Opinion

The Struggle of Lehigh Acres

Posted by Editor on Feb 21, 2013 in Opinions | 2 comments

     It has come to my attention that Lehigh Regional is requesting that their Certificate of Need be transferred within our County.  What you may or may not know is that their moving could be detrimental to our Community.  It is not only Lehigh Acres residents that use the facility but, neighboring areas as well.  Alva, LaBelle (Hendry County), some Collier County and Glades County residents also use the hospital because it is the closest facility to them.  My concern is that it will leave a large gap in this area.  Lee Memorial Health System facilities are around 12-15 miles from this area and if there is a major emergency, patients may not be able to survive the long drive.  Lehigh Regional’s new location would not make that drive any closer.  The MedFlight helicopters have also been outsourced recently making air travel more expensive and possibly longer response times. (more…)

The Great Hospital War

Posted by Editor on Feb 21, 2013 in Opinions | 1 comment

I am asking all who care about our lives in Lehigh Acres to step up and write the Governor and or any local state politician. The war on who will build the best hospital in a better and affluent neighborhood will not benefit us in LEHIGH ACRES. We will end up with nothing, and a long ride to seek medical needs. With the push by the State to expand Medicaid in Fl. The hospitals will be further strapped for profit, and you can see where HMA will look and build to make their “For Profit” money. Tell the Politicians that we do not want the removal of any part Lehigh Regional Hospital. We need to act now!

Douglas Patterson

Lehigh Acres

Less County Income = Less Services

Posted by Editor on Jan 24, 2013 in Letters, Opinions | 0 comments

Dear Editor,

Less County Income = Less Services (Fire, Schools, Roads and more).  If you don’t have jobs up North and elsewhere, who comes to buy anything here?  You have to get rid of all the foreclosures to create demand that justifies building.  Right you have a supply of foreclosures that you are not forcing the banks to foreclose.  You are putting the burden of people not paying association fees at hundreds of associations, as the current owners have to pay for those owners who are not paying.  The guidelines of the 20th judicial court has to be changed to force banks to foreclose and get these homes in the hands of new owners.  Once the foreclosures are gone, you have no supply – and you then have demand.  You then have homeowner, property owner and condominium associations lowering their fees as all owners are paying and no longer delinquent, which puts more spending dollars into the economy. New owners in the foreclosed units brings in more spending dollars.  The banks must not be allowed to have 5 years before they foreclose. (more…)

A Letter to the Board of Lee County Commissioners

Posted by Editor on Jan 17, 2013 in Letters, Opinions | 0 comments

J. L. Kreger

I am writing to you as President of the Community Council of Lehigh Acres to personally request you reconsider your plan to suspend impact fees for Lee County for the next 2 years.  This will directly impact the Homestead Road project in Lehigh Acres, since those fees are the funding for obtaining the final right-of-ways needed to finish the last part prior to reconstructing Homestead Road.

Lehigh Acres has been on the back burner far too long for this to happen.  With 5,000 plus foreclosures on the market, the building industry is leading you on a wrong path at this time.  Why would people build a new house when they can buy a brand new foreclosure for ½ the price of a new one.  Let’s get our priorities in the correct order.  Finishing Homestead Road WILL lead to building more homes, apartments, and commercial space over the next 5 years – at which time we will be in a stronger economic climate. (more…)

Lehigh Spring Meeting
November 5

Posted by Editor on Nov 1, 2012 in Letters, Opinions | 0 comments

Dear Editor,

At the last Lee County Board of County Commissioners meeting, to which many of you attended, the Board agreed to meet on Monday, November 5, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. to discuss Lehigh Spring and try to find a way for it to be purchased.

Your strong presence at this meeting would show continued solidarity.  The meeting is to be held in the Board Meeting Room.  I don’t believe we are allowed to speak, but being there sends a strong message. (more…)

I Am Still Not Ready to Let the GOP Take Over Washington

Posted by Editor on Oct 29, 2012 in Letters, Opinions | 0 comments

To the editor,

In spite of the ongoing recession, I am still not ready to let the GOP take over Washington.
Apparently the Republicans are ready to go to war with the 47%!

This is what they call for and maybe (even though Romney denies it) war with whoever Israel privately designates before they attack. I know both sides have their skeletons, many of which will come out later. Thus Halloween is a good time to hold an election. (more…)

Lehigh Spring

Posted by Editor on Oct 15, 2012 in Letters, Opinions | 0 comments

Dear Editor and the Lehigh Spring “One Voice” Supporters:

Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann will be asking the County to request that the Division of Lee County Lands proceed with Lehigh Spring.  He’d like as many Lehigh supporters of the spring to be present and it in the front row.  We can’t speak, but our presence will be observed to the BOCC.  We may not have another opportunity, so it’s important we be there.

The Commission meets tomorrow Tuesday, 10/16 with meeting starting 9:30AM.

Ruth Anglickis

Open Letter to the LAFD Commissioners

Posted by Editor on Sep 25, 2012 in Letters, Opinions | 0 comments

Dear Editor,

An Open letter to the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District Commissioners…..

Too often, people only listen, to reply, rather than listening to understand or solve. In that regard, this proposed Budget appears not yet to be worked out or solved.

In 2010, the District received, what is known as the SAFER Grant.

It was said “The Lehigh Acres Board of Fire Commissioners may not want to apply for another SAFER Grant”.

Also said, without the SAFER Grant, the District must lay off, 40-50 employees. Sounds like a catch 22, doesn’t it?

Today we are faced with the fact either the District knew, they needed additional revenue or the District lacked the knowledge base required to even accept the Grant Money.

I say this because as you know, a simple Trend Analysis would have showed, that increase revenue, would be needed to fulfill the grant requirements.

So now, the District wants to either use part of the Reserve Fund or levy a non-ad valorem assessment upon the people of Lehigh Acres. (more…)

Open Star: Inside the Law Behind Bonuses

Posted by Editor on Sep 8, 2012 in Letters, Opinions, Politics | 1 comment

Dear Editor,

I have been asked many questions about the legality of the Lee County Sheriff offering bonuses to the employees of the Sheriff’s Office. Members from different aspects of our community, from business leaders to blue collar workers and Republicans to Democrats all have the same question: Is what the current sheriff doing legal? Why is he doing this?

I cannot speak for anyone, but I can tell you what the law says. My Open Star program is designed to shed light into all aspects of your Sheriff’s Office, as you see I am doing in this letter.

Florida Statutes regulate how public employees receive bonuses. The following things must happen in order for the bonus to be legal: The award must be based on work performance, the performance standards and evaluation processes by which a bonus will be awarded needs to be established and known to all employees, the sheriff must notify all employees of the policy before the beginning of the evaluation period on which a bonus will be based, and the sheriff must consider all employees for the bonus. None of these conditions have been met. (more…)

Dear Friends of Lehigh

Posted by Editor on Sep 6, 2012 in Letters, Opinions | 0 comments

Lehigh spring purchase comes before the conservation lands acquisition and stewardship advisory committee next week.  Leadership is needed from Lehigh to impress the leadership of 20/20.  The criteria and ranking committee don’t seem to understand the significance of this property to Lee County.

Please plan to attend and bring someone with you.  If you absolutely can’t attend, please send someone in your place to show ”one voice” support for this most important acquisition for Lehigh acres. (more…)