December 2008

 www.CharlotteCountyFL.com
 

The Charlotte County E-News is distributed by the Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners. If you have any questions or comments please direct them to the Communications & Marketing Department ENEWS@CharlotteCountyFL.com or call 941.623.1092.

 

HOT TOPICS

Economic Development - The hot topic of the month has been economic development. Want to know what Charlotte County is doing about it?  Check out our new video.  Don Root, the County's Economic Development Director, provides an overview of our program and explains its importance to Charlotte County's future.

Rumors in East Englewood - Lots of conversations taking place in East Englewood regarding sewer services.  At this time the County has no plans to implement a sewer expansion program in Englewood.  Get the straight scoop!  Read more about it on Rumor Central or attend the Town Hall Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 7:00 p.m. at the Tringali Community Center in Englewood. Charlotte County Commissioner Robert Skidmore and representatives from the Englewood Water District, as well as County staff, will be in attendance to answer any questions you may have. For information call 941.743.1300.

West County Annex Commission Office - Commissioner Robert Skidmore holds regular office hours on Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Due to the holidays he will not be taking appointments at this location for December 24, 31, or January 7. Regular hours will resume on January 14, 2009.  To make an appointment to see a County commissioner, please call 743.1300, or e-mail  bcc@charlottefl.com.

Assistance with Prescription Costs - The National Association of Counties works with local counties to provide a prescription discount card to their uninsured and underinsured residents.  These cards may provide an average savings of 20% on prescription medications and there are no enrollment fees, age requirements, or income verification.  The card can be used at 59,000 pharmacies nationwide and can be used when a Medicare Part D plan doesn’t cover a drug. More details on the program can be found online here.

Sewer Expansion Project Completed - Charlotte County Utilities has completed the wastewater expansion in the Charlotte Harbor Community Redevelopment Area. The project was partially funded by a Community Development Block Grant and will replace the aging septic systems in environmentally-sensitive properties near the harbor.  To assist low-income property owners with the wastewater connection fees and other related costs, a grant program has been established to reduce the out-of-pocket expense to residents.  If you have received a letter regarding your property in the Charlotte Harbor CRA and believe you may qualify for additional assistance, please call Meridian Community Services Group at 1.888.877.1908 before January 5, 2009.

Automated Garbage Cart Service - Delivery of the new carts has been completed. If you have any questions call our garbage hotline number 941.883.3533.  If you would like to trade your cart for a different size, you can make a request online.  There will be no garbage service in unincorporated Charlotte County on Christmas Day, December 25. December 25 will be collected on December 26.  December 26 will be collected on December 27.  There will be collection on New Years Day.

Iguanas Counting Down - This year’s Iguana Capture Program on Charlotte County's portion of Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island was very successful.  The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife Services has captured 4,083 Black Spiny-tailed iguanas.  Wildlife Services is a specialized branch of the USDA with expertise in exotic specie removal; their research labs are providing technical and laboratory assistance in this removal process.  The goal is to eventually eliminate this species from the island or lower the population to manageable levels.  The program will continue through 2009.

Local Preference in County Contracts - This month the County Commission addressed the need to give preference to local firms over out-of-town firms when issuing request for proposals. The public bidding process is complex and there are many state and federal guidelines that must be followed.  When ranking firms for consideration a point system is used.  It was decided that extra points should be awarded for local firms and specific criteria needed to be established.  A citizens group met with the Purchasing Director and recommendations were made to the Commission. A policy was approved that provided extra points to firms that had established offices in the County (the longer the tenure, the more points earned), and hired workers residing in Charlotte County.

Charlotte Sports Park Nears Completion - The finishing touches are being placed on the new spring training home of the Tampa Bay Rays.  View the final construction and preview the stadiums special features. Visit our project updates web page and click on the link to view the stadium slide show. For dates and tickets to the Tampa Rays games visit Raysbaseball.com.

Toilet Rebate Program - As part of its on-going water conservation efforts, Charlotte County Utilities is offering a toilet rebate program to residents to encourage the replacement of older, high-consumption toilets (3.5 gallons or more  per flush) with new, low-consumption models that use 1.6 gallons or less per flush.  Residential rebates will be for up to $85 per toilet, up to two toilets per residential unit.  Participants must be current CCU water customers and existing toilets must have been manufactured and installed prior to 1994.  For more information, including detailed program guidelines and rebate applications, view online or contact the Toilet Rebate Program office toll-free at 888.843.9832.

Schools Offering Classes for Parents - The Charlotte County Public Schools are offering a parent education session on Mental Illness and Children.  The class is open to parents, grandparents or guardians of any school-aged child (Pre-K to 12th grade) in the Charlotte County school district.  The child does not have to be in ESE or have a diagnosis for the parent to attend.  Registration is recommended. The class will be held on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 6 pm at Meadow Park Elementary School, 3131 Lakeview Blvd, (off Midway Blvd) in Port Charlotte.  Please RSVP by January 5, at 255.0808 ext. 3088.  Child care is available.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

Keep Up with County Events - Subscribe to Charlotte Alert and receive monthly messages via e-mail on a variety of family-friendly events.

Holiday Break Blast - Beginning Monday, December 22, 2008, Charlotte County will offer its annual Holiday Break Blast Camp for students out of school for the holidays.  Holiday Break Blast will be offered at South County Regional Park from December 22nd through January 2nd.   Hours for Holiday Break Blast are from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and the cost is $120.00 per child. Campers will enjoy field trips, swimming, guest speakers and special events. For more information, please contact South County Regional Park in Punta Gorda at 941.505.8686.  

Reason for the Season Kwanzaa Celebration is on exhibit at the Charlotte County Historical Center on December 16.  The exhibit is presented in collaboration with the Blanchard House Museum and celebrates the tradition of the African American Kwanzaa holiday that focuses on the ancestral African values of family, community, commerce and self-improvement. The exhibit runs through January 10 and is open Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 22959 Bayshore Road, Charlotte Harbor, 941.629.7278.

Looking for Some Extra Income? - Or will your teen need a summer job? Lifeguards are in high demand.  Over the winter break Charlotte County Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources will be offering Lifeguard training on December 26, at Oyster Creek Park in Englewood, for ages 15 and over. Click here for a flyer, or call 941.475.3904 for course requirements.

Hands Across the Harbor -  January 24, 2009, 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The Charlotte Harbor Community Redevelopment Agency and the Punta Gorda Community Redevelopment Agency invite you to participate in the first annual Hands Across the Harbor event.  Runners, Walkers and Bike Riders will have the opportunity to reach across the Harbor and enjoy the beauty of three of this area's finest parks:  Bayshore Live Oak, Gilchrist and Ponce de Leon. Participants can choose a 15 mile bike ride, 5K competitive run or a 5K walk. Early registration is $15 until January 20.  Day of the event registration is $25.  Event begins at Bayshore Live Oak Park, with registration at 6:45 a.m.  For more information call 941.639.1922 or visit zoomersrun.com.

Spend Time Outdoors - See Florida at its finest and take advantage of our wonderful winter weather.  Join a nature walk at one of our environmental parks.  Encounter a vast variety of birds, turtles and other local wildlife. Guided tours are scheduled throughout the winter.  Click here for a full schedule. Or call 941.625.7529.

MEETINGS

Due to the Christmas holidays the Commission meeting scheduled for December 23 has been cancelled.

Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners holds its regular meeting at 9:00 a.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.  Land use issues are addressed on the third Tuesday. These meetings are held at the Murdock Administrative Complex, 18500 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte, Room #119. The Charlotte County Commission meeting room is accessible to the physically disabled. FM Sound Enhancement Units for the Hearing Impaired are available at the Front Desk.

View the agenda for the Board meetings: Commission Agenda.  The meetings can also be viewed live on CCTV-20, (Comcast Channel 20) or can be viewed via live stream on our website - Streaming Video. 

A variety of government meetings are archived for on-demand viewing: On Demand Video.

Charlotte County has dozens of official meetings and activities each month: Meeting Calendars.

Please recommend the Charlotte County E-News to your friends and business associates.  To  subscribe or unsubscribe visit Charlotte Alert.