FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Pete Winton, Lee County Administration
              (239) 335-2777

BOARD OKs ROADS RESURFACING/ALLOCATES MONEY TO DRIVERS ED

FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 17, 2003) - The Board of Lee County Commissioners today approved:

Shoulder Resurfacing - Awarded a road shoulder-resurfacing contract for 13 miles of roads countywide to Better Roads Inc. Total cost is $533,425 to be completed within six months. Shoulder resurfacing projects will take place on the following roads: Pritchett Parkway; Cemetery Road; Olga Road; 12th St. West; E. 10th St.; Homestead Road; and Williamson Road.

Drivers Education Program - Approved an agreement with the Lee County School Board to use $41,428 from the Dori Slosberg Fund to enhance school driver education programs. The Florida Legislature passed the Dori Slosberg Driver Safety Education Act in 2002 and the county adopted an ordinance that mandated an additional $3 assessment with each civil traffic penalty issued within Lee County to generate the revenue to fund this project. Funds must be used to enhance school driver education programs in public and/or nonpublic schools.

Charleston Park Community Office Space - Deeded property located at 23051 Avenue D to the Charleston Park Improvement Association.

Background: The Department of Human Services owns a home located at 23051 Avenue D, Alva Florida. The house was acquired and rehabilitated using Community Development Block Grant funds. The department has attempted to sell this property to a low-income homeowner without success. The Charleston Park Improvement Association has expressed the need for space in the neighborhood to use for administrative offices and/or space for not-for-profit providers to deliver services to neighborhood residents. A partnership was formed between the Department of Human Services, the Charleston Park Improvement Association, and the United Way of Lee County. Human Services intends to deed the property over to the Charleston Park Improvement Association, and the improvement Association intends to lease space located at 23051 Avenue D to the United Way of Lee County. The United Way of Lee County will utilize the space for providers such as the Senior Friendship Center to provide congregate meals for area seniors, and other service providers interested in bringing services to the residents of the Charleston Park Community. The United Way will lease the building from the Charleston Park Improvement Association providing revenue for the Association to pay for utilities, insurance and maintenance.

Transmission Line Hearing - Notified the Administrative Law Judge and all parties of the county's desire to have a public hearing here in Lee County regarding Florid Power & Light's application for the Collier-Orange River #3 - 230 kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Project.

Background: FPL has made application under the "Transmission Line Siting Act" to locate the line from the FPL Orange River substation in Lee County to the Collier substation located near Naples. As part of the statutory process, Lee County is afforded the option of requesting that the judge hold a public hearing here. Taking this action will assure the public has an opportunity to comment on the proposed project.