The Melo Minute - October 10, 2021 - The Right Men's Club of Collier County, Replaced Republican Men's Club

News and updates you don’t want to miss.

The Melo Minute

October 10, 2021 – Happy National Fire Prevention Week!

Reserving Our Resources

Any member of our community could say water is the staple resource in Southwest Florida. However, caring for and utilizing our water is a delicate process. This week I had the pleasure of getting a firsthand experience on one of the many ways we do this. The Caloosahatchee River West Basin Storage Reservoir (C-43) is an active water management project in Hendry County that will finish by the end of 2023! As a fellow Floridian, Representative, and member of the Environment, Agriculture & Flooding Subcommittee, I am dedicated to ensuring the preservation and vitalization of our natural resources.

What this Basin will provide

Maintenance of salinity levels and the locally allocated agricultural water

Help with the timing and quantity of freshwater flow going into the Caloosahatchee Estuary

12 Miles of Versatile Trails for Walking, Biking, and Horseback Riding

Public Parking & Restrooms

Equestrian Area with Parking, Paddock, and Wash

Canoe & Kayak Launch Area

Fishing by Boat & Bank

Informational Kiosks

Huge thank you to Phil Flood and his team with South Florida Water Management for giving us an amazing and informative tour of the C-43 Reservoir project! It was impressive to see all the progress made and to receive an update on the construction still ahead.

Legislative Updates

On Tuesday,

I had the pleasure of spending some quality time with Senator Ray Rodrigues and Representatives Spencer Roach and Jenna Persons-Mulika at the Chamber of Southwest Florida Pre-Legislative Session Luncheon to discuss some of our priorities for Session 2022. As always, it was a spirited event with all attendance enjoying the opportunity to speak directly with their elected officials.

On Thursday,

we were back at it again with the Florida Outdoor Advertising Association Legislative Panel. This time Representatives Bob Rommel, Persons-Mulika, and I spoke to the FOAA convention about future bills that may impact their industries and how we continue to fight to protect business owners and private individuals alike from intrusive big-government policies in Tallahassee.

What We’re Reading

China-US spot freight rates plunge

Fresh Plaza

Ban on negotiating Medicare drug prices under pressure

Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar

AP News

Save the manatees: Researchers seeking ways to restore, enhance warm water habitats in Florida

Karl Schneider

Naples Daily News

The Song of the Week

This week’s Song of the Week is

“Seminole Wind” by John Anderson

After touring the C-43 Reservoir Project, Team Melo was reminded how much South Florida has changed in such a relatively small amount of time. While we can’t completely undo the environmental mistakes of the past, we can protect what we have left and allow that “Seminole Wind” to continue blowing through the sea of grass we know as the awe-inspiring Everglades.

Have a suggestion for the next Song of the Week? Let us know!

Connect with Me!

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@LaurenMeloFL