FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                   

Contact:   Pete Winton, Lee County Administration
                (941) 335-2777           

COMMISSION APPROVES RECYCLING DEAL/PURSUING PROPERTIES

FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 18, 2002) – The Board of Lee County Commissioners today approved the following items during its regular weekly meeting.  They are: 

Recycling – Approved an agreement with Lee Memorial Health System for Lee County’s Solid Waste Division to provide the system’s recycling services for the next five years and establish a comprehensive recycling program for its three hospitals.  Lee Memorial Health System will begin by recycling paper – office paper, cardboard, magazines, etc. – and hopefully later add other recyclables for pick-up.  The county estimates an additional 900 tons a year of recyclables with Lee Memorial’s participation.  The county has a goal of gaining higher participation from businesses in the recycling program, which already has heavy participation from residential households.  This agreement is significant because Lee Memorial Health System is one of the largest local employers.  For more information, contact Lindsey Sampson, 338-3302. 

Landscaping – Awarded construction contract for the Corkscrew Road Landscaping Project to Big Tree Inc. for $209,179.  The landscaping and irrigation project is part of the county’s Roadway Landscape Master Plan (LeeScape) and will run from U.S. 41 to Sandy Lane.  For more information, contact Pat Moore, 694-3334. 

Conservation 2020 – Authorized county staff to pursue the acquisition of four parcels, totaling 884 acres, through the Conservation 2020 Program.  Parcels are: South Fort Myers, south of Gladiolus/east of Hagie Rd. (27 acres); Buckingham, adjacent to Waste-to-Energy Facility (517 acres); North Fort Myers, north of Nalle Grade to Charlotte line (320 acres); and Bonita Springs, south of East Terry/east of I-75 (20 acres).  Nearly 8,000 acres have been purchased through Conservation 2020.  For more information, contact Karen Forsyth, 479-8506. 

Public Hearing – Directed to public hearings on August 13 and 27 a new Blasting Ordinance that increases notification and monitoring requirements, but would not reduce blasting levels.  For more information, contact Bob Stewart, 479-8320. 

Ballot Wording – Approved ballot wording for a proposed ½-cent sales tax for uncompensated emergency services and trauma care costs in the community, should it be placed to referendum after a July 9 public hearing.  For more information, contact David Owen, 335-2236. 

The ballot title and question are as follows: 

REFERENDUM FOR A LEE COUNTY EMERGENCY, TRAUMA AND ESSENTIAL HEALTH CARE ONE-HALF CENTS SURTAX 

SHALL LEE COUNTY ORDINANCE NO. 02-____ BE APPROVED, LEVYING A COUNTYWIDE ONE-HALF CENTS (1/2 ¢) PER DOLLAR SALE SURTAX BEGINNING JAN. 1, 2003, TO FINANCE ESSENTIAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES PURSUANT TO A MEDICAL PLAN FOR QUALIFIED LEE COUNTY RESIDENTS, INCLUDING TRAUMA AND EMERGENCY SERVICES, PRIMARY, PREVENTIVE, HOSPITAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE, AND COMPENSATION TO SERVICE PROVIDERS PER SECTION 212.055(7), F.S., FOR 10 YEARS IF THAT SECTION IS RE-ENACTED BY OCTOBER 1, 2005?

Grant Application – Authorized Sheriff’s Office to apply for a federal grant in the amount of $450,000 for a special unit of six deputies that will monitor sexual offenders and predators residing in Lee County.  A county match of $437,280 is required in fiscal years 2004 and 2005.  For more information, contact Bill Bergquist, 477-1200.