FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

BOARD LIFTS BUILDING MORATORIUM/APPROVES CONTINUING TOLL EXEMPTIONS FOR RECOVERY VEHICLES

FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 24, 2004) - The Board of Lee County Commissioners today approved the following items during its weekly meeting:

State of Local Emergency - Extended the state of local emergency already in place for another seven days as the county continues its post-disaster recovery from Hurricane Charley.

Building Moratorium - Lifted the moratorium on new construction permit issuance that had been put in place last week (for five business days). The moratorium freed up resources for damage assessment and emergency (reconstruction) permitting. All intake now is being accepted at the permitting center, including new permit requests, zoning and development order intake.

Toll Exemptions - Continued exemptions for identifiable hurricane recovery vehicles from tolls on the Midpoint and Cape Coral bridges, and Sanibel Causeway. Identifiable means vehicle markings or some form of agency identification. The Cape and Midpoint bridges exemption last to Sep. 8 at 12:01 a.m. The Sanibel Causeway exemption lasts to Sep. 15 at 12:01 a.m. The exemption only is for recovery vehicles, not regular business or personal usage.

Debris Reminder - Debris from Hurricane Charley should be separated between horticultural (yard waste) and construction & demolition. It does not have to be bundled or cut to length, and there is no additional charge for pickup. The county is putting in place more resources for debris pick-up.