July 28, 2021 / Issue #2021-30

URGENT!

It is an URGENT time for the public to be vocal with the Army Corps of
Engineers regarding the Corps' proposed plan that will guide water
releases from Lake Okeechobee for the next decade. 

Captains for Clean Water has set up an email template 
for the public to send messages.

The Town of Fort Myers Beach is urging the public to send messages to the Army Corps of Engineers NOW to request modifications to the draft operating plan for releasing water from Lake Okeechobee. These releases flow into the Caloosahatchee River and the Gulf causing harmful algae blooms that kill fish and foliage and impact the public's s health as well as the Town’s economy.

During a Monday, July 26 meeting with the Corps, Fort Myers Beach Mayor Ray Murphy joined with mayors of other municipalities in Lee County to lobby for changes in the plan to have the releases “be less water in summer, more water in winter.” 

 “It’s incumbent upon everybody who lives down here or has any stake in it anywhere to be vocal about this situation to the Army Corps of Engineers and let them know that we don’t want all that water. We want water when we need it and we don’t want the water when we don’t need it,” Mayor Murphy said. "Our concern over here on the West Coast is that we're going to be taking the lion's share of the water on these releases when it happens." 

Please help protect Southwest Florida’s water quality by emailing the Army Corps of Engineers TODAY!

Visit the Captains for Clean Water website for more details

Watch Mayor Murphy speak with Jessica Alpern of FOX4 news about this topic

Turtle nests are hatching!

We have 83 nests on the beach that will continue hatching over the next few months. Please continue to do your part to keep the nests and hatchlings safe.

Learn more: www.turtletime.org

FREE drop-off event for household chemical waste
 is 8 a.m. to Noon on August 6 at Bay Oaks

On Friday, August 6, Town residents will be able to safely and responsibly dispose of household chemical waste (HCW) such as leftover paints, cleaners, herbicides, pesticides, automotive fluids and pool chemicals. 

Hosted in partnership with Lee County Solid Waste, this free collection event will be from 8 a.m. to noon at Bay Oaks Recreational Campus, 2731 Oak Street. Drop off is an easy drive-through process available to all residents.

Visit the Lee County website for a list of acceptable items.

Businesses that need chemical waste disposal can call 239-533-8000 to schedule an appointment for the monthly business collection held at Lee County’s permanent HCW drop-off location.This location is just off Metro Parkway in south Fort Myers at 6441 Topaz Court.

Additional collection events will be scheduled this fall and in 2022. Details about those will be posted on the Town’s website at www.fmbgov.com and social media outlets.

UPDATE: Estero Boulevard Lighting Project

The Marine Resources Task Force and the Public Safety Committee met on Monday, July 26, with the project consultants Town Lighting to go over preliminary recommendations. 

Watch the joint session from July 26

Read the draft recommendations document

Read more about this project  and other projects.

Current openings:

Full Time Positions

BEACH MAINTENANCE WORKER

RECREATION CAMPUS MANAGER

SENIOR RECREATION AID

YOUTH/TEEN COORDINATOR


Part Time Positions

BEACH MAINTENANCE WORKER

CODE COMPLIANCE BASE OFFICER

LIFEGUARD/RECREATION AID

MUSEUM INTERPRETER

Learn more and apply

Shoutout to the Estero Island Garden Club 

Members have been maintaining and growing the native plant demonstration garden at Palermo Circle and Estero Boulevard. Members in this photo are, left to right: Paula Smith, Cathy Turner, Annette Mazzeo-Eskin, Ethel Leidhold, Randa Veach.

August schedule for the pop up environmental education booth managed by the Marine Resources Task Force is published

July is National Parks and Recreation Month as set by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) 

Did you know that the Town’s website lists various parks and recreation offerings in Fort Myers Beach? This includes the following Town-operated places:

• Bay Oaks Recreational Campus
• Bay Oaks Social Seniors (BOSS)
• Beach Accesses
• FMB Community Pool
• Matanzas Harbor Mooring Field
• Mound House grounds and kayak launch
• Newton Beach Park
  
  

Community members interested in serving as volunteers to advise and support the work of Town government are encouraged to apply for current openings on two of the Town’s 10 advisory boards and committees.

The Town’s committees exist to advise Town Council about Bay Oaks Recreational Campus, Mooring Field, Mound House, Newton Beach Park, finances, marine resources, nuisance abatement, environmental and historic preservation, and public safety.

Openings:

• Audit Committee – advises about financial matters and particularly on the selection of an auditor to conduct the Town’s annual financial audit;
• Historic Preservation Advisory Committee (HPAC) – assists the Local Planning Agency and the Historic Preservation Advisory Board with historic preservation matters;

Click here for more information and to fill out the application. 

Mound House weekly outdoor nature & education events for
July 29 through August 7

Mound House & Newton Beach Park program calendars
   August 2021

Mound House is hosting a symposium on Friday, August 6, about coliform bacteria in recreational water

Annual drinking water quality report available

The Utilities Department proudly presents the Town's annual drinking water report for 2020, covering all drinking water testing performed between January 1 and December 31. 

We are dedicated to providing drinking water that meets all state and federal standards and to adopting new methods of delivering the best quality drinking water to your homes and businesses. 

Please call us if you have any questions about your drinking water.
239-463-9914 (8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.)

Read the report online or visit Town Hall at 2525 Estero Boulevard
between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to pick up a copy.

Is your property experiencing a rat or iguana infestation?

Keep up on the schedule of Town Council and advisory committee meetings

View the meeting calendar on the Town's website for the

Upcoming meetings

The Town of Fort Myers Beach has partnered with DemandStar which is open and accessible to all businesses and gives instant access to RFPs, RFQs, and ITBs 

Read more about bids and proposals