CEPD sets tentative millage rate, hears updates
The Captiva Erosion Prevention District’s (CEPD) commission approved the not-to-exceed millage rate and budget hearings for fiscal year 2026-27 at its meeting, plus decided on iguana control and more.
On July 21, the commissioners voted unanimously 5-0 to adopt a proposed operating millage rate of 0.3517 mills, which is equal to the rolled-back rate of 0.3517 mills. As part of the motion, the commission also set the first budget hearing for Sept. 9 at 1 p.m. and second for Sept. 14 at 5:01 p.m.
The millage rate can be lowered during the upcoming budget process but not raised.
Prior to the vote, CEPD Office Manager Lisa Batchelor presented the board with four options for consideration: the 2026 rolled-back rate of 0.3517 mills, the current fiscal year’s rate of 0.3740 mills, a 110% version of the rolled-back rate at 0.3869 and the 0.5000 mills cap, along with their revenues.
Chairman Bob Walter noted that they were setting the maximum millage rate.
“We cannot go up beyond this,” he said. “But we can go down.”
Treasurer Bernie Dupre suggested the 110% at 0.3869.
“We may not need it,” he said, adding that he is committed to less than more and would support lowering the rate during the September hearings if the proposed budget allowed for it.
Secretary Timothy McGowan agreed, echoing that they can set it high now and lower it later. He also voiced concern about not setting the maximum high enough to work with because it can’t be raised.
Commissioner John Wade disagreed, pointing to the beach renourishment apportionment coming.
“We should start with a conservative approach,” he said, suggesting the 2026 rolled-back rate instead of 0.3517. “And we just make the budget work — I think we have to tighten our belts a little bit.”
Commissioner Rene Miville agreed with him.
A motion to approve the 0.3869 mills failed in a 3-2 vote, with Wade and Miville dissenting.
It required four out of five votes for it to pass.
A second motion on the rolled-back rate of 0.3517 mills passed.
Also during the meeting, Batchelor provided an update on the suspended iguana control services.
She reiterated that the CEPD got a $500,000 grant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for that and Australian pine removal, and the agreement expired on June 30. Batchelor continued that the CEPD was unable to use the full amount of the grant before it expired.
She reported that an extension has been granted through Sept. 15.
Batchelor explained that The Southern Group, the CEPD’s lobbyists, are now working with the FWC to seek approval to reallocate the leftover funds for continued iguana control and utilize the full amount.
A motion to use the funds, if received from the state, for the services was approved 4-0.
IN OTHER NEWS
– Walter reported that they received 55 resumes for the executive director/general manager position.
He thought about nine were solid, but suggested waiting until they decide on a direction.
On a related note, Governmental Management Services (GMS) presented the commissioners with a proposal for district management services, from operations to financial and accounting oversight.
In the following discussion, Walter suggested GMS come back with a revised proposal and that Batchelor take on more of a day-to-day supervisory role, possibly working with and through GMS.
Dupre agreed with the idea of her continuing with the financials and accounting, but taking on the daily operations, like managing the parking lot attendants. He floated raising her annual salary to $90,000.
After some back-and-forth among the commission, a motion for Batchelor to take on additional supervisory duties and to increase her salary to $90,000 passed 4-1, with Wade casting the no vote.
– The commission voted 4-0 on a contract with Back Bay Property Services for $1,428 for it to add about 238 feet of ropes and bollards to the South Seas dune area in front of the first seven condos.
– The commission voted 4-0 on a contract with Back Bay Property Services for sand cleaning services along Captiva Drive between the ‘Tween Waters Inn & Marina and Jensen’s curve in the amounts of $2,800 for the initial service and $1,500 per cleaning for maintenance services.
– The commission voted 4-0 on a contract with Perry’s Beach Service in the amount of $19,000 for it to perform the tilling and dressing of the Captiva Island Beach Renourishment 2025 project area, in accordance with applicable permit requirements.
– The commission voted 4-1 on an Information Technology (IT) Security Plan presented by CEPD contractor CMIT Solutions. Wade cast the dissenting vote.
– The commission voted 3-1 to immediately terminate technical consultant Evan Cutler and ordered that he turn over all CEPD access information, including logins, passwords and documents, and remove himself from all access. Wade cast the dissenting vote.
– The commission voted 3-2 to adopt a new Board-Staff Relations and Commissioner Conduct Policy that was drafted and presented by Dupre. Wade and Miville cast the dissenting votes.
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