WEEk Of AUGUST 28, 2024
VOLUME 62, NUMBER 41
City council signs off on assessments By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
Mike Greenwell
David Mulicka
Tommy Doyle
Greenwell, Mulicka win their Republican primaries By NATHAN MAYBERG
L
nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
ee County Republicans kept Lee County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Mike Greenwell as the party’s nominee for the District 5 seat in the Primary Election on Aug. 20, while also choosing David Mulicka for the District 3 seat. Greenwell withstood a challenge from Alva Republican Amanda Cochran in one of the tighter county races of the night. He beat Cochran 55.33% to 44.67%. Cochran ran a campaign against overdevelopment and specifically objected to a development proposal for property Greenwell owns in the rural North Olga neighborhood. The property was rezoned by the county commission while Greenwell was on the board to allow for 400,000 square feet of commercial space and 122 multifamily units. He contended that he needed to develop the property after losing part of his land to state road expansion projects to accommodate increased traffic from Babcock Ranch. Greenwell will now face Democrat Kizzie Fowler in the November election. District 5 includes Alva, Lehigh Acres,
Buckingham, Olga and eastern unincorporated Fort Myers, though voting is open to all of the county’s electorate. Owner of HONC Destruction, Mulicka won his race comfortably while running on a pro-development platform over opponent Matt Thornton. Mulicka received 64.29% of the vote over Thornton's 35.71%. Thornton ran a campaign against what he contended was over-aggressive development in the county. Mulicka is the husband of District 78 State Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka. District 3 includes Fort Myers Beach, Bonita Springs, Estero and the Iona-McGregor section of unincorporated Lee County, though voting is open to all of the county’s electorate.
The Sanibel City Council approved the solid waste rates and assessments for the 2024-25 fiscal year, along with the Shell Harbor Entrance Channel Dredging District assessments, at its recent meeting. On Aug. 20, the council held a public hearing to consider the annual special service assessments to fund the collection and disposal of solid waste, recyclables and horticultural waste. The proposed rates were $495.14 for 4,024 dwelling units using the curbside service and $627.60 for 40 dwelling units using the backdoor service. Both were an increase from the current $369.44 and $487.82, respectfully. The council voted unanimously 5-0 on a resolution to set and approve the rate of assessment and solid waste assessment roll, then voted 5-0 on a second resolution as the Equalization Board to levy those. Also during the meeting, the council See COUNCIL, page 18
IslanderInsIde
Other county races Lee County voters countywide, regardless of political party, were able to take part in a universal primary to keep Lee County Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle in office. He won in a landslide. See PRIMARIES, page 18
First week of school rolls out smoothly, district reports By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
As with the start of every school year, the challenges almost solely fall upon transportation and the drop-off and pick-up lines at schools. “The first couple of weeks parents need to be patient and let them iron it out,” School District of Lee County Regional Associate Superintendent Chuck Vilardi said on Aug. 15 of getting families to understand the process.
Parents should give the schools at least two weeks for those lines to become better, and buses to roll smoother. With that said, he said, if there are any major issues with transportation, the parents should contact their school’s principal, so they can get the issue corrected right away. “Buses are rolling out much quicker each and every day. My principals are reaching out to me,” Vilardi said, adding that they are trying to manage the process and if certain schools are having
problems, they are taking care of the problems. “I hope everyone enjoyed the first week of school. I look forward to a smoother next week.” He took on the new position of regional associate superintendent — a K-12 model — this year, which oversees 22 schools in Cape Coral and Pine Island. Cheryl Neely is the regional associate superintendent who oversees the schools that include The Sanibel School on Sanibel. “The responsibilities are to be superSee SCHOOL, page 19
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