Fort Myers Beach residents want to dissolve local government, let Lee County take control

[bobbyvee]

The best comment below is the one who said: "Fort Meyers Beach should be declared Eminent Domain and turned into a State Park"! Why should the "prudent" taxpayers who live in small homes in nondescript neighborhoods elsewhere in the country, subsidize luxury homeowners losses? (Edit: spelling correction)

[rvduo]

They charged $5/ hrs for parking and they were in talks to raise that rate. What do they want now from the people who they were going to charge so much for parking? I say they have to make the dunes able to handle a surge, then just make a few restaurants and parking and a big beach and screw the private ownership houses.

[Kaaaaammmm]

Sounds to me like people are already expecting it to be like it was pre hurricane. Get a hold of yourselves, it will take years to get back to where you were. I went through Hugo, Andrew and Katrina and in every case it took years and those were bigger governments.

[easyb]

That’s not going to solve the problem and I’m not trying to be rude but a lot of chickens are coming home to roost after this tragedy. Be safe out there people.

[nicolewembley]

Rebuild seriously, and wait for the next storm, time to move inland let nature have the beach area back, limit rebuilds.

[davebell]

So let me get this straight....The former leadership knows the money doesn't exist and now wants to talk about it? Sounds like to me the former leadership should also be held accountable. But this is what happens when you live at 0 sea level and pretend nothing bad happens.

[DoorTrash]

These people have no clue that there is going to be no one to rebuild these homes. It was impossible to get guys to work on jobsites before the hurricane, with thousands of homes destroyed, many at a complete loss either flattened or flooding, the shortage of construction workers is going to be painfully obvious within the next 2-3 months.

[chrismellon]

I was in marco during the storm, ppl have to understand this hurricane was nothing like anyone has ever seen. This storm was the scariest thing of my entire life! Things just don't happen over night. Ppl are doing as much as they can. They aren't the only place destroyed. I'm sure one of the other problems is where to put all this debris. Its not like open land fills just get bigger. Having the county come in won't solve the problem, it could actually delay things more, bc the county resources are already be stretched to the max. They wanted their own government but now that things are tough and they realize it was a bad move, they want someone else to bail them out. Contractors can't do much bc the supply chain for materials is at zero. The ppl complaining are the ones who don't live here full time and they don't understand to be thankful they are alive. If you watch other videos where ppl live full time and experienced it first hand, they are not complaining, they are grateful to be alive and they say things take time. Maybe this woman, the ex mayor should be a little more grateful instead of entitled.

[edwardnigma]

This is probably the smartest thing that all of these people can do... Get rid of the local government which is completely ineffective!

[tombrewsaugh]

I lived on the Beach from 1966 to around 1975 when we moved in near Cypress Lake. Was living in Lehigh with my wife when the idea and vote to make FMB a city. Thought it was a stupid idea then still think so today. Lucky I moved out of Florida nearly 2 years ago and it's nice not having to worry about hurricane season anymore.

[bargdaffy]

These silly fools need to learn that you can no longer live on a barrier island any where on the Gulf Coast.

[netposerx]

So they want county money now that they need it.

[johnperez]

I'm so sorry for everyone..I wish I had the power and money to help everyone rebuild..somehow we will all eventually make it thru this mess.hang in there.

[jeg]

Who pays for cleanup? I'd think a person would be responsible for any and all trash associated with their property. What's this looking around for somebody else to pay for it? You wanted to be at the oceans edge.

[plmvzql]

First off I'm Fort Myers born and raised and been through every hurricane since the '70s ....They said years ago they wanted to take control of themselves so let them have it they liked it when it benefit them but now when it don't they're crying .. treat them like we should do to California let them deal with it themselves.

[bravewave]

Ft Myers Beach is part of Lee County. It is evident the local leaders are coordinating with Lee County. Hang in there locally elected officials.

[chrisrobertson]

As a current FMB resident, I am so disapppinted by the lack of household garbage pickup after the city website boasted that first round was 100% complete! 8 weeks and still waiting for any of my garbage to be picked up! Poor leadership on GMB is an understatement! Big corporations will take over the island as many residents probably will sell.

[elainemarie]

I've lived here (Fort Myers) almost 40 years, and knew the lady whose family owned one of the first hotels on FMB when she was a young girl. Her Uncle Jim Newton lived at the house at Newton park, which was donated after he passed away. I hope they build less and it becomes a park and pristine like it once was.

[studsmanor]

There’s no amount of leadership and determination that’s going to save a sinking town buddy. Move on and let the county clean up

[redriverraider]

WT? Sure, county services will be much better.