:OurTown Page 14 C www.sunnewspapers.net FROM PAGE ONE The Sun /Saturday, April 26, 2014
CHARLOTTE COUNTY COMMISSION HOW THEY VOTED TUESDAY DIG
FROM PAGE 1
project is installing huge
drainage pipes under
the highway to increase
drainage capacity, truly an
engineering marvel never
before attempted by the
KEN CHRIS BILL STEPHEN R. TRICIA county on such a grand
DOHERTY CONSTANCE TRUEX DEUTSCH DUFFY sAle. no ha h
And now that the
District I District 2 District 3 District 4 District 5 Pompano segment is done,
construction is moving
Approved a change in the contract with ProLime Corp. to remove algae from Sunshine Lake/Sunrise a short way up Tamiami SUN PHOTO BY GARY ROBERTS
Waterway for an additional $368,900, due to the presence of little blue herons that have nested at the site. Trail, where the ElkcamS
According to federal law, the bird eggs are considered adult birds. The removal of each egg carries with it a Waterway willbe improved, At the Pompano Waterway, concrete is poured to form a weir,
$15,000 fine and six months in jail. Also, the contract time has been extended by 140 calendar days, upon requiring even larger a structure that arches across a canal, holding water back but
resuming the project. The total cost of the cleanup now is estimated at $4 million, and is expected to be culverts and a special-order allowing it to spill over when the water level reaches a certain
completed this summer. drill bit that measures elevation.
94,000 pounds and nearly along the Gulf Coast. not be shut down until
YES NO YES YES YES 7 feet in diameter. In addition to a major gas the weirs are constructed
................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... "Peop le on 4 1, th ey see lin e, com m u n ication cab les in late su m m er, w ith th e
Approved an amendment to the contract with Coastal Engineering Consultants for Pirate Harbor Waterway the construction but they and electrical conduits for blockades lasting until the
in the amount of $124,600, for a revised total contract amount of $396,486. The contract is for engineering have no idea they are driv- street lighting, there are also end of the year, Keyser said.
services in applying for separate standard general permits for dredging a 2,300-foot channel and removing ing over a pipe under their critical phone lines that The ElkcamWaterway
rock in the Pirate Harbor Waterway System. Funding will come from the Pirate Harbor Waterway MSBU. feet," said Brian Barnes, an serve the county's police calls for three tunnels, each
engineer with the county's and fire departments. But accommodating 84-inch-
YES YES YES YES YES Community Development work crews didn't expect wide culverts, using a new
Department. 'And that's the to run into wooden pilings boring head specially made
Approved a resolution authorizing acquisition of property located at 429 Showalter Ave., Punta Gorda, to S we atiethat, at one time, were part in Japan. The Fordham
fulfill State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program requirements. The property was newly constructed after digging two tunnels- each crossing the waterway two 60-inch pipes across
the 2004 hurricane season, and now is estimated to be worth no more than $40,000. Property taxes have removing 160 feet of sand Despite encountering the U.S. 41.
not been paid since 2009, and the property is scheduled to be auctioned by the Clerk of the Circuit Court on and dirt while pushing unexpected, Keyser said the Unlike at Pompano, the
April 29. Purchase will be made with grant funds, with no local match required. through a 60-inch-wide $8.9 million construction waterways at these loca-
concrete pipe across the project is proceeding on tions will stay operational
YES NO NO YES YES highway just five feet under schedule. The reopening during construction, with
................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... the sur face -- w as fi lled of th e south access road at drillin g occurrin g b eside
Approved a settlement agreement that addresses code-enforcement violations for several properties with trepidation. Pompano Waterway is set the existing pipes.
owned by Jan Musil. The Florida Land Use Dispute Resolution Act request by Musil's attorney allows for these "The challenge is putting for the end of May, while The entire project,
types of settlement agreements in order to address land-use disputes without the need for litigation. Musil's in the pipe so shallow the north frontage road will which includes drainage
plea concerns four of his properties, which he bought in foreclosure and then proceeded to fix up without the without having the road allow through-traffic by improvements from U.S.
proper permits or licenses. Musil's attorney argued that while citations for nonpermitted work are common, collapse," said Jeff Keyser, July, he said. 41 to Midway Boulevard,
citing a property owner for being an unlicensed contractor is unusual. county project manager. The only work left to do should be wrapped up
"It's never been done here at the Pompano Waterway by May 2015. But the
NO YES NO YES YES before." is to put new pipes under actual widening of Midway
Even with months of the access road, rebuild the Boulevard to four lanes,
Approved the appointment of Marianne Taylor as Charlotte County Public Safety director, effective April 23. planning, the unprecedent- road and finish the weir, the main reason for all
ed undertaking comes with a dam-like structure that the drainage work, will
For the past 14 years she was deputy chief. In her 27 years in the field, she has been promoted from emer- e ta n com es regulies wate flow begin wos l l
gency medical technician to paramedic to lieutenant, working as a training captain and then as a battalion moeChantte w o u rprofiises. helte wriecmlter flwbygnti fall d1be
chief, before stepping into the role of deputy chief Taylor also provides oversight of the Emergency Manage- me tte Could hve o ss toe the wrc eand phem idwy fall 2o6n,
ment and Animal Control divisions in Public Safety. Taylor will receive a prorated annual salary of $112,000, navigate past an intricate Fordham waterways, locat- from Harbor Boulevard to
which already is budgeted. network of utilities snaking ed a little north of Conway Kings Highway, will cost
their way under U.S. 41, a Boulevard. However, the $17.4 million.
YES YES YES YES YES major north-south artery access roads there will Email: groberts@sun-herald.com
CRA N E when he was alone, so criminal level," Moore a little bit of a precedent
another young sandhill said. "That's a federally set. It's just so hard to
crane Chickie Pants, protected bird. But all prove if somebody inten-
FROM PAGE 1 who is a permanent wild- (witnesses) had was a tionally hits a bird."
life center resident has very vague description Anyone who would
I was there to help," she been housed with Wally. of the vehicle a white like to make donations to
said. Jenkins said Wally cries SUV or minivan." the Peace River Wildlife
Now staff at the Peace when they let Chickie Animal Control divi- Center a nonprofit
River Wildlife Center are Pants out of the shelter sion manager Lt. Brian organization to assist
doing their best to reha- to run around. Jones said he's seen an with the care the center
bilitate "Wally." Although "They've really bond- animal cruelty charge for provides to Wally and
a blood test hasn't been ed," Jenkins said. "Wally hitting a bird in the road many other injured area
done to determine has definitely gotten stand up in court only wildlfe can visit www.
Wally's sex, staff named \ more comfortable." once in his 17 years on peaceriverwildlifecenter.
the bird because it lives Although Animal the job. com and click "Donate."
with its family near Control quickly closed "It's a rare case," he
Walmart. Jenkins said the "- .": a criminal investigation said. "But there has been Email.akreger@sun-herald.com
parent cranes have been without an arrest, Moore
there for at least seven said the case could be
years. reopened if anyone .-
"Those sandhill cranes comes forward with
have been there long be- more information about
fore there was aWalmart, PHOTOS PROVIDED the person who hit Wally.
or a parking lot, or a busy Witnesses told Moore the
intersection," Jenkins A family of four sandhill cranes that frequents the Punta Gorda action looked intention-
said. "People need to be Walmart area is down a member, after a juvenile was struck by al, as a line of cars had
respectful of that when a vehicle April 18. The injured bird is expected to recover. been stopped to let the
they're driving through "When he first came "weeks" old. "He wasn't crane family cross.
the area. It only takes in, he was so stressed eating. We had to put a "If somebody would
30 seconds to stop and because he had never tube down his throat and have gotten a license
let them cross the road." been alone before," said feed him. But now he's plate (number), the
Jenkins says Wally Jenkins, who estimat- eating." driver could have been
misses his home. ed the bird to be just Jenkins said Wally cried in a lot of trouble on a
1111A))lt10Robin Jenkins says drivers need to be cautious of slow-moving
m sand hill cranes crossing the road. She points out that, in many
I Notcases, they'vedbeenhinnthetareadlongerpthandweehave.
i wrooenot valid with use of insurance or other discounts/ coupons.I COMMUNITY NEWS BRIEFS
"ADA Codes that may apply 2751, 6751, 6241 Exp. 5/31/2014
. .Not valid with ueof Isurance or otherdisconts cupons. GilonteR n a wlcm oprc-
"ADA Codes that may apply" D5110, D5120.Exp. 5/31/2014 a n n u alI 5 K pate. The race includes
ea. music, prizes, refresh-
,''' ** "'** "'Removabliie'iPartial:e "Cast Framework;" Girls on the Run merits and goody bags.
~of Southwest Florida Preregistration for the
I ~ ~~Not vali wth use of Insrance or30ther discunts/coupons Will play host to its race is available online at
"AA~de ha my ply D21,D514 Ep 531204 fourth annual 5K run www.raceplanner.com, or
at 6:30 a.m. today at participants may register
" : Charlotte Sports Park, in person on the race day,
2300 El Jobean Road, Port starting at 6:30 a.m.
~Charlotte. Check-in is at For more information,
6:30 a.m., with the race to contact director Susan
0 M AINELOBSTERS begin at 8 a.m. The race Flores at susan.flores@
is the culminating event yourcharlotteschools.net.
LIVE N KlCKIN OR COOKED of the 10-week Girls on
the Run program-a Band to hold
MUSSELS $4/Ib or 3Ibs for $10 transformationalphysical car wash
activity-based positive
MAINE STEAMERS W $51b youth-development The Port Charlotte
program for girls in third High School band will
( rn~n ( OD SWORD SALMON through eighth grades, hold a car wash fundrais-
FLOIDAThe goal of the program er from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
LAS S(ALLOPS,*HADDO(K is to unleash confidence today at Busey Bank,
,WILD CAUGHT *FRESH *BONELESS through accomplish- 1490 Tamiami Trail, Port
Natual Vlley menit, while establishing Charlotte. The band
Goat C*easrh a lifetime appreciation of requests donations to
ON SLE OW $.99 health and fitness. support the upcoming
Oehus&r.nipmSharp Cheddar Colby Jack & uenster, soz. The nace is open to marching band season.
OfTW IeLO B TERSreSDcut104.ae ctte...rgoseded. a th ublic; runners asd IFor more infornation,
Se fo d ar e 2 00 Plci a Rd *( 41A68 89 6 ..'',el ds oo ,0,fachs w alkers of al11 abilities call 9M41-6i2 6-7 6i31.