Council Thanks Litzan and Hears From Constituents

Marco Island City Council would gavel their March 21 meeting to begin sharply at 5:30 PM, as advertised, with all seven members present.  Also present was the outgoing City Clerk Laura Litzan, who on April 1st will walk out of City Hall for her last time as a city official.

This was Laura Litzan’s final meeting of her 24-year career with the city. Both she and former City Manager Bill Moss were the city’s first two employees, which she described as one of the greatest honors of her life.

Litzan has watched as nine city managers have taken the helm, along with a number of other department heads, but none stayed longer than Litzan.

Council Chairman Erik Brechnitz took great pride in reading the Official Proclamation recognizing Litzan’s outstanding service to the city and the community’s citizens for 24 years. Litzan choked back some emotions as she thanked the city staff and all former councils.

Council took up the rather short agenda with Chairman Brechnitz questioning city staff about the wording of a lease to provide Collier County staff with space in City Hall to help facilitate Marco citizens’ interaction with certain county departments.

Council then opened up for citizens’ comments on anything not part of the agenda. The first speaker to come forward was Ed Issler, who questioned the location of the amphitheater being constructed at Veterans Community Park. Issler requested that sound deadening material be installed to help lower the ambient noise levels for the neighbors who live in that area.

A property owner from Apataki Court came forward to request action on a home on his street which has been vacant for over four years and is in serious disrepair. “The blue tarp which was placed on the roof is tattered and torn and blowing all over,” he told council members.

A quick check of the property shows that it was sold on the courthouse steps to a lending agency almost four years ago, with no objections from the previous owner.

Fines now amount to over $1 Million on the property. Chairman Brechnitz requested that the City Attorney and City Manager begin the foreclosure process on the property.

Marilyn Nervig was the last citizen to speak during the open mic segment of the meeting. Nervig asked for council’s consideration to place better traffic control signaling devices along an area called “restaurant row,” which runs from Amazon Court to Saturn Court on North Collier Boulevard.

As a pedestrian, Nervig experienced several close calls when motorists failed to slow down at the crosswalks for the amber flashing lights on North Collier Boulevard. “Somebody is going to be seriously injured,” said Nervig. “I am sure I am not the only one, given the larger amount of pedestrian traffic that cross that busy segment of roadway.” She suggested that the amber colored lights be changed to red, to indicate the serious nature of the problem. 

The Public Works Director has told councilors that changing the light color is not an option. However, along Bayshore Drive in Naples near the popular Celebration Park, red lights are used to bring attention to the pedestrian walkways. 

Councilors will await reports from the City Manager on all these items.

The City Council Meeting was adjourned at 6:30 PM, in record time.