Neighborhood News

        The October Meeting 2016

The October meeting of Corkscrew Island Neighborhood Association, shortened to CINA, took place on Tuesday, October 18. Eight members were in attendance. As folks gathered in the Sanctuary Meeting Room, Maria Tabraue had members sign a get-well card for fellow member Dan Samohovetz who was then in the hospital with serious health issues. After receiving the card, Dan passed away. It was hand-delivered by Maria and Eduardo in person. He told his sister he didn’t know he had so many friends. Dan was a fixture in CINA. He was known as “Fencepost Dan” since he built fence posts for friends and neighbors.

President Bill McDaniel opened the meeting at 7 pm and the first order of business was to approve the minutes of the prior meeting in August.

The second order of business was to ratify (affirm) the two motions made at the last meeting which were:

(1) The motion to write a letter of formal grievance to the County Commissioner about mixing trash and recycle pickups. The motion was ratified without opposition.

(2) The motion to authorize the Board to renew efforts to recruit new members by disseminating news of interest through social media, our own website and to expend reasonable amounts of money to accomplish this. This motion was also ratified without opposition.

An open discussion followed with President Bill moderating. He reported that he had sent the letter to Progress, the company who picks up recycle barrels in our neighborhood, and he was rewarded with a phone call two days later. Progress fired some drivers and put effort into riding with trucks to see that they picked up properly. However an attendee present reported that, again, Progress did not pick up recycle barrels. President Bill, who is running for County Commissioner for our District 5 in the November 8th election, said that the only way to deal with this is to send continual feedback to all county commissioners to create a visible food chain so the department head can see what’s going through to create transparency.

Other discussions included cars passing on double lines in the neighborhood; the possibility that DOT will open the exit/entrance at Everglades and I-75; the man who has gone missing on Immokalee near Jones Mine has not been found yet. Bill McDaniel discussed his plans if he wins the election on November 8th and updated us on the Farm Workers Village in Immokalee, saying it’s doing great. He also reported that Jones Mine has been sold, and that a 65,000 square foot charter school is slated to go in on 17 acres near Randall. Other news was also discussed which this writer did not scribble downo n the note pad - all part of the pleasantries of a CINA neighborhood meeting.

                     Other News

Our President, Bill McDaniel, won the County Commissioner seat for District 5 on November 8, so he is now called Commissioner McDaniel instead of President Bill.

Orin Smith whose 100th birthday was announced to be held on September 18, 2016, passed away on the 15th so the birthday party was transformed into a Celebration of Life for Brother Orin with many friends attending.

         The August Meeting 2016

The August CINA meeting on August 16, 2016 was presided over by President Bill McDaniel who is running for County Commissioner for our District, District 5, in the November election. Twelve members were present, along with two speakers from the Collier Mosquito Control. The director and second director, David Farmer and Patrick Lynn respectively, gave a much-appreciated presentation on mosquito control, how they operate, under what rules, and how they make decisions where to spray. It was an extensive fact-filled lecture on mosquitoes, including information about the Zika outbreak.

David and Patrick explained they follow strict guidelines on where to spray. Any changes in policy must go through Tallahassee. There is an extensive science behind mosquito control, they said. They do not spray according to the calendar or day of week. A number of  factors, like wind, rain and how many dead mosquitoes are counted in traps they set, all factor into the equation. They check the traps every day. 

Mosquito control and air conditioning are the two most important reasons why people can live in South Florida, they said. We live in a swamp.

Other business that took place at the meeting was the announcement by Secretary Doug Wilson that two proposed amendments to the Articles of Incorporation had passed by a unanimous vote of the Board. CINA members can now legally pass any measure that comes up during a meeting, whereas before this amendment, any issue that came up during a meeting required a full-membership vote of those not present before implementing it. If less than a quorum is present at the meeting (15 members) the item must be ratified (affirmed) at the next meeting, with the agenda sent out ahead of time. This gives members a chance to register objections if they don’t like the action, and perhaps will lead to more members attending meetings and be part of the governing voice of the neighborhood. Membership is $10 a year per person.

Among other discussions were complaints about trash trucks picking up recycle barrels along with trash barrels in the neighborhood, at least on some occasions, which led to the question, Why are we bothering to separate bottles and cans from trash if they’re putting it all into the same pot? It was decided by a raise of hands (the town hall voting method) that the president would write a letter of formal grievance to our County Commissioner.

Further business: the Secretary asked for authorization, and received it, to post a Facebook page for CINA, to allow more sharing and commentary of news and issues through social media. Also to expand outreach to the public by disseminating more information on the CINA website, a function of this Neighborhood News page. 

Last but certainly not least, Maria Tabraue invited CINA members to attend the 100th birthday party of an elderly resident, Orin Smith. Orin will reach his 100th year on September 15. The celebration will take place at the home of John Hinson and hosted by the Church on Immokalee, Sunday, September 18, 2016

           The June Meeting 2016                  
The June meeting was postponed to July 5 due to air conditioner failure. Secretary Doug Wilson chaired the meeting with 9 members in attendance plus guest Eric Watson of the new North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District.

The first item on the agenda was a report on the RFMUD (Rural Fringe Mixed Use District). Maureen Bonness reported that she had been following the issue at public workshops and reported on potential changes in zoning. The most significant recommendations that affect us are
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(1) to reward Neutral Land owners with Transfer of Development Rights (TDRs) for preserving habitat or native vegetation, and (2) to extend the same advantages to Neutral Land owners who want to commit to agricultural uses. The Planning Commission will hear the recommendations in August, and the County Commissioners in September.

Secretary Doug Wilson, an attorney who drew up the Articles of Incorporation, explained proposed amendments to the Articles and the reason for the suggested changes. Since CINA meetings rarely have enough members to pass on issues raised due to lack of a quorum (15 members) the proposed amendments change the Articles so that issues can be passed on at meetings, even if only 5 members are present, but then it has to be ratified at the next meeting. Discussion ensued and it was announced that it would be sent to the entire membership for a vote.

Eric Watson of the new North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District next presented information about the Fire District’s enhanced capabilites as a result of merging North Naples  and Big Corkscrew Fire Stations. He assured everyone they are preparing in the event of a terrorist attack and working actively with the Sheriff‘s office in the event of such an attack. He added they are on the cutting edge, on the agenda is purchase of bullet-proof body armor which will be distributed to battalion chiefs. Questions and answers followed.

Eric Watson reported that our President, Bill McDaniel, who was circulating a petition to get his name on the ballot to run for County Commissioner for District 5 (our district) did qualify and is officially on the ballot. There is an August primary which is tantamount to election, he said. A political discussion followed.

                  The April Meeting 2016
 
The April meeting on April 19, 2016, was presided over by President Bill McDaniel with 16 people in attendance. President McDaniel introduced the new fire chief James Cunningham who is the chief of the newly merged North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District. Chief Cunningham gave a short presentation about himself and that the new station is located at the old maintenance fire station on the curve near Sanctuary Road. He added that the sign at the entrance has been changed to reflect this.

The annual election of officers and directors takes place every April, and this year it resulted in the same slate as the prior year:  Bill McDaniel, President; Doug Wilson, Secretary, Nancy Wilson, VP and Treasurer, John Hinson, Director, and Maureen Bonness, Director.

Maureen Bonness gave a further explanation of the Rural Fringe Mixed Use District (RFMUD), which she had been following. This is a replanning issue by Collier County concerning which areas are to be in the Sending zone, which in Receiving and which in Neutral. Information about this complicated subject is posted on this website under “Land &Trees/Rural Fringe”.  Maureen explained the ramifications of the three options, each option has different rules. The reason for this replanning is because in 2004 the State told the County it must revise its plans in order to consider environmental protection. There is too much sprawl. The County came up with the idea of creating Receiving areas, Sending areas and Neutral areas. Because government can’t just take away your property rights, they began a re-zoning map. A straw vote was taken to get a feel which option were preferred, and much discussion followed.

A discussion on water quality issues followed. The question about fracking was raised because a well was seen operating on Hogan Island. President Bill McDaniel, who has been involved in a number of civic councils, including the East of 951 meetings, and who himself owns a mine, gave more information about the subject of drilling.

    Early Morning at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary