Undersea MARCH 4,1994 f\ VOLUME 23 ,<•'"} NUMBER 9 island 3 SECTIONS, 52 PAGES REPORTER Alligator flushed out Shell Show winners announced By Marianne Dila Strickland Staff Writer Wednesday at a special preview dinner to the 1994 Sanibel Shell Fair & Show, the winners of the various competitions were announced. This is the 57th year for the world-renowned shell show, which began with islanders display- ing their collections at the Island Inn. The fair and show runs today, tomorrow and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Sanibel Community Center. Parking and admission to the fair is free; admission to the show is $2. * Winning the Master's Award for 1994, Sue Stephens, a Sanibel resident of 18 years, had to admit she was very excited. Looking down the glass-topped cases that extended 35 feet across the exhibit area, Stephens said, "I've been col- lecting and putting this exhibit together for a long, long time. Some of the shells I've had for over 20 years." Her collection is considered a scientific exhibit. ALL I WANTED WAS A 3/4-INCH PIPE FITTING—A 4-foot alligator came knocking at Criteria for winning the master's was that the the door of Nave Plumbing on Periwinkle Way Monday. However, the store was closed, exhibit had to have won either the and the Sanibel Police Department had to escort the disgruntled customer away. Conchologists of America Award (COA), The Dupont Award by the Delaware Museum, or the Smithsonian Award. Stephens' exhibit had already won the COA and the Dupont. "Now, there is nothing left to win with this * Council to refinance CHR debt exhibit," she said. "I have to take it home and By Jennifer S. Thuma Due to the currently low inter- ered by the council would have put it to bed and start on something new." Staff Writer est rates, the refinancing refinanced the $1.8 million at Stephens has two fossil shells named after The Sanibel City Council would be considerably lower 4.75 percent over a 10-year her. One has already been published, and opted to refinance the than the interest rate currently period with annual payments another will be released soon. These are fossil Community Housing and paid. of $140,408, with a remaining shells that she dug up; believing them to be Resources, Inc. $1.8 million Most of the debt is and will balance of $1,107, 455 to be unidentified shells, sent them to researchers debt at an approximate inter- continue to be paid by the resi- refinanced at the end of the who studied them and after verifying they had est rate of 4.7 percent for 15 dents of BMRH. Jan Hyatt, term. not been previously identified, the shells were years Tuesday. director of CHR pointed out Legal fees for both options given Stephens' name. The facilitator of the city's that currently BMRH residents would be around $5,000, Another big winner in the 1994 show, this federally mandated Below contribute approximately although City Attorney Robert one in the Artistic Division, was Goz Gosselin, Market Rate Housing (BMRH) $145,000 of the $168,578. Pritt believed the fees would formerly a Sanibel resident, now of Fort Myers. currently pays eight percent on while the remaining sum is probably be somewhat higher Gosselin submitted eight entries and won eight the loan. covered by the city, which than the figures quoted on the awards. Annual payments under the addresses maintenance needs, memorandum. The one he was most proud of was a fossil new financing would be an insurance costs and other mis- In order to proceed with a mirror first prize plus the Dorothy Putnam estimated $168,578 with no celleaneous expenses. plan, City Manager Gary Price Award. remaining balance at the end The other option presented "I had told my wife, Terri, when we brought in of the term to be refinanced. by NationsBank and consid- •please see page 2A •please see page 9A CEPD details $10.9 million beach restoration proposal By Max Friedersdorf District engineer Tom Campbell 89, Captiva property owners paid million reimbursement is on the Staff Writer got the go-ahead from the commis- $5.9 million of the costs through a way. The five Captiva Erosion sioners to proceed with details of special assessment, but property On Wednesday night, Attorney Prevention District (CEPD) commis- the project which will extend the owners were promised a rebate Stroud presented the commission- sioners waded into the murky 5.8-mile Captiva beach up to 90 when the federal reimbursement ers with a written legal opinion waters of deciding how to divide a feet in some of the worst eroded was received. that, based on contract agree- $1.76 million federal rebate spots. Five years later, Captiva officials Wednesday evening. Campbell said the Captiva beach have received word that a $1.76 •please see page 2A After listening to a complex rec- erosion continues to be a serious ommendation by the district problem, particularly with the Council to discuss sewer's future Tuesday lawyer, Nancy Stroud, the commis- heavy wave action experienced this sioners decided to delay a final week, "but, I don't see a disaster; I A special Sanibel City Council city's sewer system. If council j decision on how to divide up the the erosion is not of critical propor- 'Town Hall-type meeting will be members decide to expand, state \ money among Captiva property tions." -held at the Sanibel Community law requires that property owners:: owners. The $10.9 million renourishment ^Association Tuesday March 8 at connect to the system within 365 ; At the same meeting the com- will go through a series of public |:6:30 p.m. The adoption of an days of installation. Although; missioners also received the first hearings and a referendum on jisland-wide Wastewater Master sewer expansion could benefit the; formal glimpse of another beach Captiva before final approval. : Plan will be the topic of discussion island's environment, connection \ renourishment project slated for When Captiva last renourished I The city council will be dis-to the system would be costly to | 1996 with a $10.9 million price tag. its 25.000-foot long beach in 1988- xussing possible expansion of the property owners. j 2A • MARCH 4, 1994 • ISLAND REPORTER YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS!! - 93-16632 —CHR REFINANCING • 5BR Gulf Front Estate w/Incredible Views •from page 1A current debt either be kept seperate from the concerned that the issue was not clear to the • Fireplace/Gieat Rin/Gourmet Kitchen/Library Valtin Court project completely and left until a public or the council and that a hasiy decision • Heated GULF FRONT Pool, Screened Lanai instructed council members that they needed to might be made without the input of citizens. make several decisions; the first: decide whether later date when plans for the project were •Reduced to$1,595,000 reviewed and approved by the council, or that Referring to the council he said, "People don't • Call JIM HALL at 472-3322 Today! they would be willing to pledge the causeway even know what they're voting on up there." surplus funds as a backing in case CHR would the refinancing and the project be put into two ever default in the future; whether the city separate draws under the same loan. "In 1984 we were told that BMRH would only would require CHR to deed the BMRH units and Price said he favored financing the debt for 15 use $25,000 a year. Now we're talking about land to the city; or whether the city would pre- years at a rate of 4.7% under the NationsBank $1.8 million indebtedness...We're talking about clude CHR from issuing debt on the property in plan in part because of the uncertainty of inter- pledging $200,000 a year of excess causeway some other legal fashion. Price said that the city est rates in the coming years. funds. When will this stop?" asked resident NEW LISTINGS LOTS & COMMERCIAL PRICE REDUCTION would have to be willing to pledge the causeway Price also said that he and the city attorney Maggie Greenberg. funds, which are usually around $700,000 per were concerned about underwriting the debt for Other residents believed that the proposal to YOUR GET AWAY 90-13600 year, because at this time there is no other rev- CHR, and that there was a question as to who refinance the debt sounded like a good one. • Canal Lot 100 x 130 x 160 x 145 approx. • Seawalled with Dock, enue available for refinancing. really owns the housing property. He said that Richard Curtain, of Committee of the Islands Deeded Beach Access • Pool Sized Lot w/Room for Growing, Relaxing, he was concerned also that the public might get (COTI.) said he strongly recommended taking Entertaining • Asking $299,000 • Call CHARLENE TIMOTHY, GRI In addition, the question of whether to attach 472-8552 the financing of new BMRH units to the refi- the message that the issue is "a done deal," and action. "The city is on the hook anyway. We that the public is concerned about the entire might as well get better interest rates. At least THAT'S RIGHT! $125,000... 91-14880 nancing of the current debt had to be decided. • Corner location, CLEARED and ready to build! • Walk to GULF project in general. we're getting the rates down to a reasonable VERY RARELY OFFERED! 94-17717 "EXCLUSIVE SW FLORIDA LIVING" BEACH! Established neighborhood! • Lot 23 East Rocks • Priced to sell Approximately $2,600,000 would be required to • The Lifestyle of Olde Sanibel! • Magnificent 3 Story 4 BR/5.5 BA Estate Pritt added that he was not in complete level." at $125,000 • Call HAP CONNELLY at 472-0005 refinance the existing debt as well as to provide • Two Bedrooms, Two Baths on the Beachl • Mediterranean Style w/Lush Tropical Landscaping agreement with all terms of the financing, but The council decided to pursue further investi- • Small, Family Complex - Only Eight Units funds for new BMRH units, known as Valtin EXTRA TOUCHES 92-15800 • Private Enclave w/River & Harbour Views that the refinancing could definitely be done.