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January 2008 |
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| The Charlotte 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 Comp Plan Review Begins - The County's Growth Management Department moved forward with its Comprehensive Plan process when it received approval from the Commissioners to begin negotiations with the top ranked consultant firm. The Comprehensive Plan is the blueprint for growth and must be approved by the Department of Community Affairs. Our documents must be submitted to the DCA in Tallahassee by 2010. Over the next two years the writing of the new Comp Plan will involve community and staff input plus a series of public hearings and approvals by the Board. Rumor Central for All the Hot News - This month Charlotte County launched a new feature on our website, CharlotteCountyFL.com. Rumor Central debuted to rave reviews from the public and an avalanche of rumors to be checked out! The site will address the hot topics of the day and will specifically address erroneous information that keeps circulating about County government. Check it out yourself here. Heard any good rumors lately? Email Joyce.Ross@CharlotteFL.com and she will track down the answers! Murdock Village Continues to Move Forward. - The Commission is expected to approve the plat vacation for this redevelopment project sometime in February. Once this occurs the County will begin road closures in this area and commence clearing debris resulting from illegal dumping. Charlotte County Utilities Revises Water Restrictions Schedule - In response to ongoing drought conditions, effective February 1, 2008, a new watering schedule will be in force. The revised schedule still limits lawn and landscape irrigation to once per week and is the schedule recommended by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Watering is allowed only before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. on the designated day. Properties over two acres may water before 10: a.m. or after 4 p.m. on the designated day. Revised Watering
Schedule County Property Home to Endangered Species - Florida Fish & Wildlife investigated a citizen complaint on a County project. At a future construction site on Veterans Blvd. it was thought that an endangered gopher tortoise burrow had been damaged. FWC officers, working with a biologist who specialized in the species, found that no burrows had been collapsed and could find no evidence of a tortoise being harmed. All existing burrows have been confirmed and they will be protected, as required, once official construction begins on the project. The property will house the new Public Works Complex including a fleet garage with construction expected to begin in April 2008. Prescribed Burns Planned for Charlotte
County Parks - To decrease the
risk of wildfire and increase the quality of our natural ecosystems,
Charlotte County Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department is
planning prescribed burns at Charlotte Flatwoods Environmental Park , US
41 & Zimel Rd, Punta Gorda. In the Englewood and Cape Haze area, burning
is being planned for Amberjack Environmental Park, 6400 Gasparilla Pines
Blvd. The burns may occur any time through March 2008, dates dependant
upon specific weather conditions. The final determination will be made
according to weather conditions on site, the day of the proposed burn.
Sports Park Renovations Continue - The batting cages and the adjacent building (Building C) at the Charlotte Sports Park, 2300 ElJobean Road, Port Charlotte, will be closed indefinitely due to the ongoing construction and renovation. You can watch the men at work with our live web cams by clicking here.
Punta Gorda
Library Entrance Way Improvements -
The Punta Gorda Library at 424 West Henry Street will be receiving improvements to the front entry steps,
ramp and walkways. The construction project is currently underway and will be completed on or before February 29,
2008. The resulting entrance way will include improved handicap
access directly from the handicap parking spaces, handrails, a safer
stairway, better drainage, and new planters. The handicap ramp access will be interrupted for a maximum of 5 days
during the week. There will be a call button available for handicap
access through the rear door of the Library. The library will
remain open during all regularly scheduled hours.
Placida Boat Ramp Reopening - Placida Boat Ramp reopened on Saturday, January 19, 2008. Complete boat ramp renovation consists of replacing the old existing ramps and docks. Boaters will find that the new, heavily textured, solid concrete ramp surfaces are safer to use. Reconfiguration of ramp lanes will allow three trailers to access the ramps at one time. All new, handicap accessible docks will aid in faster and safer ramp use. Budget Tidbit - Energy efficiencies have reduced electrical usage at County facilities by 110,000 kwh per month compared to the same time last year.
COMMUNITY EVENTS Men’s 30 and older 3 on 3 Basketball - Charlotte County announces a 30 and older, half court 3 on 3 basketball league. Teams are comprised of up to five players all of which must be at least 30 years of age or older. The games will be self-officiated by the players. There is an organizational meeting on February 20, 2008 at 6pm. Games will be on Monday evenings starting February 25. Team t-shirts are included in the $40 registration fee. Grandma's Attic Debuts at the Historical Center -The Charlotte County Historical Center’s newest exhibit, Grandma’s Attic is now open. Why do we tuck away certain items from the past and what stories do they tell? Guest curator Don DuBrul has worked with people throughout Charlotte County to gather together fascinating artifacts and their stories. Take this special opportunity to enjoy a collection of heirlooms, artifacts, objects and oddities — memories of family, friends and times past. Grandma’s Attic is enhanced with many “hands-on” interactive opportunities, and it is a “child friendly” exhibit designed for families to enjoy together. It will be open through April 12, 2008. Admission fee is $2 for adults and $1 for children 12 and under. Also included are the permanent exhibits: the Bicentennial Time Capsule, Shopping in Charlotte County depicting changes in retail over the years, 16 original Heritage Paintings of local historical homes and other buildings by Betty Reese, and Charlotte County: Telling Our Story in several galleries. The Charlotte County Historical Center, a division of the Parks Recreation and Cultural Resources Department, is located at 22959 Bayshore Road in the Charlotte Harbor Historic District. Exhibit hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. African American Experience in Florida - The Mid-County Regional Library presents, “The African American Experience in Florida.” This four part program, funded by the Florida Humanities Council, celebrates the unique contribution of African Americans to the cultural heritage of the Sunshine State. Sessions are free and open to the public, but require reservations to hold your seat. Please call 941.613.3166 for reservations, or they can go online at www.CharlotteCountyFl.com, click on the Library Pages Link, and go to the eExplore Online Program Registration page to reserve your seat. The program lineup is as follows: Phyllis McEwen as Zora Neal Hurston, Thursday, February 21, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. Poet and scholar Phyllis McEwen will portray the celebrated anthropologist and writer. Through songs and stories, McEwen brings Zora to life. Silver Wings & Civil Rights, Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. Dr. Yenwith Whitney, an original Tuskegee Airman who flew combat in World War II, will speak about the Tuskegee experience. Additionally, there will be a screening of Silver Wings & Civil Rights: The Flight to Fly, an award winning documentary about the Tuskegee Airman. Discover how a group of African Americans overcame racial prejudice and distinguished themselves in the sky. The Rosewood Incident, Thursday, March 13, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. Dr. Maxine Jones will discuss the Rosewood Incident. The major author of a 1993 report to the Florida Legislature on the Rosewood Incident as well as the author of two books on Florida African American history, Dr. Jones will present the true story of the African American village in western Levy County, Florida that was burned beyond recognition by a group of angry whites.
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. To view the agenda for the Board meetings click here: 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. Check out our inventory here: On Demand Video. Charlotte County has dozens of official meetings and activities each month. For an itemized listing click here: Meeting Calendars
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