Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners

As the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season comes to a close, we reflect on a year that truly tested the strength and resilience of our community. With 18 named storms, 11 hurricanes, and 5 major hurricanes, Charlotte County endured significant impacts from Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton, including devastating storm surges. While the season has ended, the journey to recovery continues. Rebuilding takes time, patience, and the unwavering spirit of a community that refuses to give up. We've seen neighbors helping neighbors, teams working tirelessly to restore what’s been lost, and countless acts of hope and determination that remind us of who we are. Together, we are stronger. Together, we are rebuilding. And together, we will rise above any challenge. 💙

Simply thankful for YOU and our slice of paradise! 💙 Gratitude turns ordinary moments into blessings and brings joy to every day. This Thanksgiving, we reflect on the incredible resilience and strength our community has shown throughout the year. We are so thankful for YOU and the kindness, support, and connection that make our community truly special. Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy Thanksgiving filled with love, joy, and happiness in abundance.

Celebrating 325 years of dedication! 🎉 A big shoutout to 22 incredible Charlotte County employees (check out some of their smiling faces here) who have collectively devoted an impressive 325 years to serving our community! We recognized their outstanding commitment with milestones of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 35 years of service. Huge thanks for your invaluable contributions!

Future Leaders in Action! We recently had the privilege of hosting the Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce’s Junior Leadership Charlotte class at our Emergency Operations Center. This impressive group of 28 high school juniors spent the day engaging with local elected officials and learning about key organizations, including the County, the School Board, the Supervisor of Elections, and the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office. During their visit, they got an in-depth look at emergency management, toured the EOC and Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting (ARFF) prop, and even witnessed our ARFF prop plane ignite in flames during firefighter training! It was an honor to share insights about leadership, local government, and disaster response with these future leaders. We hope their experience here inspires them as they prepare to take on the leadership challenges of tomorrow

Congratulations to the 2024 Junior Commissioners class—you did it! 🌟👏 This morning, we celebrated with Charlotte County Public Schools, families, and our team to honor their completion of the program. The greatest gift we can give the next generation is the power to seek solutions. Through this program, high school juniors and seniors got a front-row seat to how local government works, from hosting a mock commission meeting to connecting with county leaders making critical decisions. It’s all about inspiring tomorrow’s leaders to ask “why” and discover the answers that drive change. To our graduates: Whether you're off to college next year or gearing up for senior year, your future is so bright—and your community is lucky to have you. We can't wait to see the incredible impact you’ll make! 💙

Last week, our Junior Commissioners had an action-packed day learning about the many ways our county government works for the community! They hopped on Charlotte County Transit for a curb-to-curb experience, toured the Family Services Center to see how our Human Services department and nonprofits support our community, and explored the East Port Water Reclamation Facility to learn about our water. They even participated in a 'mock' economy with Economic Development. The excitement hit new heights at the Emergency Operations Center, where they toured the EOC and witnessed our ARFF prop plane light up in flames for firefighter training! The day wrapped up at the Supervisor of Elections, where they learned about the election process and cast votes for their favorite ice cream flavor and music artist (an election we can all get behind).

Charlotte County, together with Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership (CHNEP), recently hosted a Climate Vulnerability Assessment Input Meeting. Residents shared their thoughts on how our community can better prepare for the impacts of climate change through a real-time interactive survey. This study will help us identify vulnerabilities and shape future policies and investments to protect our homes, businesses, and neighborhoods. With insights from this study, we aim to understand how changing environmental conditions—like stronger storms and increased flooding—could affect our community. This information, along with other studies by the county, will provide valuable guidance on how we can build a more resilient Charlotte County. The study wraps up in spring 2025, and we want to hear from YOU! Missed the meeting? Take our online survey and share your input at https://lnkd.in/eYNW8FfH.

From classrooms to commission chambers, our Junior Commissioners are making their voices heard! Yesterday, these young leaders stepped behind the dais for their own mock commission meeting, tackling real issues faced by our local government. They've been hands-on in their journey—attending commission sessions, pre-agenda meetings, workshops, and even code enforcement hearings.

We’re lighting up Charlotte County in green to honor our veterans! 💚 By participating in #OperationGreenLight, we’re showing our veterans that they are seen, appreciated, and supported. Join us from Nov. 4-11 in shining a green light to say THANK YOU for their service this Veterans Day! 🇺🇸 Charlotte County Veteran Services is also here year-round to assist veterans and their families in accessing essential services, all free of charge. If you need support or have questions about veteran benefits, reach out to our Veteran Services Office at 941.764.5579.

County Administrator Hector Flores, Deputy County Administrator Emily Lewis and Assistant County Administrator Claire Jubb stopped by our Utilities quarterly employee meeting and appreciation BBQ yesterday to recognize our staff for their exceptional service! Thank you for all that you do!