Live updates from Maryann Batlle

3rd & 7 37yd

This story about @FGCU moving on up in college rankings is doing extra swell on our website: naplesnews.com/news/local-new… Fun times. #SWFL

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/9/2015 9:16:20 PM
#SWFL At the Old Lee County Courthouse. The first 2015-16 budget public hearing is @ 5:05. Do you know your millage? http://pbs.twimg.com/media/COfV_8tWoAAPbP3.jpg

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/9/2015 9:16:19 PM
Whoa. Again? twitter.com/jessicalipscom…

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/4/2015 1:22:08 AM
#SWFL We've adjourned. Thanks, folks. Till next time! :)

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/4/2015 12:59:24 AM
#SWFL Estero already passed a flood plane management ordinance but a "FEMA bureaucrat" in DC told them to redo, atty said, in the works.

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/4/2015 12:57:44 AM
#SWFL Estero has 2 approve a local mitigation strategy & a comprehensive emergency management plan for flood insurance discount, atty says

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/4/2015 12:55:36 AM
#SWFL Mayor Batos says FDOT analyzing speed limits north of Corkscrew Road to see if there needs to be a change.

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/4/2015 12:53:13 AM
#SWFL Estero's village ocuncil thanks staff and each other for budget.

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/4/2015 12:50:23 AM
#SWFL Estero Council of Community Chairman Don Eslick: Support village center concept; stand up to developers; community wants this

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/4/2015 12:42:20 AM
#SWFL Estero has no DRGR land within its boundries; Douglas says just say publicly you don't support fracking there.

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/4/2015 12:35:35 AM
#SWFL "I don't think we need a survey here in Estero," says Phil Douglas to village council.

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/4/2015 12:35:07 AM
#SWFL Estero resident Phil Douglas: The village should publicly speak out against fracking on the DRGR; follow Bonita Springs' example

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/4/2015 12:34:33 AM
#SWFL "This is our first government lite contract, and we gotta get it absolutely right," VM Levitan re: community development agreement

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/4/2015 12:22:08 AM
#SWFL Here is the last community development presentation slide. Msg me if it's unreadable. (2/2) http://pbs.twimg.com/media/COBIZsAWwAUVPTW.jpg

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/4/2015 12:08:19 AM
#SWFL Here are Estero's community development presentation slides. (1/2) http://pbs.twimg.com/media/COBIJ8kWcAA82KB.jpg

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/4/2015 12:07:17 AM
#SWFL Vice Mayor Levitan is going over the Community Development plans -- Estero is privatizing that department/ severing from Lee County

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/4/2015 12:04:32 AM
#SWFL We're at a five minute break. Woo

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 11:48:48 PM
#SWFL Estero will pay for the expenses village manager candidates would incur to come to Estero; multi-day visits; airfare/accomodations

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 11:37:55 PM
#SWFL Colin Baezinger compares council-village manager candidate interviews to "speed dating."

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 11:36:23 PM
#SWFL Mayor Batos asked for public comment; none.

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 11:35:17 PM
#SWFL Councilor Wilson says Estero's staff has "extensive" FL experience; comfortable considering out-of-state village manager candidates

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 11:34:59 PM
#SWFL Councilor Ribble: We think very highly of @CityofBonita Man. Schwing; he's from out-of-state. "If they can manage, they can adjust."

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 11:32:59 PM
#SWFL Sunshine Law, zoning laws -- more complex in FL but can be picked up, Colin Baezinger tells Estero's village council

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 11:31:38 PM
#SWFL "I think you've got some outstanding candidates here. I think those skills can be learned," Colin Baezinger re: lack of FL candidates

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 11:30:44 PM
#SWFL Vice Mayor Levitan: Only two of the six candidates had any real experience with FL; that's a concern.

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 11:29:06 PM
#SWFL Colin Baezinger, headhunter firm, said the candidates who have made more than $200K per year are OK with Estero's lower pay rate

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 11:27:08 PM
#SWFL Colin Baezinger: Six candidates for village manager; he focused on their gov. lite, development and management experience

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 11:25:40 PM
#SWFL That ends Estero's 2015-16 public hearings tonight. We've moved on to the village manager search.

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 11:23:53 PM
#SWFL Estero's village council unanimously approves its tentative 2015-16 budget with the deputy-at-meetings amendment.

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 11:23:13 PM
#SWFL Vice Mayor Levitan: What Estero is offering staff is competitive with other municipalities; based on data

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 11:20:32 PM
#SWFL Estero resident Roy Hyman: Estero spending too much on staff salaries and benefits. "These numbers are ridiculously out of touch."

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 11:15:52 PM
#SWFL Mayor Batos now explaining that they can make changes to the budget if necessary ...

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 11:07:49 PM
#SWFL Councilor Boesch said he withdraws his motion.

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 11:07:14 PM
#SWFL Councilor Ribble said he saw a "speed trap" catch a "parishioner," so deputies are doing their job already ...

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 11:06:38 PM
#SWFL Mayor Batos is reading from prepared statement. It includes his reasoning for why his rejection of paying for more deputies in Estero.

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 11:05:08 PM
#SWFL Mayor Batos: I knew this issue was coming up because "I heard it on the TV."

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 11:03:03 PM
#SWFL Vice Mayor Levitan: "I don't know what the need is ... If the sheriff thought we had a problem he would address it, for sure."

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 11:01:49 PM
#SWFL Councilor Wilson: Concerned Boesch's proposal will create a "speed trap" that would catch plenty of their constituents.

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 11:01:07 PM
#SWFL Councilor Boesch: Estero should hire a policeman, 365-day shift, for traffic enforcement.

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 10:59:10 PM
#SWFL Mayor Batos: Bringing in FGCU folks to talk about what bike-ped paths Estero needs to compare notes.

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 10:56:32 PM
#SWFL With Councilor Boesch the lone no, the village council agrees to pay to have a law enforcement official at council meetings.

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 10:55:18 PM
#SWFL Councilor Boesch voted against spending money to have Lee deputies at Estero council meetings. Mayor Batos' yes was with hesitation.

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 10:54:24 PM
#SWFL "I don't know why we need to spend the extra money" for deputies @ meetings, said one member of the public.

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 10:53:23 PM
#SWFL Mayor Batos said Fort Myers BEach only brings deputies in when there is a particularly sensitive council meeting.

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 10:51:46 PM
#SWFL Mayor Batos said most of the other cities in Lee County have deputies at all council meetings. Fort Myers Beach does not.

by maryannbatlle via twitter 9/3/2015 10:51:20 PM