Marco Island quickly changes course, will now keep beaches closed

Marco Island quickly changes course, will now keep beaches closed

USING CLOTH FACE COVERINGSPUBLIC TO REDUCE THETRANSMISSION OF COVID-1IN THE SPAN OF LESS THAN 48HOURS, MARCO ISLAND CITYCOUNCIL MEMBERS VOTED TO REOPENTHE BEACHES, THEN THE CITYOVERTURNED THE DECISION AND THEBEACHES ARE BACK CLOSED.THIS COMES AFTER A MASSIVEPUBLIC BACKLASH.FOX 4 REPORTER ROB MANCH ISTHERE FOR US TONIGHT WITH THEDETAILS.((:31 - :34(:50 - :55)INTRO:These beaches here on MarcoIsland are now going to beclosed to the public until theend of the month.It’s a surprise policy reversalfor the city, but today, Italked to one council member whotells me, they’re not going farenough.PKG:City Manager Mike McNees wassurprisingly contrite when wemet outside city hall Wednesday.Mike McNees, Marco Island CityManager:"We apologize for this angstpeople have gone through overthe last couple of days."McNees says council’s decisionto open the beaches to thepublic got an immediate backlashfrom people who live on theisland.Mike McNees, Marco Island CityManager:"I know the council felt likethey were doing something thatwould help take the pressureoff.

It turned out kind of goingthe other way."Erik Brechnitz, Marco IslandCouncil Chairman:"We found out that we wereadding to our residents’ fears,as opposed to calming themdown."Council Chairman Erik Brechnitzsays, after receiving hundredsof emails overnight, he nowrealizes a majority of peoplewant the beaches closed forsafety.Erik Brechnitz, Marco IslandCouncil Chairman:"We’d be stupid not to listento the people who pay the taxeson the island, and so we didwhat was logical to do and werescinded our decision."But even with the public bannedfrom going on the beach, thatdoesn’t stop private citizens.That’s why some city councilmembers think they should goeven farther.Sam Young, City Council Member:"I think... that we close allthe beaches and all common arpools to everybody for at least30 days, and then reassess,until we know that we’vedefinitely, definitively, turnedthe corner on this thing."I asked Brechnitz if he wouldconsider taking those moredraconian steps.Erik Brechnitz, Marco IslandCouncil Chairman:"I’m not prepared to take thatstep just now, but we could."TAG:And the beaches are set toreopen here on Marco Island onApril 30th.That coincides with theexpiration of the Governor’s"Safer at Home" order, butBrechnitz tells me, they couldkeep the beaches closed