Canterbury students check out Still first on Sanibel and Captiva VOL. 28, NO. 22 TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1989 TWO SECTIONS, 56 PAGES 50 CENTS Causeway financing: A history of controversy By Steve Ruediger Islander staff writer The history of financing the Sanibel Causeway is a history of controversy. It is also a story still in the making, with new events and new problems arising. The most recent events, aside from the mounting controversy over new Sanibel bridge proposals, in- cludes the Lee County Commission approval of a bond validation for a $10 million Blind Pass Bridge bond to be paid off from Sanibel Causeway tolls. Another issue is the city's receiving the latest six- month check for their share of bridge revenues. That check was for $404,055.92. Once upon a time ... a bridge to Sanibel was first proposed in 1955 but was not built until 1963. The bond that paid for its cstruction was paid off in 1975. The issue over replacing the causeway bridge continues to heat up. Amid fear that if a use wasn't found for the causeway funds the toll would be eliminated, and questions over the uses suggested for those funds, a SOB committee credo: new bond was issued in 1979. The new bond issue was preceded by three years of court cases over proposed uses for the funds. 'We are a cohesive force and can move a bridge!' The next bond came in 1987. That $75.1 million bond By Frances Adams "Ail of a sudden we're going to rip up islands, we're created the Transportation Facility Enterprise Fund, Islander staff writer going to move'things around. Nobody knows what the which receives the combined toll revenues of the thing's going to look like. Nobody knows how much it's Sanibel Causeway and the Cape Coral parallel span "Somebody has made the decision that we're going going to cost. Nobody knows if it's going to work. bridges. Most of the money from that bond went to pay to run out and spend somewhere in the neighborhood Nobody even knows if $50 million is going to do it. But for the second Cape span. of $50 million in some time frame that is yet really not yet we have to make the decision immediately," add- Now a new Sanibel bridge and a new bond to pay for defined, for some reasons that no one can seem to ex- ed the Sanibel resident. it are being proposed. plain to our highly literate population," came the The resounding applause echoed the frustration felt The 1955 proposal came from two Miami firms who clear voice from the balcony. by most of the 334 attendees halfway through the Save convinced the state to do a study of the cosKlfvjeiifed "Tell us the truth. Tell us the facts. Even if they're Our Bridge public meeting last Tuesday night at in building a bridge to Sanibel. The study srrowfecfcfiat not the truth, tell us something," the man urged, Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ. the proposed $1.50 toll would not be enough to pay for pleading technical ignorance. Moderator Doug Wilson, a retired judge, conducted the bridge and the idea was dropped. "Seems to me that we are rushing into something, the second SOB meeting in an orderly fashion to a Then came Hugo Lindgren, who owned a guif-to-bay for some reason, to benefit somebody," he said, liken- property which is now known as Shell Harbor. He \g the lack of information to a shell game. Please see SOB, page 9A believed Sanibel property values would be enhanced if a bridge were built and offered to advance the money for initial studies (to be repaid when the bond was issued) and to donate land for the Sanibel end of the Bridgetown meeting set for June 1 bridge. ' II you have any questions at all about the represtatives, and a Greiner engineer to attend a Sanibel Bridge and causeway proposals, you can town meeting to present the improvement alter- A bridge authority was set up and a $3.9 million bond ask "the big boys" at an officially advertised town natives and to answer questions regarding the issue was proposed. The bridge authority board was meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 1, at Sanibel bridge proposals. composed of the members of the Lee County Commission. Community Center on Periwinkle Way. Price also invited the U.S. Coast Guard to send a In response to public pressure, City Manager representative. Members of the Sanibel City The validation of those bonds was fought by a group Gary Price has arranged for Lee County and Council also will be present. of citizens called the Sanibel Captiva Taxpayers Department of Transportation and Engineering League, but the bonds were validated in 1961 and the bridge and causeway were completed in 1963. Lindgren donated land for the road right of way on Sanibel and the land is now occupied by the Sanibel- Alligator kills large dog off Kincaid Court Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce. state alligator control agent and was taken to be The net revenue from the causeway has steadily in- By Steve Ruediger creased over the years, starting at $263,000 in 1964 and Islander staff writer destroyed. Sanibel Police Officer J.R. Wilson said he had tried now exceeding $3 million a year. A 90-pound Labrador retriever dog was killed early unsuccessfully two times in the past to capture that This constant increase in revenue has taken place last Tuesday morning, May 23, by an alligator in a particular alligator. while the average toll paid has been dropping with the p near Kincaid Court. The dog was believed to State control agents were also called in last week to use of ticket books and now the window stickers. In ave been swimming in the canal. The 7-foot alligator was caught Wednesday by a Please see ALLIGATOR, page 19A Please see BONDS, page 14A < was violating the noise ordinance by working with the car. CM loud machinery after 5 p.m. The Cape Coral man was surprised it was after 5 p.m. and quit work immediate- Sanibel police assisted the sheriff's department last cc POLICE ly. He said he had lost track of the time. Thursday morning by picking up a man on Captiva Ul D BEAT who had requested he be taken in for detoxification. z A Sanibel woman last Wednesday brought a wallet The police turned him over to sheriff's deputies at the to the police station. The wallet contain credit cards toll facility on the causeway. and other items belonging to a New Jersey man. She told police she had found the items a couple weeks ago An Illinois man was charged with careless driving The wife of Aspen Colorado Police Chief John Good- but had not had time to get to the police station for Thursday after he misjudged the S-curve (Wegryn win called Sanibel police last Wednesday to let the of- those two weeks. Curve) on Sanibel-Captiva Road while going about 50 fice know her husband had not lost his badge on miles per hour. The wheels of his car went off the road- Sanibel as previously reported. She said he had found Martha Beck Kildow of Sanibel was charged last way, which caused him to slam on his brakes, which I the badge. Wednesday with violation of right of way after she hit resulted in the back end of the car sliding into the on- a car driven by a Fort Myers' woman. Kildow was tur- coming lane of traffic where his auto hit the side of a A heavy equipment operator on Periwinkle Way was ning left onto Periwinkle Way from the driveway of car driven by a Fort Myers' woman. s notified by police at 6:09 p.m. last Wednesday that he the C&S Bank. She told police she did not see the other •o w .3 BOAT& •#-, Bob '* MARINE AUCTION! Lorenz Roofing INC SAT., JUNE 10th-10 A.M. SUN., JUNE 11th-1 P.M. FLA. CERT. #CCC014217 'CONSIGNMENTS ACCEPTED AUCTION LOCATION: Palm Grove Marina, 2500 Main Street, Ft. Myers SPECIALIZING IS Beach, FL. • REPAIRS • RE-ROOFING ITEMS AUCTIONED INCLUDE: Power Boats, Sail Boats, Yachts, BUILT-UP • GRAVEL • SHINGLES Trailerable Boats, Marina Equipment. "Everything from a 1989 21 ft. • COMMERCIAL ROOFING CEDAR SHAKES • TILE • SINGLE PLY Galaxy Cuddy Cabin to a 36 ft. Gibson Houseboat!" SV METAL TERMS: Cash or approved Check. 10% Buyer's Premium will be added to all winning • FREE ESTIMATES j CONDOMINIUM ~l x [ MAINTENANCE PROGRAM | Bids. Titles will not be released until funds are available. GAF NORD • BRAI • OWENS CORNING • CELOTEX* - MEMBER PREVIEW DATE: Friday, June 9th, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. FACTORY APPROVED APPLICATORS BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU SWFRCA S FOR MORE INFO CALL: (813) 995-0869 or (813) 575-2276 CHAMBER OF COMME•ROR f 24 HOUR SERVICE ' FT. MYERS 'Some boats and equipment will be sold at absolute, others will be sold at reserve with a minimum bid! CAPE CORAL SAN CARLOS PARK FT. MYERS 13180 N. Cleveland Ave., Suite 208 18408 MATANZAS ROAD Larry Latham N. Ft. Myers, FL 33903 MAURICE D. DAWKINS, Auctioneer 772-0088 267-8^17 auct/oneers.inc FL LIC. #AU303, #AB427 Sanlbel's Largest Gallery Exhibits AAIM REALTY GROUP • Original Paintings • Jewelry • Limited Edition Prints • Unique Shelligrams 2365 PERIWINKLE WAY • Mobiles & Sculptures • Posters SANIBEL ISLAND FL. • Quality Custom Framing 33957 472-1546 520 Tarpon Bay Road, across from Bailey's Daily 9 to 5, except Sunday TOLL FREE 800-237-3342 472-1193 • 472-8311 I HOMES QUALITY, CUSTOM CONSTRUCTION GULF RIDGE — 3 bedroom, 2 bath, uniquely designed with atrium; perfectly secluded.