FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Brigitte Kantor, Lee County Solid Waste, (239) 338-3302

COUNTY GETTING DEBRIS REMOVAL HELP FROM CORPS OF ENGINEERS

FORT MYERS, Fla. (September 2, 2004) - Lee County is receiving help from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with debris removal.

County Commission Vice Chairman Doug St. Cerny signed an emergency resolution this morning that will allow Corps personnel to go onto private roads and along private property to help the county in the pickup of horticultural and construction & demolition debris.

The emergency resolution requires a Board member's signature in the absence of a full commission meeting. Chairman John Albion currently is out of town.

The Corps is not seeking reimbursement for its equipment or manpower.

The help comes at an opportune time as the county is speeding its debris removal efforts to get as much off the streets before any effects of Hurricane Frances are felt. It also will help in the aftermath of Frances.

As of the end of the day Monday, the county had collected 222,764 cubic yards of debris. That amount is estimated now to be well over 250,000 cubic yards even though collection was hampered some Tuesday and Wednesday with late afternoon thunderstorms and bad lightning.

For daily updates of the county's debris removal efforts, including what neighborhoods the county is in and frequently asked questions, go to http://www.lee-county.com/debris/default.htm on the Internet, or monitor your local media.