Florida Governmental Utility Authority's plan to impose water and sewer installation on the residents of Lehigh Acres

Press Release


At 7pm on July 20th, 2005 at the East Lee County Regional Library a meeting will be held to discuss the Florida Governmental Utility Authority's plan to impose water and sewer installation on the residents of Lehigh Acres.

The total cost of this new project, 56 million dollars, to be paid by the residents of Lehigh Acres at a projected cost of about $13,000 to each affected property owner.

The meeting will be held to discuss this project, and the formation of a political action group to fight the FGUA's idea of progress in Lehigh Acres. It's our home, yet we have no say in what happens here. ---- Unless we come together as a community, Lehigh's future will continue to be decided by powerful people who do not live here.


Please join us at the meeting. Lehigh needs you.

Respectfully,

Mike Welch

e-mail: lehighcomputerguy@yahoo.com

Phone: 239-297-9647

Map of Lehigh Acres

Water control district asking residents to adopt a canal, help fight litter along banks

Water control district asking residents to adopt a canal, help fight litter along banks

Problem increasing as population grows

By DON MANLEYDMANLEY@LEHIGHNEWSSTAR.COM Published by lehighnewsstar.com on July 2, 2005

TO PARTICIPATE
Registration forms are available at the East County Water District office, 601 E. County Lane, Lehigh Acres. The office is open from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday,For more information, call the water district at 368-0044.

Water control officials are asking Lehigh Acres residents to roll up their sleeves to combat the litter blighting the banks of the community's 311 miles of canals.The East County Water Control District has created an adopt-a-canal program, which encourages individuals and organizations to clean up a half-mile stretch of canal bank. In turn, the district will post a plaque bearing the name of that person or group at that site.District officials say the trash problem has escalated as Lehigh's population grows.

"Without a doubt there's more incidence of trash on the right of way," said District Manager David Lindsay.He said that because of safety concerns, the volunteers will be asked to clear debris from only the flat areas along the banks. District personnel are responsible for removing debris from the water, Lindsay said.

"Our main problem is trash in the canals, but any trash we can keep off of the top of bank, won't end up in the canals," Lindsay said. "It's one of those maintenance items that we don't get to as often as we'd like. If these crews do a good job, it could relieve us of some of that work."Desmond Barrett, chairman of the district's board of supervisors, said the program was inspired by Lee County's adopt-a-highway program and a similar program at the South Florida Water Management District's Cypress Basin in Collier County.Barrett said a resident's letter complaining of trash-strewn canal banks inspired him to suggest the program in March. It will be a year-long pilot program that will continue if successful.

The maximum cost of the project is $500, with those funds going to things like trash bags, reflective vests and the signs, he said.Barrett said the program will foster pride in the community's appearance and eventually help the district save money.

"What this project will do is empower the people to clear up a minor issue that will turn into a major issue if we don't move forward," he said.