Water Management Chair To Speak At COTI Annual Meeting

provided to The Santiva Chronicle

After a two-year hiatus brought about by the Covid 19 pandemic, Committee of the Islands will hold its annual meeting in person March 17 at the Sanibel Community House, 2173 Periwinkle Way, and the public is welcome. There will be coffee and Danish served and an opportunity to socialize at 9 a.m.

The highlight of the event will be an address by Chauncey Goss, Chairman of the South Florida Water Management District. Goss, a lifelong Sanibel resident, has a long record of public accomplishment including service as Deputy Staff Director and Director of Budget Review for the House Budget Committee under Paul Ryan. He is also the founder and managing partner of Goss Practical Solutions, a firm that provides federal fiscal policy analysis.

“At a time when water quality is uppermost in our minds, we are fortunate to have Chauncey Goss as our keynote speaker,” COTI President Larry Schopp said. “As he is Chair of the Water Management District, I can think of no one more qualified to talk about the political challenges and progress being made to address the quality of water entering our estuary and long-term efforts at restoring a natural flow way south to the Everglades.”

Following the keynote address, there will be an opportunity for questions from the public. COTI will also confer its Citizen of the Year award for outstanding service in furtherance of the COTI mission.

There will be a members-only business meeting after the public session at which directors will be elected for the upcoming year.

In existence since 1975, COTI is an independent, non-partisan advocacy group that works for a better Sanibel by promoting the continuity of good local government, protection of the environment and preservation of the sanctuary character of our barrier island community. Learn more about COTI by emailing coti@coti.org.