Klauber: Colony needs to see the light

The Colony Beach & Tennis Resort is now in compliance with Longboat Key’s turtle-lighting ordinance, Code Enforcement Officer Heidi Micale told the Code Enforcement Board at its meeting today.

But Murf Klauber, owner and chairman of the Colony told town staff and board members that although he appreciates their efforts to help sea turtles, he worries that lighting restrictions could put his guests in danger.

According to Klauber, the resort has many young children as guests who often play outdoors after dark, and some elderly guests have trouble finding their vehicles in the dark.

“I would challenge you people to come down and help me run a business and protect the people who are there, or I turn the liability over to the town,” Klauber said.

Town officials met with Colony staff twice in the past month to bring the property into compliance after the property received a violation that was discussed at the Code Enforcement Board’s June meeting. At today’s meeting, the Colony received an administrative fee of $1,045 for town staff time.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].