Local Issues

Generally, the governmental bodies at the local level do their work without being noticed by the great majority of the citizens on whose behalf they toil – until something happens to get the citizens up in arms.

At the Code Enforcement Board meeting on Tuesday afternoon, there was a message to those with cases in front of the body: Work with us. The CEB has substantial power, with the ability to levy fines that can climb into ...

Marco Island’s first bike or walk to school raffle was so successful, the Bike Path Ad-Hoc Committee plans to do it again next year. By then, Phase 1 of the Safe Routes to School project should be completed, making it ...

Apparently, the members of the city’s Planning Board are ready to putt a round. As their first order of business Friday, the Planning Board took up miniature golf. They heard from one – make that two – proposed miniature golf ...

There are very specific requirements for temporary signs for real estate for sale, model homes, and sales centers, community development director Bryan Milk told the City of Marco Island Planning Board on Friday – and they are being widely ignored. ...

Cul-de-sac medians remain a high priority for Marco Island’s Beautification Advisory Committee. On Wednesday, the committee presented Tim Pinter, public works director, with its list of the least impressive and most dangerous cul-de-sac medians on the island. After Lee County ...

Over the past century, said Robin Lewis, development has destroyed something like 150,000 acres of mangrove wetlands in the state of Florida. Now, he and a coalition of private and government groups are trying to restore a couple of hundred ...

Members of the Utilities Advisory Board were reticent to create a meeting schedule for 2012, but reluctantly did so on Wednesday. In a surprise action, Marco Island city councilors decided on Monday to discuss disbanding the board at their Jan. ...

Monday was a good night for Tim Pinter, Marco Island’s public works director. After a brief discussion, city councilors unanimously authorized the city manager to accept two grants totaling $840,000 from South Florida Water Management District. The grants will be ...

The rockets red glare will fill the skies over Marco Island on July 4, 2012. In a 6-1 decision by Marco Island City Council on Monday, the city agreed to fund 50 percent or $20,000 for next year’s Independence Day ...

Installing new street lights on Bald Eagle Drive is a win-win for businesses and residents. “The street is very dark, and in the summer when there are fewer people here, it is difficult to find the parking lot where you ...

The committee had been accustomed to having city staffers and landscaping contractors attend their monthly meetings, the better to answer questions and engage in free-flowing discussions. Pinter informed the members that would no longer be the case.

On Tuesday, the city’s Audit Advisory Committee quizzed Finance Director Patricia Bliss and city accountant Donna Senica on their readiness for the upcoming audit. It will be conducted by Mayer Hoffman McCann, P.C., an independent auditing firm.

During a marathon, six hour budget workshop on Monday, Marco Island City Council prioritized capital improvement spending needs, considered ways to cut expenses, and set a maximum millage rate for the upcoming fiscal year. Councilors voted 5-2 to set the ...

The city’s Utility Advisory Board (UAB) is working on ways to reduce a planned six percent utilities increase for fiscal year 2012. Marco Island water and sewer customers have seen a rate hike each year since 2009 to help reduce ...