Time to hit the accelerator. The next eight months could prove to be critical to Ft. Myers Beach. There will be elections, road projects, beach re-nourishment issues, and transportation and traffic flow concerns all to be discussed and decided. A new Interim Town Manager, Terry Stewart, will be hard at work as of February 1.

First, there is an election in March for two council seats. Mayor Kiker has announced that he is running for re-election and Councilman Herb Acken is retiring from the board. The direction of this town will certainly be affected by who will be serving on these boards. Further, the relationship with other agencies and jurisdictions will certainly be on the desk of these councilpeople. Beach re-nourishment, even with a modified plan, will still be challenged. There are some very needy areas to protect property as well as for recreational uses. Two County Commission seats, presently held by Commissioners Bigelow and Hall are up this fall and both have announced that they are running for re-election.

Second, there will be significant infrastructure improvements. This work includes North Estero Boulevard as well as railings on the north side of the Matanzas Pass Bridge. Also, the bridge will be painted an attractive blue. The result should be a real upgrade on the north side of our island. I believe a real transformation is occurring on that part of our island.

A decision on a successor owner to Seafarers Mall is likely to be made by the bank later this year. The new owner has real possibilities if they work with the town to improve traffic flow in that area and possibly improve parking and/or pedestrian crossings to Lynn Hall Park. Over the next few years, the resulting impacts can radiate down Estero Boulevard.

There will also be discussions about water utility lines, Bay Oaks recreation center, and important conversations regarding better public and private traffic flow on San Carlos Boulevard to Ft. Myers Beach are all likely to be discussed. The tail end of this period will no doubt include a lively discussion on the Town and the Lee County commission’s budgets.

We will also look forward to, hopefully, a scheduled groundbreaking for the expansion of the library and the opening of Newton Park. Off-island improvements include finalizing the widening of Gladiolus Drive as well as the conclusion of adding landscaping along Summerlin Road.

Your Ft. Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce will continue to work on behalf of your business to protect your business interests while pursuing more ways to improve the business climate in the Ft. Myers Beach Area. Our networking opportunities will include the interaction that your business can use to build relationships as well as to hear from officials who affect your life. Attending our upcoming seminars can also help guide you through these turbulent times. Together, we can build a stronger business community business by business. Your participation can allow you to strengthen your business strategies while creating a stronger business climate. The clientele will return but we cannot miss the opportunities for improvements today.