FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FORT
MYERS, Fla. (August 27, 2002) – The
Board of Lee County Commissioners today approved the following items during its
regular weekly meeting. They are:
Library
Site – Approved the purchase of a
14-acre site at the northwest corner of Bass Road and Gladiolus Drive for the
new Lakes Regional Library. The
cost was $1.265 million. The
library will be 40,000 square feet with the ability to expand to 60,000 square
feet. The architect is Barany
Schmitt Summers Weaver and Partners. Construction
costs are estimated at $10.3 million. For
more information, contact Jim Lavender at 479-8301.
Landscaping
Funds – Added $2 million to next
year’s capital projects budget for roadway landscaping.
If adopted in the final budget in September, the Roadway Landscape
Advisory Committee will recommend a list of projects to be funded.
The county currently spends about $500,000 a year on LeeScape projects.
This cash infusion will increase the level of roadway landscaping in
unincorporated areas by effectively accelerating the LeeScape program by four
years. For more information,
contact Scott Gilbertson at 479-8580.
Internet Policy
– Adopted an Internet-use policy at Lee County Library computers that
includes: (1) requiring valid library card or identification; (2) using
monitoring, filtering and blocking software for designated children’s
computers; (3) strategically positioning children’s computers and adult
computers for appropriate segregation and visibility to staff; (4) developing a
strong enforcement policy for computer misuse; (5) creating web pathfinders to
sites appropriate for children. The
policy does not include filtering or electronic monitoring of adult-use
computers because of constitutional issues.
For more information, contact Cynthia Cobb at 461-2900.
Ambulance Station
– Approved using $225,000 of EMS impact fee funds to help in the construction
of a bay at the proposed Iona-McGregor Fire District Station at South Pointe
Boulevard and College Parkway. The
station will house a county ambulance now in leased space and up to four
emergency vehicles during a hurricane. For
more information, contact Capt. Dave Wheaton at 335-1661.
Road
Study – Approved an agreement with
Dyer, Riddle, Mills and Precourt Inc. engineers to do the environmental and
engineering services required for a Project Development and Environmental
(PD&E) Study of the proposed extension of County Road 951 from Immokalee
Road in Collier County to Alico Road in Lee County.
The PD&E contract is for $2.45 million.
The study will include an expanded public involvement process and
conflict resolution process. The
extension would be about 15 miles and provide a north-south connector running
east of Interstate 75 that would hook into Ben Hill Griffin Parkway and Treeline
Avenue. The PD&E is expected to take three years.
Contact Scott Gilbertson for more information.
Pool Renovation – Approved $106,000 to completely renovate the Pine Island Pool adjacent to Phillips Park. The renovations will take three months to complete and will be done by Aquamarine Swimming Pool Co. For more information, contact John Yarbrough at 461-7410.