Jan 31, 2006

BOARD DENIES PINE ISLAND STREET VACATION/APPROVES INCINERATOR OPERATING CONTRACT 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (January 31, 2006) At its regular weekly meeting today, the Board of Lee County Commissioners took the following actions: 

Pine Island Denied a petition to vacate Avenue A on Pine Island due to traffic circulation concerns at Pine Island Center.  The petition was to facilitate the combination on both sides of Avenue A for the construction of a Walgreens Drug Store. 

C.R. 951 Approved the acquisition of the "Stock" Development parcel (Trevi Subdivision, 27.6 acres) for $22.5 million for the future extensions of Estero Parkway and County Road 951. 

Garbage Approved a new contract with Covanta to operate and maintain the county's Waste-to-Energy Facility, including the third combustion unit when it is completed.  The new agreement takes the contract to 2024 and is worth about $14 million a year. 

Impact Fees Directed the proposed increase in Fire and EMS impact fees to the following committees and public hearings: 

Executive Regulatory Oversight Committee (EROC): 2/8/06

LDC Advisory Committee (LDCAC): 2/10/06

Local Planning Agency: 2/27/06

First Public Hearing: 3/14/06

Second Public Hearing: 3/28/06 

Lake O Litigation Upon advice of county attorneys, agreed to continue an open dialogue and negotiations with the South Florida Water Management District and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about water quantity and quality from Lake Okeechobee that is adversely impacting the Caloosahatchee River and Estuaries, but preserve the right to pursue legal options if things do not get better.  The County Attorney will continue to research legal avenues and have a strategy in place so the Board can revisit the issue at the end of this coming rainy season. 

Road Widening Approved a $2.3 million design contract with AIM Engineering & Surveying for the widening of Oriz Avenue to four lanes from State Road 82 to State Road 80. 

Park Shelter Approved a contract with Gary Wilkes for a Park Shelter at Caloosahatchee Regional Park, similar to the main lodge at Lakes Regional Park. 

Conservation 20/20 Approved the Powell Creek Preserve and Pop Ash Creek Preserve land stewardship plans.

Printable Version