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Board Directs Water Basin Study/Approves
Feb 15, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Pete Winton, Lee County Administration BOARD DIRECTS WATER BASIN STUDY/APPROVES PARKS, LIBRARIES ITEMS FORT MYERS, Fla. (February 15, 2005) - The Board of Lee County Commissioners today approved the following items during its regular weekly meeting. They are: Basin Study - Requested the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council study the pros and cons of pursuing legislation and/or a resolution from the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to: 1. Extend the boundaries of the Big Cypress Basin (in Collier County) to include all of Lee County. 2. Create a separate basin altogether for Lee County. Report their findings back to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners. Background: The South Florida Water Management District is a regional agency of the State of Florida, and is charged with managing and protecting water resources of the region. The District's boundaries cover 16-counties - extending from central Florida to Lake Okeechobee and from coast to coast, from Fort Myers to Fort Pierce, south through the sprawling Everglades to the Florida Keys and Florida Bay. Chapter 373, Florida Statutes, is the "Florida Water Resources Act of 1972" and commonly known as the Water Management District Act, which has been frequently amended by the Legislature. Article VII, Section 9 of the Florida Constitution, sets a cap for millage for water management at 1 mill. Subsection 373.0693, Florida Statutes, sets forth the creation of subdistricts or basin boards by resolution of the Governing Board of the Water District. In 1976, the Legislature authorized the Governing Board of the South Florida Water Districts to change boundaries, but not abolish the existing Big Cypress Basin (Collier County). The remainder of the SFWMD was designated as the Okeechobee Basin. The Governing Board of the SFWMD may change the boundaries of the Okeechobee Basin or may subdivide into smaller basins. Yet, the basin may not be enlarged to include the area within the initial boundaries of the Big Cypress Basin. However, they can alter the Big Cypress Basin, and they can create a Southwest Florida or Caloosahatchee River Basin. In Chapter 373, F.S., the Legislature has determined that all parts of Florida will be in one of five water management districts, and has established that the Governor appoints governing boards and confirmed by the Senate. The Executive Director is also a Governor's appointment. The current SFWMD millage for the Okeechobee District (the one that Lee County is in) is .697 mills, applied to an estimated Table role of $53 billion = tax revenue of $36.9 million. The District millage has two components - the Everglades Construction at 0.1 mills, and the Okeechobee Basin at .5970 mills. The Big Cypress Basin millage is .5265 mills. So the revenue from that is $27.9 million, which is about $9 million less ($18 per person). The greater part of the Cypress Basin's millage is set by the SFWMD Governing Board, but is set lower than the overall District's. The Big Cypress Basin maintains many works in the Big Cypress. The Okeechobee Basin maintains many works in all the other counties EXCEPT Lee County and a lesser extent in Glades and Hendry Counties (but both have some drainage or water supply canals). Lee County has few work projects, yet we provide 8% of the Water District's millage based on income. Our only "work" project is C-43, Caloosahatchee River from the east to the Franklin Locks. Libraries - Approved a contract with Casey Construction to be the construction manager for Northwest Regional Library, which will be built at Mariner High School. Also, approved $768,982 for furniture, fixtures and equipment at Lakes Regional Library, which will open this summer. Lakes Regional is located at Bass Road and Gladiolus Drive. Matlacha Park - Approved a resolution of necessity for the acquisition and condemnation of three adjacent parcels to expand Matlacha Park for recreational uses. Streetlighting - Approved an agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation for Lee County to maintain new roadway lighting on Metro Parkway from Six Mile Cypress to Daniels Parkway. |