Cape Coral pushes back on delay claims as 250-foot flagpole nears completion

Cape Coral is building a 250-foot flagpole near the Cape Coral Bridge that will become the tallest in Florida. The city plans to complete the project by July 3, ahead of a July 4 celebration marking America’s 250th birthday.The project has drawn mixed reactions from residents."I'm excited, yes, I would love to have a big flag to show our nation and what it stands for," said Gabriella Amorso of Cape Coral.Others disagree."I just think that it's not necessary. I'd rather see them do nicer things for the city," said Barbara Stimpson of Fort Myers.Questions about the project's timeline surfaced after a Facebook post claimed the flagpole should have been finished two weeks ago and that the contractor should be fined $1,294 per day for delays.However, the city says the contract's final completion date is July 3."The reality is that the final completion date for this project is July 3rd, and it wouldn't be unless there was an issue with that we would enact any fees or anything," said Melissa Mickey, Cape Coral's communications manager.According to the contract obtained by Gulf Coast News, the contractor was required to reach substantial completion by June 4, but all work must be fully completed by July 3. The contract states liquidated damages of $1,294 per day would apply only if the project is not completed after July 3.In a statement Thursday, the city said the project remains on schedule and that the June 4 substantial completion date does not trigger penalties.If completed on time, the flagpole will debut July 4 as the tallest in Florida.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment, and original programming on your TV.