FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                   

Contact:  Roland Ottolini, Lee County Natural Resources

               (239) 479-8127

UPCOMING PUBLIC WORKSHOP TO DISCUSS STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ISSUES

FORT MYERS, Fla. (October 1, 2003) - Lee County will host a stormwater management public workshop Wednesday, Oct. 15 to discuss stormwater management problems, issues, needs and potential solutions.

The county is encouraging interested citizens to attend.  It will be from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the County Commission Chambers of the Old County Courthouse, 2120 Main Street in downtown Fort Myers.

With support from the South Florida Water Management District, Lee County has engaged the services of engineering firm URS Corporation to conduct a Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study.  An important component of the study is to the needs and desires of the community.

In the upcoming workshop, URS and Lee County representatives will meet with citizens and community activists in a public session to discuss and define the community's perceived current and future stormwater management needs, the extent to which current programs are meeting those needs, and the role that a stormwater utility could play in meeting these needs.  The workshop will be divided into three separate segments:

5:30-6:30 - OPEN SESSION - Examine the exhibits, learn about Lee County's current stormwater program and services, receive a survey questionnaire, talk with the project team members, document your stormwater problems, and ask questions.

6:30-7:30 - STORMWATER MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP         

• LEE COUNTY'S CURRENT STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM - Review of the stormwater issues the county currently faces, including the regulatory requirements for Total Maximum Daily Loads and non-point source pollution control on the problems -presented by Roland Ottolini, Lee County's Director of Natural Resources

• WHAT CAN A STORMWATER UTILITY DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY? - An overview of what a stormwater utility is, the types of problems a utility can solve, and the benefits that a utility could provide - presented by Steve Lienhart, URS Project Manager.

• WHAT ARE OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS AND PRIORITIES? - A facilitated discussion with audience members of Lee County's stormwater management needs opportunities and priorities.

7:30-8:00 - OPEN SESSION - Examine the exhibits, learn about Lee County's current stormwater program and services, return survey questionnaires, talk with the project team members, document your stormwater problems, and ask questions.  

For more information about the workshop or the Feasibility Study, please contact: Roland Ottolini, Director, Lee County Division of Natural Resources, 239.479.8108, Ottolire@leegov.com.