Letter to the Editor:
DEAR FRIENDS OF LEHIGH ACRES:
The final meeting with the County Commissioners on the Vacant Property Registration Ordinance takes place on September 24th at 9:30 AM at the Commissioners Chambers. Right now it appears that 3 of the 5 Commissioners are in favor of enacting the Ordinance.
Attached please find my letter requesting our residents to contact each Commissioner to support this Ordinance and further requesting that they attend the September 24th Meeting. There is strength in numbers!
From: Ruth Anglickis
I would like to personally thank you for your support and signing petition letters which I and others circulated for the passage of the Vacant Property Registration Ordinance presently before the County Commissioners. Over 1900 signed petitions were presented to the Commissioners at the August 13, 2013 meeting.
The City of Fort Myers has had this Ordinance in effect since 2010 and the program has enabled the City to determine who is responsible for decaying property. The City has made great strides removing blight from their city limits. There are close to 1,000 of this type of ordinance in place throughout the Country with at least 100 in other Florida locations.
We are all aware of foreclosures right here in Lehigh Acres 2782 homes are presently in foreclosure and our neighborhoods are filled with boarded up, unsightly properties that are abandoned. The primary purpose of having such legislation in place is to assist Code Enforcement in their mostly futile attempts to get the banks to take responsibility for their inventory of vacant and un-maintained properties and to assist the Sheriff’s Department in deterring crime.
The Board of County Commissioners met on September 10th and by a 3 to 2 vote, the Ordinance was moved to September 24th at 9:30 AM for final discussion and, hopefully, passage. Commissioners Mann, Manning and Pendergrass voted for further discussion.
However, Commissioners Hall and Kiker voted “no” and are not in favor of the Ordinance.
After the meeting, I spoke with Commissioner Frank Mann who advised that we get as many people as we can to fill the Chambers at the September 24th 9:30 AM Meeting to show all the Commissioners that we are all in favor of having this Ordinance enacted.
I have been involved in the Lehigh Acres Community since 2006 with one objective and that is to instill quality of life for all our residents. I strongly urge you to take the time and join us on September 24th at 9:30 AM at the Commissioners Chambers, Old Lee County Courthouse, 2120 Second St. Ft. Myers.
Also, please e-mail the Commissioners right now and let them know, respectfully, of your concerns and how important it is for their constituents to have this Ordinance enacted.
Comm. John Manning dist1@leegov.com
Comm. Cecil Pendergrass dist2@leegov.com
Comm. Larry Kiker dist3@leegov.com
Comm. Tammy Hall dist4@leegov.com
Comm. Frank Mann dist5@leegov.com
We just sent this e-mail to all five commissioners:
Dear Commissioners,
We moved to Lehigh Acres from Tampa Bay in December 2012 and remain shocked at the condition of many of the vacant houses and lots. These neglected areas are not only a safety issue, but they are a total disgrace to this community. Lehigh Acres cannot further develop without action by each of you to address this disgrace.
Please support the Vacant Property Registration Ordinance and help improve the lives of those who live in this area. We deserve a better quality of life than what we are currently being exposed to.
Our names and address
The Vacant Property Registration Ordinance makes perfect sense to anyone who is not neglecting vacant property.