Feb 22, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COUNTY URGES SANIBEL TO DEDICATE WITHHELD SURPLUS TO LOWERING TOLLS

FORT MYERS, Fla. (February 22, 2005) - The Board of Lee County Commissioners today sent a letter to the City of Sanibel urging the city to dedicate its October 2004 Surplus Toll Revenues to lowering tolls in a proposed settlement agreement.

The city will take up the issue at an executive session Wednesday. Here is the text of the letter sent to the Sanibel City Council:

Dear Mayor Harrity and Council Members:

At our regular meeting this morning, the Board expressed its continued interest in resolving our lawsuit, and is again strongly urging that at its "Executive Session" meeting tomorrow afternoon, the City consider applying the City's October, 2004 Surplus Toll proceeds to the reduction of the Junior Lien Debt for the Sanibel Bridges Project in order to reduce the Sanibel Discount Program costs.

Both the City and the County have clearly articulated their desire to reduce the tolls for the Sanibel Bridges and Causeway and in particular, the Sanibel Discount Program in order to provide some financial relief for not only Sanibel residents but also the general public utilizing the Sanibel Discount Program options.

This simple gesture of good faith on the part of the City of Sanibel by contributing its October, 2004 Surplus Toll Revenues to the reduction of the costs for the Sanibel Discount Program is not only consistent with that articulated objective, but also makes good business sense for its residents and merchants.

Please join the County's already-contributed Surplus Toll funds by committing the October, 2004 Surplus Toll Revenues to reducing the Junior Lien Debt, from now until 2010 for this first step in toll relief for our constituents.

Also, in order for our Board to formally respond further in our negotiations, we are respectfully requesting that the City revise the filing date for the Settlement Agreement and Motion to at least March 1, 2005 or later, inasmuch as the new City Council will not be seated until Tuesday, March 15th.

I continue to be hopeful that we may be able to resolve our differences in the next week or so, and proceed in a manner that will be of benefit to all of the traveling public using the Sanibel Toll Facilities.

We look forward to Sanibel's thoughts on this matter as the result of your meeting tomorrow.

Cordially,

Douglas R. St. Cerny, Chairman

Lee County Board of County Commissioners

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