Red Cross is providing financial assistance to homes severely impacted by Hurricane Ian
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, the American Red Cross has worked closely with partners to provide emergency shelter, food, water, relief supplies, emotional support and health services to people in need. Thanks to our generous donors, the Red Cross is putting emergency financial assistance into the hands of Florida residents whose homes were severely impacted. Learn more at RedCross.org/Ian. This financial assistance will allow people to make their own decisions and prioritize what their family needs most to start recovering. Funds can help families replace clothes or food, offset transportation costs, or support any other immediate need. Spending these funds locally will [...]
NOTICE: Even if you were denied in the past, you need to visit the Estero Disaster Recovery Center before January 12
If you are a Hurricane Ian survivor who suffered damage to your property, you have additional time to apply for federal disaster assistance. You must be registered before January 12. Even if you were originally denied assistance, the Disaster Recovery Center may be able to offer you different options or programs that would apply to your situation. The Village strongly suggests that if you have been initially denied by FEMA that you come into the Disaster Recovery Center to review your file and explore options with the FEMA staff, in person. A Disaster Recover Center may be able to help [...]
Council conducted workshops on Hurricane Ian and the MPO’s Rail Trail Feasibility Study on December 7, 2022
Public comment on non-agenda items: Tauheedah Mateen /SBA Public Affairs Specialist spoke assuring the community FEMA and the Small Business Administration are still here and continuing relief and recovery efforts in the area. They are working out of the Disaster Recovery Center located in the Village Hall. A resident of Bella Terra stated her concerns about traffic safety issues along East Corkscrew Road caused by residents and dump trucks driving too fast and causing accidents. Hurricane Ian update Village Manager Steve Sarkozy gave an update on the Village’s efforts to assist residents who have been adversely impacted by the hurricane. He [...]
Light up Estero – Unity in the Community – a special event on December 3, 2022
(New Horizons Choir. See all the photos of Light up Estero in a slide show at the end of this article.) A great turnout by the Estero community on a beautiful day to gather and celebrate the holiday season and continuing recovery from Hurricane Ian at the Light up Estero event held at the Ocean Church. There were two different bounce houses to the delight of the children, and each family received vouchers for the various food trucks on site as well as a Christmas ornament. Village of Estero shopping bags were distributed with a suggested list of items [...]
Interfaith Charities food pantry free to those in need in our area
Interfaith Charities of South Lee offers food from their pantry weekly to those in need living in households south of Gladiolus Road extending to Coconut Road in Estero. They also offer assistance for past due electric and water bills through a United Way grant. New clients must have proof of address and ID for all household members to register. Interfaith Charities of South Lee is a community service organization serving South Fort Myers, Estero and San Carlos Park. They are open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at 17592 Rockefeller Circle, Ft. Myers 33967, 239-267-3510. To learn more [...]
Kevin Greenville selected to serve as Village of Estero Finance Director
Kevin Greenville was introduced as the Village’s new Finance Director at a recent Council budget hearing. Greenville came to the Village having previously served as the chief financial officer for multiple governments in Maryland, and in several finance positions for a $1billion revenue health insurance company in the federal employee benefits health insurance program. Greenville is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and has a Master’s of Science, Accountancy from the University of Maryland, and a Bachelor’s of Science in Financial Economics from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. He sits on the Board of Directors for the Government Finance Officers [...]
Estero residents receiving Hurricane Ian assistance in the Village Hall
FEMA now has a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in the Village Hall Council Chambers. The DRC is available to provide residents with everything they need to know about how to apply for assistance as a result of Hurricane Ian. FEMA staff assisted 14 residents the first afternoon they were open in Estero. They ask residents who have insurance to file with them first and then come to the DRC with the insurance estimate. If a resident has been denied by their insurance agency, they should bring the denial in to the DRC. They stressed that residents should continue to ask [...]
Village Attorney, FEMA maps, and septic to sewer projects among topics presented before Council on November 16, 2022
Community Development Director Mary Gibbs “presents” Howard Levitan (on Zoom) with the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association’s Outstanding Elected Official Award The meeting started with Community Development Director Mary Gibbs recognizing former Councilmember and Planning, Zoning & Design Board Co-Chair Howard Levitan for receiving the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association’s Outstanding Elected Official Award. Gibbs stated that, “This is a very prestigious award given out annually for outstanding leadership and commitment. It’s unheard of to receive two awards in one year and is certainly a testament to Howard’s commitment, vision and passion.” Levitan, who served two terms on [...]
Council to conduct a workshop on utilities expansion following their meeting on November 16, 2022
Council will start their meeting at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, addressing the Greater Estero Chamber of Commerce’s financial support for strategic plans for future growth and impact. They will then review a resolution for Village Attorney and a final budget amendment, then conduct public hearings for Milan Villas rezoning, flood hazard reduction standards and adopting the new Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Council will then conduct a workshop for an update on utility expansion projects. The full agenda is here.
Council conducted budget hearings on November 9, 2022
Public Budget Hearings Resolution 2022-33 – final millage rate Council approved this resolution adopting the ad valorem taxes for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 at a millage rate of 0.75 mills, which is a reduction from the prior year’s rate of 0.77. Council has voted five times to reduce the tax rate since incorporation, making Estero’s tax rate the lowest in Southwest Florida. Resolution 2022-34 – Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget Village Manager Steve Sarkozy gave a short presentation on the FY 2022-2023 budget commenting on the fact that the Village is debt-free, having paid off the loan for the Estero on the River [...]