November 2017

Special Delivery from Asheboro, NC

Keeping Residents Safe: New FMPD Substation Opens

A ribbon cutting ceremony on October 19 marked the opening of the Fort Myers Police Department's new substation located on South Street. Police officers look forward to being able to stop by and respond to local calls during specified hours at the substation.

"Safety Saturdays" Honor National Fire Prevention Week

The Fort Myers Fire Department installed hundreds of smoke detectors during the FMFD Safety Saturday campaign which took place every Saturday in October. The FMFD visited more than 500 homes throughout various neighborhoods in the City. "Smoke alarms provide lifesaving seconds in case of a structure fire," explained Chief John Caufield. "Our Safety Saturday events helped to remind folks of the importance of fire safety and of having a working smoke detector."

FEMA Hosts Six Disaster Assistance Service Days in City

Hurricane Irma survivors were invited to seek assistance as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hosted events throughout the City. This allowed disaster recovery officials to maximize their reach to as many affected areas and survivors as possible, offering in-person support to individuals by helping them register and assisting them with getting status updates. Those who still need to register may visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.

Mayor Henderson Awarded "Person of the Year"

On October 14, Mayor Randy Henderson was honored to be named "Person of the Year" by the Lee County NAACP at the organization's annual Freedom Fund Banquet. Lee Pitts, emcee and host of "Lee Pitts Live," presented the Mayor with the award.

Massive Cleanup: More than 273,000 Cubic Yards of Storm Debris Removed by City in Only 45 Days

The City's Solid Waste Division along with FEMA contractors have removed massive amounts of storm debris, the equivalent of 11 football fields piled 12 feet high. Normal pick up schedule will resume starting November 10, the last date for courtesy storm debris pick up.

Fort Myers Named one of 2017's Fastest Growing Cities

WalletHub has named the City of Fort Myers as 2017's seventh fastest-growing city in America based on local economic growth. WalletHub's analysts compared 515 cities based on 15 measures over a period of seven years. The metrics were based on sociodemographics, jobs and economy. Fort Myers was ranked as the second fastest- growing small city in the U.S., behind Meridian, ID.

Environmental Remediation Takes Another Step Forward

On October 18, GFA International, the City's environmental consultant, began testing the groundwater and surface water on South Street. Over a three-day period, they extracted water samples from the six wells on the property. It will take approximately six weeks to receive the results which will be presented to the community in a public workshop. Testing of the site is the first phase in the City's long-term remediation plan for the property. The City is committed to fully assessing and remediating this site. Once the results are available, the City will solicit further public input to review potential physical remediation options and determine potential future uses for the site.