FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Pete Winton, Lee County Administration
               (239) 335-2777

BOARD APPROVES BLASTING RESTRICTION

FORT MYERS, Fla. (January 13, 2004) - The Board of Lee County Commissioners today approved the following items during its regular weekly meeting. They are:

Blasting - Approved an emergency ordinance lowering development blasting levels from peak particle velocity (PPV) of 0.50 inches per second to 0.30. The new ordinance takes effect Wednesday in unincorporated areas except for Winker Road Extension. In December, the Board agreed to extend a moratorium on blasting in the Winkler Road Extension area, but not expand the moratorium to other unincorporated areas. The Winkler Road Extension moratorium is for 90 days while county attorney's draft ordinance options to further limit blasting or prohibit altogether. The Winkler Road Extension moratorium remains in effect.

Impact Fees - Requested county staff work with the School District to fashion an agreement for the District receiving some of the $36 million in school impact fees that have been collected since December 2001 but held up because of litigation over the fees. The county is collecting about $5 million a quarter from the fees. Staff will report back to the Board in two weeks with options.

Military Duty - Amended the county's administrative code relating to contractor licenses approved by the Construction Licensing Board. Added a provision to assist applicants affected by active duty service in the United States Armed Forces by establishing a grace period to obtain a Certificate of Competency. A related provision will also provide a grace period to already licensed contractors for the annual license renewal if

the contractor is on active duty.

In other business:

Dunbar Shopping Center - The county was unsuccessful in its bid to purchase the Dunbar Shopping Center (Topps Plaza) at foreclosure auction. The county bid $1,950,001 but the mortgage holder bid $2 million.