him down Youth Program Director Dave DeFonzo with a $1,300 check. The found the little girl... What a relief!" funds are a portion of the proceeds of the Optimists' July 4 Road Rally and picnic and will go toward paying for this summer's pizza lunches during Summer Rec. The pizza was provided by Mona Lisa's. ' 3 bedroom, 2 bath, great room, screened deck • 2 Bedroom, 2 bath • Gated community, excellent location Sanctuary I* Very open, cheerful &C new! • Top floor locale • Marble, wood, granite Great floor plan !• Room for 3 cars, large storage room • Lots of tile, unit all redone • Two master suites 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath 1 Deeded beach access at end of street • On-site rentals • Wheel chair accessible Caged pool/spa, features galore $325,000 (100950) $699,000 (100941) $299,900(80031103) $1,100,000 (010307) Rosemary Robinson Mike McMurray Susan Lenz Ralph Hansen 472-5187x240 472-5187x250 472-5187 x 252 472-5187x221 Till-: I'ALMSOF SANIItl'!!.