by SC Publisher Shannen Hayes
A metal roof over a backyard patio at a home in the East Rocks neighborhood was ordered to be removed or permitted at this week’s Code Enforcement hearing. And the first school speed zone hearings were held.
Sanibel City Attorney John Agnew and Code Enforcement Manager Glenn Nixon outlined the case against the homeowners, Binh and Trang Nguyen, for the metal roof. The Nguyens were issued an emergency permit in February 2024 to replace their asphalt-shingled roof damaged by Hurricane Ian.
In August 2025, the city learned that a metal roof had been added over the back patio, which was not included in the permit, and a notice of violation was sent to the Nguyens in Virginia.
Nixon, in the hearing, showed dated GIS images of the shingled roof replacement and the addition of the metal roof. He said his attempts to contact the homeowners by phone from August to December 2025 were unsuccessful.
A Notice of Hearing was sent to the Nguyens in December, but they did not appear at the hearing on Monday, Jan. 12. Instead, James Guan of Cape Coral, the property manager, appeared on their behalf and said he recommended that the Nguyens remove the metal roof and asked for 60 days to comply.
Agnew initially requested 30 days for compliance, but the special magistrate ordered 45 days for the metal roof to be removed or permitted, and the case to be closed.
Speeding In The School Zone
The first school speed zone hearings were held on Monday, since the automated speed detection system was installed last year in front of The Sanibel School on Sanibel Captiva Road. It operates only during the school year and school hours.
On a normal school day, from 6:30 to 7:45 a.m. and 1:45 to 2:30 p.m., the speed limit in the school zone is 20 mph, and the yellow light above the sign flashes. During regular school hours, from 7:46 a.m. to 1:44 p.m., the system enforces the normal 35 mph speed limit within the school zone.
Capt. Patrick Harris of the Sanibel Police Department said the city “went above and beyond to put in a digital speed sign (as well) so that everyone would be aware of what their actual speed was when they were inside the school zone.”
Photographs and videos are captured by the fixed cameras in the school zone, one facing south and one facing north. While the system automatically detects a vehicle’s speed, a Sanibel police officer reviews photos and videos from the system, matches the vehicle and driver information, and issues citations.
The citation cost is $100, and no points are deducted from your driver’s license.
Three people contested their citations, leading to the first code enforcement hearings on the school speed zone. Casey Bradley Gent, a new island resident, appeared at the hearing to contest two of her citations after paying for one. Her vehicle was captured twice in August, traveling 34 mph in the 20 mph school zone a week apart.
Gent said the case against her was “fairly made,” but questioned the constitutionality of the automated system because she couldn’t “face her accuser.” City Attorney Agnew and Capt. Harris pointed out that the citations are issued by a Sanibel police officer, not the automated speed detection system.
The special magistrate upheld the violations, and Gent was given 15 days to pay them.
Siegfried Ahrens of Fort Myers was cited in May for traveling 36 mph in the 20 mph school zone, and Jahmoor Swary of Fort Myers was cited in May for traveling 48 mph in the 35 mph school zone. Neither appeared at the hearing on Monday, resulting in default judgments against them.
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