A Quick Look Around

Maybe 25 or so years ago, when some of my older friends warned that as you get older, time rushes by so much faster than when you are younger, I would just brush that advice off and not think much about it - that is until now, when I’m about the age they were, and finally realize they were right.

As we now head into mid-September and into our Fall season here in Florida, we are about to start seeing some very subtle changes. Unlike New Hampshire, where I was born, when we would start thinking about the leaves changing and the brilliant colors arriving in the next couple of weeks, here in Florida, the change we see is in the colors of the license plates as our friends from up north begin to migrate south to escape the onslaught of “old-man winter.”

A friend of mine has spent a good bit of the summer up in Port Clyde, Maine. It has been a real treat to see how she and the occasional visitor from down here have enjoyed their visits up in the Pine Tree State this past summer. It won’t be long before she’ll migrate back south to enjoy the more pleasing temperatures of South Florida.

We here on Marco Island are about to start experiencing the increases in vehicles coming back across the bridge as those northern friends of ours return until about April of next year when, once again, they will make the great northern migration.  

I recently had the opportunity to hear a gentleman refer to Florida as “being on fire” with regard to visitors to our state. The truth to his statement can be seen in the tourist and sales tax dollars pouring into the state’s coffers. That will probably bode well for the next session of the legislature in Tallahassee, as the spending bills are already being formulated.

Another issue which will come front and center will result in what is known as “redistricting.”  Simply put, the political “lot lines” for representation on both the state level and, possibly, the national level, with an additional Florida representative in the U.S. House, may well be up for grabs, according to Ron Book, the city’s legislative lobbyist in Tallahassee.

With the growth we’ve seen here in Southwest Florida, we may well be in line for some new seats at the table. What will be fun to watch is how the different players scramble for possible changes in the seats they believe they might wish to occupy. Look carefully at their resumes for “real world experience,” actually holding a job in the real world, versus just feeding at the public trough.

Residents of Marco Island will be celebrating this week when we are poised to open our brand new Publix at Barfield and San Marco Road. The new state-of-the-art facility is sure to please the pent-up desires for islanders to try out much-improved offerings at the new store, giving them more choices and opportunities.

Speaking with various realtors on the island, the demand for rentals this winter is through the roof and the inventory for housing sales continues to lag behind demand. Those returning to the island will continue to see an explosion of new building, especially of larger homes, many of which are taking up two lots. Where the housing market is going is anyone’s guess, but as I’ve said before, demand is outstripping inventory, therefore driving up costs.

The Island Country Club is on schedule for completion of the major renovation of its clubhouse, tennis center and new fitness facilities. They have utilized the vast well of experience from former CEOs and business leaders to help keep that project on target, while taking advantage of creative purchasing practices to save their membership on costs and alleviate some supply chain issues other similar projects have suffered from here in Florida and around the nation.

The city has embarked upon two major projects, the first being the final build-out of Veterans’ Community Park and the complete re-build of Fire Station 50 Headquarters.   Both will cause some disruption in normal activities, but in the end should serve the community well.