In the Eagle 30 years ago this week

-- Marco Islanders indicated they were willing to finance a modern fire department and 24-hour fire protection — provided they were given an accounting of how their money was to be spent. They sought and received pledges of the Marco Island Fire District’s three commissioners that any and all proposed budgets would be presented to residents for their consideration.

-- The Collier County School Board was considering rezoning to relieve crowding at Tommie Barfield Elementary. Despite parents’ predictions of heavy crowding, the school hit an enrollment of “only about five kids” over its state-set capacity of 454, said Principal Arthur Klinger.

-- Hundreds of Marco Island homeowners received notice of an increase n the taxable valuation of their property — and for some, the news was going from bad to worse. County property appraiser Sam Colding admitted “we made an error,” explaining that workers in his office forgot to feed into the computer some data affecting tax value. Most frequently omitted was a square footage cost assessment for garages, Colding said.

-- Some island land owners got to see where some of their expected tax hike went when the Collier County Commission voted to add lots along several Marco streets and at several intersections to the Collier County Lighting District. The action authorized the taxation of property owners to pay for installation and operating costs for more street lights adjacent to their property.

-- Plans for the construction of Marco Island’s first luxury condominium — with prices ranging from $106,000 to $197,000, were announced. The 10-story, 43-unit Caxambas Tower was projected for a four-acre site of choice beachfront property on the south end or the island overlooking Caxambas Pass.