FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

BOARD APPROVES $31-MILLION SANIBEL CAUSEWAY "C" SPAN CONTRACT

FORT MYERS, Fla. (June15, 2004) - The Board of Lee County Commissioners today approved the following items during its regular weekly meeting (backup can be viewed at, 
http://www.lee-county.com/meetings/agendafiles/2004/06-15-04/061504/061504.htm). They are:

Sanibel Causeway - Approved a guaranteed maximum price of $31.4 million to replace Span C (the fixed bridge closest to Sanibel) of the Sanibel Causeway and construction inspection services in the amount of $1.09 million. The construction manager for the project is Jacobs Construction Services. Substantial completion is estimated at 21 months after commencement with demolition (of existing bridge) and final completion three months after that.

Medical Examiner Contract - Approved a contract with the Medical Examiner, the first of its kind in the state and as a result of an audit last year of the ME's office. The ME's Office budget remains $1,587,876, as adopted last fall, and the contract does not change the budget. Total ME compensation in the contract is $319,000, of which $32,000 will be paid by the two other counties in the district - Hendry and Glades. The amount also includes funding for benefits such as health insurance, retirement, workers compensation and sick/vacation time - payments paid on behalf of workers if they are county employees. A comparable county salary would be $201,615. The ME is a certified medical pathologist and also has responsibilities for managing the ME's Office and testifying in criminal proceedings.

Red Tide Studies - Approved $30,000 to help fund two red tide studies being coordinated by the City of Bonita Springs. The money is coming from tourist tax revenues.

DJJ (Department of Juvenile Justice) Cost Shift - Supported the Florida Association of Counties' efforts to possibly sue the state over its shifting of costs for pre-disposition juvenile detention (about $2.75 million in Lee County) to the counties. FAC believes there are legal grounds to sue the state claiming this is an unconstitutional unfunded mandate because the Florida House of Representatives did not pass the legislation a two-thirds majority.