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Board Oks Pet Sterilization Unit & Boomer Estate Purchase
Mar 15, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Pete Winton, Lee County Administration
FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 15, 2005) - The Board of Lee County Commissioners today approved the following items during its regular weekly meeting. All decisions were unanimous. They are: Spay/Neuter Bus - Approved the purchase of a Mobile Sterilization and Adoption Bus for Animal Services from LaBoit Inc. for $227,550. The bus allows Animal Services to institute a progressive program of mobile sterilization for domestic cats and dogs, primarily in economically challenged areas of the county. Boomer Estate - Approved the sale/purchase option agreement for the county and state's joint acquisition of the 100-acre Boomer Estate in Estero. The cost is $14.5 million and will be split between the county and state. The property will be a preserve. Manatee Speed Zones - Approved the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's proposed rule changes for Manatee speed zones in Lee County, which mirror the Local Rule Review Committee's recommendations except in two areas - the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River (state rule: shore to shore slow speed zone), and Matlacha Pass (state rule: slow speed zone outside 25-mph channel). Water Quality - Appointed Commissioner Ray Judah as liaison to the South Florida Water Management District, especially on water quality projects and the C-43 reservoir. Current plans for the reservoir do not incorporate the originally envisioned water treatment components for pollutant load reductions. With county-funded red tide research indicating that nutrient runoff is a major contributor, and with recent Manatee deaths attributed to red tide, the water quality parts of the project are important. The Board will discuss the issue at its April Management & Planning workshop, including the potential for litigation if its concerns are not addressed. Fire/EMS Station - Approved Lodge Construction as the construction manager for the Trailhead Public Safety Station, located at the intersection of Shoemaker Lane and Shoemaker Boulevard. This is a joint project with the City of Fort Myers. The 13,000-square-foot facility will house Lee EMS and Fort Myers Fire Department stations. The county is contributing $1.5 million and the city is putting in $1.5 million ($1 million land value plus $500,000). The city will maintain the facility. Debris Removal - Approved $300,000 for Marine Contracting Group to provide debris removal for the islands and water bodies in and surrounding Lakes Park. Approved $495,000 for Crowder Gulf to collect and transport demolition debris from Upper Captiva. Conservation 20/20 - Approved up to $500,000 for Ronald W. Klebart to remove exotic trees from Conservation 20/20 sites, primarily the Caloosahatchee Creeks Preserve, which will be the first site fully opened to public access. IDA bonds - Approved the issuance of $16.63 million of Industrial Development Revenue Bonds (tax exempt financing) for North Fort Myers Utilities to expand its central wastewater plant by 3.5 million gallons per day capacity. The county authorizes the issuance but is not liable for repayment. Impact Fees litigation - Approved an additional $100,000 to the purchase order for Nabors, Giblin & Nickerson law firm as special trial counsel in Brown, et al. v. Lee County, which is the school impact fee litigation. |