FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                   

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

COMMISSION MOVES FORWARD WITH TOLL PLAZA RENOVATIONS/UTILITIES CUSTOMER SERVICE BUILDING

FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 9, 2002) – The Board of Lee County Commissioners today approved the following items during its regular weekly meeting.  They are: 

Toll Plaza Renovations – Approved a memorandum of understanding with the Florida Department of Transportation to receive a $1 million interest-free loan from the Toll Facilities Revolving Trust Fund.  The money will be used to design the rehabilitation of the Sanibel Causeway Toll Facility.  The Cape Coral Parkway Toll Facility also will be rehabilitated ($500,000 design funds to be received later this year).  Construction of the projects is scheduled for 2004. 

The canopy at both facilities will be redesigned and the plazas will be designed to allow for electronic toll collections for all lanes (express lanes) and video enforcement systems.  The roadway portion of the Sanibel facility will be hardened or raised to provide additional resistance to potential flooding.  The administration building at the facility also will be relocated to allow for a better traffic circulation pattern and may possibly be located above the toll structure.  No new lanes will be added with the renovations.  Construction costs are estimated at $4.5 million for the Sanibel plaza and $2.5 million for the Cape Coral Parkway Plaza.  For more information, contact Amy Davies at 479-8589. 

Utilities Building – Awarded the construction management contract for a new Customer Service Facility for Lee County Utilities at the site of the current facility, 7401 College Parkway.  The construction manager is Gary Wilkes Inc.  The contract includes a new, 5,300-square-foot building with a drive-thru facility for customers to pay bills.  The cost is $829,000.  For more information, contact Patty DiPiero at 479-8534. 

Tax Collector – Awarded the construction management contract for the renovation of the first floor of the Lee County Constitutional Complex to Casey Construction.  The $1.3-million of renovations to the Tax Collector’s area will provide for improved customer service and efficiency, and include reconfiguration and/or installation of new architectural, structural, plumbing, mechanical, fire protection, electrical, telecommunications and security systems.  The area is about 28,000 square feet.  The funds will come from existing fees and savings in employee positions.  For more information, contact the Tax Collector. 

Water Management – Approved sending a letter to the South Florida Water Management District requesting that the proposed widening of the county line canal be increased to 90 feet to deal with regional flooding issues.  The canal runs along the county line between Lee and Hendry counties from the Caloosahatchee River to the four corners where Lee, Hendry, Charlotte and Glades counties meet.  The canal is proposed to be widened to 60 feet.  The letter also will request that the “Four Corners” Water Management Study be completed.  For more information, call Roland Ottolini at 479-8127.