CCP elects new officers, OKs budget for year
The Captiva Community Panel elected its officers for the new year and approved its annual budget during its recent meeting, as well as heard about news from the island and a community event.
On Jan. 14, the panel held its officer elections for 2025.
Panel Member David Mintz was nominated for president, Panel Member Bruce McDonald for vice president, Panel Member Tony Lapi for secretary and Panel Member Sandy Stilwell for treasurer.
All four nominations were approved unanimously in separate votes.
Also at the meeting, Administrator Ken Gooderham presented the 2025 proposed budget.
It included total revenues of $37,250 from solicited donations and interest. Expenses totaled about $36,481 for administration, communications, Development/Fundraising Committee, copies and mileage, website, storage, audiovisual (AV) and Zoom, insurance, taxes and fees, processing and service charges, and a 1% contingency. The remaining net income totaled about $769.
Based on cash on hand, escrowed directed donations and escrowed county grants, proposed available cash for use totaled about $120,406. Gooderham asked about any funding for ongoing initiatives.
Mintz suggested budgeting $10,000 to support potential ongoing projects and initiatives.
The panel unanimously approved the budget, with the $10,000 discretionary funding increase.
Also during the meeting, Lee County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Rich Zeltman provided the panel with an update, reporting on a recent traffic accident at about 11 p.m. or midnight at the Jensen’s curve.
“Alcohol was a factor,” he said. “There were no injuries.”
Zeltman reported that the out-of-state driver was traveling north.
“They completely missed the curve and went straight into the wooded area off the road,” he said, adding that if there had been a bicyclist or pedestrian on the road, it would have been tragic.
Zeltman encouraged the public to drink responsibility.
In addition, he reiterated that there is no beach parking yet on Captiva due to the hurricanes.
Also at the meeting, Stilwell and Panel Member John Jensen reported on the community iguana hunt that took place on Jan. 11 on the island. Adults and children helped to capture 63 iguanas in total.
Jensen noted that the longest one was about 5 feet.
The iguanas were placed into garage bins for the island’s contracted trapper to dispose of.
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email