To the Editor:

I have written Joe Pearson, chairman of the Board of Directors at the Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce so say that I have been informed about the recent Board of commissioners’ meeting of the East County Water Control district on Jan 24 where there was a discussion regarding the district’s purchase of the I&E Building on Williams Ave.

At that meeting, a discussion was held that the building was too big for East Country Water Control and that they would be able to lease half of the building for medical or other commercial offices.

This proposal is outrageous.

The very thought of a public and taxpayer supported government entity competing in the commercial market against the very taxpayers that help pay the district’s bills is an affront to all of us who lease commercial properties in Lehigh Acres.

This goes against the very core of what a government should be doing.

Added to this is that East County Water Control will now compete in a market that has been devastated in Lehigh Acres..

A quick survey around Lehigh shows an overabundance of commercial space currently available. Our Lehigh businesses can’t afford this added interference by a local government in these difficult times.

It is plain wrong.

There are three members of the Chamber of Commerce on the Board of Commissioners at East County Water Control District. They are Commissioners David Deetscreek, Nate Stout and Mike Welch. Commissioners Deetscreek and Stout are on the Chamber Board of Directors. What are their opinions regarding this issue?

I am asking that the Board of Directors of the Lehigh Chamber of Commerce properly represent the interest of its members in the commercial real estate and leasing business in Lehigh by passing a resolution against the purchase of this building by East county Water Control district.

I also ask that the Board of Directors send a personal letter to each East county Commissioner stating our opposition to the purchase of the building and leasing out any excess commercial space that competes with taxpaying citizens in Lehigh Acres.

I view this matter as serious.

In these difficult times most landlords in Lehigh Acres have slashed rents and made sacrifices to keep their tenants in business and still most of the landlords who financed their properties could not compete with a government entity.

Even in “normal” times, competition from a government entity with those that pay the taxes is an outrage.

I also want to remind the Chamber that the East County Water Control District proposed this very scheme of leasing our commercial space when they were looking at the building of a $3.6 million facility back in 2008.

At that time there were objections and public outcry of East County getting into the commercial leasing business. Our objections should be all the stronger now.

Eugen Borosch

Lehigh Acres

Borosch is a major land holder and well-known businessman in Lehigh. – Ed.