FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

BOARD WAIVES PARK/BOAT RAMP/POOL FEES FOR TWO WEEKENDS IN JULY, APPROVES EMERGENCY DECLARATION, BROWNFIELDS,
TRANSFER STATION, WATER/SEWER REFUNDING BONDS, HOMELAND SECURITY, SENIOR AIDES

FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 24, 2003) - The Board of Lee County Commissioners today approved:

Park Fees - Approved a resolution proclaiming July as National Parks and Recreation Month. The Board also waived parking fees at all Lee County regional parks and boat ramps, and pool entrance fees on the weekends of July 19th and 20th and July 26th and 27th.

Emergency Declaration - Continued a "State of Local Emergency" due to flooding for seven days until the next Board meeting.

Brownfields - Approved the Lee County Brownfield Community Redevelopment Program, which provides for a process to assist qualifying landowners in obtaining designations and approvals as Brownfields. Brownfields are environmentally contaminated sites, typically industrial and commercial properties, that are prevented from expansion or redevelopment unless there is cleanup. The program will provide guidance to landowners and businesses to clean up contaminated property as part of the county's growth management strategy.

Transfer Station - Approved a lease agreement with the Lee County Fisherman's Cooperative, Inc. for the county's use of a portion of the Co-op site for transfer of solid waste from the Outer Bridgeless Islands (Upper Captiva, Cabbage Key, Cayo Costa, Useppa). The Board authorized a five-year lease with the Fisherman's Cooperative for $49,800 a year.

Water and Sewer Refunding Bonds - Accepted receipt of $60.7 million in bond proceeds from the Water and Sewer Refunding Revenue Bond Series 2003A and for the receipt of $8.7 million of bond proceeds from the Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds Series 2003B, to purchase and make improvements to the Gulf Environmental Services water and sewer utility. The Board previously approved a resolution to market the bonds and the bonds were sold on June 3. The bond closing is expected to occur on June 30.

Homeland Security - Authorized grant application for a $295,288 (25% county match) from the COPS Homeland Security Overtime Program. The program grants funds to local and state law enforcement agencies for homeland security efforts. The Lee County Sheriff's Office will be applying for training courses designed to assist in the prevention of acts of terrorism and reacting to violent crimes involving an active shooter.

Senior AIDES - Approved an agreement with the Dr. Ella Piper Center to continue in the Senior AIDES Project. The program provides on-the-job training to limited income seniors 55 years and older. The federal government pays the workers' salaries and benefits. The Senior AIDES improve their skills and professional development by working in various county departments. They can work with the county for up to two years. The county benefits by having additional help to get work done. The seniors benefit by getting valuable on-the-job experience.