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THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Aaron Wagner, 941-916-9470, aw1536@hotmail.com

Now that the season is in full swing, one of the most important aspects of our community is the
canal system abutting many of our homes.

Since Hurricane Irma, many of our seawalls are in disrepair; some collapsed completely leaving
large gaping holes in our backyards.

While we’re all taking this seriously, we still want to enjoy our boating activities. Whether fishing
or cruising, we moved here to enjoy the water. Now, however, we must be more careful.

The City has requested that boaters be more diligent in observing the no-wake zones throughout
the PGI canal system. While many signs were in place for years, more have been erected to
remind us all to use precaution. This is germane to helping us preserve the integrity of the
Aaron Wagner canals and seawalls throughout our community.

It is, no doubt, a daunting task to attempt to repair all the seawalls quickly to everyone’s satisfaction. Unfortunately, a
complete repair might take perhaps several years, but we must be vigilant during that time to protect what we do have
and to make sure the system is allowed to be reconstructed better and safer for the future. We heartily ask that you
abide by these no-wake zones and maintain a slow rate of speed.

At the risk of sounding repetitive, the City does not have the resources to patrol the canals to ensure boaters observe
and follow the no-wake zones, so it is incumbent that we adhere to our own sense of pride and values.

I encourage every boater to look behind your boat and see what kind of wake your boat produces. You might want to
consider slowing down a bit more.

Another area that I would like to speak about is the grass and dirt section that abuts our seawalls. I recently moved to a
house on a canal and noticed that I had several holes or depressions where the dirt had eroded away from behind the
seawall.

These holes/depressions are an important structured aspect to the seawall. If allowed to increase in size, they may
compromise the strength of the seawall and possibly bring about its collapse.

I notified the City of this condition and they informed me that these holes will be fixed. They also informed me that we,
the residents are not supposed to fill the holes ourselves but when we notify them, to try and be as accurate as possible
as to how many holes/depressions and their sizes.

I would encourage all residents who live on the water to check your seawall closely and report to the City any holes or
depressions you find. Also, if you live next to an empty lot, it wouldn’t hurt to check that also. A compromised seawall
could weaken yours.

By now, you’ve probably heard that the City has contracted with three firms to help repair our seawalls. Work should be
well under way by the time you read this.

Lastly, the staff at the PGICA has started to compile a new membership directory. The Executive Director and her staff
need to be informed of any changes that you want to have appear in the new directory. The changes that we feel are
important are: name, address, telephone, and email. Other changes are optional. You must contact the office before
February 9 to have your changes updated.

PGICA Board Members…

President Aaron Wagner Education Carol Duncan
President-Elect Frank Easby-Smith Government Relations John Miller
President, Past Debby Carey Member Activities Barbe Koss
Treasurer Ron Olsen Health, Safety/Welfare Janet Lynn
Secretary Carol Geiger Membership Cindy Morrell
Center Administrator Jack Gardner External Relations Steve Brown
Planning/Development Dan Kain

PGICA Mission Statement
“To enhance the quality of life in Punta Gorda Isles
as a vibrant and unique waterfront community.”
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