Charlotte County E-News - This is the final issue of the County's electronic newsletter Charlotte E-News.  The E-News has been published for six years and its focus has been on general County Government news, highlighting and linking to new information that was available on our website.  If you receive this publication via Charlotte Alert you are already subscribed to the Newsletter category.  Although this particular publication will cease distribution, you will continue to receive the County's other newsletters.

Volunteers Welcome - Are you community spirited and have a little time on your hands?  Charlotte County Government needs you!  We are looking for some very special VIPS (Volunteers in Public Service) to work in a variety of County jobs.  For full details on our program visit our volunteer webpage.

County Sees Cost Savings with Community Service Workers - Our Facilities Department has begun using community service workers for a number of tasks such as painting, miscellaneous office projects, and vehicle maintenance.  These workers are individuals who have been sentenced to do community service through the court system. This is one of the County’s strategies to reduce costs and create efficiencies.

Changes to Veterans Blvd. - The County is raising the posted speed on a significant portion of Veterans Boulevard from 45 MPH to 55 MPH. This change in speed limits is expected to improve traffic flow on this busy thoroughfare. It is anticipated that the change in speeds will go into effect on July 1, 2009. Commencing on or about June 1, 2009, County workers will begin relocating the palm trees in the medians of Veterans Boulevard to the edge of the Veterans Boulevard right-of way between Cochran Boulevard and Atwater Street. The relocation effort is expected to take two weeks. During this time, there will be periodic lane closures to accommodate the tree relocation activities. The trees are being relocated to comply with Florida Department of Transportation regulations.

Redfish Cup to Air on ESPN2 - Charlotte County recently hosted a successful Redfish Cup & Festival at Laishley Park. Attendance was 6,500 and event goers enjoyed such favorites as the cardboard boat races, Splash Dogs competition, the Relatively Redfish Art Show and the dramatic daily redfish weigh-ins.  The Redfish Cup was filmed for ESPN2 and will air on July 4 and July 11 at 8:30 a.m.

Toilet Rebate Program - As part of Charlotte County Utilities ongoing conservation efforts, a toilet rebate program, cooperatively funded with SWFWMD's Peace River Basin Board was launched in 2008. The program was to encourage the replacement of older, high-consumption toilets manufactured prior to 1994, using 3.5 gallons or greater of water per flush, with new low-flow models that only use 1.6 gallons or less of water per flush. To date 429 older toilets have been replaced for a total calculated water savings of 338,682 gallons per year, at a cost of $37,219.55. Our goal at the end of the program is to replace 700 older toilets, with a calculated water savings of 523,775 gallons per year. That's enough water for one household to use for 6.4 years!  As you can see, every little bit of conservation  helps. Learn more about the toilet rebate program by visiting our CCU webpages. Commercial and multi-family properties are currently eligible to apply for the program. Residential applicants will be accepted starting October 1st.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

Nature Talks with Dave Mathewson – Bayshore Live Oak Park, 23157 Bayshore Road, Charlotte Harbor. Explore local plant and wildlife species. Meet some of Nature Dave’s special friends. Pack a picnic lunch. June 6 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. For more information: 941.629.7278.

Touch-a-Truck® - Put your imagination in gear and go!  Join us on June 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center, 75 Taylor St., Punta Gorda. Kids get a chance to get behind the wheel and rub elbows with their hometown heroes. Come, climb on and explore your favorite vehicles including big rigs, fire engines, police cars, race cars and construction trucks. It will be a day that will be remembered for years to come.  Bring your camera! Admission is FREE! Information: 974.639.5833.

Roots & Wings®: Raising Resilient Children – Seminars offered at the Family Services Center, 21450 Gibralter Drive, Port Charlotte. Come learn how to reset standards, use teachable moments, and re-establish rituals and traditions. Meet other parents and share the joys of parenting. Information: 941.235.0159  June 16 – July 14 (Tuesdays) 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Movies Under the Stars - Don't miss this great family activity!  It's FREE!  On June 19, cartoons begin at 7:30 p.m., feature presentation, The Dark Knight, starring Heath Ledger, Morgan Freeman and Christian Bale, begins at 8:00 p.m. Veterans Motor Club will have cars on display beginning at 6:00 p.m. and food vendors will also be available. Bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating. Bayshore Live Oak Park, Bayshore Road, Charlotte Harbor.

For a full listing of County events sent right to your in-box, log in to your Charlotte Alert account and check the "County Events" category.

MEETINGS

Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners holds its regular meeting at 9:00 a.m. on the second, third, and fourth Tuesday of each month.  Land use issues are specifically addressed at the third Tuesday BCC meetings. 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 a wide variety of official meetings and activities each month: Meeting Calendars.

To  subscribe or unsubscribe to a variety of County news bulletins, please visit Charlotte Alert.