Dear Editor,

Citizens is inspecting just about every home in the state. Citizens, the State Run Insurance carrier writes most of the Windstorm Coverage along the coast. If you haven’t been called to schedule an appointment for an inspection you most likely will.

Here are some tips so you can be ready for your inspection.

1. If possible your agent should be present. The inspectors can sometimes be lazy and they will not go out of their way to access your attic. They are not allowed to unscrew or pull nails out of hatches.
2. If your agent can’t be there your contractor could be helpful.
3. If you have plans for the home or bills, invoices or proposals from your roofer showing the details of your roof it can be a great help. Also any information you have on your Hurricane Shutters or Impact windows should be available.

If the Inspector cannot get into your attic to see your hurricane Clips or the nailing pattern of your roof deck you probably will lose all your Mitigation Credits unless your plans show these things.

It could cost you thousands if you lose some of your valuable credits.
 
Nat Italiano
Italiano Insurance Services, Inc.
Boca Grande

To the Editor:

Last week the Beacon published a letter from Cookie Potter Feinberg discussing GIBA’s decision to send out an opinion survey regarding possible ad-valorem taxes levied to support the financing of our new bridges.  

In the letter she claims “there was one very important detail missing” with respect to the tax, misquoting the “bond specialist” in saying “the tax needs to be in effect for 30 years … even if the bonds are paid off before that time.”

To the Editor:

The opinion survey distributed by GIBA asking for a preferred split between taxes and tolls to finance the bridge replacement reflects the bias of a board which favors taxation. Voters who believe that users of the bridge should pay for the bridge based solely on their usage had to say NO to both the .30 and .55 mil options. There was no line to indicate the respondent’s preference for a zero mil tax increase, even though that is an option discussed in GIBA’s accompanying letter and chart.  Hopefully in November the ballot can be made clearer.

From all of us to all of you:    
    

We at Team Hudson’s are grateful to all of you who helped make this year another successful one for Relay For Life. Your generous contributions and purchases at our bake sales, cookouts and annual all-night relay made it possible for our team to reach the Platinum Level by raising over $22,000 for the American Cancer Society. Thanks, too, go to our loyal customers, island workers and friends who - every day - donated change and cash at our store checkout counter to support our cause: “Less Cancer and More Birthdays!”