A most important part of the history of the Villages at Country Creek occurred in the last half of 1999–the process of turning over board control to the community. C&S Town Homes created nine voting districts, and a representative from each district was elected to the board. Those representatives were seated at a turnover meeting in November 1999. Bob Selby was elected as first Master Board president; Gene Hirsch, vice president; Jack Blackburn, secretary, and Wimp Moyer, treasurer. Other board members were Bill Martin, Golf Committee; George Falber, Frank Binka, Architectural Committee; Bob Spurlock, Finance Committee, and Ed Eisele, Common Ground Committee.
In those last months of 1999, the Board met every two weeks. Their first order of business was to review the financial status of the community with a plan to conduct a complete audit from 1987 to 1999 and to create a budget for fiscal year 2000. This would begin a new chapter, decade, and century for the independent community.
That audit reduced the book entry of $424,367 (developer loan) to $185,000, paid for by US Home. Thus, US Home’s officers, Dean McMurray and Joe Grimes, offered the community closeout with no debt. It was with Helen Sarver and the S&S Management staff’s support that the transition went so smoothly. The first annual meeting under community board control was held March 27, 2000.
The new board of directors initiated clubhouse improvements beginning with the air conditioning system, new wallpaper, furniture, carpet and tile, repair and upgrading of the roof, and purchase of a convection oven for the restaurant. They purchased a stair-stepper for the fitness room, and Channel 11 got a new computer, telephone line, air conditioner outlet and return air opening.
Kay Kolb kept CCTV current. Cas Obie was editor of the Villager and chaired the Communications Committee. His editorial staff included Gene Hirsch, Jeanette Holthofer, Kay Kolb, Mary Ann Moyer, Barry Rohde, Bob Spurlock, Char Suessman, and Peg Valleskey.
That first year, the board considered the Chelsea golf reservation system but it was voted down. Also in 2000, the Estero Civic Association named Eileen Galvin 1999 Person of the Year. Ed Lewis was cast in Inherit the Wind with the Naples Players. Ed and Gert Lewis were named the “2000 Man and Woman of the Year” by the Estero Civic Association.
The Men’s Golf Association added a new division–the Super Seniors, later renamed the Country Creakers. Men’s club champion in 2000 was Dick Oelkers; Ladies club champion was Pat Immonen.
By then, the location of Estero and Villages of Country Creek boasted the convenience of many major facilities. Southwest Florida International Airport was located only 15 minutes away. Florida Gulf Coast University, founded in 1991, was only ten minutes away. Newly built was the region’s largest sports arena, 7000 seat Germain Arena, home of the minor league Florida Everblades hockey team. Nearby, Miromar Outlets Mall had opened on October 28,1998. The improved Corkscrew Road was officially opened with a ribbon cutting in August 2000.
Estero’s core community encompassed 26 square miles and had 13 golf courses, but most of the early growth had been residential. However, by the end of 2000, Estero’s commercial corridors, US 41 and Corkscrew Road, began to see tremendous commercial growth. The first major Estero commercial development was the Hyatt Coconut Point Resort. Estero became one of the fastest growing areas in the United States.
Meanwhile, the Villages at Country Creek, where the Estero River wound its way through to the estuary at Koreshan State Park, remained an oasis in the midst of the Estero growth around it. With all the challenges and changes, it remains so today.
A most important part of the history of the Villages at Country Creek occurred in the last half of 1999–the process of turning over board control to the community.
