Finance Director Lisa Griggs Roberson The Government Finance Officers Association presented the Village of Estero with a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its comprehensive financial report for the Fiscal Year ending September 30, 2016. This is the second year in a row that Finance Director Lisa Griggs Roberson has been credited for her work on the Village’s annual financial report. The award is presented to the individual designated as instrumental in their government achieving this award and represents the highest award in government financial reporting.

If you registered with FEMA following Hurricane Irma and received a determination letter regarding your eligibility for assistance, read the letter carefully. It might not be the final answer. You may just need to submit extra documents for FEMA to process your application. Examples of missing documentation may include an insurance settlement letter, proof of residence, proof of ownership of the damaged property, and proof that the damaged property was your primary residence at the time of the disaster. Every survivor has the right to appeal. By appealing, you are asking FEMA to review your case. If you have any [Read More.]

Action Items Land Development Code update contract Council approved the ranking of consultants for the RFQ 2017-01 Village of Estero Land Development Code update.  Staff will negotiate a contract with Canin Associates to provide professional consulting services to update the Village’s transitional Land Development Code.  As part of this process, staff will negotiate with the Number 3 ranked firm, Johnson Engineering, as a sub-contractor to bring increased local knowledge and expertise to the project. The contract will be brought before Council for approval at a future date.  There is $250,000 currently budgeted over two fiscal years, starting in 2017-2018. (Summary [Read More.]

Lee Board of County Commissioners has completed the purchase of about 4,000 acres in southern Lee County – commonly known as Edison Farms – as a Conservation 20/20 preservation site. The $42.4 million purchase ranks as the second-largest single parcel purchased by the Board since the Bob Janes Preserve, which is 5,620 acres. County commissioners have made preserving Edison Farms a top legislative priority for the past two years and voted unanimously for the purchase on Sept. 19. It is an example of the type of environmentally critical land that the Conservation 20/20 program was created to protect and that [Read More.]

Estero Concert Series Artistic Directors Boris Sandler and Bella Gutshtein have announced that the December 10 concert has been canceled due to the fact that the repairs to the Koreshan Art Hall are not yet complete. The Art Hall will remain closed in order to enable repairs to the roof of the building which sustained considerable damage caused by Hurricane Irma. Representatives from the Koreshan Historic Site have indicated the repairs to the historic Art Hall will be completed before the next scheduled concert which is Sunday, January 28, 2018. The Art Hall at the Koreshan State Park is located [Read More.]

Adults, teens and young children came out for the fourth annual Light up Estero event sponsored by the Rotary Club of Estero at the Estero Community Park on Saturday, December 2, 2017. Upon arrival, guests were presented a 2017 Christmas ornament, cookies and water by the RotaKids from Three Oaks Elementary School. Sounds of glee echoed from the bounce slide, other children played games on the lawn, the smell of Naples Smoked BBQ wafted through the air and the adults were entertained by the Estero High School Wildcat Jazz Band. Rotary President Tom Patricca served as master of ceremonies, reminding [Read More.]

The Estero debris drop-off site at the Estero Community Park on 21651 Via Coconut Point will close at 5 p.m., Friday, December 8, 2017. Lee County plans to close public drop off sites this month in preparation for the completion of Hurricane Irma debris collection. Residents may continue to self-haul horticulture debris to North Fort Myers, 17771 N. Tamiami Trail, and Lee County Mosquito Control District, 1840 Gunnery Road. These sites will remain open until the collection efforts have been completed prior to New Year’s Day. In addition, residents can continue to self-haul Construction & Demolition debris at no charge [Read More.]

UPDATES: Lee County Department of Transportation is re-checking ancillary ditches and pipes to known hot-spot areas. Nine DOT crews are working on ditch maintenance. Stakeholder meetings have occurred for the Initial Flood Assessment Projects, including Villages at County Creek, Citrus Park, City of Bonita Springs, Fort Myers RV Park, The Forest, Lee County Port Authority, The Harborage, Hampton Park, Lehigh Acres Municipal Service Improvement District and Pine Lakes Community Association. Completion for the Initial Flooding Assessment Projects are as follows: Imperial River/ Spring Creek/ Halfway Creek/ Estero River: Field work 80% complete Ten Mile Canal/ Island Park/ Briarcliff/ Six Mile [Read More.]