FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

BOARD AUTHORIZES BORROWING FOR SANIBEL CAUSEWAY CONSTRUCTION

FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 27, 2004) - The Board of Lee County Commissioners today approved the following items during its regular weekly meeting. They are:

Causeway Costs - Authorized borrowing up to $40 million from the Tax Exempt Commercial Paper Program for construction of the B & C spans of the Sanibel Causeway. The amount will be supplemented with $10 million of surplus tolls (total $50 million). This is a $20 million increase from the initial, albeit conservative estimates of $30 million for the two bridges. A recent dramatic increase in steel prices also is affecting the cost. The county is expected to award construction bids for the two bridges in May and June. Construction will take about 18 months and is expected to be completed by the end of 2005.

Bond Items - Authorized the issuance of $57 million of bonds to pay for the expansion of the Lee County Justice Center Complex. The expansion calls for a 150,000-square-foot addition to the Lee County Justice Center to be built on vacated Heitman Street in downtown Fort Myers with a pedestrian bridge to the SunTrust Building (now owned by the county) and Outdoor Plaza. Also authorized the refinancing of $10 million of Tourist Development Tax bonds first issued in 1989 (and refinanced in 1994) that paid for the Lee County Sports Complex. The refinancing is being done to realize savings from favorable interest rates.

Bayside Park - Awarded the construction manager (Lodge Construction) and maximum price ($956,000) for the Lovers Key Bayside Park and Pedestrian Bridge. The Tourist Development Council is contributing $753,000 of the cost, the City of Bonita Springs $80,000, and the State of Florida $100,000. The pedestrian bridge will be from near New Pass to the beach. The park - across from Lovers Key - will include shelters, restrooms, parking and a playground.

Water Rate Hearing - Accepted a petition from the Greater Pine Island Water Association, Inc. to increase the water system rate structure in its franchise area; and authorized advertising and scheduling a public hearing for May 11, 2004 at 5 p.m. (Commission Chambers downtown) to consider the rate increase. This is a pass-through item because the county is the franchise grantor.

Other:

• Wild Animal Issues - Commissioner Bob Janes asked county staff to come back with some recommendations - possibly at a monthly Management & Planning meeting - for controlling the growing populations of wild peacocks on Pine Island and iguanas on Boca Grande.

• Turn Lane - Accepted the school district's offer to pay for the cost of a turn lane on Bass Road next to Lexington Country Club if the county will pay for a sidewalk that will run from the proposed school site to Summerlin Road. The turn lane is $35,000 and the sidewalk is $33,000. The county will take up the sidewalk issue at next week's meeting, possibly funding from reserves with repayment from the annual sidewalk construction allotment recommended by the Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee. A joint middle school-county park is being built at the southwest corner of Bass and Summerlin. Lexington residents are requesting the turn lane because of fears about traffic back-ups on the two-lane road going into their community.