The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is moving into the interview stage of an investigation into criminal allegations by the Marco Island police union against Chief Tracy Frazzano City Manager Mike McNees said he was given the OK to start looking at issues raised that are administrative or performance related Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 95 voted no confidence in Frazzano and outlined its complaints in a letter to McNees asking for Frazzano's removal from the position In October, the union submitted a 17-page document to McNees detailing the union's concerns with Frazzano's leadership after five years in the position. Also in October, union representatives met with McNees to discuss those complaints and allegations. FDLE assigned an investigator in November "They have received all documents as requested and will be moving to the interview stage of their inquiry," McNees wrote to the Marco Island City Council in a May 2 email he shared with the Naples Daily News McNees said he spoke with the FDLE agent and supervisor conducting the investigative inquiry "They did not provide an exact date for commencing the interview process "I will be reaching out to the union to begin the process of following each of those issues to ground as this process has already covered more than six months and needs to be brought to a close thoroughly but also with alacrity," McNees wrote "I look forward to its resolution," Frazzano said in an email to the Naples Daily News Monday "We will continue to work together at the Marco Island Police Department (MIPD) to meet the needs of our team The FDLE can only review criminal issues ― they do not review administrative or internal policy matters The agency at the time it assigned an investigator recommended McNees delay further administrative review until the FDLE makes its determination The union document pinpointed incidents it considers examples of Frazzano's "lacking in integrity and the overall direction in which she is leading the department." a Marco Island police officer and president of the local police union said May 5 that the union has "not had any communication with FDLE nor the city manager about the status of any investigation." "The Marco Island FOP has asked for updates from FDLE but requests have gone unanswered," Gray wrote in an email responding to questions from the Naples Daily News "The city manager has not communicated that any administrative issues were being addressed." "The Marco Island FOP member’s vote of no confidence (23-1) was over 6 months ago and the City of Marco Island has not addressed any of the member’s concerns," Gray wrote Frazzano began as police chief in Marco Island in August 2019 She moved to Marco Island from Montclair Township Frazzano was the first woman to become detective Frazzano is the first woman to lead the Marco Island department Frazzano also was an FBI National Academy distinguished graduate and a Department of Homeland Security fellow focusing on counterterrorism and security preparedness She holds a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University and two master's degrees Travel advisors share highlights from their recent visit to this favorite Florida destination There’s more! Check out travel highlights from this year's team of Advisor Ambassadors across eight delightful Florida destinations shared their experiences with their clients and fellow advisors Here are some highlights from their recent trip: Treat your clients to the finest of everything by recommending Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades for their next vacation They’ll discover a destination unlike anywhere else Florida’s Paradise Coast is home to the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge and access to countless activities that deliver relaxation and adventure in equal measure — A Marco Island city councilwoman is under new scrutiny after the Florida Commission on Ethics found probable cause she likely abused her official position during an incident involving her dogs late last year 2024 incident when Councilwoman Tamara Goehler's two dogs escaped her home and bit her neighbor’s child spoke at a city council meeting days after the incident calling Goehler’s conduct at her home “disrespectful and very arrogant.” WATCH TO SEE WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT THE ETHICS REPORT AGAINST COUNCILOR TAMARA GOEHLER: The case gained public attention after a police report first obtained by Fox 4 revealed Goehler told responding officers that she was "an elected city councilwoman" and that she was "going to call the police chief" as they were documenting the incident Goehler acknowledged she had been briefed by the police chief on proper conduct and apologized to the neighbor the Florida Commission on Ethics has found probable cause that Ms Goehler abused her position to obtain a disproportionate benefit and misused her position when she attempted to influence the content of police reports about her two dogs attacking a neighbor's dog and minor daughter “She’s just a person like you and me,” said Marco Island resident Debra Gillespie when asked about commissions finding “I don’t think anybody is above the law — whether they’re a council member or not." Fox 4 spoke with several people on Marco Island this week following the release of the ethics commission’s report asking whether Goehler should face consequences or not see if anything else has come up before — then maybe consider her losing her seat or whatever,” one person said the issue is — the people involved in the actual incident should have a say the ethics commission’s findings do not determine guilt City Manager Michael McNees declined to speculate “The Counselor will have her "day in court" in front of the Commission and the Commission will make their findings Some people say they are willing to wait for more information before making a judgment then maybe give her the benefit of the doubt — and just keep an eye on things," another person said Councilwoman Goehler answered Fox 4’s call on Thursday but declined to comment until the next city council meeting Marco Island's next city council meeting is set for May 5 PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 'AGGRESSIVE AND ARROGANT': Did Marco Island City Councilwoman go too far after dog attack? There’s a 1981 song recorded by Journey that when the E major notes are heard in this rock ballad and the hook begins Singer/songwriter Jonathan Cain lived through a period of time when his career was in limbo but his father kept encouraging Cain with these three words ‒ don’t stop believing Many generations are familiar with Journey’s song and in fact the motivational song was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry And rightfully so because many believe that music has the power to get us out of our heads and into the lyrics and melody of a song Singer/songwriter Matt Papa will be leading the music Easter morning; his talent and musical message has the ability to Let’s say that you have decided to jump-start your spiritual life “I Can See Clearly Now.” Maybe his lyrics were meant for us to keep moving forward in life; reinvent Try to bring all your new beginnings together into one spiritual bubble A new beginning does not mean replacing your values but allowing your new life to walk alongside your values George Harrison of the Beatles finally witnessed the new dawn of sun and wrote “Here Comes the Sun.” Pastor Scott Kerens will speak on new beginnings Maybe Easter morning on the beach is a perfect opportunity to lean into that little nudge inside of you asking to begin anew that God will ask the sun to rise in our paradise and in your life the 35th Annual Easter Sunrise Service on the Beach begins at 7 a.m. Located at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort Beach access is north of the Marriott Spa and the public access path north of the Madeira Condominium The Marco police and volunteers will direct traffic and assist with parking including double parking along Collier Boulevard the Resident's Beach parking lot will open at 6 a.m Dress is casual; bring your own blanket or chair handicap parking will be available near the Marriott Spa with golf carts to assist to the edge of the beach For information call Marco Presbyterian Church at 239-394-8186 multiple local churches are hosting a Good Friday service beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Marco Island Veterans Park amphitheater Jill Yris is an established book editor and writer of magazine features Her portfolio includes national subjects such as actress Shirley Jones renowned artist Taylor Oughton and Coach Johnny Majors Looking for something to do? 3 To Do: Spring Jubilee, ‘Blooms and Brews’ and a ‘Master Mentalist’ More events: SWFLA To Do List: Easter, Earth Day, ‘Healthy Kids’ and more The industry group Florida Realtors last week released a report that showed the statewide median sales price for single-family existing homes in March was $412,500 A median home price is the middle value in a collection of home sales prices with half the homes selling at a lower price and half higher This is how the typical home price in a given area or market is calculated giving a better representation than the average price Here were the top five median prices in the state’s metropolitan statistical areas (SMSA): The Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island SMSA again leads the state with a median home price of $800,000 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach was next at $640,000 North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota came in third at $485,000 Fourth was Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford at $441,870 Home prices in some SMSAs rose by almost $150,000 over the past six months and have dropped nearly as much over the past month The top five median home price SMSAs in the state were: February: Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island: $925,000Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach: $640,000North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton: $483,688Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford: $440,000Port St January: Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island: $925,000Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach: $650,000North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton: $500,000Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford: $447,000Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin: $425,000 December (2024): Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island: $837,500Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach: $640,000North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton: $510,000Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford: $445,745Port St November: Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island: $770,000Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach: $625,000North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton: $449,945Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford: $449,518 Port St October: Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island: $755,000Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach: $635,000North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton: $483,843Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford: $440,000Port St September: Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island: $780,000Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach: $630,000North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton: $480,460Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford: $435,000Port St Three Marco Island City Council members who recently had ethics complaints filed against them and subsequently dismissed by a state investigatory commission say they will continue to follow the law and hope their fellow councilors will too "I think it is important that all of us councilors follow the law," said Councilwoman Bonita Schwan in a phone interview Schwan and councilor Darrin Palumbo were accused in complaints to State of Florida Commission on Ethics by Councilman Stephen Gray of conspiring "to offer Acting Chairman Erik Brechnitz their support for his bid to become chairman of the council a position that includes a $3,000 salary increase in exchange for his vote on a specific matter of deliberation." Councilwoman Deb Henry said she was accused by resident Lisa Foster – who served as campaign chair for Gray when he ran for office in 2024, campaign records show – of not filing two required forms for candidacy and of violating the Sunshine Law when attending a meeting of the Ad Hoc Business Committee in January "I did file the form as required prior to the election and it was forwarded to the Ethics Commission upon receipt of the violation notice," Henry said in a text to Naples Daily News The dismissal of the three cases for "lack of legal sufficiency" was announced in a press release from the ethics commission on Wednesday found probable cause that Councilwoman Tamara Goehler "abused" and "misused" her position in trying to influence a report about a dog bite The ruling was based on a police report following a December incident in which her dogs bit a neighbor's puppy and child A finding of probable cause is not a determination that a violation has occurred Such a determination is made after a evidentiary public hearing on the claims If the Ethics Commission believes a violation of the law may have occurred If it concludes a violation has been committed it may recommend civil penalties including removal from office or employment and fines up to $20,000 per violation The commission did not say whether it will hold an evidentiary hearing on Goehler's case. Either the respondent (Goehler) can request, or the ethic commission may order, a public hearing at which evidence will be presented, according to the commission's complaint procedures document The Florida Commission on Ethics is an independent nine-member commission formed in 1974 to review complaints filed under the statutory Code of Ethics and to answer questions from public officials about potential conflicts of interest through its issuance of advisory opinions Goehler did not return a phone call or emails seeking comment Gray did not return emails to Naples Daily News Commenting on the ethics committee's ruling on the complaint against Goehler "all councilors swore an oath to abide by the law and the city charter which includes not to use our positions to influence situations I take those commitments to the voters to heart." "I’m pleased that the Ethics Commission dismissed Lisa Foster’s complaints against me as having no legal basis I’m saddened and disappointed that Lisa Foster felt the need to file petty and baseless complaints … It is not in the spirit of working together to make our city the best it can be I hope this will be an opportunity to get the council on the right path and return the focus to serving the people of Marco Island." History of conflict among this councilCouncil members of not getting along and of making accusations against one another During their campaigns for the November 2024 election it seemed no one was immune from rumor or accusation: the four newly elected (Goehler Schwan) plus some whose terms were up (Jared Grifoni) and the two who weren't up for re-election (Brechnitz and Palumbo) From smear campaigns to support for or against candidates given by sitting members during council meetings The newest member, Rene Champagne, was selected by Marco Island City Council members as their seventh member on Monday public voting and too many 3-3 votes to count; and hours of talking about "the process" took up the council's regular meeting time and then four special meetings "I just think we live in such a wonderful state and we have to do that with following the laws of our city and our state," Schwan said — More than six months after the Marco Island City Manager asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to get involved in an investigation surrounding the police chief the City Manager tells Fox 4 FDLE has not given results of their investigation Police Chief Tracy Frazzano came under fire after accusations of forged documents The allegations come from members of the Marco Island Fraternal Order of Police City Manager Mike McNees told Senior Reporter Kaitlin Knapp because of the nature of some of the accusations he asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to get involved but said he is hopeful it will happen in the near future "I was asked by the FDLE to hold any administrative review of the issues presented by the union representatives until their investigation was completed," he said in an e-mail to Knapp While McNess went on to say he has honored that he added "...though I suppose I may have to reconsider if things remain open indefinitely." PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Police union votes 'no confidence' in Marco Island chief; FDLE's now involved the administrative accusations would be on hold "They are going to review some of the accusations and specifically to determine whether there's anything they feel like would be jurisdictional from a law enforcement standpoint that needs to be investigated," he told Knapp in October a letter from the Marco Island Fraternal Order of Police stated 23 of 27 union members voted 'no confidence' in Frazzano Marco Island saw two record home sales this season While they may not come close to the whopping home sales made in Naples the busy season runs from November to April in Southwest Florida Marco Island saw a $6.35 million sale for a 4,125-square-foot its price made it the highest sale for a "water indirect" property on the 6 x 4 mile island ever Water indirect means the owners of the property must navigate under a bridge to get to the Gulf of America (formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico) It had a great view and it was a newer home," said Larry Caruso He co-listed the property with Elizabeth Summers They work together at Premier Sotheby’s International Realty’s Marco Island office A gourmet chef's kitchen described as a "culinary enthusiasts dream," featuring Thermador appliances breakfast bar and custom cabinetry.All of the bedrooms are suites The primary bedroom includes an office.Other stand-out features: Hardwood engineered floors spa and gas fireplace.There's a dock with a 14,000-pound lift with a circular drive.The sale closed April 21 The buyers were represented by Robert Clausen Property records show the buyers as a New Jersey couple Originally listed at $6.95 million in January the price of the home was reduced to $6.699 million in March but the buyer wasn't willing to go above $6.25 million who owned the property under the name of a limited liability company lived in the home for a few years before putting it on the market They have decided to build again on the island "They've already purchased a property they are going to knock down and they are going to be building new," he said Most owners on the island live there part time Waterfront villa sold for record $7.5 millionThis season Marco Island also saw a record sale for a waterfront villa The villa at 1000 Royal Marco Way brought $7.5 million the most ever paid for this type of home in the private It tied for the second-highest transaction for a like property in the island's history with 7,900 square feet of renovated living space who work as a team for Premier Sotheby’s on the island which they described as offering "a rare blend of seclusion Among the highlights: A gourmet chef’s kitchen The outdoors includes a redesigned pool and spa and last year was a bad year," said Jim Prange he shared the island has seen 50 sales of more than $3 million for water indirect homes He noted the previous record stood at $2.875 million He doesn't expect the two records set this year to last long on the island as he continues to see interest from the wealthy including current and former CEOs of Fortune 500 companies One single-family home that's still under construction has an asking price of $14.95 million with the potential to break the all-time record price of $14.8 million on the island set in 2022 for a custom waterfront European Palazzo estate There's another furnished and decorated single-family estate on the market for $15.5 million described as an "architectural marvel." The record listing is for a custom built two-story waterfront home spanning more than 6,400 square feet under air Located in the affluent Estates neighborhood the property offers panoramic views of Caxambas Pass and the Gulf More: New record? 'Architectural marvel' lists for $15.5 million on Marco Island "It's hard to fathom for regular people maybe," he said "There are just people with an incredible amount of money to spend out there and Marco Island is a good place to do it." What's even harder to fathom: Naples saw two record sales in April A new 17,202-square-foot waterfront estate in posh Port Royal fetched $85 million all owned by the same family in Port Royal In case you missed it: Newly built Port Royal mansion in Naples fetches record price of $85 million And: A new Naples residential real estate deal: $225M. Yes, that's right Prange and Caruso said those eye-popping sales in Naples really make Marco Island look like a steal "Based on comparable waterfront homes in Naples it's starting to look like a bargain on Marco," Caruso said (Updates story to include new information.) Florida's Commission on Ethics found probable cause that Marco Island City Councilwoman Tamara Goehler "abused" and "misused" her position in trying to influence a report about a dog bite It is based on a police report following a December incident in which her dogs bit a neighbor's puppy and child State of Florida Commission on Ethics met April 25 and took action on 62 matters including 11 probable cause hearings during a closed session according to a press release issued Wednesday The commission also dismissed separate complaints regarding Marco Island council members Darrin Palumbo Deb Henry and Bonita Schwan as "lack of legal sufficiency." "The Commission held a probable cause hearing on allegations regarding MarcoIsland City Council Member Tamara Goehler," the commission wrote Goehler abused her position to obtain a disproportionate benefit and misused her position when she attempted to influence the content of police reports about her two dogs attacking a neighbor's dog and minor daughter." Such adetermination is made after a full evidentiary public hearing on the claims The commission did not say whether it will hold an evidentiary hearing on Goehler's case. Either the respondent (Goehler) can request, or the ethic commission may order a public hearing (trial) at which evidence will be presented, according to the commission's complaint procedures document A call to City Manager Mike McNees wasn't immediately returned City Attorney Alan Gabriel said in an email that the "next steps are up to the ethics commission to decide Goehler's dogs got out of her house without leashes and bit a 13-year-old neighbor and her puppy according to the girl's parents and a police report the girl was walking the family's 5 1/2-month-old petite golden doodle on a leash when she passed Goehler's home on Richmond Court Someone opened the front door and Goehler's two "terrier-type dogs" ran after the puppy The girl reached down to pick up her dog and was then bitten on her forearm according to the report and a verbal statement to City Council by the girl's mother Responding Police Officer Adam Nelson reported Goehler "unlawfully barged into the house" once entered with permission another time but grabbed the child's arm without permission and turned it to examine the wound He also wrote that Goehler pointed out she was a city council member more than once and that she was going to call Police Chief Tracy Frazzano Jones said she had no idea her neighbor was a city council member decided to go to the next city council meeting to file a complaint The couple had declined to press battery charges against Goehler for touching their daughter "Her behavior was disrespectful and very arrogant and I'm here to make sure that our city council does what the city council is supposed to do," Jones said at the Dec 4 to fill one of four open spots on the City Council 9 meeting to Jones for barging into her home and to the city council for having to witness the comments The three complaints were dismissed by the commission "for lack of legal sufficiency." Stephen Gray filed ethics complaints against three of his fellow councilors in February He accused Palumbo and Schwan of conspiring "to offer Acting Chairman Erik Brechnitz their support for his bid to become chairman of the council Gray wrote in the complaints obtained by Naples Daily News "I believe constitutes an unethical and illegal act of civil conspiracy and attempted bribery." Palumbo and Schwan spoke with Naples Daily News, but Henry was traveling and didn't immediately return a phone call, text or email. After dismissal or finding of probable cause, ethics complaints then become public record A search for Henry's case indicated the complaint isn't available yet Gray and Goehler were elected in November to their first terms on the city council An email to Gray asking for comment was sent at deadline "My whole career I have never had an ethics complaint filed against me my whole life," Schwan said in a phone interview Schwan received a law degree from Drake University in Des Moines "I am so glad that the Florida Ethics Commission found that there was no grounds that and I am glad that they made the decision that they made," Schwan said Bonita declined to comment on Goehler's case in particular "I think it is important that all of us councilors follow and abide by the law … I'm always saying we have to follow our city attorney so all seven of us need to make sure that we're doing that." Palumbo also called the ethics complaints that were dismissed frivolous "It was a waste of everybody’s time including our city attorney’s the taxpayers', the state," he said in a phone interview. "And it’s systematic of the battles of the last election I think this grew from the rivalries of the last election and these rivalries need to die He's back! A 761-pound great white shark was again tracked off the Southwest Florida coast The 11-foot, 2-inch sub-adult male nicknamed Dold pinged in the Gulf Dold appears to be drawn to the area. He previously pinged off Marco Island eight times on April 6 and 7 pinging off Sarasota on April 17 before heading back down south OCEARCH scientists are tracking Dold with a satellite tracking tag they affixed to the shark's dorsal fin off the Florida/Georgia border in February 2025 A ping with location information is sent to trackers when the tag moves above the water's surface While it's possible Dold likes the area for its food sources much about great white shark behavior remains a mystery scientists are working to solve Here's what to know about white shark Dold and great white sharks in Florida was tagged by OCEARCH 45 miles off the Florida/Georgia coast on Feb 2-inch male shark was classified as a sub-adult and weighed 761 pounds at the time tagged and released by OCEARCH in the Western North Atlantic and will provide data for 24 different science projects the animal has traveled 1,367 miles since being tagged Dold influenced the OCEARCH collaborative science model helping connect experts together to drive shark research forward," the organization posted on the shark's tracker page SeaWorld has been instrumental in marine animal rescue aiding tens of thousands of animals in need." North Atlantic great white sharks are known to leave their summer feeding grounds off Atlantic Canada and New England to head as far south as Florida and the Gulf in search of warmer waters and more plentiful food sources OCEARCH experts said the predators take advantage of the abundant seal populations and rich prey resources found up North during the warmer months As temperatures drop and food sources dwindle white sharks are triggered by a combination of decreasing water temperatures and changes in daylight hours Most of them tend to stay away from the beaches in continental shelf waters, according to OCEARCH chief scientist Dr. Bob Hueter Great white shark dietGreat white sharks are opportunistic and enjoy a diverse diet of fish Juvenile white sharks mostly eat bottom fish while larger great white sharks also eat seals and sea lions and are known to feed on whale carcasses While great white sharks are often characterized as apex predators meaning they top the food chain in their environment In environments where orcas, also known as killer whales, are present, they top the food chain and have been known to hunt great white sharks for their nutrient-rich livers an orca was observed off the South African coast hunting and killing an 8-foot great white shark eventually eviscerating it and carrying a portion of the shark's liver in its mouth Great white sharks have an endless supply of teeth Great white sharks have about 50 exposed teeth with five to six rows of teeth constantly developing behind them ready to replace any that wear down or fall out Florida charter boat encounters massive great white sharkA fishing charter off Destin, Florida, encountered a 14-foot great white shark on April 10 even mouthing the back of the vessel before swimming away what I thought I saw in the water was a submarine and I was waiting next for the periscope to pop out of the water,” charter boat captain Taylor Bankston said and then the submarine turned into something that had giant teeth and a giant eyeball,” he said Support local journalism by subscribing to a Florida news organization Easter weekend is finally here in Southwest Florida Here are some of the best things to do this Friday through Sunday businesses and venues to see what they’re doing The annual Easter event includes face painting photos with the Easter Bunny and two scavenger egg hunts divided by age group (10 a.m Only 100 tickets available for the Easter Bunny (first come Organized by City of Marco Island Parks and Recreation The Easter Bunny is available for visits and photos daily through April 19. Free admission. Photo packages start at $20. Reservations are encouraged for photo-package sessions, but not available for regular visits without a photo package. Dillard’s Court at Coastland Center, 1900 Tamiami Trail N., Naples. whereisbunny.com Easter Egg Hunt at Baker ParkThe City of Naples hosts its first Easter egg hunt at Baker Park. Bring your own basket. The event includes a visit with the Easter Bunny. 9-11 a.m. Saturday, April 19. Free. The egg hunt will divided into different times based on the age group: 10 a.m. (2-4 years old), 10:15 a.m. (5-7 years old) and 10:30 a.m. (8-12 years old). Baker Park, 50 Riverside Circle, Naples. facebook.com/BakerParkNaples Celebrate the holiday with food trucks, bounce houses, giveaways, games, an egg hunt and much more. 10 a.m. Sunday, April 20. Free. Faith Church, 6070 Collier Blvd., Naples. 544-7911 or faithchurchnaples.com Estero EGGStravaganza at Estero ParkThis event for children 12 and younger features an adaptive egg hunt and a visit with the Easter Bunny. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 19. $5. Space is limited. Estero Park, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero. 533-1470 or leegov.com/parks/centers/estero Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News call 239-335-0368 or email crunnells@gannett.com Follow or message him on social media: Facebook(@charles.runnells.7) Instagram and Threads (@crunnells1) and X (@CharlesRunnells) The battle lines were drawn the day John Johnson saw an iguana emerging from a burrowing owl hole The newly minted Marco Islander had enjoyed watching the owl family next door flying around gathering ribbon and tinfoil to dress up their burrow,” while mama bird saw to the business of nesting More: Mini dragons have invaded Marco Island. One man's on a quest to stop them with an air gun “I watched this thing crawling out of their hole ― iguanas are mostly vegetarians but they’ll opportunistically eat eggs,” Johnson says “while the parents were screeching and divebombing it.” clawed dragon versus a teeny-feathered critter weighing in at 8 ounces And though the owls tried to defend their home More: Python Q&A: What does it mean when you say 'every python removed makes a difference'? “I looked (iguanas) up and I saw they have no natural predators here," Johnson says ‘That’s not right … but maybe there is one he’d grown up hunting; he knew his way around a trigger and a scope A new business, Down Goes Iguana, was born All with the blessing of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission which credentials Johnson and his fellow removers of invasive exotic pests Different hunters have different tools and techniques but Johnson favors pneumatic guns like the .25 caliber Brocock Sniper XR "A soft lead pellet through the brainstem .. Tampa Bay Discovery Center uses them to dissect and he’s supplied an FGCU class studying worldwide cuisines with the raw materials for taquitos de iguana More: Evening up the scales: Iguanas are eating SW FL. Why not eat them back? We've got recipes Like Burmese pythons, veiled chameleons and Nile monitors, iguanas have joined a growing list of reptilian invaders in the Sunshine State, which has “more established nonnative reptile and amphibian species than anywhere else in the world,” the University of Florida reports “Over 60 species of introduced reptiles and amphibians have established breeding populations (and) Florida has three times as many established species of introduced lizards as native lizards.” Two iguana species in particular plague Southwest Florida with the city sometimes budgeting for an official removal program supplemented by private operators like Johnson Though he’s only been in business a few years a friend bet Johnson he couldn’t average one a day (made even harder by the leap year) but turned out it wasn’t much of a challenge I passed the 366 mark and by the end of the year Johnson estimates he's taken out around 1,500 “You’ll never pay the mortgage with iguana money,” Johnson says “but you can buy the coolest toys” like air guns with night vision video-recording scopes and breathtaking precision “My PCP air gun at more than 50 yards can hit a fingernail over and over again,” Johnson says  Johnson’s bread and butter is photographing golf courses around the world It just so happens he enjoys a bite of eggs to go with that bread and butter ― iguana eggs Iguanas themselves are often found on tables in their home range of Mexico through South America “They’re gross to look at and I don’t want them on my house.” Or in it That’s why she’s happy to have found Johnson after two false starts with other companies “He came right out and killed two the first time After telling the police department where he’ll be The idea is to be as obvious to humans as he can lest he be mistaken for something sinister I try to be as conspicuous as possible so people know what I’m doing.” seawalls and roofs charging by the head: $50 for first; $25 each additional per trip with each female capable of producing up to 70 eggs once or twice a year often with spiky manes and leathery beardlike adornments called dewlaps keep harems of a dozen or so females.“Do the math,” Johnson says Cabbage Key: It continues to enthrall with old Florida charm, dollar bill bar, storied past Marco's iguanas have only been a problem for about 50 years when they started stowing away in produce shipments or getting turned loose by disgruntled pet owners "You don't hear any old boy iguana stories because they were never here before the 1960s," Johnson says Besides Johnson and his colleagues, the only thing that stops them is cold weather He realizes they'll likely never be completely eradicated "Some guys fish; some guys golf ― everybody's got their thing," he says I'm also vested in the fact that this is not good and I have some skills and some tools to help eradicate this problem .. they've got these creepy things and I can get rid of them Marco Island City Council finally chose someone to fill its vacant seat adding Rene Champagne as its seventh member It was a long, strange trip to finally get to the 6-0 vote that stretched from November through the first hour Monday of a special city council meeting "The entire council looks foolish," said Erik Brechnitz who is serving as chairman following being vice chairman because the six-member council also couldn't agree on a chairman for this year Brechnitz started Monday's meeting encouraging his fellow council members to finally agree on an applicant for the seat vacated in November by Greg Folley He then spent more than an hour trying to persuade councilors that his process for selecting a new member was the right one four candidates added this month to the original and extended list Councilor Bonita Schwan threw in a motion to nominate Champagne The council then approved the Marco Island philanthropist 6-0 is a University of Connecticut graduate and was a naval officer during the Vietnam War He is former chairman and CEO of ITT Educational Services a now-defunct publicly traded company that provided a technology-focused degree programs for college students in more than 35 states Champagne was at the helm of ITT for 22 years and retired in 2007 The company closed all its locations in September 2016 following a series of federal sanctions and accusations of fraud and abuse Champagne and wife Tish moved to Marco Island as full-time residents the same year as his retirement "This is our forever home," Champagne told city council members on Monday "We've made sure that we become actively involved in in the community It's important we believe it is our position to give back to the community in which we live both in our personal time as well as financial resources where we support virtually every nonprofit entity on this island." Champagne has been vice chairman of public charter school Marco Island Academy since 2011 He was on the board and was board president for two years at Island Country Club He is on the boards of American Legion Post 404 Marco Island Historical Society and the Marco Island Fire Rescue Foundation board a good listener but unafraid of making decisions that are required and explaining them to the voting public," Champagne wrote on his application but we can communicate why decisions are reached in adiplomatic manner." Champagne was sworn in immediately following his election He joined the board at the beginning of the regular meeting Monday night The seven-person city council is now whole booting two members who were up for re-election – Rich Blonna and Becky Irwin Member Palumbo and Brechnitz weren't up for re-election Palumbo can run again when his first term is complete based on the city charter's eight-year lifetime limit Champagne replaces Greg Folley, who had to resign the rest of his term because he ran for state Legislature. He lost his bid for Florida District 81 to Yvette Benarroch during the August 2025 Republican primary Benarroch went on to win the seat during the November election From the Archives: Easter traditions from Daytona to Naples and Marco IslandNaples Daily NewsToday we look back at Easter across Florida landing right here in Southwest Florida – from Naples to Marco Island where a young girl poses with – by today’s standards – a very creepy Easter Bunny We also found a photo from 1959 with people in bunny costumes in St Then there’s the bird's eye view of the Easter Sunrise Service held at Crescent Beach on Siesta Key (April 1973) was a world-renowned commercial photographer whose images appeared in such publications as the Saturday Evening Post a traditional Easter dessert made with ingredients like flour candies and sugar — symbolizing different aspects of the day Sunday brunch and religious gatherings mark each and every Easter in Naples there’s a history of hundreds gathering for Easter sunrise rise at the Naples Pier and Vanderbilt Beach One of the most popular in our area is on Marco Island That multi-denominational service began 35 years ago with 240 people the Easter parade will march for the 81st time Founded in the 1940s by Evelyn Sams Canady and Sara Richardson the parade’s aim was to ensure children in the community had candy and Easter eggs Each year a young king and queen are crowned with some reports of crowds of over 10,000 people in 2019 From the Archives: Everglades Airpark – From necessity to ‘money loser’ From the Archives: Hidden in plain sight – Historical cemeteries of Collier County A new Marco Island Historical Society exhibit entitled “The Florida House” takes a trip back in time marking and celebrating the 60th anniversary of modern Marco and the construction of the island’s first model homes This exhibit delves into the history behind the island’s Mackle-built model homes can be traced back to the post-World War II “Florida House” crafted by builders and developers hoping to entice Northerners to the Sunshine State Constructed during the modern development of Marco Island by the Deltona Corporation from 1965 through the 1970s 72 diverse models were designed “to embody the elegant tropical living” the Mackle Brothers envisioned for the “crown jewel” of their planned communities – of the Deltona Corporation led development after purchasing large amounts of land there for $7 million The brothers sold plots in planned communities through installment plans There were many challenges and during the mid ’70s the Deltona Corporation was denied permits for dredging The corporation had to refund $38 million to customers who had paid for waterfront property The exhibit runs through June 7 at the Marco Island Historical Museum Admission is free and the site is fully ADA compliant and accessible to all visitors Learn more at colliermuseums.com/exhibits From the Archives: 78 years of Collier-Seminole State Park From the Archives: Pandemics, masks and vaccines Marco Island City Council unanimously appointed a seventh councilor The March 17 vote to appoint Rene Champagne a retired technical-institute chair and Vietnam veteran came during a nearly 75-minute special meeting more than an hour of which was devoted to debate about how to vote whether to interview the four new candidates or ask others to step up But Councilor Bonita Schwan interrupted the discussion by nominating Champagne prompting applause from residents in the audience Acting Chair Erik Brechnitz noted they’d been at an impasse since November after more than two dozen candidates “Three counselors have felt that the other three counselors were intractable in their positions and vice versa,” Brechnitz said three counselors felt the other three were being foolish and vice versa and I suspect if the residents were given a choice and were polled The repeated meetings prompted accusations of quid pro quo collusion by voting blocs and repeated suggestions to resolve the deadlock by holding a special election The city charter says Council must make the selection It was the fourth special meeting held solely to select the seventh councilor The deadlock had continued during special meetings and twice monthly meetings that resulted in ties involving the same factions: Brechnitz Stephen Gray and Tamara Goehler versus councilors Darrin Palumbo The seat was vacated mid-term by Councilor Greg Folley 5 after a failed bid for the State House District 81 seat The election brought in four new councilors including two who ousted incumbents — leaving Brechnitz and Palumbo as senior members founder of Our Daily Bread Food Pantry and former Parks & Recreation Board member who has served on numerous nonprofit and other committees; and Melissa Tschida a nurse whose family operates Paradise Coast Restoration company Champagne’s application noted Council “experienced challenges” functioning as a team to benefit the community and said his leadership and teamwork skills would be a positive addition “The concept of ‘compromise’ to move the Council forward is missing and I believe I can help develop the value of compromise among the councilors,” Champagne wrote Brechnitz asked that Champagne be immediately sworn in so he could join Council’s 5:30 p.m Champagne serves on numerous boards and committees including Marco Island Fire Rescue Foundation Marco Island Historical Society and Marco Island Academy which he and his wife Tish donated $2.5 million toward its new building several years ago The couple have lived on the island more than 15 years after he retired in 2007 after 22 years as the former chair and CEO of the now-defunct ITT Educational Services Inc. which had 130 ITT Tech campuses in 38 states “My corporate business experience as chairman and CEO of a large New York Stock Exchange-listed company and the many nonprofit boards I have served on has provided me with an understanding of how successful boards operate,” he wrote noting he has the necessary skillsets to serve on Council He described himself as a fiscal conservative who favors sound financial budgeting prioritizing and listening to community needs and “clearly communicating” the plans of Council and city manager to voters he’s “unafraid of making decisions that are required.” Council voted for a chair and vice chair — another vote that had repeatedly tied Gray and Schwann were nominated and Gray won 5-2 Council then took a break to rearrange their seats Champagne got to work during a Parks Master Plan presentation staff and residents he’s been reviewing the strategic plan “This is the strategic plan adopted by the city all voted on this thing and approved it,” Champagne said It’s obsolete and until such time as we decide what we want to be 10 years from now not just take a plan and pass it from 2019 to 2024 and then add 10 more years to it — the same words — that doesn’t work.” what we need to really do is spend some time prioritizing what it is as a city we wish to accomplish,” he added I’m going to keep bugging us until we decide to sit down and talk about these kind of things.” Typical ebbs and flows of the single-family home market do not have much of an impact on the ultra Four restaurant chains and a cake shop will join seven other businesses coming this year to the new Tree Farm.. the May 5 opening of the Hospital for Special Surgery at NCH takes the health care.. Not only has Chef Brian Roland physically and emotionally returned to public life in Southwest Florida after his life-altering tragedy.. Beeline is counting on thirsty folks making a beeline to its new upscale cocktail bar at Mercato in North Naples... The 72-unit Verandas III opened and is fully occupied on Airport Road marking the final phase in the redevelopment of.. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Marco Island City Council debated Florida's Sunshine Law this week, with some members wanting to skirt the open-meeting rules for a citizen bike committee that has been operating and making recommendations to the council for 18 years The Ad Hoc Bike Lanes and Shared Paths Committee makes recommendations and has been working on a master plan required by the Collier County Metropolitan Planning Organization Its members also ride together and socialize regularly as they have been doing since they started the committee The problem, say City Attorney Alan Gabriel City Manager Mike McNees and City Clerk Joan Taylor And as an adviser to the city and recipient of more than $14 million in grants for the city they say it needs to be a regular advisory committee that complies with the open meeting rules of the Sunshine Law Incoming bike committee Chairman Kevin Dohm and City Council Chairman Erik Brechnitz say forcing the Sunshine Law onto the group will be disruptive. The law guarantees public access to meetings of state and local government agencies It also applies to documents created or received by government agencies The law also has some rules about meeting outside of advertised meetings including that two or more members are not allowed to meet if "any words of any type pertaining to any possible foreseeable issue will be communicated in any way unless they are open to the public to whom reasonable notice has been provided." Not being able to get together outside regular meetings is a problem "It depends on what your definition" of a meeting is Dohm said at the March 3 City Council meeting We end up at one local restaurant at the end of our 20-mile ride we're sitting there solving the problems of the world … We're not specifically talking and very seldom where we talk about what we're doing at the bike path committee." Dohm at the same meeting was appointed to serve as the Marco Island resident representative on the Collier County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Citizens Advisory Committee "Why are we trying to fix something that isn't broken," Dohm asked "This has been more than effective for 18 years I have opined that this committee is a function of the city of Marco Island It needs to follow Sunshine and all the regulations and rules of the city as does every other committee that you have allowing them to go on their own and operate without following the necessary procedures for public records and other things is problematic." we've never created this committee," argued Brechnitz "And the Sunshine Law probably has done more to inhibit our ability to operate efficiently as councilors than anything that I can remember in my lifetime I cannot talk to another councilor about anything." There's a very good reason for that, said Barbara Peterson, director and founder of Florida Center for Government Accountability (FLCGA) and former long-time president of Florida's First Amendment Foundation "The reason why it says two or more members and three of them could meet outside the Sunshine and the deal is done," Peterson said in a phone interview with Naples Daily News FLGCA is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to government accountability and also publisher of the Florida Trident "If they were just a fact-finding committee … if they did things like that and reported the facts only then Sunshine would not apply," Peterson said "I’m sorry they think that the Sunshine Law is so inconvenient The public has a right to know what they are doing and how they are doing it." Dohm argued that the committee's meetings are on the city's website He said there is an agenda and minutes are kept – why isn't that enough "They're acting at 18 years as a city of Marco Island subcommittee They're acting as a committee," Gabriel said than your planning board or any of your any of your other committees that you have and how they operate." "I don't mean to sound mean and obstructionist Alan (Gabriel) you've become the business interruption department," Brechnitz said "We have a system that's worked just fine for decades and they can't represent the city of Marco Island "There is no debate on that," McNees said in a phone interview "The city attorney said they must be under the Sunshine Law … People have a right to hear what they are up to and express a different opinion City Councilors were uncertain about what to do because of all the money brought in and the work accomplished by the committee it's a challenge," said Councilor Deb Henry "I think by changing into a regular committee from ad hoc we will destroy everything you guys have done Councilor Stephen Gray asked about consequences of ignoring the Sunshine Law recommendation I'd like to see us even protect that," he said "I don't know how dangerous it is for us to continue under this current path we've been at for quite a while "If they are not complying with the sunshine is not just a violation of law but of the (state) constitution," she said And noncompliance is a second-degree misdemeanor.If the FLCGA were to sue and they are going to have to pay our attorney’s fees and court costs Why would Peterson's organization get involved "We do not have an enforcement mechanism so it’s incumbent upon us to enforce it through litigation," she said they think they have some kind of mandate to just do what they want to do." A person convicted of a second-degree misdemeanor may be sentenced to a term ofimprisonment not to exceed 60 days and/or fined up to $500 Officials also could be removed from office Dohm and Brechnitz weren't swayed by the city attorney or by city staff Let's not fix something that's not broken," Dohm said "My inclination here … is to not do anything," Brechnitz said I don't think there's really much we need to do I think anything we do is bureaucratic work Following the Sunshine Law isn't an option "We didn’t just pass the Sunshine Law in the last five years It has been a law since 1968," Peterson said "If it’s so inconvenient and they don’t like it Tigertail Beach and outlying Sand Dollar Island on Marco Island have been renourished after damage from storms in 2024 About 200,000 yards of sand was used for the renourishment "That project is a ground-breaking project because it set a very good precedent of working with nature in the sense that it's not a typical project where we're building hard structures It's a project that uses land force to make energy dissipation from storms," Dabees said at the Feb "(Hurricane) Irma started the collapse of that system," he said That's when Marco and Dabees started to create this ongoing plan for using Sand Dollar Island the lagoon and the surrounding mangroves to create a protective barrier the lagoon and the mangroves serve to absorb the energy caused by storms All of which help protect the buildings and the rest of the island behind them Reusing the sand"The other thing that is very important in that plan is that we're not importing sand We're repurposing the sand from our system," Dabees said "The main reason we designed the float channel in the back of the bird and we can recollect it and repurpose it and reuse it with the sand trap at the top of the island whether it's built post storm or every cycle for maintenance." The cost to bring in imported sand range between $50 to $100 per yard The cost incurred to repurpose sand collected in the float channel was about 10% of that Boaters and visitors to Tigertail and Hideaway beaches last weekend may have noticed large mounds of sand on Sand Dollar Island all at once so the Gulf doesn't drag it away Marco Island will request reimbursement of $575,073 from the Collier County Tourist Development Council Renourishment plan includes future stormsThe plan re-establishing the flow channels that connect the north and south part of the lagoon that had been closed off by previous storms; re-establish the protective berm and beach; and extend the effort to revive the damaged living shoreline that has mangroves and buttonwood and other coastal vegetation Humiston & Moore’s plan will allow the company to take action post disaster That will let the company have contractors at the ready to move quickly with an effort that lasted roughly two months we have reconstructed a considerable protective berm that is high enough that would be separating the energy from the Gulf and allowing the system to maintain its value as an environmental resource as well as the protective value," Dabees said Collier County Sheriff’s Office deputies assisted in the rescue of four people who were forced to abandon their sailboat after it caught fire off the coast of Marco Island on Wednesday the sheriff's Marine Bureau deputies located the sailboat west of Shell Island near Cape Romano with thick black smoke rising from the scene The four passengers had made it safely into a dinghy Deputies transported the four people to the Goodland Boat Ramp where Collier County EMS paramedics and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers were waiting Although Paddy Murphy’s Irish Pub launched on Marco Island last St the bar didn’t roll out its extensive food menu until this year “Just trying to bring a little piece of Ireland to Marco Island It’s a lot different than anything else you’ll see around here,” said Paddy Murphy’s co-owner Mike O’Regan We did a lot of research while I was in Ireland.” While the menu might be typical for Ireland it’s far from what one would expect at the average watering hole The recently rolled out menu elevates the Irish pub to a full-service restaurant and has been well received by its patrons The authentic menu includes entrees such as shepherd’s pie and even an Irish breakfast with Irish bacon handheld sandwiches and hot open-faced sandwiches served over brown bread “It’s not something you normally see around here but everybody really likes it,” O’Regan said Appetizers include Paddy’s pretzels and pub cheese a basket of fries topped with Irish curry sauce “Irish Nachos is homemade potato chips with the shepherd’s pie mix on top with some grated Irish cheese and onions,” O’Regan said The most popular entrees include the fish and chips and shepherd’s pie and features a classic mix of ground lamb and beef with onions peas and carrots enriched with Irish brown gravy and topped with mashed potatoes Fan-favorite sandwiches include the corned beef sandwich as well as Paddy’s Smashing Burger and Murphy’s Classic Reuben Paddy Murphy’s has a storied history in Collier County Although the full bar launched only a year ago in the Publix-anchored Marco Town Center the local business had a 22-year run in downtown Naples Redevelopment in 2020 forced the closing of the original location which had operated on Fifth Avenue South since 1998 “We haven’t had food in a while so it’s kind of a new undertaking for us,” O’Regan said We’ve got a really good chef and we had some help from my sister-in-law whose an executive chef at the Manor House in Galway Paddy Murphy’s also features a 50-foot bar and two stages for live entertainment — A proposed five-story development at the north end of Bald Eagle Drive has stirred strong reactions from neighbors many of whom are concerned it will bring more traffic to an already often congested part of the island An out-of-state developer is looking to replace a former port marco manufactured home park with a new complex that would include condominiums two restaurants and a marina shop — all near the popular Snook Inn WATCH TO SEE WHAT THE NEW COMPLEX COULD LOOK LIKE: citing safety concerns and limited road access on the north end of Bald Eagle Drive a dead-end street with only one way in and out the safety of the residents and businesses is at stake,” said Luigi Carvelli which sits right next to the proposed site Carvelli said the scale of the project was a shock for many neighbors “It caught us by surprise as well,” he said “But just one thing I need to put on record is that the Snook Inn nor my family is directly or indirectly involved with this project," Carvelli said "The city has to understand that Bald Eagle is one way in and one way out So approving something like this creates a safety hazard," he added others said a recent community meeting with the developer was promising “It appears to me that they’re going to try to accommodate all of their traffic in an orderly fashion,” said Richard Brey Brey said he keeps an open mind about development and feels the project could be a fit — as long as it’s properly planned “They did express that they are willing to work with the neighborhood and the other businesses around here to more adequately move the traffic on this bottleneck,” he said they have more than enough parking spaces based on the current code," he added Demolition at the site has already started but the developer still needs city approval and permits before construction can begin "The Development team heard the feedback from the local community and we are gathering as a team to work with the community for the best solution for all involved." The Florida Department of Emergency Management is providing information and assistance on “Elevate Florida” for Marco Island residents on March 19 The program is designed to protect homes and communities by reducing damage caused by natural disasters and flooding Property owners who are interested in applying for assistance to elevate their homes Full presentations will take place at noon and 5 p.m visit www.FloridaDisaster.org/ElevateFlorida WGCU is your trusted source for news and information in Southwest Florida. We are a nonprofit public service, and your support is more critical than ever. Keep public media strong and donate now Marco Island City Council still can’t agree on who will be their seventh councilor and spent nearly three hours last week haggling over the process It’s a disagreement that began shortly after the Nov when they couldn’t elect a chair or vice chair due to repeated ties and then tried unsuccessfully over two meetings to choose a seventh councilor held solely to select a councilor hours before their regular meeting again ended with repeated ties and bickering despite Assistant City Attorney David Gabriel advising them that Florida statutes allow them to flip a coin to break a tie “This is not a football game and I’m just uneasy with flipping a coin as a solution to a problem that we should be solving,” said Acting Chair Erik Brechnitz prompting others to say they’d be embarrassed to toss a coin Repeated votes ended in repeated stalemates Tamara Goehler and Steven Gray versus councilors Darrin Palumbo 5 after a bid for the State House District 81 seat The elections resulted in four new councilors Brechnitz began the meeting by asking Council to consider others beyond the 26 candidates they’d narrowed to four in December before failing to reach a consensus Jan “It’s not too late to sign up,” he urged the audience Schwan asked the assistant city attorney to reiterate what the city charter says about holding a special election Gabriel urged them to follow the charter and to select a councilor themselves “If you choose to go a different direction then you run the risk of potential questioning and potential litigation.” but Brechnitz pointed out they’d failed within the 60 days prescribed by the charter “Does that mean you just disregard the rest of the charter because you didn’t accomplish what you needed to do?” The list of four candidates grew to eight and they stood before Council providing brief descriptions of their backgrounds and why they should be chosen Brechnitz then asked councilors to fill out a ballot and nominate their top seven noting that should show an “overlap,” the top four But Palumbo wanted an open vote and suggested some councilors may have been speaking with each other or passing notes asking anyone on the dais to choose one candidate with prior experience on a city advisory board but Palumbo balked at “blind-ballot voting,” which the public couldn’t see Neither had served on a city advisory board so they were placed on an overhead projector for the public to view they refused to accept the top candidate and wanted to vote on each They took a break and then asked the candidates questions about island issues but wanted them to select one of the four finalists from Jan Brechnitz again suggested a special election and Gray shared a white paper he’d written saying it was “misguided” to think they couldn’t hold one prompting Palumbo to say he’d be embarrassed to go against the attorney and he refused The assistant city attorney told them a special election would take months Palumbo said he’d only vote on a candidate well-versed in water-quality issues and urged the new councilors not to “betray” residents and to stick to their campaign promises about improving water quality Residents began walking out and Fontana withdrew his name from consideration and recommended Bartolucci “This is crazy” before shaking Bartolucci’s hand and leaving “This is crazy,” a resident shouted from the audience “This is embarrassing,” and another branded it “horrible.” Palumbo told Brechnitz he’d support him as chair if he’d vote for Leaser Schwan suggested the two senior councilors each choose a candidate and Council would flip a coin to select one Henry agreed to a coin toss only for the top two vote-getters who earlier in the meeting told them they were making progress reminded them that philosopher Voltaire said “The perfect is the enemy of the good,” and noted they all had a perfect candidate that checks all the boxes “You have at least a handful of candidates here that would be in the very top tier of the quality of candidate that you want for an office like this,” McNees said “… What we’re facing is a lot more of this quixotic search for the perfect candidate who doesn’t probably even exist they’re getting farther and farther and farther and farther by the minute away from wanting this job — as you just saw.” “I would encourage you to look at these two or three folks who are floating around in front of you right now and see if there isn’t one of those impressive enough to bring the skills to the table to get you there,” he added there was no compromise and they ended the meeting agreeing they’d have to hold another special meeting they again tried to elect a chair and vice chair But the vote for Brechnitz was tied and Palumbo voted against himself as chair and that motion failed Restaurateur Joe Oliverio told them he believes they all have the city’s best interests at heart but suggested they wait about 60 days and get to know each other “I was totally embarrassed this afternoon watching this meeting watching the six of you act like a bunch of high-school students,” Blonna said questioning why not even one could compromise causing them to spend hours interviewing candidates again and failing to pick one of the top two “You have the nerve not to vote for either one of them I am so glad I didn’t get elected because I wouldn’t want to serve with you.” Marco Island City Council continued attempts to fill its vacant seat but remained deadlocked again with repeated 3-3 ties with the same councilors pitted against each other The Feb. 18 meeting was the third special meeting held solely to select a seventh councilor. The deadlock has continued since November during additional twice monthly meetings that resulted in ties with the same two factions: Acting Chair Erik Brechnitz and councilors Stephen Gray and Tamara Goehler versus councilors Darrin Palumbo City Manager Mike McNees likened the vacant seat to a “treasure” blocked by six “laser beams” with alarms that go off each time a candidate doesn’t meet a councilor’s strict qualifications “The laser beams are so densely overlapped that no human being could ever fit through that maze,” McNees said “… There will never be anyone who won’t trigger some of those laser beams … How many of those beams have you set that you could reconsider and say maybe that one’s not so critical?” “… If we can turn off half those laser beams we might find somebody who’s limbo savvy enough to get through there and find their way to that chair,” he continued we might as well just wait until 20 months and let the electors pick.” The stalemate has continued since shortly after the November elections when the seat was vacated mid-term by Councilor Greg Folley The elections brought in four new councilors including two who ousted incumbents — leaving Brechnitz and Palumbo as the only senior members But despite hopes newcomers would lessen divisiveness it’s prompted never-ending 3-3 ties by the two factions on votes to select a chair and vice chair and a seventh councilor the one issue they could agree on during the meeting was to reopen the application process Council reopened the application process to attract more than the 16 candidates then whittled 24 applicants to four and repeatedly tied despite lengthy public interviews Brechnitz’s suggestion to list seven candidates to determine who would receive four votes failed Then they tied on one who received four votes and six who received three There were accusations of passing notes and texting which prompted Brechnitz this week to ask councilors to place their cellphones on the dais so the public could see and two aligned councilors moved to different seats so the split wouldn’t look obvious such as past history on a Marco advisory board Several refused to go against City Attorney Alan Gabriel’s advice not to put it up for a special election because the city charter says Council should make the selection When Brechnitz suggested asking the state attorney general for an opinion on what to do Gabriel noted his job is to write opinions on state issues McNees pointed out the city sought an opinion on another matter before and were turned down State records show a similar request by the city of Parker in Bay County resulted in an October 2011 opinion telling city council to follow its city charter when a top candidate heard on TV that Brechnitz said he “did a pretty good job in his business career for someone who doesn’t have a high school education,” the man drove to the meeting to tell Brechnitz he didn’t think it was important to put high school and college information from 50 years ago on his resume We were doing $39 million a year in sales on wastewater one of the largest firms in the country,” David Crane told Brechnitz He blamed Nextdoor comments for the rumors and called Brechnitz’s assumption incorrect: He has a high school degree and went to college When Schwan suggested appointing former Planning Board member Nanette Rivera And when Brechnitz suggested holding a special election “Clearly that didn’t work,” Brechnitz said “I don’t know why anyone would be afraid to have an election.” Brechnitz noted three councilors were willing to vote for someone who wasn’t one of their top two picks yet there’s still inflexibility on both sides who refused to appoint someone who didn’t apply or get interviewed said he didn’t trust the process and noted that 17 of 18 votes during the last meeting involved the same split Henry suggested Planning Board Chair Jason Bailey who has advisory board experience and served on numerous nonprofit boards She was named Marco Island Civic Association’s 2019 Humanitarian of the Year Both were urged to apply for the next round Brechnitz said the stalemate comes down to following the city’s comprehensive plan versus the desires of the business community “Three of us believe that tourism needs to be balanced carefully with the businesses it says that we should have enough people on the island to take care of our current businesses,” Brechnitz explained “But we seem to be growing businesses rapidly and there is a huge growth of people taking place down (State Road) 951.” “All those developments are growing like crazy … so there should be as much as a half a million people living in that corridor,” he added “We live on a barrier island that has a fairly sensitive ecosystem and we have to be mindful of that There’s only so much that we can take in terms of traffic.” He believes the city should hold a special election to let residents decide because the city charter says council shall select a new councilor within 60 days and that hasn’t been done The charter is silent on what to do if that fails so an opinion from the attorney general would guide them — and Council is split on that An "architectural marvel" has hit the market for $15.5 million on Marco Island If the statement estate sells at its asking price the all-time record price paid for a single-family residence is $14.8 million The new waterfront listing is for a two-story custom home designed by Bill Lewis and built by Ross Tackett in 2020 It spans more than 6,400 square feet under air The home is described as a "sanctuary of refined comfort and style." It sits at 1829 South Inlet Drive the property offers panoramic views of Caxambas Pass and what's now known as the Gulf of America Other stand-out features include a state-of-the-art theater room.Nearly every space offers views of the water.The estate’s outdoor living spaces stretch over 3,000 square feet Those spaces include a saltwater pool and spa The residence sits on a heavily landscaped half-acre plot It has a private deep-water dock with two slips and two WaveRunner lifts providing direct access to the Gulf and the waterways of the Ten Thousand Islands Other noteworthy features include a whole-home generator The expansive garage can accommodate four or more vehicles or a sprinter van with the addition of vehicle lifts with Premier Sotheby’s International Realty are the exclusive listing agents for the property has the biggest home theater he's ever seen and a set of magnificent light fixtures that make for a grand entrance He added that the fixtures came directly from Italy at a cost of more than $100,000 for the set it's common to see boats parading and dolphins swimming nearby "There is like championship fishing right off the boat dock," Prange said There are 12 washing machines and 12 dryers The owner plans to build a new home on the island Prange didn't share the name of his client Property records list the owner of the property as a limited liability company The property last sold for $2.35 million in 2018 The elegant home built on the land comes fully furnished "Somebody could just bring their clothes," he said as the one-of-a-kind estate is a rather unusual offering still under construction in the Estates neighborhood recently went under contract and could beat the current record It's at least a month away from being finished and the purchase price is not yet public record Under construction is a 6,485-square-foot custom home designed by renowned MHK Architecture in Naples While the real estate market has softened on Marco it's still seeing demand for choice properties "I still think Marco's future is really strong," Prange said More: Now You Know: Two new Musical Interludes at Center for the Arts And: Marco City Council plans another special meeting March 17 to discuss seventh member The lobby of The Watermark at Marco Island  A fire pit gathering area along the water is a feature at The Watermark at Marco Island There is even a theater room at The Watermark at Marco Island This week will mark the long-awaited formal opening of The Watermark at Marco Island For Walt Chancey of Chancey Architecture and Interior Design it will mark the end of a six-year dream to bring a state-of-the-art Senior Living Facility to Marco Island for residents who desire to “age in place” in the community they have grown to love and call home over the years When walking through the grounds and touring the facility From the time you enter the building and are greeted by the friendly desk personnel to the impressive elegance of the dining facilities and their fine-dining culinary staff the availability of resort style amenities such as arts and craft facilities a library and an in-house theatre you will be stunned by the planning and thought that have gone into the facilities creation Even those who showed initial skepticism regarding the project will be very pleased with the end result of the long and meticulous planning and public meetings that went into creating the final product Management and staff will begin welcoming the first of those who will occupy the eighty-eight units that make up The Watermark at Marco Island A walk through the outside grounds is also very impressive The Chancey design team recognized the benefits of the serenity offered by the expansive water views along the canal that borders the property's “backyard.” The fountains and seating areas are a spectacular addition and are sure to be well utilized which can also provide residents with those wide views without actually leaving their units Twenty-two of those units are dedicated to “memory care,” while the other sixty-six units vary from studio-style apartments to one- and two-bedroom units One of the nice touches observed was the flexibility management allows regarding the ability of a resident to arrange for the interior of their unit to be painted to their liking; otherwise Residents are also free to decorate and furnish their units to their liking There is also a public walking path along the seawall which leads to a small park built at the expense of the developer for public use the developer has agreed to maintain that park Walt and Sandra Chancey built their architectural and design business over the last 36 years Their experience ranges from single-family as well as multi-family homes and commercial developments from their headquarters in Tampa they partnered with Watermark Retirement Communities Watermark manages forty upscale adult retirement communities throughout the United States Email notifications are only sent once a day Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: When four new Marco Island City Council members were elected in November residents and city officials thought it would end the constant division and heated battles six councilors couldn’t select a chair or vice chair after repeated tie votes This month was no different — and ironically it was to select a candidate to fill the seventh seat vacated by Councilor Greg Folley 5 after an unsuccessful bid for the State House District 81 seat Council will hold a special meeting at 2:30 p.m The months leading up to the November election were divisive, with residents contending council didn’t listen to them, and businesses and restaurants pushed for a three-month seasonal trolley that residents opposed. ousting incumbents Rich Blonna and Becky Irwin and filling two vacant seats after Chair Jared Grifoni termed out and Councilor Joe Rola opted not to seek reelection the city asked residents to apply for Folley’s seat councilors whittled 26 applicants to four and councilors each interviewed candidates separately before the Jan they filled out a paper ballot to select the top candidate with David Leaser and Teri Sommerfeld as the No 1 choice with six votes and Daniel Bryant and Martin Winter tying for No Acting Chair Erik Brechnitz asked if anyone would consider switching their vote Assistant City Attorney David Tolces urged councilors to continue the discussion to reach a consensus Brechnitz suggested interviewing Leaser and Sommerfield Councilor Darrin Palumbo recommended they move to their second choice Tolces repeatedly urged them to continue discussing the top two but Brechnitz believed they might reach a consensus if they interviewed the second choices All candidates agreed that the water quality and the island’s waterways was the top issue controlling growth and beach renourishment Schwan suggested they nominate others in order to move forward Gray recommended looking at all 26 applicants again or letting residents vote with a special election “I would really welcome the community to make this decision.” the city’s charter says the council shall fill a mid-term vacancy Palumbo suggested flipping a coin and Schwann suggested selecting the November election’s fifth vote-getter City Manager Michael McNees pleaded with them to adhere to the charter which they promised to uphold as councilors when they took the oath of office “What I believe is in play here is a lot of residual energy from what was a very divided election here on the city of Marco Island,” McNees said noting it trickled down from a “very divided” national election “… Everyone understands politics is not a team sport If you want to move forward for the good of the city of Marco Was it to support one side of the contentious election that we’ve all just been through or was it to advance the interests and support the application of the charter of the City of Marco Island?” he asked “That’s going to mean maybe somebody’s going to have to compromise but to leave this hanging and to make up a process that’s against the charter I don’t know what the message is … I think if you’ll put in the effort There’s somebody in that pile that can be a council member.” Tolces agreed they were at an impasse and Brechnitz moved to the remainder of the agenda resident Lynn Nathanson offered to pay the $55,000 to hold a special election and recoup it with a GoFundMe campaign “The council seems to be at an impasse and it is the function of the council members to represent the interests of Marco Island,” Nathanson said “Because the council may be unable to reach consensus in filling the seat the decision should be given back to the voters … Because we feel so strongly about the Marco we love This story was published in The Naples Press on Jan (This story was updated to add new information.) A natural gas leak on Marco Island remained under investigation Tuesday night Emergency personnel evacuated two businesses and blocked part of Bald Eagle Drive and Chalmers Drive to Barfield Drive. By 8 p.m. TECO Energy officials had arrived according to an Instagram post by Marco Police Department Specialists wearing hard hats were digging in a couple of locations along Bald Eagle Drive and Windward Drive after digging in a vacant field near the sidewalk across the street earlier in the day Walker's Marine and First Foundation Bank at the intersection of Windward and Bald Eagle drives were evacuated out of precaution Police tape blocked the entrances to Pelican Plaza – home to Cav's (formerly Joey D's) Enterprise and several other businesses – but the businesses were open deputy chief of Marco Island Fire Rescue Department in a phone interview A call about a gas smell was made at 12:39 p.m. The gas leak is under Windward and Bald Eagle drives There were no service interruptions as of 4:30 p.m. Marco police and the city's Fire Rescue Department were on scene through the evening fire and police could be seen moving barriers into the road between Chalmers to just past Windward "We urge residents and visitors to avoid the area until further notice," police said in the press release Police advised residents to call businesses in the area before visiting "to confirm they are not impacted by the ongoing situation Marshall said he expects the situation to be cleared and the roads to be open Tuesday night They only run along Bald Eagle Drive into Olde Marco and south on Collier Boulevard to Collier Court — As cities and local municipalities around Florida adopt their own Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to comply with Florida Statute 908 the City of Marco Island made its decison on Monday recommended the City Council vote to move into the MOA “By entering into this agreement it will allow designated and trained Marco Island Police Department officers to fulfill our legal obligation to enforce Immigration Detainers in the same manner we enforce other law enforcement warrants,” said Frazzano "An Immigration Detainer is not a criminal warrant that is why we would need the MOA to enforce it.” Frazzano said the city would see no additional costs by entering into this agreement and that it could be revoked at any time by either party "Failure to comply with this statute could result in fines or civil proceedings initiated by the Attorney General against the local government entity and its officials," said Frazzano Nobody signed up to speak in public comment for this item so I'll motion to approve." Darrin Palumbo Former Marco Island City Councilwoman Becky Irwin has thrown her name in to be appointed to the vacant seat on the council saying she thinks her "collaborative style of leadership" is needed now "I really want to get some guardrails around our future development and some policies in place that are modern but still protect our island way of life," Irwin said in a phone interview Irwin, who served one four-year term, wasn't re-elected in November she would serve the remaining 18 months in the term and couldn't run for re-election The city's charter says no council member shall serve more than two full consecutive terms and no council member (or former council member) can serve more than eight years in office during his/her lifetime Florida native and long-time Marco Island resident said many residents asked her to apply for the seat "I have no power hungriness whatsoever," Irwin said "I just feel like good city planning can mitigate all of the fears and all of the things that come up," and having someone else on the council with experience she believes will help to get there.Council members Darrin Palumbo and Erik Brechnitz remain on the board; they weren't up for re-election in November Deb Henry and Bonita Schwan were newly elected to their seats Focusing on guardrails for redevelopmentIrwin said she can be a steady and calm hand on the council "You have to be willing to discuss the hard things that make people polarized or upset in a calm and reasonable and rational manner," she said "I'm not afraid to discuss the hard topics Among those hard and emotional topics are water quality such as Hilton hotel's growth and improvement plans; the demolition and redevelopment of a former mobile home park in Olde Marco; and eventual redevelopment of aging condos buildings "I'm not saying public transportation," Irwin was quick to point out after the debacle of a plan for increased bus/trolley service on Marco "That doesn't mean public transportation by any means "I'm all about the putting guardrails around our development that is compatible with the small-town feeling Melissa Tschida and Rene Champagne added their names to the applications for City Council to consider A large great white shark tagged by OCEARCH on National Science Day pinged repeatedly off the Southwest Florida coast Sunday and Monday Dold, an 11-foot, 2-inch, 761-pound male shark tagged by OCEARCH scientists off the Georgia on Feb he's traveled nearly 1,000 miles to the Gulf coast pinging southwest of Marco Island eight times on Apr A ping means the Smart Position and Temperature Transmitting Tag (SPOT) attached to the shark’s dorsal fin moved above the water's surface and sent location information to the OCEARCH shark tracker Here's what to know about white shark Dold great white sharks in Florida and the OCEARCH shark tracker: the animal has traveled 989 miles since being tagged OCEARCH named the shark after in honor of Dr helping connect experts together to drive shark research forward the organization posted on the shark's tracker page North Atlantic great white sharks are known to leave their summer feeding grounds off Atlantic Canada and New England to head as far south as Florida and the Gulf for warmer waters and more abundant food sources OCEARCH experts said during the warmer months these apex predators take advantage of the abundant seal populations and rich prey resources found in these areas Where in Florida are great white sharks found?Great white sharks are found in every ocean though they stay away from the colder waters of Antarctica and the Arctic There's no absolute data on the global population of white sharks and estimates vary widely – from 3,000 to over 10,000 white sharks have a diverse and opportunistic diet of fish Juvenile white sharks mainly eat bottom fish Larger white sharks often gather around seal and sea lion colonies to feed and also occasionally scavenge dead whales North Atlantic great white sharks migrate as far south as Florida and the Gulf in winter searching for warmer waters and more food sources many of them along the Eastern Seaboard and Nova Scotia You can follow their journeys on the OCEARCH shark tracker website or by downloading the OCEARCH Global Shark Tracker app even as the overall number of attacks declined in 2024 An annual report by the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) shows 47 confirmed unprovoked shark bites globally significantly lower than the average 64 annually over the previous five years had the most bites at 28 compared to 36 bites in 2023 The Sunshine State racked up 14 confirmed bites Volusia County had the most shark bites with eight and in line with the county's five-year annual average of nine Marco Island plans yet another special city council meeting to discuss and vote on candidates for the vacant seventh seat on the council After four months and multiple failed attempts to fill the seat left vacant by Greg Folley in November the council agreed March 3 to re-open the application process making 30 candidates to be considered at the special meeting March 17 Hours of arguing over voting processes and talking to candidates all ended in the same 3-3 ties when motions were made to appoint a specific applicant council chairman because members also can't agree on a chair or vice chair; and council members Stephen Gray and Tamara Goehler have voted the same on candidates Darrin Palumbo and Bonita Schwan voted the same But the six never voted for the same candidate Goehler and Brechnitz have been arguing for a special election to approve a new councilor via resident vote although the city's charter outlines a process for city council members to choose a member when a seat becomes vacant midterm City Attorney Alan Gabriel said a special election isn't allowed according to the charter that residents voted on when Marco Island became a city in 1997 Any changes to the charter would have to go before the residents "If we get to the point again of a 3-3 vote we are going to have to change the city charter and give it to the people," Goehler said at the city council's March 3 regular meeting We shouldn't put it back on them," said Councilor Darrin Palumbo "I "think better if we can't come to an agreement We are failing the charter; the charter isn't failing us." There should be some consequence to failing the citizens." City Council will meet at 1 p.m. March 17, prior to its 5:30 p.m. regular meeting. Both meetings will be held in the Community Meeting Room, 51 Bald Eagle Drive, Marco Island. The meetings will be available online at the city's website and on Marco Island TV