Sanibel Library Holds Grand Opening City Seeks to Clarify Position in Lawsuit
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' l> •'.•'.•• . • . .. ' Week of November 18-24, 2004 SANIBEL & CAPTIVA, FLORIDA VOLUME 31, NUMBER 47 24 PAGES 75 CENTS Sanibel Library holds Grand Opening Drawbridge hit by barge By KEVIN DUFFY By KAREN NELSON Staff Writer Managing Editor, Islander Some Sanibel residents said that Lee County should More than a hundred islanders pre- have done more to look for structural damage to the sent to celebrate the Grand Opening of causeway drawbridge after a construction barge hit the the Sanibel Public Library on Sunday, structure Saturday, causing traffic to be delayed for November 14. In his opening remarks, more than two hours. President of the Board of Directors A Kelly Brothers barge was being towed by tugboat Tom Krekel thanked the staff for per- when it struck the bridge at 6:45 a.m., causing the forming well under very difficult con- island to be closed to traffic until 9 a.m. Tidal condi- ditions while construction was under- tions were likely a major factor, said Lee Department of way. Transportation Deputy Director Paul Wingard. He gave an update on the interiocal "What appeared to happen, they were attempting to agreement with Lee County. The last traverse the opening when the tide was going out and 10-year agreement, whereby 65 per- running fairly swiftly," he said. centof the library taxes collected on Sanibel came back to Sanibel, expired this year. The decision was made dur- ing renegotiations that the Sanibel 74* Public Library will apply to become its I I own taxing district, meaning that taxes collected here will stay here. Fort Myers Beach already has such an arrangement. The taxing district needs 3 to be approved by the state legislature '.'$.' and Krekel said mat the process takes Photo by Benny Severance about a year. Sanibei Public Library's new wing "The Sanibel Library will remain independent as it has been for the last about the shell collection that used to be Sanibel and just done a phenomenal job 40 years, versus becoming part oi" the in the front window. The windows of it." Lee County-Library System," Krekel were replaced to bring them up to code Board Member Jack Perlowski, said. He noted that, "acting very much and match the new building and the old who served as the Expansion in the. best Interests of the citizens of shelves didn't fit the new windows; Committee chairman, said that the new 'SaoifcflMi&jiMdfof the Board, we will they are "in the process of getting the addition was done on budget, adding continue to,do everything possible to shelves and the shells back in." that "Tom said we were on schedule. Photo by Renny Severance keep the Sanibel Public Library as ihe She pointed out two wonderful The schedule changed every week so finest in its class in the state of Florida." "dollops of icing" in the new addition. we had to be on schedule." A Kelly Brothers barge rests against the Sanibel draw- bridge while damage inspections are made, Library Director Pat Allen thanked One was the Calusa windows in the The single largest unexpected obsta- the staff, noting that this past year, local history room, by Luc and Dee cle was the Causeway, which increased The tugboat was heading south but its captain appar- "other duties as required" took on a Century. Allen was very pleased to the cost of building the new addition by ently misjudged the current as it moved southwest, whole new meaning and presenting have these, the "sister panels of the 40 percent, much of that due to the cost Wingard said. The barge then struck and got caught in staff members with a gift certificate for sarrie design [at the Florida Museum of of concrete. He noted that concrete on the bridge's fender system, intended to protect vessels a therapeutic massage. We still "have a Natural History] in Gainesville." She the mainland is $70 per yard; with the from hitting the bridge. No injuries were reported. few loose ends to tie up," she noted. also noted the Charlie McCullough causeway weight limits, it was $175 Wingard said that Lee DOT inspected the bridge for "We know about them, but hope you photos jn the local history room, saying damage and found none. won't notice them." that McCullough continues to capture Allen said that people have asked "and has captured the history of See LIBRARY See BRIDGE page 2 page 2 trick," he said. "I want us to hire an outside pro, and have them look at the letter." City seeks to clarify position in lawsuit City Manager Judie Zimomra said that the city has been contacted by Merribeth Famham of Famham & Associates By KEVIN DUFFY Tuesday. He did, however, bristle at the suggestion that an about taking on the job. Farnham assisted the city in deal- Staff Writer outside consultant should first be hired to review the docu- ing with the media and community following Hurricane ment before being approved. Charley. City Council on Tuesday decided to send a letter to the "We have been dysfunctional on this for six months," "We are looking at what funds are available and what county's registered voters and transponder holders rein- Brown said. "We've just got to put timelines on this." changes to the budget would have to be made in order to forcing the city's position to continue its legal fight against Vice-mayor Dick Walsh, who said he would not approve proceed," Zimomra said. the county for damages related to the toll structure on the the letter being mailed without changes, pushed for the city Council voted 3-1 to re-draft the letter and to pursue Sanibel Causeway. to contract with an outside consultant to insure that contracting with Farnham. Harrity voted no, and Council considered a draft letter prepared by Sanibel's message is properly communicated to the rest of Councilman Jim Jennings was excused. Councilman Steve Brown, who was appointed by the board the county. Such action would serve as a counter-measure As council discussed the matter, Lee County Nov. 2 to replace Ufagsx Marty Harrity as spokesman for to the county's position that Sanibel's lawsuit for damages Commissioners directed staff to borrow $45 million in tem- the city on the issue. After reading the letter into the record, related to the county's failure to properly maintain the porary financing for a replacement fixed-span bridge and Brown agreed with some of his fellow councilmembers bridge is what triggered a toll increase on Nov. 1 from $3 renovations to the toll facility during their public hearing in that the letter was not yet ready to be mailed. to $6 for cash customers and 50 cents to $3 for transponder Fort Myers. Commissioners approved borrowing up to $40 "It says 'DRAFT' here in big letters," he said, adding users. million for spans B and C in April. The county maintains that he never intended for the letter to go out as presented "An interview here, a letter there isn't going to do the that the city's lawsuit has prevented the county from obtain- ing permanent bond financing, thus necessitating the tem- porary measure. ZOiTM . CMHKNIMUES Brown's letter informs county residents of the commis- sion's decision on Nov. 1 not to release the city's second • LETTERS...., PAGE 6 Club celebrates Sanibel Fishing Carla Johnston payment of surplus toll revenue for the year. The amount. and more Pier ;& Bob Janes in excess of $200,000, is on top of the $430,000 the city • BOOK REVIEW PAGE 8 received April 30. Such action, the letter states, is why the city should remain firm in its conviction to pursue its law- • DATELINE PAGE 12 suit. The Fishing Pier will \ Two commentaries on Zonta observes.a birthday 'different subjects. Brown didn't back off from any of the language in the • SPORTS PAGE 14 and works against gender • ;open on Saturday follow-: letter, particularly in his assertion that the county wants a violence. ; ing repair of hurricane ! • ..TVySTINGS.. PAGE 15 (damage. i free hand to over-run the island, much as it had prior to Sanibel achieving cityhood in 1974. In the letter, Brown openly suggests that the county is attempting to bankrupt »-• PERMITS ., PAGE 18 See page 5 — See page 31 — See page 7= See LETTER PAGE 23 page 3 2 • Weekof November 18-24, 2004 • ISLAND REPORTER the building under construction, which caught people's eye. „ State, county and federal challenges included the LIBRARY $27,000 paid in County impact fees. Construction was BRIDGE held up at one point because they didn't file an asbestos Fromi page 1 report for some demolition on the old building, which \Y2S From page 1 only 10 years old and hadao asbestos. The state said that they "didn't file an asbestos report stating that there was "We looked at the bridge OR Saturday, we basically per yard plus a $15 delivery charge on Sanibel, and there no asbestos" and it took four weeks to clear it up. were 200,000 yards.of concrete just in the pilings that sup- did a visual inspection," he said. "There was really no port the building. ! The library wanted to stock the 400-gallon aquarium noticeable damage to the bridge or the fender system." The weight limits also meant the deli veries were made at with local fish and shells but since the fish were under- Sanibel Councilman Steve Brown said that much night, when there was no one to receive them: they were sized, they needed to get special permission from Fish and more should have been done.