Cape Coral

Firefighters controlled a brush fire Monday March 26 in Cape Coral near SW Pine Island Road and Ridge Road. It did not threaten any residents.

The city's popular OwlCam and Eagle- Cam are back online after experiencing some technical problems. Both locations have active birds and can be viewed at www.capecoral.net/wildcams

City fire and police officials continue to stomp for the money to build a new public safety building. The city wants to issue $110 million in bonds to pay for the nearly quarter-million square foot building.

Police Chief Rob Petrovich and Fire Chief Bill Van Helden have been telling audiences across the Cape that they need the new facility and it will make for better fire and police protection citywide.

If the vote is successful on April, 3 homeowners with a home value of $300,000 will pay nearly $130 per year for the building.

City officials will open subcontractor bids for the next phase of the controversial utility expansion program beginning April 6. The Southwest 5 area comes on the heels of the SW-4 area where residents protested charges for water, sewer and irrigation water that exceeded $25,000 for a standard two-lot home site. City officials have said that the SW-5 project will cost less than the previous nearly $100 million utility project.