by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino
Sanibel City Manager Dana Souza and resident Richard Birney, who is heading up the fishing pier fundraising efforts, recently met with Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane regarding possible funding to repair or replace Sanibel’s fishing pier.
Ruane agreed to help seek funds adequate to build a new pier.
The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will vote on March 3 on whether to allocate $2.5 million for the pier. Until that vote is taken and the money allocated, it is not a done deal.
The City of Sanibel intends to proceed with sending purchase orders for engineering drawings for the two-phase design this week, as was approved by Council earlier in January. The community fundraising effort has already raised adequate funds to cover the purchase orders ($30,000).
“The fundraising committee hopes to meet with Dana Souza next Tuesday to try and get clarity about any restrictions on use of the funds and how it impacts our fundraising activity,” Birney wrote in an email. “There is still a strong desire in the community to get fishermen back on the pier as soon as possible. The speed of restoring the pier will need to be balanced against the opportunity to build a brand-new pier. We will be working to find a win-win solution.”
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