Fort Myers, FL
With the ink not yet dry on the Wetland 47 agreement, former Gateway Golf & Country Club President Ed Tinkle came back to the Gateway Board of Supervisors DEMANDING more wetland cleanup. "I want to make sure money is dedicated to cleaning up the wetlands" Tinkle arrogantly demanded of the board.
Of course he claimed he was coming before the board as "just a regular citizen" but everybody with a brain knows he only cares about the wetlands lining the golf course. You think he gives a rats rear about the wetland behind Vince Sardo's business? Hell no! He told the board that the wetlands were "deplorable" and "have not been taken care of for 20 years". Then he threw in a dollar amount threat. If we apply the dollar value you spent on Wetland 47 and 48 and project it to the other wetlands we're talking about $150,000 to $200,000 in initial fees.
Tinkle went on to berate the board and staff. When are we going to see a timetable to clean wetland 44 and 45? Where are we on the status of the initial cleanup of wetland 45? Of course, Bob Nielson is such a weak board chairman he let Tinkle roll right over them. The entire board is scared of him. Most people are only allowed to have their few minutes to speak before the almighty board, then they have to sit down. Tinkle is allowed to have an open dialogue, back and forth, with the board.
And, there you have it the real story. The Country Club would like the residents to think everything is one big love-fest after the Wetland 47 agreement. An agreement where the entire community paid the bills when the Tinkle clan illegally ran a tractor through a wetland. And here they come again with their hands out wanting all other district business to stop so the golfers have a pretty line of sight. Don't think for a minute it has anything to do with anything else. They want us to beautify their golf course and they want it done yesterday.
Tinkle went on to tell the board "I'm going to be watching this new company like a hawk and so is the entire golf course." (The company Mr. Tinkle is referring to is Ecosystems, about to be hired to keep the wetlands clean). By the way, I thought he was just a concerned citizen, not a member of the golf course.
Hey, Tinkle. Why don't you keep a closer eye on your own contractors? Maybe if you did the rest of us wouldn't have had to bail you out of Wetland 47.
