WEEk of oCToBEr 2, 2024
VoLUmE 62, NUmBEr 46
City council approves final budget, mills By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
Helene floods Sanibel, Captiva and cuts off accesses By TIFFANY REPECKI
W
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
hen Hurricane Helene churned past Southwest Florida on Sept. 26, the islands were inundated with surge waters before the Category 4 storm made landfall in the Big Bend area just before midnight. Flooding and debris on the mainland side of the Sanibel Causeway forced a temporary closure of McGregor Boulevard leading up to the toll plaza and later the bridge itself, essentially cutting off the islands. Sand, rocks and debris pushed up on the road at Blind Pass severed Captiva from Sanibel. Captiva Island Fire Control District Fire Chief Jeff Pawul
reported that the island sustained minor flooding during the first half of the day, but the concern was the high tide coming in overnight. “With the winds turning onshore later in the day, it didn't allow that low tide to go out,” he said. Expects have said winds of up to 90 mph and 4-6 feet of surge, but Pawul said it seemed to be more.
The Sanibel City Council recently adopted the final millage rate and budget for fiscal year 2024-25 during its second and final budget hearing. On Sept. 23, it voted unanimously 5-0 to approve an operating rate of 2.500 mills, which exceeds the rolled-back rate of 2.4848 by 0.61%. It is the same rate that was adopted for fiscal year 2023-24. Included within the millage rate resolution, the council approved the voted debt service millage rates, including 1.0169 mills for the final sewer and 0.1200 mills for the final recreation center. The council also voted 5-0 to approve a final budget of $233,208,969 for 2024-25. See BUDGET, page 20
IslanderInsIde
See HELENE, page18 Captiva Drive on Captiva the morning after Hurricane Helene. CAPTIVA ISLAND FIRE CONTROL DISTRICT
Sanibel library district accepting applications for seat The Sanibel Public Library District is accepting applications for an upcoming vacant seat. The district's Board of Commissioners is a publicly elected board that governs the library. There are seven members who are elected on a non-partisan basis for four-year terms. No one filed to run for Seat 7 on the commission, so it will become vacant after the November election. The board will appoint a qualified person to fill the seat at a future meeting. Interested applicants must be a Sanibel resident to qualify. Financial disclosures
must also be filed within 30 days of assuming a commission seat, when filing to run for a seat and annually while seated. In making an appointment, the board may consider the following: ∫ A candidate's knowledge of the Sanibel library ∫ A candidate's commitment to library advocacy ∫ A candidate's ability to be present at meetings in person The board meets on the fourth Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m.
Additional meetings or workshops may be scheduled as needed. The board operates under the Sunshine Law. All discussion and deliberation must take place at a publicly advertised meeting. Applications are available from interim Executive Director Duane Shaffer at the library. Completed applications must be returned to him by Oct. 7 to be considered. The Sanibel Public Library is at 770 Dunlop Road, Sanibel.
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