Charlotte County Rumor Central

Setting the record straight...

Financial Concerns?

What we have heard: Comments regarding Charlotte County declaring bankruptcy

Reality: While Charlotte County is facing financial challenges associated with specific revenue reductions related to Ad Valorem (property tax revenues) and other misc. revenues such as state shared sales tax and Communication Service fees, Charlotte County remains fiscally stable and in not in jeopardy of going “bankrupt”. Our challenge is to continue to maintain the highest possible levels of service to the citizens of Charlotte County with limited financial resources.

Fishing Piers and Boat Ramps

What we have heard: The County intends on closing fishing piers and boats ramps at certain parks at 9:00 p.m.

Reality: The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Marine Advisory Committee and the Beaches and Shores Advisory Committee will be holding a joint meeting to discuss the hours of operations of these amenities. The joint meeting will be held at the Port Charlotte Beach Recreation Center on June 17th at 9:30 a.m. All recommendations put forth by these Boards and Committees will be brought back to the Board of County Commissioners for their direction.

Fertilizer Ordinance - Too Tough or Not Enough?

What we have heard: Some say that the new fertilizer ordinance is not tough enough, while others think compliance is a burden on local commercial landscapers.

Reality: Charlotte County’s Fertilizer Ordinance was created, considering the best available science and the most practical approach in protecting our community’s water bodies. The ordinance enables residents to have green healthy lawns and gardens while preventing nutrient pollution.

The County solicited input from the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Florida Green Industries Best Management Practices, and the FDACS Florida Consumer Fertilizer Task Force Model Ordinance (the BMP Training Manual includes input and support from the Florida Turfgrass Association; the Florida Pest Management Association; and the Certified Pest Control Operators Association) in the creation of this ordinance. The County understands and believes this ordinance is a significant first step in educating both residents and commercial fertilizer applicators in the use and application of fertilizers, and is an ordinance that can be accepted and adopted by our residents.

Charlotte County will continue to evaluate nutrient pollution issues, including rain event run-off. As the scientific community develops sound research-based, un-biased scientific evidence with regards to nutrient pollution, their findings will and can be considered by Charlotte County for adoption within the Fertilizer Ordinance.

Charlotte County’s web site has the most current list of (known) stores that sell the required 50% slow release nitrogen fertilizers. The County solicited all known retail and wholesale outlets, seeking their participation and support of the Fertilizer Ordinance and to begin offering for sale the code compliant fertilizers. Go to the County web site www.CharlotteCountyFL.com , then under Popular Links click on the “New Fertilizer Ordinance” for a list of current locations where you can purchase the 50% slow release nitrogen fertilizers. This Florida Yards & Neighborhoods web site also has additional fertilizer and lawn care information for residents.

The Fertilizer Ordinance requires commercial applicators to be trained and certified in Florida Green Industries Best Management Practices, and display on their vehicle a decal demonstrating their certification. Charlotte County requires that only one person in charge at the work site, be certified. It would not be necessary for all employees to be certified, if the business had multi-personnel crews.

Charlotte County accepts and recognizes commercial businesses that have Florida Green Industries Best Management Practices training certifications from surrounding Lee and Sarasota Counties, and therefore they would not need or have the added expense of attending Charlotte County training workshops.

Conservation Charlotte Land Purchases

What we have heard: The County did not listen to the recommendations of the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Oversight Committee regarding land purchases.

Reality: The Board of County Commissioners depended heavily upon the advice of the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Oversight Committee. The Committee serves as advisors for the Conservation Charlotte program. Conservation Charlotte is a voter approved funding source for the purchase of environmentally sensitive lands. The properties purchased by the County were on the Committee's list of recommended purchases. The program has been a hugely successful in acquiring 2,250 acres of environmentally sensitive lands. The properties were purchased at below appraised values. The lands acquired will ensure these extremely valuable natural areas will protect endangered species and their habitats while also being enjoyed by County residents and future generations.

Assistance with Neighborhood Clean Up

What we have heard: The County doesn’t assist residents who want to remove litter from their neighborhoods and community.

Reality: Charlotte County offers many opportunities to residents to participate in community programs; Keep Charlotte Beautiful helps civic clubs and homeowner associations coordinate beautification projects for their neighborhoods, and sponsors the Adopt-A-Road, Adopt-A-Shore, Coastal Clean up events, and the Great American Clean Up event and the Partners for a Clean Charlotte is a committee that helps these same groups with community clean up events, providing coordination, disposal containers and disposal information. All these programs are available, but all require volunteers from the community to make them work. To find out more about these programs please contact Keep Charlotte Beautiful Program Coordinator, Glenda Anderson at 764-4390 or go on line at www.CharlotteCountyFL.com.

The County’s Mini-Transfer & Recycling Facilities were designed and are operated to provide services for waste generated on individual residential properties and are not staffed nor funded to accept large quantities of waste associated with community clean up events, other community improvement activities or vacant lots. There is a cost to operate the recycling facilities. Residents that desire to clean up their community or neighborhood on their own can take the waste generated from this activity to the County’s Zemel Road Landfill, a fee will be charged for disposal.

West Charlotte Mini-Transfer & Recycling Facility

What we have heard: The West Charlotte Mini-Transfer & Recycling Facility has been sold.

Reality: The renovations for the West Charlotte Mini Transfer & Recycling Facility are on target and the grand re-opening is scheduled for late July 2008. The facility has not been sold.

The renovations for the West Charlotte Facility are on schedule and the construction time-line should be achieved. These renovations will not only improve customer services, but significantly reduce operating costs through more efficient means of transporting waste and provide us with more recycling opportunities which generate revenues.

Water Shortage and New Development

What we have heard: Why does Charlotte County continue to approve new developments if we have a water shortage?

Reality: Water availability and new development involve two County departments, Charlotte County Utilities (CCU) and Growth Management. Senate Bill 360 mandates that all facilities and infrastructure required to support new development be in place before a certificate of occupancy can be issued. If the development intends to use centralized sewer and water then Growth Management works with CCU and part of the plan review process confirms that water will be available. CCU is required by State concurrency requirements to provide sufficient capacity to meet the needs of future growth as well as existing customers. They do this by monitoring current usage and estimating future growth. Approximately 95% of the water CCU provides its customers is purchased from the Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority (PR/MRWSA). They currently have several projects underway to increase water capacity and insure the necessary facilities are in place as these new developments come on-line. So, to answer your question, we have sufficient water available (or will have after expansion is complete) to meet the needs of those developments currently planned. However, water will continue to be of concern as we grow and experience seasonal drought conditions. At times there can be a limited supply and the ongoing drought has depleted reserves of stored water at the PR/MRWSA facility. This is one of the reasons why we emphasize water conservation and try to curtail water waste wherever possible (unnecessary yard watering, unchecked running faucets, leaks, etc.).

The County is involved in developments that utilize our water and sewer services. Those dependent upon septic tanks and wells fall under the jurisdiction of the State Health Department.

County Employees Follow Garbage Trucks

What we have heard: Why does the County have employees following garbage trucks?

Reality: The employees are doing solid waste audits.

Charlotte County Solid Waste Management Division is responsible to oversee/manage the contract services provided by Waste Management and, as such, we monitor and verify performance.

The Solid Waste Division is auditing solid waste curb side collection services. This is part of our management responsibility and the audit enables the County to make management decisions. The County is currently performing route audits to provide us with information relating to the Waste Management contract, which expires in 2009.

These audits will enable the County to determine garbage, recyclables and yard trimmings participation rates [set out rates] of residents. It is anticipated this information will assist with the new contract negotiation process. The audit results will enable the Solid Waste Division to make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners and provide the Commissioners with information on which to base their decisions. In addition, the information will aid in developing educational outreach and in making other management decisions. These audits will be continuing over the next several months.

Library to be closed?

What we have heard: The Port Charlotte Library will be closed.

Reality: There are currently no plans to close the Port Charlotte Library. Over the next year the County will be examining all of its operations with the goal to be more efficient and to reduce spending. While we will be looking at the libraries, as well as other programs and services, no decisions have been made at this time.

Fishing Pier in Placida

What we have heard: The fishing pier in Placida is being removed.

Reality: The County did not discuss the removal of the fishing pier/trestle in Placida. However, the County did consider the removal of a portion of the trestle on the closed pier on the Myakka River on the Gulf Cove side. This pier has been closed off for many years since the DOT Department widened the bridge and cutoff access. The county had considered removing the decking and cross ties at this location and leaving the pilings for fish habitat. The pier had a fire at the substructure level and there was concern that trestle material might fall in the water and create an unnecessary risk for boaters. At the March 11, 2008 Commission meeting a number of residents spoke in favor of leaving the trestle pier as-is. The Commissioners agreed and voted not to remove the decking and cross ties.

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