Lee County update on response and recovery efforts in aftermath of Hurricane Ian
September 29, 2022 – Lee County is actively engaged in search and rescue efforts, assessing infrastructure and structural damage and intensifying other response and recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Ian, which caused catastrophic damage throughout Lee County. USAR – Urban Search and Rescue – crews from local agencies such as fire, law enforcement and EMS – began before daylight. Also, Federal Urban Search and Rescue teams from across the country are deploying. These are experts trained in all types of rescue scenarios. The State Emergency Operations Center is helping expedite this. And Florida Urban Search and Rescue Task [Read More.]
Hurricane Ian update from Lee County September 28, 2022
Lee County has the following updates Wednesday morning on Hurricane Ian: If you need to get to a shelter, proceed with caution as conditions worsened overnight, and drivers may encounter debris and squalls. About 3,800 people have evacuated to Lee County shelters. Don’t put your trash, recycling or yard waste out today. Lee County has just announced haulers also will not collect on Thursday. If you have an emergency or perceived emergency, you should still call 911 even if high winds prevent in-person emergency responses. If you call 911 and it’s an emergency, during the time of high winds, Lee [Read More.]
Estero’s tax rate reduced by Council at their meeting on September 21, 2022
Public Budget Hearings Resolution 2022-27 – 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 to reduce the tax rate every year except the first year following incorporation and in 2020 due to COVID. Estero’s tax rate is the lowest in the region. Here is the resolution. Resolution 2022-28 – Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget Council approved this resolution adopting the budget for FY 2022-2023 at a total of $42,508,620. The Fiscal Year [Read More.]
Council declares a state of local emergency at a special meeting on September 27, 2022
As weather predictions determined the risk of dangerous storm conditions related to Hurricane Ian, Council met to declare a state of local emergency to provide for emergency governmental operations. The Village of Estero’s charter assigns Council, the Village Manager and staff the duties of leadership during storm events. However, since there may be instances when it is unsafe or impossible to obtain a Council quorum to convene emergency meetings during a state of local emergency, Council adopted Resolution 2022-30 delegating Village Manager Steve Sarkozy all powers available to Village government provided in Chapter 252, Florida Statutes, or the Executive Orders [Read More.]
Special Village Council Meeting
The Village of Estero Council will hold a special meeting at 10 am on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. The agenda can be viewed here.
Canceled: the PZDB Meeting scheduled for Sept. 27, 2022
The Planning, Zoning and Design Board meeting scheduled for Sept. 27, 2022 has been cancelled due to anticipated inclement weather. We will announce the rescheduled date when that decision has been made. The Board will start their meeting at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, with a public hearing for Pelican Sound River Club which has revised their application to proceed with pickleball courts only. There will be public information meetings addressing requests for a convenience store with gas station at Corkscrew Pines and a self-storage building on the southside of Corkscrew Road, east of Stoneybrook Golf Drive. A public hearing will then be [Read More.]
Final budget hearings scheduled for Council on September 21, 2022
Council will start their regular meeting at 3:30 p.m., Wednesday. The second and final reading and public hearings for setting the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 millage rate and adopting the tentative budget will begin at 5:30 p.m. Please Note: the budget portion of the meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. as required by state law. The full agenda is available here. Meetings are held in the Council Chambers, Village Hall, 9401 Corkscrew Palms Circle, near the entrance to the Estero Park. Residents may view the meeting here and provide public comment by utilizing the eComment Card on the Village website. Comments must [Read More.]
ReadingPals volunteers needed for 2022-2023 school year
United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades is recruiting volunteers for the United Way ReadingPals program to read with PreK to 2nd graders at 12 school sites in Lee County, including Estero’s Pinewoods Elementary and New Horizons Estero. ReadingPals offers volunteers an opportunity to build meaningful relationships with young children, while helping them improve their social-emotional development and early literacy skills. The program provides mentors to positively influence students’ understanding of the fundamental building blocks of reading. Children who are read to are more likely to become good readers. Children who read at grade level by the third grade are four [Read More.]
Ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the Golf Coast Driving Range on September 9, 2022
Left to right: Estero Chamber of Commerce Administrative Assistant Nancy Brodbeck, Vice-Mayor Jon McLain, Mayor Katy Errington, Estero Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Sharon Van Rite, Estero Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Pamela Mueller, Estero Forever Foundation Chair George Zaluki, Chamber Board member Bill Ribble, Councilmember Joanne Ribble, Chamber Board members Joe Pavich Sr. and Joni Pavich More than 50 residents turned out as the Village councilmembers, Estero Forever Foundation board members and Estero Chamber of Commerce board members joined together to conduct a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Golf Coast Driving Range on a rainy Friday morning. The [Read More.]
Budget hearings, Estero on the River FDEP funding, and Imperial Parkway monument sign were among topics covered by Council on September 8, 2022
First reading and public budget hearings Resolution No. 2022-23 Council approved this resolution adopting the tentative millage rate and tentative levying of ad valorem taxes for fiscal year 2022-2023 of 0.7700 mills ($0.7700 per $1,000 of assessed property value). This is the same as last year and is the lowest tax rate in southwest Florida. The second and final public hearing will be held at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, September 21. Public Comment: A resident expressed concerns about any possibility of the raising of real estate taxes. Resolution No. 2022-24 Council approved this resolution adopting the tentative budget for the fiscal [Read More.]