FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

BOARD APPROVES LEEWAY AGREEMENT/WATER PLANT EXPANSION CONTRACT

FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 18, 2004) - The Board of Lee County Commissioners today approved the following items during its regular weekly meeting. They are:

LeeWay Interoperability - Approved an agreement between LeeWay (electronic/discount tolls) and Sunpass and Epass to recognize each other's Electronic Toll Collection Programs. Beginning June 1, the programs will be compatible so LeeWay users can use their transponders for virtually every other toll road in Florida's Turnpike System. Don't wait for the last minute to have your transponder reprogrammed. It only takes 15 seconds. For your convenience, the LeeWay Service Center's (1366 Colonial Boulevard) test lane is self service and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Corkscrew Water Plant - Approved a guaranteed maximum price of $9.12 million for the construction contract to expand Corkscrew Water Treatment Plant from a capacity of 10 millon gallons a day to 15 mgd). The construction manager for the project is Earth Tech.

School Hurricane Shelter - Approved a $435,000 construction contract with Westco Builders of Florida to make Colonial Elementary a hurricane shelter.

Conservation 20/20 - Authorized pursing for acquisition four parcels totaling 500 acres for the Conservation 20/20 program.

Property for School - Approved an agreement transferring 15 acres at the proposed South Fort Myers Community Park to the School District to be used for a new middle school. The District paid $804,000. The site is at the southwest corner of Bass and Summerlin roads.

Blasting - Requested staff research and bring back next week any adjustments to the emergency blasting ordinance required to allow the three active permits -- Heron's Glen, Gulf Coast Town Center, and the Habitat - to complete their projects.

Resolutions - Presented resolutions for National Public Works Week and EMS Week, and to Fiesta Village Wastewater Treatment Plant (award for top wastewater treatment plant in the state) and Smart Growth Director Wayne Daltry (elected a "Fellow" of the American Institute of Certified Planners).