Civic & Community Center: Sheriff Scott provides update, answers questions
Sheriff Mike Scott on Friday, July 31, at noon at Road 41 Grill, 13351N. Cleveland Ave., Rt. 41 south of Hancock Bridge Parkway, at an event sponsored by the NFM Civic Association, discussed “Fighting Crime in NFM” and the functions of his office.
The sheriff answered questions and listened to resident input in this small, informal setting for about 90 minutes covering a wide-ranging area of subjects including his office’s efforts to deal with blighted areas, prostitution, the homeless, traffic enforcement, drugs, helping with code enforcement, the image and appearance of some single wide trailer parks and asking the park owners to reinvest in improving or replacing them, the use of body cameras by law enforcement, to name just a few.
He discussed the Citizen’s Academy at the main office where the public can get to see and participate in some of the sheriff’s functions Tuesday evenings from 6 to 10 p.m.; the Ride Along Program where screened individuals can accompany officers in their cars, the problems created by our aging infrastructure, and referring some of the homeless to the Housing Coalition for re-location.
Sheriff Scott also discussed the sheriff’s sub-station in NFM and that the North District is now headed by Captain Reeves. He reported that all crime in NFM is slightly decreased compared to previous years- welcome news to all.
His comments included an invitation to call his office whenever you see anything suspicious or any situation that may be a violation of the law.
These daytime forums conducted monthly by the Civic Association offer an excellent opportunity for a member of the public to hear a knowledgeable individual speak, field questions and comment on input from the audience, and meet and greet them before and afterwards within an hour and a half, including a quick bite or beverage, without having to listen to an entire “meeting” with committee reports, motions, discussions, etc.
This series has included County Commissioners Hamman and Mann as speakers for May and June and will continue on Aug. 28 with a representative of The Lee County Economic Development Office. This is a crucial area of concern because of the huge number of vacant stores and near-empty shopping centers that we have. Although the economy has been improving in most areas, we in NFM are the exception. Mark your calendar, watch this column for more details, and bring your questions, suggestions and input. As with the previous three installments, it will be held at Road 41 Grill, 13351 N. Cleveland Ave, southbound, the second driveway below Hancock Bridge Parkway, where the food is delicious and reasonable.
Dave Paschall, new head of Lee County Code Enforcement will speak at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Civic Association, the second Tuesday of each month, Aug. 11, 7 p.m. at Room 102 Recreation Center, Business 41 south of Littleton behind the Library.
Immediately before that meeting the NFM Community Planning Panel and Design Review Panel will meet at 6 p.m. to consider two applications – to construct a front entranceway at 95 Cardinal Drive and to construct pickle ball courts in Herons Glen. If you have an interest or concern, please appear and be heard.
The following monthly meeting of the Civic Association, on Sept. 8 at 7 p.m., will feature Greg Stuart, planner, which could be a most impactful presentation for the future of NFM. Greg has extensive experience with neighborhood and municipal redevelopments and has agreed to give us many suggestions to help improve our community, which could well form the basis for “A North Fort Myers Renaissance” – a concept in its early stages. Look for more on this in future columns. Give yourself a follow up to attend this one – if you are going to attend only one civic meeting all year, make it this one.
Calling all amateur or professional photographers! If you have one or more pictures of scenes or events in NFM that would look good on The Civic Association’s Facebook page or website, or in a brochure promoting North Fort Myers, which we are planning, please email or text them to me soon.
Speaking of the “brochure” it recently came to my attention that NFM has no promotional printed materials whatsoever touting our strengths – like our 10 miles of riverfront, our farms and farm products and a large number of commercial buildings, restaurants, gas stations and storefronts available immediately. I have seen a gorgeous and impressive brochure that Punta Gorda distributes widely. We don’t even have a one-page black and white flyer! So we are in the process of preparing one to help attract home owners, tenants, light clean industry, retailers, restauranteurs, investors, what have you. If any of you have experience in composing promotional materials, artwork, or selling ads to help pay for this brochure, please contact me- we desperately need your help! We already have offers of help from The Breeze, parent company of the NFM Neighbor, The SW Florida Regional Planning Council, Ric Tupper, C.O.O. of The Shell Factory and Patrick T. Crissy, Business Consultant.
We have received our first pledge, from Tom and Pam Cronin owners of The Shell Factory, for $500, as well as two other pledges of $500, for a total of $1,500 to get things moving quickly. A pledge for the brochure will also get you an ad on our website. If you want to purchase an ad in the brochure, we have only so much room, so contact me soon to reserve your spot.
If you would like to get on my email list-to receive last minute reminders of all NFM civic events, and more, email me to add you.
And finally, I am still looking for a volunteer, or two or three or more, to help me post things on the Civic Association website, at your convenience. Please help.
PUBLIC APATHY is the PLAGUE of the 21st Century! Cure yours by volunteering-it’s good for the mind and the heart. Contact me at 239-823-3631 or mike-land@live.com if you have questions, comments, or some event, project or idea that you would like in this column.