The Lehigh Acres Municipal Services District Board of Commissioners has approved a Florida Department of Environmental Protection Grant Agreement to be used to begin LAMSID’s C.R.E.S.T. – a forecasted 10-year project aimed towards the creation of new water flows that will ultimately mean cleaner water entering the Caloosahatchee River watershed.
“We received a $1 million grant from FDEP to start the building of our C.R.E.S.T. project in Hendry County. It will not be enough to build out the whole design, so we will need to apply for additional grants in 2022,” District Manager David Lindsay said at a June 21 board meeting. “We will basically have to cut down the design to stay within the million-dollar grant. We also need extra environmental inspections on the property due to a caracara nest on that parcel. The caracara falls under the federally protected species.”
The board also approved a developer’s agreement with Quattrone & Associates on a parcel of land in Meadowbrook South.
“The land consists of 40 acres of wetland, which the developer is donating to LAMSID in return for developmental credits that he can use in other parts of the county where the density is more conducive for building. This wetland area was once separated, and this is the connecting parcel to that land,” Lindsay said.
Commissioners voted in favor of Resolution 2021-04 – a stipend meant to increase the ratio of employees participating in COVID-19 vaccinations. Under the approved resolution each employee would receive a $100 incentive to get vaccinated.
LAMSID also voted 4 to 1 in favor of new legal representation.
“The board approved a General Counsel Contract with Lewis, Longman & Walker. The contract technically has already begun, and their team was in attendance for our last meeting,” Lindsay said.
Other agenda items included a Cell Tower Agreement with Parallel Towers III LLC. The cell phone tower will sit within Harns Marsh, in a section not currently in use. The district plans to use the dedicated funding of $20,000, for one year’s use by a singular carrier to design and manufacture another “Welcome to Lehigh Acres” sign located off Gunnery.
The district manager also presented a 2022-2026 Draft Capital Improvement Plan and a 2022-2026 Draft Strategic Plan, which lists 35 administrative goals in regards to storm-water projects set forth by the district over the next five years.
June 2021 was the last board meeting where Zoom will be available to the public. July’s meeting will be held in person only.
The Lehigh Acres Municipal District’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 19, with a 5 p.m. budget meeting followed by its regular meeting at 6 p.m.
For more information visit http://www.myecwcd.net