Engage Estero Safety Council is made of volunteers serving as a voice for the citizens of greater Estero on safety and transportation priorities and issues. We advocate for related solutions to Village, County, and State Government organizations.
Road Safety in Greater Estero By Contributing Author, Mark Novitski, and Engage Estero Consultant. Everyone has their definition of what determines road safety or, conversely, what makes our roads unsafe. In writing extensively about Corkscrew Road, I have...
Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comprtroller Kevin Karnes is now offering an alert notification system for Lee County property owners to reduce fraud. When you sign-up, if a deed, mortgage, or other non-Court official record is recorded in your name, you will be...
Engage Estero Environment Council is a volunteer group focusing on improving water and air quality and mitigating and eliminating the effects of climate warming in greater Estero.
During the weekend of April 6th, Engage Estero’s team of volunteers, organized by Julie Yellig, collected 360 pounds of bagged litter. A total of 2.2 tons of litter has been collected since the end of April 2023 (the end of last season), and an astonishing 10 tons...
by Mark Novitski, Consultant to Engage Estero. Mia McCormick, Advocate, Environment Florida, identifies why we need wildlife crossings: “Each year, animals at risk of extinction die when cars and creatures collide on Florida roadways. It is the number one cause of...
Engage Estero Community Health Council comprises health* and safety-minded volunteers who think about community health comprehensively with a common desire to improve the overall health of the citizens of greater Estero.
https://www.esterotoday.com/event/may2024/ RSVP
The facts Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more than 300,000 lives annually. Approximately 95 percent of SCA victims die before they reach a hospital or receive medical attention. How Can We Help Reduce This...
Engage Estero mobilizes volunteers in our schools, sponsors scholarships, and promotes the involvement of the community through announcements and public forums.
By Mike Wasson, Director, Engage Estero The Village of Estero Council issued a Proclamation its Meeting on Wednesday, March 6th honoring 39 Estero High School Students who were presented the Cambridge Outstanding Learners Awards. In his remarks, Jon McLain, Village of...
The Future Plans for our Schools and Students' Education in Greater EsteroBrought to you by the Engage Estero Education Councilby Mark Novitski, Consultant to Engage EsteroPrincipal Leslie Gunderson in her office at Pinewoods Elementary School behind a table full of...
Engage Estero believes the best way to get a community involved is to make sure they are aware of the issues impacting their future, and know how to impact those decisions before they are made. We conduct and publish original research and articles aimed at getting residents Engaged.
The March 12, 2021 meeting of the ECCL was held virtually on Zoom. The featured speaker was Matt Feeney, Assistant Manager of the City of Bonita Springs. You can watch the video or read the summary below.
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:05 Welcoming Remarks
00:01:48 Matt Feeney, City of Bonita Springs, on Nitrogen reduction through Bioreactor Project
00:49:08 Vote on changing to a 501(c)3 results
00:52:08 Mark Novitski on ECCL Business
00:54:03 Allan Bowditch on ECCL History
01:05:11 John Quin, Treasurer’s Report
01:06:47 Barry Freedman, Virtual Visitor’s Center
01:17:20 Jim Gilmartin, Closing Remarks
Guest Speaker
Mr. Feeney is the Assistant City Manager of Bonita Springs. Matt discussed the development and future of the Felts Avenue Bioreactor. This award-winning effort is the first of its kind in Florida to reduce nitrogen levels to improve water quality. The 3acre site is located off Old 41 and near the Imperial River, a major tributary of Estero Bay. The watershed is affected by rainwater and run-off from homes, golf courses, and agriculture, especially fertilizer.
Current control efforts are wet retention (ponds) and dry retention (grassy areas). With funding from the state, the city, and a grant, $800,705 was raised to develop a series of sunken beds that incorporate wood chips, filters, pipes, and pea gravel to filter the water, predicted to last over 15 years. Once the infrastructure is installed, the land is available for other uses. The Felts Avenue area now serves as a parking lot for 101 cars. In the planning stage, a second phase is to plumb a direct line to the reactor from the Imperial River.
Mr. Feeney presented a PowerPoint presentation with a great deal of data. The data is available on the recording of the meeting on the ECCL website.
Pres. Gilmartin reported that the Board and members had approved changes to the bylaws to allow the group to apply for 501(c)3 status. He outlined the benefits of such a change.
A letter was sent to the Lee Parks & Recreation asking for ECCL requesting to discuss the Larry Kiker Preserve.
A request was made to include a Veteran’s Recognition Park near the bandstand at the Estero Park.
Health – Lee Health has developed and will examine the results of a market needs assessment to determine local healthcare priorities in the medium to long term.
A Lee Health “Health Fair” is scheduled for April 17 at the health center Coconut Point.
Finance – February revenue was $3000, with $1400 added after expenses. $8000 is currently outstanding for member community dues.
Safety – Mark Russet, a resident of Stonybrook, has been named as the co-chair of the Safety Council.
Corkscrew Road widening is expected to begin in May.
Over 3000 pounds of rubbish has been collected by Adopt a Highway volunteers on Hwy41 in Estero.
Economic Development – Work has begun developing a Virtual Visitor center, a website with maps and info for prospective visitors. Digital marketers are begin contacted.
History of the ECCL – Progress is being made to compile a historical document summarizing the ECCL’s civic engagement over the last 20 years. Including helping to make the greater Estero area the best place to live, work and play.
