December 4, 2008
Disabled vets get in Bonita Springs parks free
Council waives fees for recreation facilities
Bonita Springs' disabled veterans won't have to pay to use the city's Parks and Recreation facilities.
The City Council approved a proposal presented by Councilman Richard Ferreira that would waive fees for veterans who are disabled or amputees as a result of war injuries.
"There's very few that would be affected by it," Ferreira said. "Those who would be affected by it would greatly appreciate it."
Councilman Pat McCourt said he would pay the fees himself if the council didn't approve the measure.
Ferreira also urged the city to press state lawmakers to include a bottle bill as part of a larger bill to increase recycling.
"There are a number of states that have it and are happy with it," he said.
A bottle bill would raise the price of aluminum cans and glass and plastic bottles by a nickel or a dime and customers would get back that money by recycling at the grocery store.
McCourt said he has seen the bottle bill in action in his home state of Michigan and said it doesn't make much of a difference.
"We still have people who are going to throw trash away," he said.
Councilman John Spear said it's more important for the council to encourage recycling and be sure there are bins at city events.
Spear also shared his plans to meet with state lawmakers on a personal trip to Washington, D.C.
He said he expects to see a lot of money go to projects when President-elect Barack Obama takes office and he wants to be sure the area gets the dollars it deserves.
"I think it's incumbent on us to identify a couple of projects," he said. "I'm prepared to pitch those projects."
Some of those projects include the Corkscrew Road interchange at Interstate 75 and improvements to Bonita Beach Road.
The council postponed a discussion on how the city should pay engineering firm CH2M-Hill for the shortfall in building permit fees for the first six months the community development department has been open.
The department will be self-funding on Jan. 1.
The council also approved a special event permit and co-sponsorship for the Bonita Springs Mayor Youth Tournament at the city's soccer complex on Saturday.
http://news-press.com/article/20081204/NEWS0102/812040366
