Cheryl Ferrara/Eagle Correspondent (2) Syd Mellinger, member of Marco Island's Beautification Advisory Committee, discusses Marco in Bloom categories during Wednesday's meeting.
The Marco Island sign is gone, flagpole dented and landscaping askew at the foot of the Judge S.S. Jolley Bridge after a driver fell asleep at the wheel and ran into them.
MARCO ISLAND — With tourist season just around the corner, Marco Island's Beautification Advisory Committee received some bad news Wednesday. The Island's main gateway at the bottom of the Judge S.S. Jolley Bridge is a mess.
Tim Pinter, city public works director, told the committee the Marco Island sign in front of the "Big Flag" was lost when a driver fell asleep at the wheel and wiped it out. The flag pole was hit, weakening and denting it. The driver was not seriously hurt, and the flag has been removed.
Pinter said he was checking to see if the entire pole or a just a section of it will need to be replaced. Lights at the bottom of the pole also were damaged.
Replacement of the pole and lights will come from funds raised by private citizens. The city will pay for the sign. Pinter said the replacement sign will be made from composite material that requires less maintenance.
The sign will be replaced as soon as possible, and then the committee can continue with plantings, Pinter said. A sign for Founders Park at the corner of Barfield Drive and Collier Boulevard is already planned. Each sign will cost around $500.
The committee received an update on items it can expense from the city's budget. The committee will have $15,000 for cul-de-sac median improvements, $10,000 for irrigation, $9,000 for pest control, $5,000 for above-street banners and $10,000 for plants. Pinter told the committee it will have $2,000 for community events: $1,000 for the Community Forum planned for February and $1,000 for Marco in Bloom in March.
A total of 10 new benches and trash receptacles have been ordered for South Collier Boulevard and the Linear Trail Park by Mackle Park. The trail park is part of the Safe Routes to School project partially funded by Florida's Department of Transportation. Other benches around the city have been pressure washed to remove the sticky substances resulting from whiteflies.
Whiteflies have been a particular problem for the area. The small hemipterans feed on plants including palms and gumbo limbos. Trees along Collier Boulevard have been inoculated to fight the infestation.
The beautification committee discussed a letter from Vincent Kiernan of Adirondack Court requesting consideration for more categories in the Marco in Bloom contest. The Kiernans entered the contest as a single family home in 2011.
After driving by the winner's home at 660 Barfield Drive, the Kiernans asked the committee to consider levels that would recognize those who use professional landscapers from do-it-yourselfers. The Kiernans described the 2011 winners landscaping as "absolutely perfect."
For the 2012 contest, the committee voted to divide submissions in the residential category into two groups: professionally designed and personally designed.
Linda Turner of Thrush Court asked the committee about city maintenance of a cul-de-sac median near her home. Thrush Court is located in the vicinity of Tigertail Court and Smokehouse Bay.
Earlier in the meeting, Pinter indicated that other demands for the city's maintenance services were slowing the process of cul-de-sac maintenance and upgrades. The committee was initially told 100 cul-de-sac medians would be improved in 2012. To date, 28 have been addressed.
Susan LaGotta, committee chairwoman, told Turner her cul-de-sac was not one of the 100 worst that would be upgraded in 2012. The committee suggested, if Turner wanted to see changes to the cul-de-sac, she could "adopt" it by permit and do the work. The adoption program allows residents to take on planting and maintenance of city-owned cul-de-sacs at their own cost but without a permit fee.
The next Beautification Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Dec. 5 in City Hall's first floor conference room, 50 Bald Eagle Drive.
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Comments » 24
OldMarcoMan writes:
How much is this going to cost us? Or is the City Attorney going to start earning his check by going after the drivers insurance?
MrBreeze writes:
Agree, what about the Auto Insurance coverage for property damage? Was the driver issued a ticket for the accident?
OldMarcoMan writes:
New open and honest Government ? Lets start seeing it !
RayPray writes:
In ancient times, this would definitely have been perceived as some evil omen for the city...for the country?
Hascle writes:
The damage can be paid for by the committee,however the drivers insurance should reimburse the funds under their property damage clause in their policy.
mahiman writes:
Woooooooo.....the driver's insurance company pays the damange...not Marco!!!! And if he doesn't have insurance....lawsuit!
26yearsonmarco writes:
I agree.
The damage is minor compared to the damage brought upon our Flag and Country on Election Day.
marco826 writes:
Okay Marco News, who hit the pole?
MarcoBiker writes:
Is Pinter crazy? In our Brave New World of no accountability, we're going to count on "citizen groups" to fund the operations of our city? Liability insurance .... Gotta carry it, if not, sue and jail 'em!
OldMarcoMan writes:
Citizens Groups dont have any money. Does no one remember how those who wanted fire works had to grovel for money to pay for that, and it still came up short.
bobsamdog1 writes:
maybe the driver was Patricia Libby--- the sign looked like a smart car to her....
marco97 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
ed34145 writes:
Like we all didn't see this coming
skulljockey writes:
It must have been a city employee, city vehicle, or someone VERY PROMINENT on the island for the city to not expect insurance reimbursement. Gotta love honest, transparent government.
KlausStoertebeker writes:
My goodness. The flag post is hit. Fix it. That's all. More posts than President Obama won. Maybe everybody on this blog understand a flag hit. No surprise.
MarcoBiker writes:
Klaus you're a blemish on humanity. Really, really need to work on ESL.
marco826 writes:
Correct! No mention of the driver, just that they fell asleep. Do they have insurance? Who are they? Where is the Marco News Reporter on this story? Why is the name being withheld?
liberator100 writes:
Anyone who expects this newspaper to report anything correctly should have their head examined.
Klaus, you need immediate medical help.
marco826 writes:
I predict that pole gets hit every year...hope I'm wrong.
MrBreeze writes:
Maybee the term "fell asleep at the wheel" is the same as "called in drunk for work" the next day.
OldMarcoMan writes:
MrBreeze writes:
Maybee the term "fell asleep at the wheel" is the same as "called in drunk for work" the next day.
That sounds like City-Speak for Cop, I dont know that for sure, just saying.......
marco826 writes:
Cover up?
1Paradiselost writes:
There is a bigger question here......
When is the drivers insurance company going to write the check for a new pole?
The flag pole in it's current condition is totaled.
dc5799 writes:
What about the damage to the auto, must have been extensive.
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