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January 2009 |
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| 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.
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The Town Hall Meetings will begin at 6:00 p.m. at the following locations:
Federal Economic Stimulus Projects - Local governments have been monitoring very closely President Obama’s plan to fund capital improvement projects in an effort to jump-start the economy and create jobs. In response to this proposed plan, Charlotte County has developed a list of projects that we will be submitting for funding consideration. The list of projects is estimated at over $373 million and would generate 5,681 jobs. For a complete listing of the projects being submitted click here. Impact Fees - In January the Commissioners voted to continue the impact fee rollback for another six months. The fee reduction was approved last year to support the building industry during the economic downturn.The state of Florida is currently considering offering incentives to counties that reduce impact fees for eighteen months or more. If this becomes reality, Charlotte County could be eligible for several million dollars in grants. The Commissioners considered it prudent to extend the rollback to maintain possible eligibility and to continue their support of the building industry. Latest County Efficiency: As one of our cost-cutting initiatives we are utilizing inmate labor to paint the interior of the County jail. The cost of hiring a painting contractor is valued at $256,000. With the inmates providing the labor, the only expenses incurred are the painting materials and staff supervision, which result in a substantial savings. The County will be looking for other opportunities to utilize inmate labor to lower costs. County GIS Data Used Nationwide - Charlotte County GIS (Geographic Information Systems) was recognized for providing data for hurricane analysis. The data that we had gathered, both before and after Hurricane Charley, was used in a research project that compared building codes with hurricane damage. Presentations in Washington, D.C., as well as before House and Senate subcommittees in five coastal states affected by hurricanes, has resulted in policy changes, thereby reducing home owners’ insurance premiums and loss of property. New Entertainment Venues - The County has officially completed two facilities that will provide an abundance of entertainment opportunities for our residents. Located on Taylor Street in Punta Gorda, the Charlotte Harbor Events & Conference Center has a full slate of activities planned from home shows to sports events. The Charlotte Sports Complex on El Jobean Road, will host the opening of the Tampa Bays Spring Training season on February 25. Check our website for more information or subscribe to Charlotte Alert to receive monthly newsletters on current events. Conservation Charlotte Properties Open to the Public - We have recently expanded the amount of Conservation Charlotte information that is available on our website. Conservation Charlotte is a voter approved initiative that provides funding for environmentally sensitive lands. Now available on our website are photographs of property and wildlife at Thornton Key, Buck Creek, Deep Creek, Shell Creek and Prairie Creek preserves. Website visitors can access descriptive information about each property, site maps and activities available at each location, as well as videos that provide an overview of the properties. Holiday - County offices will be closed on February 16, 2009 to observe Presidents Day.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES Baseball Exhibit Opens - The Charlotte County Historical Center welcomed the Tampa Bay Rays with the unique Play Ball! in Charlotte baseball exhibit which opened January 21. There are many unique items on display from local professional baseball players, the Rays, and items on loan from the Ted Williams Museum. Guest curators for this exhibit are Cindy and Vince LaPorta. The exhibit will be open through June 20. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children 12 and under. Call 941.629.7278 for more information. The Historical Center is located at 22959 Bayshore Road, Charlotte Harbor. Movies Under the Stars - Snuggle up to your Valentine at Bayshore Live Oak Park on February 13, 7:30 p.m. Watch Runaway Bride with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. Admission is free. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets to Bayshore Live Oak Park, 23157 Bayshore Road, Charlotte Harbor. There will be a variety of food concessions available throughout the evening. Free Homeowner Fertilizer Workshop - February 18th - 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., Cedar Point Environmental Park 2300 Placida Road, Englewood. Charlotte County Florida Yards and Neighborhoods is conducting a free Homeowner Fertilizer Workshop at the Cedar Point Environmental Park. Its time to get out into your yards and begin cleaning up and planting for a new season. New regulations are in effect for the use of fertilizers containing nitrogen and/or phosphorous on Charlotte County lawns. This workshop will provide an overview of the new Fertilizer Ordinance, as well as information on determining fertilizer needs, selecting and purchasing a fertilizer, correct fertilizer application, and Florida-Friendly fertilizer techniques. This workshop is free to attend. Pre-registration is suggested but not required. To pre-register for the class, contact the Cedar Point Environmental Park at 941.475.0769. Senior Expo at the Event Center - January 28-29, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. An exciting show for seniors interested in new health care options, investment resources, lifestyle opportunities, and entertainment, hobby and travel choices. For more information call 239.466.6300. Admission is free. Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center, 75 Taylor Street, Punta Gorda. Quilt Show at the Event Center - February 27 & 28, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Peace River Quilter’s Guild’s “Pieces of Paradise” Quilt Show. You don’t want to miss “Pieces of Paradise”, the 10th Biennial Southwest Florida Quilt Festival featuring over 250 quilts made by the Peace River Quilters’ Guild. With a large boutique, 26 vendors, silent auction, door prizes, raffle quilt, quilt appraiser, special exhibits, on site food service and the Veteran Car Club of America showing their best vehicles, this is an event with something for everyone. Admission: $6.
MEETINGS 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.
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