3 To Know: Fiala town hall; another wildfire
1. Wednesday: Fiala town hall
Collier County Commissioner Donna Fiala, District 1, invites Collier County residents to attend her second town hall gathering of 2018 at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, at the South Regional Library, 8065 Lely Cultural Parkway, Naples.
Commissioner Fiala will provide opening remarks and introduce several key members of the county administrative team: Collier County Manager Leo E. Ochs, Jr.; Barry Williams, Parks and Recreation Division Director; Amanda Townsend, Museums Division Director; Thaddeus Cohen, Growth Management Department Head; Mike Bosi, Planning and Zoning Division Director; Mark Strain, Planning Commission Chairman; and, Jay Ahmad, Traffic Engineering Division Director.
“I encourage community members to come and hear status reports about present and future projects, including the new aquatic center at Eagle Lakes Community Park, the U.S. 41 east corridor study, commercial and residential development in the area, transportation projects and museum updates. You’ll be made aware of what is going on currently and what to expect soon,” said Commissioner Fiala.
2. Tuesday: Water & Sewer open house
Tuesday, March 20, the Water & Sewer Department will be hosting an open house from 9 until 11:30 a.m., at the North Water Treatment Plant, 807 E. Elkcam Circle, Gate “C,” according to a press release.
A presentation on water and sewer operations begins at 9:30 and a plant tour will follow.
A photo I.D is required. All guests must wear closed toe shoes.
3. Another blaze in Big Cypress
Wildfire season continues to plague the region as another emergency crew fights another blaze in Big Cypress National Preserve, a National Park Service report states.
The Leprechaun Fire was 85 acres as of Sunday afternoon and is approximately 1.5 miles north of Interstate 75 and 1 mile west of Bunshu Grade, the report states. The fire was reported Saturday.
The fire burns in slowly in dense hardwood hammock trees and is largely inaccessible by ground. Two single-engine air tankers and a helicopter are conducting water drops to check fire growth.
Florida Highway Patrol is aware of the fire does not anticipate any impacts to interstate or State Road 29 traffic at this time.
An additional smaller fire was also reported in the same approximate location.
The cause is under investigation.
The blaze comes on the heels of two much larger fires in Collier County, which caused several roadway and park attraction closures.