FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

BOARD APPROVES SCHOOL IMPACT FEE UPDATE/REQUESTS BABCOCK BE PLACED ON SFWMD LIST

FORT MYERS, Fla. (November 30, 2004) - The Board of Lee County Commissioners today approved the following items (all decisions were unanimous) during its regular weekly meeting (backup can be viewed at http://www.lee-county.com/meetings/agendafiles/2004/11-30-04/113004/113004.htm). They are:

Impact Fees - Approved a $66,600 contract with James Duncan and Associates to do an update study of Lee County School Impact Fees. The county updates its impact fees - roads, parks, EMS, and schools - every three years on a rotating schedule. School impact fees were established in December 2001.

Babcock Ranch - Approved sending a letter to the South Florida Water Management District that requests the acquisition of Babcock Ranch/Telegraph Swamp be placed on the District's 5-year land acquisition plan. The request is being made for the following reasons:

(1) The project is on the FDEP eligibility list. (2) The project is identified in the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Land Acquisition Plan. (3) Telegraph Swamp has been recognized for nearly 30 years as a critical State resource. (4) Lee County has helped organize a broad based partnership for its acquisition, and has indicated a $40 million commitment for its share, and Charlotte County is part of this partnership. (5) In March, the first meeting of the Partnership was held at the Ranch, SFWMD participated through its Executive Director, and SFWMD offered to lead the negotiations, ultimately securing a 6-month no cost option. (6) Inclusion of Babcock Ranch in the eligible list would help secure the District's position on the Partnership, given the critical role identified for the District in the Letter of Good Faith Cooperation between the District and the Babcock Florida Company.

Lee County staff will be present at the December 8 meeting of the SFWMD Governing Board answer questions about the request.

SFWMD - Agreed to send a letter to the Governor requesting that the vacant position on the SFWMD Governing Board due to Trudi Williams' election to the state House of Representatives be filled by an appointment from Southwest Florida.

Grease Ordinance - Set a January 11, 5 p.m. public hearing to consider a proposed Lee County Grease Ordinance, regulating disposal of grease from food establishments. Wastewater discharges containing high concentrations of fats, oils and grease from restaurants and other food service establishments contribute to more than half of the blockages or sanitary sewer overflows in the Lee County Utilities' wastewater collection system.

Background:

Dating back from 1978, Lee County has adopted various Grease Management rules that are addressed in many separate Grease Management, and Water & Sewer Ordinances. Lee County Utilities and the County Attorney's Office have worked together compiling those Ordinances into one Grease Management Ordinance. Adopting the proposed Grease Management Ordinance will update and consolidate all previous related Ordinances into one comprehensive Grease Management Ordinance. Lee County will also be proactive in complying with the Clean Water Act and cooperating with the Environmental Protection Agency initiative to abate sanitary sewer overflows to protect the public health and quality of surface water.