Elections Office to hold voter registration event at South Seas
With an election set for March on the special bond referendum for the beach renourishment project proposed for Captiva, the Lee County Elections Office will be on-island to help register voters.
Elections staff worked with the South Seas Island Resort to schedule the voter registration event for today, Jan. 30, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the resort’s Jasper Cone Room, at 5400 Plantation Road. Those who are eligible to register to vote in Lee County, but have not, are encouraged to stop in and do so.
“We are excited to coordinate with the Supervisor of Elections Office and South Seas Island Resort to increase voter registration,” Captiva Erosion Prevention District Administrator Carolyn Weaver said.
On March 5, islanders will vote on the bond referendum to partially fund the CEPD project.
“As many are aware, CEPD has a bond referendum election being held on March 5 to allow the CEPD to issue general obligation bonds payable from special assessments levied on all benefitting property within Captiva,” she said.
Currently, the CEPD is estimating that the total project cost will be about $30 million. However, calculating in the cost sharing from the state, county and other funding sources, the adjusted total cost that property owners are anticipated to face through the proposed assessments is $12.52 million.
The 2010 project was estimated to cost $15 million, but came in less than $6 million.
Consultants for the CEPD have been working off of an $18 million figure in finalizing the methodology behind the apportionment process in order to some provide wiggle room. However, the assessments levied will not be solidified until the project’s actual cost has been determined.
In addition, the assessments will be spread out over a 10-year period once finalized.
“The cost of the beach nourishment, erosion control and coastal protection project in 2020-2021 will be paid by these assessments, as well as by the CEPD and funding requested from the state of Florida and Lee County,” Weaver said.
Recently, the CEPD sent out a straw poll to get an idea of how the community felt about the renourishment project. At the January meeting of the CEPD’s board, Weaver reported that 279 cards were mailed out, of which eight came back undeliverable. Of the 269 still remaining, 137 had been returned – 119 of those polled supported the project, 16 opposed it and two were undecided.
Those eligible are urged to register in order to cast a ballot in March.
“Only voters who are registered in Precinct 17 will be eligible to vote on this important issue, so we want to make it as easy as possible for people to register,” she said.
Those unable to make it can find more information on how to register at www.lee.vote.
The deadline to register to vote is Feb. 4.
Those who will not be on the island for the March special election can request a Vote-by-Mail Ballot and still participate. For more information about requesting a mail ballot, visit www.lee.vote.
The deadline to request a Vote-by-Mail Ballot is Feb. 27.
For more about the CEPD or the proposed project, call 239-472-2472 or visit mycepd.com.
The CEPD board will hold its next meeting on Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. at South Seas.