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VOLUME 49, NUMBER 3
Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District Station 1 lease discussed at Board of County Commissioners meeting By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
At the Board of County Commissioners meeting last Tuesday, May 20, Public Safety Director Benjamin Abes told commissioners the lease for property near Station 1, located at the corner of Stringfellow Road and Pine Island Road in Pine Island Center, for which the county has been involved in negotiations, that a mutually agreeable reconciliation has not been reached. “We’ve been in negotiations with the Fire Department for some time — those negotiations between their legal counsel now — the County Attorney’s office and County
“The district was not aware that there’s any intent of Lee County EMS moving out of Station 1, so it’s kind of a shock to us that we’re currently negotiating with the county and not being made aware of any intent of EMS moving out of the station.” —M/PIFCD Chief Ben Mickuleit Lands have continued — we continue to be, however, at a point where we’re not getting to mutually agreeable terms and conditions,” Abes said.
Because of this, he said, the concern is that there won’t be a place for the ambulance on Pine Island. In the past, he said, they have waited to be in a position to not have an ambulance in an area that needed emergency response, however in this case they find themselves trying to address the issue proactively. The lease amount on the property in consideration is very similar, he said, to the lease amount that the Fire Department is wishing to charge. In addition, the property has other benefits to consider. See STATION 1 LEASE, page 12
Former M/PIFCD Fire Chief Bradley passes away By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Group formed after Hurricane Ian still functioning, ready if needed
By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
The Greater Pine Island Emergency Task Force wants islanders to know that it is still functioning behind the scenes. Board chair Elsie Stearns said the group is currently operating under the umbrella of the Beacon of Hope and encourages anyone looking for information on the team to visit the Beacon website to keep up with what they’re doing. “The purpose of the Task Force is to come out of the gates after a storm and be the front line of getting the island up and running and open again,” Stearns said. She went on to explain that after Hurricane Ian, it occurred, not only to Stearns but other key Pine Island leaders, that although Pine Island is a part of unincorporated Lee County, it is vitally important due to its many functions, such as barges moving supplies through the island. “When you put a stop to Pine Island, you’re also stopping Useppa, North Captiva, Cayo Costa and all of our barrier islands, since all of their resources come through barging ports on Pine Island. If we don’t have access to get to our barging sites, to take materials to these outer islands, we’re saying no to all of them, too. I started talking to individuals like Glen Green
INSIDETODAY
“The purpose of the Task Force is to come out of the gates after a storm and be the front line of getting the island up and running and open again.” — Board chair Elsie Stearns of Dynamic South, my son (Derrick Stearns, Stearns Custom builders), Steve Honc — started having conversations about how we needed a task force — a team of people. We know Honc is gonna pull out with equipment, we know the Honc family brings equipment to Pine Island and stores it in their yard so that after a storm occurs they can come out and push things where they need to go,” Stearns said. Based on past experience, she said, there are many occurrences folks have learned to take for granted, such as involvement from organizations like Honc, the Fire Department and the Water Association, however, after Hurricane Ian, some of the leaders of Pine Island started having conversations about how best to get organized. After the storm, the Fire Department became the epicenter, she said. “They (the Fire Department) were keeping their
Bridge Beat........................5 Kittens of the Week..........11
See TASK FORCE, page 12
Mahjongg Scores............11 Obituaries.......................13
On Thursday, May 15, former island Fire Chief David Bradley Sr. passed away. He was 70 years old. Bradley was born on June 14, 1954, at Barksdale Air Force Base, in Shreveport, Louisiana. He lived in Louisiana until 1978, when he moved to Pine Island. After 36 years he moved back, and called Welsh, Louisiana home. A dedicated member of the island firefighting community for 36 years, he started as a volunteer for the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Department and retired as fire chief in 2014. Bradley was preceded in death by his parents, Fredrick Richard Bradley and Dolores Ann Lawrence; stepfather, F.G. Lawrence; and brothers, Mike Bradley and Steve Bradley. Former Fire Chief Those left to cherish his memory David Bradley Sr. are his beloved wife or 47 years, Gail Bradley; daughter, Amanda (Trent) Duplechin; son, David Paul Bradley Jr.; grandsons, Mason, Creedence and Lawson; brother, Kenny (Melissa) Lawrence; sisters, Ann Hebert and Angie (Lasson) Legros; along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. According to current Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District Chief Ben Mickuleit, former Chief Bradley was an essential member of the local district, as Mickuleit recalls Bradley’s time and some of his major accomplishments. “He was a pivotal part of the fire district’s growth and shaped the department for the future. During his time as chief, he accomplished significant milestones, such as opening Station 3 in Bokeelia and purchasing the land for our future Station #4 in Matlacha. His leadership was also crucial in guiding the department through challenging times, notably during Hurricane Charley, just to See FIRE CHIEF BRADLEY, page 12
On the Water.......................8 SJCCA Update...................7
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