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Bill that gives Lehigh more power inches forward

By Staff | May 13, 2015

Matt Caldwell

Florida lawmakers have agreed to return to a June 1-20 special session in Tallahassee to pass a new state budget. Lawmakers said they haven’t worked out the full details of the agenda for the special session but their paramount duty will be to pass a state budget to replace the current $77 billion spending plan by July 1 or otherwise state government would face a shutdown.

Of special interest to Lehigh Acres is the passage by the House of Representatives and the State Senate of HB 1225, which was sponsored by State Rep. Matt Caldwell, (R-79) which will change the East County Water Control District known as the ECWCD from a Chapter 298 drainage and water control district to a Chapter 189 improvement district and expand its power.

According to Carla Ulakovic, a community project specialist at the ECWCD, the bill was passed by the House and was sent on its way to the Senate which reviewed it on April 24 and gave it unanimous approval.

The bill is now on Gov. Rick Scott’s desk and he can decide to either sign the bill into law, or allow the bill to become law without his signature, or he could even veto the bill.

According to Rep. Matt Caldwell, who represents Lehigh, the bill is a positive step forward for the Lehigh Acres community.

Carla Ulakovic

“By localizing the decision-making process for municipal services, residents gain an elevated opportunity to express opinions in how these services are implemented and managed.”

Since the Legislature adjourned because it could not agree on a budget for Fiscal Year 2015 which begins July 1, Scott has 15 days from the date of presentation to take action.

Mike Welch, a member of the board of commissioners of the ECWCD, said the ECWCD, under the new legislation, will change the name of the district to the Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District, otherwise to be known as LAMSID.

“This bill merely allows the district to explore and study the district assuming more functions in the years ahead from county government and thus giving more local control here in Lehigh Acres.

“In any discussion, the district and the Lee County government would need to carefully examine finances and costs that make sense for all involved.

Mike Welch

“It’s complicated, but it is a step forward for Lehigh to move in the future and the present district board is well-known for keeping taxes low and for frugality,” Welch said.

Currently ECWCD has powers of drainage and flood control; conservation and mitigation; irrigation; navigation; roads/bridges; and limited parks powers, Ulakovic said.

The ECWCD was established in 1958, manages preserve areas, stormwater treatment areas, 311 miles of canals, 22 lakes and a multitude of water control and drainage infrastructure across 60,000 acres.

The ECWCD is governed by a five-member, publicly elected board of commissioners and are funded through non-ad valorem assessments, an annual flat-rate tax that is based on the size of a parcel, not its value.

“In any move to assume added powers, the bill would require approval from the Lee County Board of Commissioners and an added step discussed by some board members of East County and now required by the governor a referendum by the residents for approval of assuming a new power.

If and when the bill becomes law, the ECWCD would be dissolved and the LAMSID will replace it.

In a statement from Ulakovic and the ECWCD, the bill provides LAMSID with authority to implement additional services such as local streets and sidewalks, streetlights, water and wastewater services, control and maintenance of signs and monuments, and certain planning duties.

Any such action approved by the LAMSID would have to be agreed upon with the Lee County commissioners. And once an agreement is in place with Lee County, a referendum as stated before goes before the citizens of Lehigh Acres in the next general election which will be in November of 2016.

To sum up the action of the bill, Rep. Caldwell said it helps provide a road map for the citizens of Lehigh Acres to chart their own future.

Bill that gives Lehigh more power inches forward

By Staff | May 13, 2015

Matt Caldwell

Florida lawmakers have agreed to return to a June 1-20 special session in Tallahassee to pass a new state budget. Lawmakers said they haven’t worked out the full details of the agenda for the special session but their paramount duty will be to pass a state budget to replace the current $77 billion spending plan by July 1 or otherwise state government would face a shutdown.

Of special interest to Lehigh Acres is the passage by the House of Representatives and the State Senate of HB 1225, which was sponsored by State Rep. Matt Caldwell, (R-79) which will change the East County Water Control District known as the ECWCD from a Chapter 298 drainage and water control district to a Chapter 189 improvement district and expand its power.

According to Carla Ulakovic, a community project specialist at the ECWCD, the bill was passed by the House and was sent on its way to the Senate which reviewed it on April 24 and gave it unanimous approval.

The bill is now on Gov. Rick Scott’s desk and he can decide to either sign the bill into law, or allow the bill to become law without his signature, or he could even veto the bill.

According to Rep. Matt Caldwell, who represents Lehigh, the bill is a positive step forward for the Lehigh Acres community.

Carla Ulakovic

“By localizing the decision-making process for municipal services, residents gain an elevated opportunity to express opinions in how these services are implemented and managed.”

Since the Legislature adjourned because it could not agree on a budget for Fiscal Year 2015 which begins July 1, Scott has 15 days from the date of presentation to take action.

Mike Welch, a member of the board of commissioners of the ECWCD, said the ECWCD, under the new legislation, will change the name of the district to the Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District, otherwise to be known as LAMSID.

“This bill merely allows the district to explore and study the district assuming more functions in the years ahead from county government and thus giving more local control here in Lehigh Acres.

“In any discussion, the district and the Lee County government would need to carefully examine finances and costs that make sense for all involved.

Mike Welch

“It’s complicated, but it is a step forward for Lehigh to move in the future and the present district board is well-known for keeping taxes low and for frugality,” Welch said.

Currently ECWCD has powers of drainage and flood control; conservation and mitigation; irrigation; navigation; roads/bridges; and limited parks powers, Ulakovic said.

The ECWCD was established in 1958, manages preserve areas, stormwater treatment areas, 311 miles of canals, 22 lakes and a multitude of water control and drainage infrastructure across 60,000 acres.

The ECWCD is governed by a five-member, publicly elected board of commissioners and are funded through non-ad valorem assessments, an annual flat-rate tax that is based on the size of a parcel, not its value.

“In any move to assume added powers, the bill would require approval from the Lee County Board of Commissioners and an added step discussed by some board members of East County and now required by the governor a referendum by the residents for approval of assuming a new power.

If and when the bill becomes law, the ECWCD would be dissolved and the LAMSID will replace it.

In a statement from Ulakovic and the ECWCD, the bill provides LAMSID with authority to implement additional services such as local streets and sidewalks, streetlights, water and wastewater services, control and maintenance of signs and monuments, and certain planning duties.

Any such action approved by the LAMSID would have to be agreed upon with the Lee County commissioners. And once an agreement is in place with Lee County, a referendum as stated before goes before the citizens of Lehigh Acres in the next general election which will be in November of 2016.

To sum up the action of the bill, Rep. Caldwell said it helps provide a road map for the citizens of Lehigh Acres to chart their own future.