Special To The Citizen

The East County Water Control District (ECWCD) Board of Supervisors has reversed itself and voted to cancel the office building project that has been on the drawing board for months. The surprise vote came at their meeting on Thursday, Dec. 11.

ECWCD Manager David Lindsay first presented the board a packet of contract documents and design prints for what he thought would be final approval of the project that he has supported. For several years now, the staff of the ECWCD has met in trailers on Construction Lane after a small office building was shut down by the health department because it contained mold and was considered, “a sick building.” The building has never been demolished, however. But it’s off limits to employees of the District.

Regarding the proposed new two-story building, the water drainage district staff recommended in a report that: “The project bids and bank loan terms are very favorable for completing this project now with several of the subcontractors coming from Lehigh Acres. This project may help save local jobs in these tough economic times.”

Manager Lindsay has presented plans to area groups and last month asked the Lehigh Acres Community Planning Corp. (LACPC) to give its blessings to hearing examiners that may have studied the request this month or next.

In a 3 to 2 vote, Supervisors Neal Horrom, Nathan Stout, and Michael Welch voted against authorizing the contract for the new building. Horrom had supported the project for several years but now said it was not an essential project, in these difficult economic times. However, he did indicate the need for the construction of a maintenance building.

The old maintenance building was destroyed in a hurricane. The newest supervisor, Michael Welch, who voted to go forward with the project at the

November meeting, had requested detailed cost figures. He noted that some economists have predicted that an economic upturn may occur in 2009. He said he would revisit the issue later next year. Stout again said, „The building is oversized.

Since at least 2002, the District has actively pursued building a new office building. The architect at that time came up with a design for a 5,000-square foot floor plan costing between $350,000 and $500,000 fully furnished with a configuration that would have allowed for building of an addition.

The current proposed contract for the new office building and new maintenance building has a „Construction Manager‚s Guaranteed Maximum Price for the work of $3,196,143. The ECWCD has spent more than $400,000 on the project including an architect, an engineer, and a construction manager.

A loan bid was received from Bank of America with a $6.5 million principal for the building and other capital projects. This was for a 20-year bond service debt with estimated interest of $3.059 million for a total of $9.559 million.

District Manager Lindsay said that this would require, a $10 per acre rate assessment increase.

A visual document was presented during the meeting showing the rate assessments for past budgets. The District has raised taxes 25 percent in the last three years. Chairman John Boardman noted the district has spent more than the revenue by reducing fund balances. With the infrastructure needs the District will have to raise assessments.

In other business, it was noted that the Heinz S. Pfuner Gassner development of TownLakes on March 15, 2007 quick claim deeded the lakes and water structures of Phases 2, 3, and 4 to the district without its knowledge and in violation of section 298.28 Florida Statutes.

The board adopted a formal resolution rejecting the transfer. As previously reported, the South Florida Water Management District sent a letter of non-compliance to Gassner Development.

The Board also adopted a, Memo of Understanding with Lee County for a 50-year agreement for use of West Marsh, which the county could purchase under the Conservation 20/20 Program.

In a letter dated November 18, 2008, State Rep. Paige V. Kreegel wrote the

District manager his position regarding proposed legislation. “I am prepared

to support and sponsor legislation that is considered housekeeping.‚ This

would pertain to boundaries and such matters,” it said.

The Board also adopted proposed legislation for a change of boundaries. And it also included proposals to change officers‚ titles from “supervisors” to “commissioners,” to change the $250 flat fee to salary per month, to

eliminate the current provision of no pay for failure to attend one full

regular scheduled session during the calendar month, and to request $1 million for Harns Marsh construction, Phase 2.

The ECWCD Board approved a $12,000 budget for lobbyists Lewis, Longman and Walker. Chairman Boardman noted there was no money in the line item in the budget for a lobbyist. Supervisor Desmond Barrett told the board that in the last four years the District “had spent $152,000 on the lobbyists and got nothing.” Welch noted a lack of documentation on the invoices and that in the future he said he expected detailed information.

The ECWCD will meet at its next regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, Jan. 26, at 6:30 p.m. at District Headquarters on Construction Lane off of Lee Blvd. The public is encouraged to attend the meeting.