The Captiva Island Fire Control District\u2019s commission discussed the Rauschenberg property and election referendum at its recent meeting, plus approved a new contract for general counsel.<\/p>\n
On Dec. 9, Commissioner Jeff Brown and Fire Chief Jeff Pawul gave an update on the district\u2019s letter of intent to buy three bayside parcels totaling about 9.81 acres from the Rauschenberg Foundation.<\/p>\n
Brown reported that the foundation\u2019s board was scheduled to meet before Thanksgiving to consider the proposals received for the land, but it was canceled. The board had not yet met as of the fire meeting.<\/p>\n
Pawul reported that the Lee County Elections Office approved the language for the district\u2019s ballot referendum. It set the date and location for the election for Feb. 10 at the Captiva Civic Center.<\/p>\n
With no update from the foundation, however, they questioned whether to proceed with the election.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re in limbo. I was certainly hoping to hear before this meeting \u2026 who\u2019s on first,\u201d Brown said, referring to a decision from the foundation on selling the property. \u201cAnd we haven\u2019t found out.\u201d<\/p>\n
He reiterated that the commission needs to act by Dec. 26 if it wants to pull the referendum.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut there\u2019s no reason to pull it because we\u2019re still in the running,\u201d Brown said.<\/p>\n
He noted that real estate deals fall through and the winning bid, if not the district, could fall out.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way this has been going, I don\u2019t know what\u2019s going to happen,\u201d Brown said. \u201cI think we have to be ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that it would be good to know where Captiva voters stand on the district acquiring land to improve and expand operations and that the need for a helicopter landing zone will not go away.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s prudent to have the referendum done,\u201d Brown said. \u201cI would say until this thing actually closes, you never know.\u201d<\/p>\n
The other commissioners shared their thoughts on proceeding with the election.<\/p>\n
\u201cI agree,\u201d Commissioner Sherrill Sims said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019re in agreement,\u201d Commissioner Carole Campbell said.<\/p>\n
On a related note, Brown reported that he has been asked by residents what the referendum would mean to their tax bill if approved by voters in February. He continued that the district does not know what the interest rates would be at that time, the exact parcels it would buy and the assessed value.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a tough question,\u201d Brown said. \u201cThere\u2019s too many unknowns right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that he is hoping to have more answers before the election.<\/p>\n
Pawul reported that he has received the same question from residents.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can only really speak on what we know,\u201d he said, explaining that they know the current value of the property and the district\u2019s offer to the foundation for the three parcels, which was $22 million.<\/p>\n
Also during the meeting, Pawul reported that the district\u2019s legal firm is making changes and the attorney that it uses is moving to a new one. He presented an agreement from her new firm.<\/p>\n
The commission directed Pawul to sign the contract and retain its attorney.<\/p>\n
Also at the meeting, Pawul reported on a recent call.<\/p>\n
On Nov. 4 at about 6 p.m., the crew responded to Useppa Island and the Collier Inn, which had caught on fire. He reported that a lit cigarette butt had been thrown into a bucket of debris next to building.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur boat was the first unit to arrive,\u201d Pawul said.<\/p>\n
The other responding units were Cape Coral, Pine Island and Useppa.<\/p>\n
The Captiva crew were on the call for about three hours. He reported that initial suppression was handled quickly, then it was tracking where the fire traveled to to ensure that it was fully out.<\/p>\n
There were no injuries.<\/p>\n
Pawul pointed out the age of the inn, damage from the hurricanes and it being under renovation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe building could have easily burned down,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is amazing that the building did not.\u201d<\/p>\n
IN OTHER NEWS<\/p>\n
\u2013 Pawul reported that the district responded to 30 calls in November, compared to 27 calls for the same month last year.<\/p>\n