On September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian destroyed the Fort Myers Beach Town Hall building. The building sat untouched for 9 months while FEMA dragged its inspection process feet. While they played the waiting game, town staff had to figure out where to set up operations.
In recent months, town employees have been housed in trailers on Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District owned property. The agreement with the Fire District expires in November.
Those trailers were initially provided to the town through the Florida Department of Emergency Management. Back in June, the town was required to take over lease payments from the state to the tune of $44,258.90 per month.
On Monday the Town Council will approve a contract to lease 4 new trailers from BOXX Modular. The four-year lease agreement with BOXX is for $29,088.80 per month.
The town is negotiating with the Fire District to swap properties they own on Estero Boulevard. The town would get the Old Tops property where the Fire District had originally planned to build a new fire house. The Fire District would get the property that was home to the previous Town Hall. The properties are nearly identical in value.
To save taxpayers money, Town Manager Andy Hyatt would like the Town Council to consider building Town Hall as part of the new Bay Oaks building on the Bay Oaks property.
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