FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

BOARD APPROVES EMS STATION/FIREARMS TRAINING SITE

FORT MYERS, Fla. (December 16, 2003) - The Board of Lee County Commissioners today approved (all votes were unanimous) the following items during its regular weekly meeting. They are:

Bond Refinancing - Gave the go-ahead to refinance $43.4 million of bonds originally issued in 1995 to finance the construction of the Midpoint Memorial Bridge. The action also included a "delegating resolution" that allows the Chairman or Vice Chairman to sign the bond purchase agreement when the bonds are sold without having to reconvene the County Commission. The county expects a savings of about $2.7 million from the refinancing. The county will look to refinance $44.2 million of remaining bonds issued to build the bridge when market conditions show an appropriate savings.

EMS Station - Entered into a lease agreement with Worthington Holdings Southwest, LLC for 1.34 acres of vacant land on Treeline Avenue about a quarter mile north of Daniels Parkway to locate a new EMS station. The lease cost is $1 a year. The station is needed to meet growth.

Center Renovation - Awarded a construction management contract for $566,158 to Gary Wilkes Inc. for the renovation of the Alva Community Center and construction of additional parking.

Water Plant Expansion - Approved a guaranteed maximum price of $8.76 million to construction manager Earth Tech A Tyco International LTD for the expansion of the Corkscrew Water Treatment Plant from 10 million gallons per day (mgd) to 15 mgd and construction of a storage tank facility that will interconnect to both Corkscrew and the Green Meadows Water Treatment Plant.

Lands Reimbursement - Approved the Florida Communities Trust Grant Award Agreement and Grant Award Calculation for a grant award in the amount of $3,190,012 for the Conservation 20/20 San Carlos Bay-Bunche Beach Preserve. This reimburses Conservation 20/20 program funds for 50 percent of eligible acquisition costs of the San Carlos Bay-Bunche Beach Preserve.

Gun Range Agreement - Approved an interlocal and lease agreement with the Lee County Mosquito Control District to build the Lee County Gun Range (operated by the Lee County Sheriff's Office) on district property. The lease agreement is for approximately 7.35 acres of land located in the southeast corner of the Lee County Mosquito Control District's property in the Buckingham area of East Lee County. The term of the lease is for a period of 30 years, with the option to renew for an additional 30-year term, at a cost of $1 a year. Lee County will construct, maintain, and operate the firearms training facility in cooperation with the Lee County Sheriff's Office.