FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    Pete Winton, Lee County Administration, (941) 335-2777

LEE COMMISSION APPROVES UTILITIES ITEM/CENTER RENOVATION

FORT MYERS, Fla. (February 5, 2002) - The Board of Lee County Commissioners today approved the following items during its regular weekly meeting. They are:

Water Plant Expansion - Approved a contract with Hartman & Associates to provide professional engineering services for the expansion of Corkscrew Water Treatment Plant from a capacity of 10 million gallons per day to 15 million gallons per day. The contract is for $454,389. The cost of the expansion is estimated at $12 million. The county hopes to begin construction later this year and the expansion should take about a year to complete.

Bridge Repairs - Approved a $72,274 contract with Coastal Marine Construction for emergency repairs to the Matlacha Bridge. The repairs are scheduled to begin Feb. 11 and last up to six weeks. All lanes of traffic will remain open during the day. However, on Feb. 11, 12, 13 and 14, the bridge will be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. to allow for certain kinds of repairs. During that time, the EMS helicopter and an ambulance on each side of the bridge will be kept on standby for transporting medical emergencies, and there will be unscheduled openings to traffic during the night when work allows. In December, after an inspection report, Lee DOT posted the Matlacha Bridge for a 15-ton load limit on the recommendation of its consultant.

Center Renovation - Approved a contract with The Chris-Tel Company to renovate the Charleston Park Community Building. The renovation will cost $154,000 and is being paid for with Community Development Block Grant Funds. Renovations will include a range hood and fire suppression system for the kitchen stove, rest room facilities, storage area and computer lab. The project will benefit neighborhood residents and especially the children by providing additional facilities for educational and recreational opportunities.

Hazardous Waste Disposal - Increased the annual contract amount for household hazardous waste collection and disposal services from $258,000 to $375,000. The county contracts with US Liquids of Florida for the services. The increase is due to the increase in participation and expanded collection services. The county holds household hazardous waste collection days every two months and had its most successful collection last May with more than 1,300 cars dropping off 2,400 gallons and 20,000 pounds of materials marked toxic, flammable, corrosive, dangerous, poison, and reactive.