County Redistricting Process Begins

The cars keep coming in over the road and in car carriers. It’s starting to fill up, but even now with all the traffic we “aint seen nothin’ yet”! Wait till February and March! You can’t blame them…it’s gorgeous here, the taxes are low, and we have less government controlling us, allowing us to make decisions for our family and our circumstances. So, remember, these could be our new neighbors, so let’s be kind. Yes, their driving habits are different than ours, but soon they’ll become one of us (if they want to). All we can do is pray that everything will work out for the best.

*Many of you remember Del Ackerman, the guy who owned Del’s 24-Hour Store! He never closed for over 50 years, even in hurricanes. The Fire Department asked him for a copy of his keys in case there was ever an emergency, but there WERE NO Keys!! He never locked the doors! On Friday, November 5 at 10:00 AM the Bayshore CRA will hold a dedication at the intersection of Thomasson Drive and Bayshore Drive. All are welcome to attend. Speakers include Commissioner Penny Taylor, District Four, and Mrs. Del Ackerman, Maurice Gutierrez, Chairman of the Bayshore Beautification MSTU. Deputy County Manager Sean Callahan will serve as the Master of Ceremonies, and the Lely High School Band will perform. In 2016 the County Commissioners voted to name the intersection of Thomasson Drive and Bayshore Drive “Del’s Corner” to recognize Del for his many years of community service and for operating Del’s 24 Hour Store for more than 50 YEARS! This $6 million project consists of the signature roundabout at “Del’s Corner”, new 6-foot-wide improved sidewalks, improved drainage, bike lanes, decorative street lighting, signage, bike lanes, and Florida-friendly landscaping along Thomasson Drive from Orchid Lane to Hamilton Avenue. Del Ackerman was instrumental in ensuring the final design included the American Flag - Del was always proud to be an American! In June 2021, the community gathered together to hoist the 8-foot tall by 12-foot wide American Flag on the 40-foot-tall flagpole in the center of the Roundabout.

*Did you notice someone demolished the old Burger King restaurant at

U.S. 41 East? I was wondering why all the trucks were there one day and the very next day it was rubble! I’ve been asking around and learned just today that they tore it down to build a brand-new Burger King at the same location but a new, improved version of the old one. They’ve already started the new one just days afterwards.

*BUT, I ask you, WHY WON’T THEY BUILD A NICE, UPSCALE RESTAURANT THAT IS TRULY NEEDED RIGHT THERE!?!? That property borders the marvelous, huge, upscale development called Lely Resort that covers acres and acres, has three golf courses, prices that range in the high price range to well over millions, and yet they give us take-out restaurants????  And right down the street we have the high-end masterpiece community of Fiddler’s Creek development with prices starting in the high $800,000 but the restaurateurs won’t build restaurants for their eating pleasure? Then we have Marco Island, right across the bridge and Isles of Capri, and Treviso Bay, and Isles of Collier Preserve, and Winding Cypress, and yet we do not have the upscale restaurants to serve them! Yes, we have a few nice restaurants like Eurasia and Sam Sneads and our good old standbys that always serve good food like Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba’s, but we don’t need any more grab and go restaurants. We need sit-down, dine-in and enjoy restaurants! The building fever continues to grow! When will commercial brokers open their eyes and see the opportunity of a lifetime that has been overlooked? Our community is changing before their eyes. Hopefully, we’ll interest someone into looking a little further and see the opportunities!

*I’m sure you’ve heard the talk about Redistricting, which is done every 10 years after the Census has been taken. In our county we have five commission districts and five school board districts. After the census numbers are calculated, the County works with the BCC Redistricting Project Manager, David Weeks and staff, to calculate the numbers and divide them into five equal districts, with many criteria that must be met. They work out maps and strategies, and so much more to make the division as workable and fair as possible with the same number of people in each district. They have divided the five districts into five maps each. Then they present those figures to the community, district by district, (which they are doing right now) to explain how those figures were determined, answer questions and ask for comments or concerns. They also listen to suggestions for additions or corrections. They were very professional at the first meeting and were willing to listen to all who wanted to comment. It seems people don’t realize how important these meetings are and how it will affect them over the next ten years! We had no one from Marco Island, Capri, Goodland, or Fiddler’s show up at all, but maybe they were watching from home. A number of callers called in with questions and comments, which were happily received. Almost everyone at the meeting spoke, including the President of the East Naples Civic Association, Jacob Winge, and a CRA Board Member, Al Schantzen. They distributed maps and told us how to locate information regarding the Redistricting by typing in Collier Redistricting Information and it will pop up on your screen. Or https://www.colliercountyfl.gov/your-government/divisions-s-z/zoning-division/2021-collier-county-bcc-redistricting-information. OR contact David Weeks, BCC Redistricting Project Manager at david.weeks@colliercountyfl.gov. Whenever you see anything about Redistricting, please read it carefully and ask questions. This is important to our next 10 years of living in Collier County.