The Florida Roundup - Live from Fort Myers: Property tax cuts, increasing healthspan, & the Caloosahatchee

Episode Date: June 26, 2026

This week on a special edition of The Florida Roundup live from Fort Myers, we spoke with Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter about the potential impacts of the property tax proposal (00:00). Then, we spoke with FGCU’s Shawn Felton about a regional initiative to increase the healthspan of Southwest Floridians (20:38). Plus, we examined the health of the Caloosahatchee River with WGCU’s senior environmental reporter Tom Bayles (37:44). Plus, music from the Joanne Hartley Trio for the hour.

This is the Florida Roundup. I'm Tom Hudson. We are live from the Tribi Arts Center at Shellpoint Retirement Community in Fort Myers with our partner, WGCU. Thank you everybody for being here. It is a terrific facility and terrific audience. And it is great to have Joanne Hartley and her Jazz Trio along with us as well. Fellows and Joanne, thank you for being with us for the whole hour. We've got a lot to talk about here in this live edition out on the road for the Florida Roundup here in Fort Myers. Let's start with property taxes because Florida voters are going to decide and decide. November, whether or not to give homeowners a bigger tax break here in the Sunshine State. It's a ballot referendum that would increase the value of a home or condominium that's exempt from property taxes as long as the owner lives in the condominium or the home. If approved by voters, that homestead exemption would jump from $50,000 currently up to $150,000 in January and then a quarter of a million dollars tax-free a year later. So are you ready for that property tax break? How could it affect your parks, your libraries?

your roads. You can email us. We're monitoring the inbox today. Radio at the Florida roundup.org. Radio. It's live here at the Triviard Center, Shell Point, retirement community. Have some note cards. Write those questions on us for us, and we'll get to your questions here today. Because we're going to be speaking with the mayor of Cape Coral just across the Colosahatchie River. You can see Cape Coral from the banks here of the river. And it is one of the largest cities in Florida and the largest in Southwest Florida. John Gunter is with us. Mayor of Cape Coral. Your Honor, thank you and welcome the program. Thank you very much. I appreciate the invitation and I honor to be here. It's great to talk to you. So do you support this ballot

referendum regarding property tax exemptions? Well, I do believe it's probably going to pass, but I think it's extreme. Make sure that we get out to the community and explain exactly the best. So you expect it to pass? Will you vote for it? Resident of Florida, I think all of us would like to see our property taxes go. down for that residence. So talk to us about what does it mean for the budget? And the city of Cape Coral assess

values, $160 million. This initiative passes. We will see age 60 to first year and a 47 million of the second subsequent year. So about 30% in that second year.

30% of the property tax revenue. Exactly, right. And a lot of people get confused, they think, well, you have at one point, this is solely for property taxes to $160,000. So every dollar counts, certainly in about today's services next year, if Cape Coral sees that property tax revenue decreased by tens of millions of dollars. Yeah, out of that 160 that we bring in 110 million of that 160, we spend today in public safety, public safety. So if we are going to have at least about $50 million left over the 160 this year,

So if we have 47,000 parks, that's going to be your credit and you could enforce it, like, something. Because you wouldn't touch the public safety budget. I would personally. Gotcha. Some legislators have talked about requiring public safety to be continued to be funded in today's levels or beyond. So the number of options you and your city counselors would have about finding those tens of millions of dollars would be limited. Yeah, that's what the referendum deduction, but also the legislation has put in. So where else would you be able to find those billions of dollars?

Yeah, I mean, I think that I've stated services that we provide in services to some level in some of these other programs of ease in order to compensate if you still want the level of service. No matter if it's our city or any city throughout the state of Florida, you have to determine what you want to provide as a service to the community. You're comfortable, it sounds like as a constituent and a homeowner. You want a home a cab girl? Yes, sir. You sound like you're comfortable as a homeowner and constituent voting for this measure, and yet as an elected to be a constituent. or acknowledging the uncertainty that it leaves you in? Yeah, I mean, they want to see a renewal of Texas,

and that's all the type of services. That for yourself as a homeowner, as a community member, as someone who's going to be leaving City Hall at some point in the near future. Yeah, I think... What kind of community do you want? Yeah, and I think that's exactly it. You know, let's talk about the parks for instance. We spend a lot of money.

We have spent a lot of dollars in the last five years. We pay for a majority of that. some of it come from the parks that go as a general obligation. Right. So I think what you're going to see, a lot of parks in our city. So more borrow offsets some of those. So back by something. Yeah, exactly.

That could be specific projects like those type of things. Can you imagine charging a fee to visit a park in Cape Coral? Like a state park? Yeah, I can't. So I think what we're going to have, we're so used to the way things have been for so long. Would you advocate, should this pass as a mayor, would you advocate raising the tax rate on the property taxes that is assessed for homeowners? Yeah, well, I've been in office since 2017 and over this eight year of you. Right, sorry.

About, what is it, $5.25 per thousand dollars, roughly. Yeah, 5.14 is our military. Okay. When I first got elected, it was 6.175. If you had military on your bingo card here at the Tribiard Center, You mark it down here. You can't talk about property taxes without that sneaking out, can you? Yeah, so that, you know, we in the city.

Seek this out by a higher tax rate. Exactly. You're going to seek it out through fees and other types, and in-service cuts. I see, right. And, of course, from a homeowner perspective, that property tax may or may not be tax deductible on your federal income tax, but the fees that you spend are not tax deductible.

Those are not something that you can then go by and try to be tax price to. Senate Senator be voting for this, whether it's our city or for us. We've got a email who's listening to Joy. It's great to have you along here as we're doing our live program for Myers. You can join us on Joy Wright's Homestead exemptions have always existed in Florida, but never this broad in budget busting. That's the proposal. Joy writes and asks, what is the likelihood of adding means testing or minimums over 70?

That is we sit here in a retirement community. I think that several things, the referendum is, it's, it's going to talk on the radio. is always going to put people to sleep, but I got to ask this question here, when does your fiscal year begin? October. And this would take effect in January. Yeah, where a lot of people don't understand.

Four months into the fiscal year. Yeah, we're doing budget discussions today. Right. September. This is with us here at the Art Center. Steven, thank you for your question asking, is it feasible to think Lee County will ever be able to install sewer hookups

for all the septuptuks? That's pretty substantial for them as well. Millionaire, a million there is the same goes. So, you know, it's going to, what I, work with my feet, is that we are going to transfer with burden on some of these present assessments. Throughout the state, there are cities. John Gunter is with us now.

He's the mayor of Cape Coral. We're live at the Triviard Center at the Shellpoint Retirement Community here in Fort Myers. It's great to be along with you as we take Florida Rondup on the road. Let's talk about the housing market as Cape Coral is a bit of a crucible of the Florida housing market, particularly a single-family housing market. The average price of a home sold in Kyrrall a couple of months ago is just under $400,000. Is Kik Koural still affordable? Yes, it is.

And I have the uncertainty. You have less land, too. And 5% built out. The uncertainty in older myself years ago. It's costing me 30% to 40% more than that. Closer materials or labor? Both. The lead spec houses without buyers.

So you're willing to take that risk, even in this market. Condominium prices are down about $5.000. percent compared to you a year ago, which is improvement over the past several years here. This was one of those areas that really saw a big impact with the reforms put in place after the surfside collapse of many years ago. What's your assessment of the health? We're starting to see this cost of that is monthly rentals that are coming down. So that's good a hand, but also with your... Why is that as population growth slowing down?

I mean, yeah, I think you're seeing more supply than demand. So that's why you're seeing some of those developers. that foreclosures, while still low in Cape Quinn rising, they've been rising by double digits. Folks don't have to have closures in Cape Coral in 2007. Is this something on your radar as you finish up your mayoral term? Is this something beginning to rise up and some concern about folks who have homes

and their ability to continue to stay in those homes? As far as the foreclosure radar know it had placed today, I think it's something that we got to key to South West Florida that's so desirable. There's people. It's something you have. We ask you about storm preparedness.

here because it's been four years since your community was hit by the assessment of municipal government as a storm as it cites on to partake in the evacuation notices of shelter openings those types of things yeah when you look back in the history here you've never seen a storm surge was it was a real threat hurricane Ian changed that overnight so I think we have a whole different perspective and you know how important I remember Hurricane Irma and some other ones that I when I was here you know they talked about all we were going to see a 12-foot storm surge but it never happened and it never has happened so but do you think the community is prepared and your public safety folks are prepared to

issue those warnings in advance far enough at advance yeah now we're you know today we're buying high water type vehicle for evacuation yeah things like that so we have a whole different mindset than we did just like the community all right mayor Gunther thank you for being with us we appreciate it all right thank you very much very good John Gunter the mayor of Cape Coral here as we're live at the tribut arts center in Fort Myers at the Shell Point retirement community it's a live edition the Florida Roundup is on the road be sure to join us on our email radio at the florida roundup dot org radio at the Florida roundup.org coming up how to continue

living healthy, how to make sure we live healthier and longer. What's involved with making sure that we, yeah, live longer, but we enjoy those extra years that we can add. That's coming up here as you're listening to the Florida Rondeup from your Florida Public Radio Station. It's the Hartley Jazz Trio, Joanne on piano, Warren on percussion, playing the drums and the brushes out there. Warren, we love it. And Terry is on bass. He's also got a flugel horn. Maybe he'll break out a little bit later. Welcome back to the Florida Duranda. We are live today from the Tribe Arts Center at the Shell Point Community Center, the Shell Point Retirement Community here in Fort Myers. It's wonderful to be in front of such a great

audience. We are so welcome and we are so grateful for all the hospitality. On the program next week, it is our summer reading special, right? We're going to break out the books for us, a couple of Florida authors with two very different thrillers. One is an autobiography of the writer's father who was a drug smuggler back in the 1970s and 80s, and he died in a plane crash with the author on board when she was just five years old. She does not think it was an accident. It is a fascinating story that she tells an investigation into her own childhood and her father. The second book that we talk about next week is a novel set here in Florida, in Fort Pierce,

and the writer credits heavenly inspiration for a very, very dark tale. It's fascinating psychological thriller. So it's our summer reading special that is next week. Today we are live in Fort Myers here at the Tribby Arts Center at the Shellpoint Retirement Community and great to be here. And what better place to talk about getting older but staying healthy. Florida, after all, is home to one of the largest populations of people over the age of 65. In fact, one out of every five of us here in Florida has already celebrated their six

Who in our audience has already celebrated their 65th birthday? There's a few hands up. Well, congratulations for making it to that milestone. Way to go. We're proud of you. So what's your key to a healthy life in Florida? You can join our conversation as we're live on this Friday in Fort Myers and we're monitoring the email inbox, radio at the Florida roundup.org.

What's your secret to that healthy life? Is it a mango a day? Could be a mango a day. Radio at the Florida Roundup.org. Sean Felton is with us now Dean of the College of Health and Human Services at Florida Gulf Coast University here in Fort Myers. Sean, welcome to the program. Thanks for your time. Thanks so much. Great to have you here. So how is Florida doing living healthy longer? We've got some work to do. Yeah. You know, I great stat here not to bore people, but only an academic could bring this here is

you know the average lifespan in southwest Florida is 81.7 years. Okay. So we're a little bit north of where we are across the state. Okay. However, we have about a 13-year difference between what we're really focused on is the health span versus lifespan. So what that means is health span is those years without chronic disease, long-term challenges, etc. But we have a larger gap here in southwest Florida than we do across the state. So if the lifespan is 81, that means the health span is ending at 68? 768. Yeah, right. So what is contributing to that?

Well, there's several pieces. Obviously, the biggest piece there is the chronic disease. You still see that through, you know, heart disease, stroke, mental health issues. Diabetes, et cetera. The chronic issues that really begin very early in life. That is often unrecognized early and it continues on. So I think one part is obviously the way we're approaching this at FGCU and with our Shady Rest Institute in Positive Aging is to really look at what we can do at the, you know, North 65 area, but then also what can we really be doing in the early years as well? Because it's a lifelong piece.

It's not, you might do the mango, you might do your apparel spritz that you talked about. I talked about that before the radio show, Sean. That was just for in the house here. Sorry, sorry, sorry. It's a live audience. But regardless of that, it's a, there's not one magic piece. And it's a piece that's really going to take us a long way to get where we're going

and we have a bold goal. You do have a bold goal because you want to increase the health span by seven years by the year 2040. So that means that health span goes from 68 to, if I add seven to that, what's that? 75. Yeah. So that is a bit of an audacious goal. How do you measure that? Yeah.

So we've got some great work and it's a lot of partnerships across Southwest Florida. I think we're at the right place at the right time to do this. A good friend of mine, former CEO Lee Health, Jim Nathan, talks about people coming to South West Florida to live and thrive. And so all of our partners are really engaging in this. But how we're going to measure is we're going to use the Florida scorecard. You've got to have some metrics there. And we're really utilizing the eight dimensions of health, the National Institute of

Health measures. And we've built them into, I would say, buckets for us to measure in terms of vitality, stability, growth, in terms of focusing on those areas. And what I want to really focus on as well is the importance of the education. education sector. You know, we look at health span because the word health, that it's all health care related and it's well beyond that. It's the connection of educational attainment. It's the connection of being here in the audience today, being lifelong learners and continuing that strive for knowledge. It's educating our youth to move forward. It's

also financial planning. It's also long-term estate planning and the stresses and caregiver planning. And as I said, you could first look at this feels like you're boiling the ocean type area. But honestly, you start breaking this down and finding areas that's going to navigate this and make progress. What role does access to the appropriate health care play in the health span? Because we know there's a large demand on health care supply and services, certainly here in a community in southwest Florida, retirement community. and we know that economics play a significant role. Insurance coverage, Medicare, all of those kinds of things.

Yeah, healthcare is a huge piece. And as I mentioned, the chronic disease makes up about 90% of the cost of health care. So the focus is focusing on the health span, hopefully lowering some of those costs, the insurance premiums, you know, a policy change could occur, you know, for more preventative type services. I see you see that, but I think also in the activity pieces would be a thing to look at at, you know, down the road. Reward people somehow for staying mobile.

Absolutely. With a better premium. Absolutely. But health care access is critical, but it's also in that more preventative piece. I think, you know, as you look at especially, you know, young individuals that might be growing a family or especially college students. Many students come without health insurance and, you know, delay some of that care early on.

So getting that early access to prevent chronic disease. I think prevention is one of our. critical pieces, but especially in season, our EDs get a little more crowded. In season, right, the emergency departments here in southwest Florida, when everybody has escaping the cold up in the upper Midwest for the most part, yeah, or other places. Exactly. So that sounds like, I mean, the access to health care is one of those barriers, I would expect that you've run across as you look at trying to expand this health span. What are some of those other barriers? Yeah, you know, I think it's the, as you alluded to, the health

care access, I think the other is really understanding the vernacular around it. What do you always look at, hey, we want to live long, you know, and as I mentioned, the 81.7 years, the average lifespan in South West Florida, but when we first introduced this at March 18th at our event, we had a world-renowned speaker come in, Ken Dykewald, CEO, founder of Age Wave, to really start talking the description of what health span is. That's a new vernacular for areas. So really, and part of this is educating individuals on what health span is. So we want to add quality years of life to everyone.

And I think that's both as a person that's aging, but then also the caregivers that's there. I know all of us have dealt with, you know, an aging parent or an aging loved one. And there's a lot of stress with that that's affecting your own lifespan as well. So those barriers are there. and I think just enough resources to get people in front of this as well. Former U.S. Surgeon General in Florida, Dr. Vivik Murthy, has called Loneliness and Epidemic. Do you agree with that? I believe so, and I think it really came forward through COVID, and, you know, where people were in homes, that loneliness, that isolation,

and it really has advanced the aging of several. And, you know, we here in Southwest Florida, we do have an access problem to mental health professional. We've got great mental health professionals. Us at FGCU are, you know, producing great social workers, counselors. It's like mental health nurse practitioners. But we do have a bit of a, you know, mental health desert here in Southwest Florida. So that's on the part, at the point of seeking professional care, right? There's a larger swath in there.

And I think that the former Surgeon General is talking about is just the building of community. Building of connections. Being in connected, being a part of a still. Doesn't take a Medicare card to get that. Doesn't do that. It's, you know, being engaged in volunteerism, citizenship around being connected to a community here. I think, you know, everyone at Shellpoint, you know, has that community. But then how does others that's not part of a community here create that other community piece?

And I think that's another area. Any pickleball players in the crowd today? Any pickleball? I see a couple of Abba Mahjong. Any is Mahjong taken root here? Oh, lots more Mahjong. hands are. How about poker? Any poker? A couple of, you know, okay, fair enough. But those are those kinds of connections, right, that you make. And there's no co-pay involved with that. Not at all.

Right? There's no explanation of benefits that's going to come with that. And so how does a health span effort like this in a community in Southwest Florida that is somewhat seasonal? Try to encourage that. What are those building blocks? Yeah. Well, it's a lot of partners around. And, you know, FGCU cannot do this on their own. The Shady Rest Institute positive aging cannot do this one that's own. It's a matter of individual partners across the way in all of these areas, be it education, be it recreation, be it, you know, the Cape Corps mayors just here, you know, the park systems, you know, finding projects that will navigate that forward. And I'm very proud of our consultants that's been working with us.

We have about, you know, 10 great projects that's moving forward today, just starting really from March. And as I said, it's a bold, audacious goal. And it's going to take a lot of individuals to move this forward. But, you know, I think now being, the first part is understanding there is a challenge. So now we're trying to attack that. And putting metrics in play can see if we're making progress or not. And as I said, there's not one magic piece that's going to do this for everyone.

We're talking about expanding one's health span, living healthy, here at the Tribby Arts Center. We're live in Fort Myers on the Florida Roundup, talking about this effort to expand. the health span in southwest Florida by seven years by 2040. Sean Felton is our guest, the dean of the College of Health and Human Services at Florida Gulf Coast University who is directing this effort to expand the health span in in Florida. Christina has been listening here, Sean, and writes, the number one issue is being able to afford health care. Small businesses and individuals are spending a ton of money to health insurance.

It's time for universal health care. Christina writes, people don't have time to take off. Not enough doctors. And because health care is tied to employment, people stay in jobs that they might otherwise have moved on from. How to address that affordability and that accessibility piece? And I want to ask specifically toward an older community that we're in here doing this live program.

And I want to phrase the question this way. How does the traditional Medicare fee-for-service model, that is the great majority of Medicare spending and insurance, how does that influence health choices as you're trying to bend the curve and increase a health span. Yeah. So there's not once again one magic answer to that, but, uh, you know, it's a very complex situation both with private payer, Medicare, Medicaid, so you know, Medicaid for the, the younger adult.

Yep. Um, the biggest piece that I see is the chronic disease issue. Um, you know, if you look across the, these are stats, these are facttoids, the US spends per capita more per health care than any other developed country. But yet we have some of the worst health outcome. That's right. And so, you know, I was just, we just did a study abroad trip for a comparative health with, and mayor of college for some students.

And we looked at some other systems that we went to. And for an example, the French system, not saying it better or worse, any chronic disease is paid for for that care once that person's being diagnosed with heart disease, chronic disease, you know, diabetes, et cetera. Through tax dollars. Through taxol. Exactly. So, but, you know, I think a lot of this is if, if, how do we change those outcomes?

We need to really focus on those chronic diseases and find that preventative piece. Now, that doesn't affect someone that's already there. Yeah. But it will generationally make a change for that. In the immediate, it's a matter of really trying to, you know, increase the access opportunities. I know for the, you know, lower socioeconomic group, we have a lot of great neighborhood health clinics, etc that works towards that and it's it is a challenge to to address that and especially i think we were just talking about you know obviously fixed income you know medical bills and and prescription medicines

inflation all over the place gas prices food yeah there's a lot of challenge and the access is is transportation as well you know i find uh that to be a challenge versus a you know you're in a large metropolitan area you've got you know you've got a much more efficient um public transfer. After all, where we're talking has point in its name. You can kind of imagine the geography of a place called Shell Point. What are some of the, as you've begun this effort around health span, what are some of the state policies that you've been able to identify and kind of look at and say, oh, there may be some work here that could encourage a healthier living for longer. Yeah, I think, you know, Senator Pasadoma's bill last year was very positive. Kathleen Pasadoma. Yeah, Kathleen Pasadoma. State Senator from Southwest Florida. Very positive in terms of her health care access bill. Yep.

Has done a lot with that. So I think, you know, there is a starting point to move forward. So we really appreciate there. I think a place that I really see is the opportunity of prevention again. Not to lean on that over and over, but I think if we can start educating and incentivizing a preventative type strategy, that's going to be a way to really advance where we're doing. All right. So let me ask you to point out this here.

and this comes from Frank, who's listening in Orlando. Frank, it's great to have you along on the email. He says, dear Tom, food is medicine. Nutrition and good health has many resources in these times. Keep moving and connections combat loneliness. But that food is medicine piece, right? When you talk about prevention, so much of it, yes, exercise is important, but for so many of us, no matter how much we exercise,

there's still a little bit more here as I'm touching my belly than I would prefer, but it's diet. It is diet. And, you know, healthy diet. You know, and I think there's an adage oftentimes people think eating healthy is more expensive when there is, it's not. If you really make the choices, but then you look at lifestyle, the busyness that we all have, especially, you know, the middle age individuals where we get a little extra there is a challenge. But I would agree that, you know, proper food intake and eating the right things is very important.

obviously so much of the saturated foods and, you know, the processed foods are, are damaging us as well. So as you're going about this here, Sean, how will you know you're making progress, making success that Floridians are leading longer, healthier lives? Well, as I said, we've got some metric setup. Yep. And really starting to track that. But then it's going to be some of the, those are long-term measures to track.

It's going to be the interim pieces on seeing project. and getting some early wins, you know, working closely with Carrier County Superintendent about with her student body and getting enough access to care for their area as well. We've got some meetings scheduled. And so it's both the large metrics that you're going to see some actual state data, chamber data come through, but then also, you know, seeing successes and projects. But it's going to take a, it's going to take an entire community. It's going to take a lot of work. And we're, we're, we're, we're ambitious. Sean Felton with Florida Gulf Coast University. We appreciate you, Sean. Thank you very much for being here. And best of luck in your health span effort to make sure that we try to lead healthier lives and longer lives throughout Florida. We got more to come here, Joanne Hartley, and the Jazz Trio is with us as we're live from the Tribby Arts Center. We are going to be talking about the health of the Kaluasahatchee River, one of the great rivers here in the Sunshine State along the peninsula. Tom Baylis, the senior environmental reporter with our partner station WGCU will be live with us. I'm Tom Hudson, and you are listening to the Florida.

Roundup from your Florida Public Radio Station. It's Joanne on piano, Warren on percussion, and Terry on the bass. It is the Hartley Jazz Trio live on this Friday in the Florida Roundup from the Tribby Arts Center at the Shell Point Retirement Community is terrific to have our live audience here in Fort Myers. We're going to hear a little bit more from the Hartley Jazz Trio before we say goodbye to everybody on this Friday. It's to stick around for that. All right, here as we are in Fort Myers. on the shore of the Colusa Hatchie and the Gulf? Who remembers the summer of 2018?

Here who here was a he, let's see, we got a few hands up. All right. Well, there are some more. Yeah, they remember 2018. Sure, because it's been, it's been a while. It's been a minute, eight years. But anybody who was here in Fort Myers at the time, you can probably still smell that summer of 2018, right?

Yeah. Florida experienced the worst blue-green algae outbreak in history. Marine life was really taken for a hit, a huge economic toll on coastal communities like those here in Lee County. It's so bad that the state, in fact, formed a special task force in response to it to prevent such an event from happening again. And they made recommendations to lawmakers to improve water quality and improve water management. But some environmental groups have warned that these guidelines have not been properly implemented, leaving Florida's waterways still vulnerable this many years later. So could we experience another massive bloom?

What's preventing another algae crisis from blossoming again off our shores? Well, Tom Bayless is along with us now, WGCU's Environmental Reporter with our partner station here in Fort Myers. Tom, it's great to have you. Thank you for reporting. No, thanks for having me. So what's the status as the Klusahatchi and all of Florida enter summer? Well, summertime is your typical time for blue-green algae, because while it can happen any time of the year, as was proven this past winter,

Blue green algae likes that and that's still warm water shallow water and if you've ever seen it it's exactly what it sounds like it's blue and green and a little white and it stays up on top of the water and it gets all over your boat

and your dock and anything else you might have anywhere near the water you of course don't want to get it on yourself or on your animals because there's still a lot of science that needs to be done about exactly how bad cyanotoxins are for you So we've still seen some areas of drought in Florida as we enter summer.

We know the temperatures are already plenty hot, so the water is warming up. But it was just four months ago, the dead of what passes as winter here in Florida, where we had a blue-green algae here in southwest Florida. Yeah, that was completely out of character for the four blue-green algae. It was Valentine's Day, and one of the local environmental groups, the Kluza Waterkeeper, has a pilot. that goes up and takes pictures of red tides or whatever, and he just happened to fly up to Kaluza Hatchi.

And sure enough, from Alvin North, or the northeastern 30, 32 miles of the river was just coated in blue green algae from one side to the other. It's, you know, there's a really good idea, but nobody actually knows. But in that case, it was most likely that part of the river is very agriculture, lots of farms. And there was the drought that was going on. So the water level was low.

And as one of the people I spoke to said is, you know, winter is relative in Florida. And when the water is low and it's not moving very much because the lake was low. And, of course, the lake feeds. Lake Okeechobey. Lake Okee. Lake Okee River. So that wasn't happening. And as the water level went down, a lot of the nutrients came in, and that's what really feeds blue green algae is nitrogen and phosphorus, which you find in fertilizer.

So as we mentioned in 2018, one of the state responses to that outbreak was this task force with recommendations. Then you get this massive outbreak unseasonal in February in the dead of winter in southwest Florida. What were warnings like? Well, that is something that we're looking at at WGCU because the Department of Health is supposed to go. And whenever there's a blue-green algae outbreak, their responsibility is to post it and say, hey, there's a blue-green algae outbreak. Keep your dog out of it because it's very dangerous to animals. You may not want to go in it if you have certain health problems. And for some reason, while the outbreak was just as big as they get, the Department of Health failing.

to do anything in terms of notifying the public. So for the week that that blue-green algae outbreak occurred, there was no warning signs. There was no press releases put out that ourselves and other media organizations would run. But concurrently, some of the smaller little outbreaks on canals off the river, they put out warnings about those. So we're trying to figure out exactly why that happened.

What are the agencies involved with this if it were kind of a normal process if the warnings had been posted? Well, the Department of Environmental Protection, along with the local water management agencies, in our case, that's the South Florida Water Management District. They do the testing along with places like the Lee County Environmental Lab. And when they have an outbreak, they turn that over to the Department of Health. And the Department of Health is the agency that's supposed to, of course, watch out for our health and put these signs up. But there is a little bit of a loophole, and that is that they don't have to put the signs up.

They make a decision whether to or not. And we're trying to figure out why they do that for the small outbreaks, but they didn't do that for the big one. Yeah. Is it clear what triggers the warning? What is that piece that they say we can do this and we should do this and we will do this? It's supposed to be the Department of Environmental Protection turning over that data saying, this is a dangerous situation.

Let's let the public know. And in this case, they didn't. And we have not been able to get the kind of answers that we normally can. And so we are still looking into that and we will continue doing so until we get answers for our audience and the general public as well. Any after effects of the 2018 piece? Yes. Thank you for that reporting. No, the that broke up and moved down the river in in little pieces and it just kind of went away. We got lucky because that's the sort of thing that started the 2018 outbreak. It just didn't make it all the way down the river this. time. Tom Bayless, the senior environmental and reporter for our partner station WGCU here in Fort Myers.

Thank you so much for sharing your reporting. Absolutely. Much appreciate it. Thank you very much. I appreciate, Tom. This is a live edition of the Florida Roundup here as we're live from the Trivia Arts Center in Fort Myers at the Shell Point Retirement Community. And finally, how about some more music, Joanne? Let's take us out on this Friday.

The Joanne Hartley Jazz Trio, Joanne Hartley on piano, Warren Myers on percussion, Terry Schilling on bass. Guys, take it away. Let's play it out into the weekend. Joanne, get us going for one more as we move on into the weekend and we have to say goodbye, unfortunately, because our time is coming to an end here on the Florida Roundup. Yeah, keep going. Let's hear some more. It's the best way to get going on a Friday as we say hello to the weekend. The jazz trio here with the Joanne on piano, Warren Myers on percussion, Terry Schilling on bass. You guys get underway and I'm going to talk over the music a little bit here because I need to remind you that the Florida Roundup is produced by WLRN Public Media in Miami with assistance.

from WUSF in Tampa. The program is produced by Bridget O'Brien. Denise Royal is W. L. L.E.N. Senior producer of content streaming and news products. She's with us here in Four Myers. Thank you so much for your help, Denise. Thank you, Bridget, for helping out from Jacksonville this week as well. W. L.O.N.'s director of live programming is Katie Munoz, and the vice president of radio is Peter Maers.

The program's technical director is M.J. Smith, keeping everything going in Miami. Thanks, MJ. Engineering help here on site from Doug Peterson. No one better on the road than Doug. Peterson, Harvey Bissard and Anesto J helping out at HQ in Miami. Live music this hour, of course, from the Hartley Jazz Trio. Big thanks to our partner here in Southwest Florida, WGCU, and Fort Myers, and of course the Shell Point Retirement Community for hosting us.

What a great organization. We are happy to be here. The financial support for the Florida Roundup on the Road is provided in part by Florida Public Media, whose mission is to be a trusted, dependable, and welcome part of the lives of all Floridians. So thank you for listening and supporting public media.