Coastal Comments

It’s a challenge to ferret out information when the Commissioners aren’t meeting, decisions aren’t being made, and many, many involved people are out of town until September! I’ve been scouring through information from people who have sent me items they thought might interest everyone. All I will do is repeat what they have said in different venues, and hope you find them as interesting as I do.

*There has been a new Coastal Storm Risk Management Stakeholders Task Force formed recently, which has been needed for quite some time. Commissioner Penny Taylor is the Task Force Chair, and their task is to evaluate citizen concerns and gather public comments about the Army Corps proposed Coastal Storm Risk Management Plan which will be presented to a newly formed Technical Task Force. That task force will be open to concerned citizens, but it is recommended that neighborhood HOA nominate one representative from each community. 

Last year the Army Corps presented a proposed plan of coastal storm risk management to officials of the County and the cities that they had developed at the County’s request, with many components. The $2.1 billion cost of the plan would be shared by the Federal Government at 65% and Collier County at 35% over a projected 50-year period. The plan drew considerable concern from community members, but they were facing an April deadline, so the commissioners unanimously agreed to sign two non-binding letters of support for the plan, while expressing reluctance for the way it was written. They have agreed to establish a Task Force to review the study. I understand that Commissioner Taylor has plans to ask the Board at their September 14, 2021, meeting to review the plan again.

*You know, I’ve often wondered why the electric companies are making it so difficult for citizens of our county to install solar electric (of course I know why they are making it difficult), yet up here in Ohio Amish Country (where I’m writing from right now) the Amish are installing solar electric panels in their homes and farms to have electric lights, milking machines, barn lights, and household lights. Well, things are changing in our county as well! The Amish may be far ahead of us on solar, but it’s coming to Collier County, and it will start in Immokalee, so we are going to catch up with them! It will start with a multi-million-dollar FP&L Solar Plant (following approval and zoning). The project is part of FP&L’s plan to install 30 million solar panels by the year 2030. 

*I’m sure you’ve read, as I have, all the accolades being showered on Charlette Roman (notice not Charlotte, but Charl –Ette) Roman. They labeled her a “visionary thinker.” She has saved the state many months or even years, by using her “flipping the switch” ideas on the largest three pumps in the Picayune Strand Restoration Project that will pump water over 55,000 acres of water starved Everglades wetlands. That switch has been ready to flip (I understand) for a few years, but I guess they wanted to wait until the whole project was complete. Because of Charlette’s idea, they can start the process and get on with the hydration! I wish I could find out how much money she has saved us by being the visionary! Do you know where the Picayune is located? It’s right at our back door!! It’s beautiful property and owned by the state so it will never be developed but will remain in its natural state. And you should see the orchids back in there (along with the Fakahatchee - the orchid capital) which is also in that area. That doesn’t mean you can go pick them! They are protected by law. Charlette also sits on the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board! Quite a gal and lives right here on Marco Island. She was also a Marco Councilor for a number of years. You could never buy her vote or persuade her to do something that she felt wasn’t good for Marco Island. 

*I’m sure many of you remember just a few years back when things became overwhelming in Everglades City because of their malfunctioning sewage plant. They were cash strapped, and the state wasn’t doing much better. They asked the county to replace their sewage plant, with no way to pay it back. It was something the county really wanted to do, but it was impossible to fund the whole thing without any plan for repayment. Thankfully, the State has stepped in, thanks to Senator Kathleen Passidomo, and the $4.3 million cost will be borne by the State. That little area could really use a break! Thanks so much, Kathleen! It was truly needed.