County approves program for those who are homeless
The Lee County Board of County Commissioners approved a $1.9 million plan to address homelessness at their most recent meeting. The program provides families with sheltering in a local hotel until a permanent housing unit is available. Finding permanent housing can take 30 days, on average.
In addition to temporary sheltering, families will be provided with case management, basic living needs, supportive services, and connection to permanent housing. The program will be administered by either a currently contracted nonprofit Rapid Rehousing provider or internally by the Department of Human and Veteran Services according to information provided by Lee County Assistant County Manager Marc Mora. The program will operate for up to one year or until all funds are exhausted. A minimum of 69 households with children under 18 and 27 adult households are projected to be placed in permanent housing through the program.
“This is a national issue,” said Commissioner Ray Sandelli. “It’s a big step for us depending on the direction we go in but I like when we can lead the way.” He said he is concerned about the sustainability but would “rather try to move it along and see if we can make this thing work.”
Commission Chair Kevin Ruane, said he would like to brainstorm with Mora on more longer-term options though he supports the proposal. Mora said he would be reaching out to agencies such as The Salvation Army to help.
Commissioner Frank Mann, and Sandelli both thanked Commissioner Brian Hamman for leading on pushing a response to the homeless response.
“This is a bold but necessary step,” Mann said. “How can we continue to look the other way?”
Hamman said “We have no other choice right now but to help these folks out.”
Spending
In other business, the commissioners approved several spending projects, including $23.27 million for the widening of Corkscrew Road for phase one of an estimated $52 million total cost.
The contract for the widening of Corkscrew Road in Estero was awarded to Fort Myers-based Cougar Contracting LLC. The two-lane undivided road will be widened to a four-lane divided arterial road from Ben Hill Griffin Parkway to Bella Terra Boulevard. This project also includes relocation of potable water, reuse and force main. This is the first of two phases for the widening of Corkscrew Road. Phase one is from Ben Hill Griffin Parkway to Bella Terra Boulevard. The second phase will be from Bella Terra Boulevard to Alico Road. No road closures are expected during the construction period, which will begin in April.
The commissioners also approved a memorandum of understanding to join the formation of the Southwest Florida Regional Resiliency Company under the leadership of Florida Gulf Coast University to prepare for and mitigate potential economic and community disruptions projected to result from the impacts of climate and weather variability. The Compact will seek to leverage resources and find consistent regional approaches to evaluate, mitigate, and adapt to potential risks of long-term weather variability such as sea level rise, changing rainfall patterns, and increased storminess. Member entities retain their autonomy, have no financial commitment, and can leave the compact at any time.
The commissioners voted 3-1 to approve the memorandum, with Hamman opposed to the votes of support by Ruane, Sandelli and Mann. The effort also has the support of the Florida Audubon Society and the Town of Fort Myers Beach.
Other major items included a $4 million contract with A.C. Schultes of Florida, Inc. to provide well-drilling services for the wellfield expansion to the North Lee County Water Treatment Plant (NLC WTP), in the amount of $4,046,390. The County received five bid submittals for this solicitation. This phase of the wellfield expansion includes drilling and installing up to 8 production wells and 3 test wells needed to increase the raw water capacity to supply the future NLC WTP Expansion. The total cost of the project is an estimated $24.5 million. The work is set to begin in April.
A $3.84 million contract was awarded to Wharton-Smith, Inc. for pre-construction phase services to expand the Three Oaks Water Reclamation Facility. The plant currently treats up to 6 million gallons per day (MGD) of wastewater and is rated to allow expansion to 8 MGD. This plant expansion is necessary to meet future flows based on recommendations from the 2019 Waste Water Master Plan and population projections. The project total estimated cost is $31.4 million and construction is anticipated to start in 2022.
The commissioners also signed off on a one-year $344,278 contract with Boyd Brothers Services Inc. to provide automated building controls for HVAC, fire control and energy efficiency at 21 county buildings.
A $170,114.92 contract was approved with Kisinger Campo & Associates, Corp. to provide design and permitting services for phase two of the Cape Coral and Midpoint Corridor Bridge Painting project in the negotiated amount of $170,114.92. The project includes the steel beams and piers of the College Parkway Overpass, Colonial Boulevard Overpass and Veterans Parkway over Del Prado. The total project cost, including design, construction, and construction inspection, for this phase of the project is $3.1 million.
To reach NATHAN MAYBERG, please email nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com