June 2008

 www.CharlotteCountyFL.com
 

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

Automated Garbage Pickup - Charlotte County has extended the existing contract with Waste Management to include once-a-week automated garbage pickup.  This change, which goes into effect on October 1, will allow the County to reduce costs and to provide waste pickup in a more efficient manner. The automated pickup will require a special garbage cart which will be supplied free of charge.  The cost savings for the first year are expected to be $1.26 million and will reduce road travel by almost 295,000 miles annually.  Click here for more details on the program and to see a demonstration of the automated garbage pickup.

Compost Could Be a Money-Saver - Charlotte County landfill and utilities departments are working together to produce compost. We invited the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to examine a recent test plot of compost made from our utilities department’s domestic wastewater sludge and our solid waste department’s vegetative waste. The vegetative waste is a combination of yard waste from residents and landscape debris from landscapers. The landfill mulches the vegetative waste and mixes it with sludge to produce the compost. The examination by FDEP was positive and we have requested permission to continue testing the manufacturing of compost for 180 days. Should the test prove successful the County will seek the necessary permits and site improvements to make the composting a permanent operation. Composting at the landfill will reduce utilities domestic wastewater treatment plant costs and the landfill will use the compost for cover, reducing the reliance on purchased soils.

Sales Tax Extension - The extension of the existing 1% local option sales tax is up for consideration in the August 26 primary election. If your group or organization would like to learn more about this issue we will be happy to provide a speaker.  Please call 941.743.1944 for details. For more information on the sales tax extension and projects to be funded, click here.

Smart Charlotte 2050 - What is Smart Charlotte? It's an innovative planning initiative to establish a blueprint for how we live, work and play in Charlotte County. This community planning process will shape the future for you, your children, and your grandchildren so your participation is important! Join us in a Visioning Workshop on July 22, 6:00 p.m. at the Port Charlotte Beach Recreation Center at 4500 Harbor Boulevard.  For more information call 941.764.4920.

Beach Renourishment - The County will soon begin work on the Port Charlotte Beach renourishment project.  This beach was significantly damaged during Hurricane Charley in 2004.  Funding for the repairs are being provided by FEMA.  Part of the project will include the planting of sea oats on the shoreline to prevent future erosion.

Foreclosure Assistance -   Foreclosure assistance is available to households in Charlotte County.  This assistance includes funds for mortgage payments up to $5,000 and/or negotiation with the mortgage lender to prevent foreclosure.  To find out more, contact the Housing Corporation at 941.255.9454 or go on-line to www.housingcorpcc.org.

Preserving Charlotte County History - Charlotte County is interested in your opinion regarding historic preservation. Historic preservation is the practice of identifying, documenting and rehabilitating or restoring buildings, objects or sites that have proven architectural, cultural or historical significance in the community. Charlotte County currently has over 1800 historical resources recorded in the Florida Master Site File, with various levels of significance. Four treatment approaches in historic preservation are preservation, rehabilitation, restoration and reconstruction. You can help us determine the direction of our preservation efforts by taking our survey.

 

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Inaugural 4th of July Blow-Out at Laishley Park in Punta Gorda - Spend this Independence Day enjoying Charlotte Harbor’s tropical breezes and patriotic spirit with family and friends during the 2008 Inaugural 4th of July Blow-Out at Laishley Park Municipal Marina in Punta Gorda. Admission to the 4th of July Blow-Out is a $2 donation, per person. A $6 admission fee, per person, includes the donation and a 4th of July Blow-Out t-shirt. One hundred percent of the donated funds will go towards the fireworks display. The event opens at noon and continues through 10:00 p.m.  The fireworks will begin at 9:00 p.m. Join us for food, fun and entertainment!

Ask the Building Department Series - Our next program, "Homeowner, Condo & Landlord Associations - What are the Rules?", will take place on July 10, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Building Construction Services Department at 18500 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte.

Hurricane Run 5K -  The annual run will take place on Saturday, August 16th at the North Charlotte Regional Park at 7:30a.m. The registration fee before August 1, 2008 is $15. Registration after August 1st is $20. All participants will receive a goody bag including a T-shirt. Awards will be presented to the top three male and female performers in a variety of age groups. Refreshments including fruit, water and breakfast bars will be provided following the race. The Hurricane 5K is presented by the Charlotte County Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Department. Flyers and registration forms can be picked up at any Charlotte County recreation facility or accessed on-line. For more information, please call 941.743.2425.

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. However, if you need assistance or require auxiliary aids and services please contact our office at 941-743-1392. FM Sound Enhancement Units for the Hearing Impaired are available at the Front Desk. If Sound Enhancement Units are insufficient for you, please contact our office TTY # 941-743-1234.

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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