By Mike Welch
As we move into “high” storm season our community members are preparing for “Just in Case.” Calls to the East Lee Chamber as well as visits to our offices are peppered with questions and concerns from new residents on information to prepare. Stop by the office for storm prep materials or visit www.leegov.com for the latest information from Lee County Government. For those of us who were here during Irma – being unprepared made the situation all the worse.
HARD TIMES
By next month we will have the date and information for a large conference in Lehigh Acres regarding the homeless crisis in our communities. The Chamber will be hosting a multi-agency meeting co-chaired by Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass – Mrs. Therese Everly of the Lee County Homeless Coalition, Major Carlyle Gargis of the Salvation Army and Mr. Michael Welch of the East Lee Chamber of Commerce. A two-phase agenda will first concentrate first on the those who have been evicted and are presently homeless – often with children. The second phase are the long term needs of obtainable housing inventory. Needless to say, this is a crisis, and I will keep you informed on the announcement of the date and time in the next VOL.
CONGRATULATIONS NEWLY APPOINTED LEE COUNTY COMMISSIONER MIKE GREENWELL! (District 5 – Lehigh Acres/Alva/East Lee)
As many of us know the passing of the late Frank Mann left a vacancy on the Lee Board of County Commissioners. Mr. Greenwell was recently appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to fill the seat until the November General Election. Mr. Greenwell is also a candidate to then fill the remaining two years of Mr. Mann’s term. Mike is a resident of District 5 and is a business owner residing in Alva. A Lee County native, he had a career in his younger days as a professional ball player with the Boston Red Sox. In the Republican Primary this month Greenwell will be running with Former Commissioner John Albion and Joe Gambino. To reach Commissioner Greenwell call 239-533-2225 or dist5@leegov.com
