Spelling out the mission of new Lehigh Acres-MSID
David Deetscreek
The Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District is ready to begin work. That’s the word from David Deetscreek, the LA-MSID’s secretary.
Deetscreek said the five-member board was trying to educate itself about the future and scope of the new agency.
Rep. Matt Caldwell sponsored legislation to turn the water taxing district into the LA-MSID, giving it certain authority that is recognized by the state and Lee County. On June 10, Gov. Rick Scott signed the bill.
Its authority is dependent on the taxpayers of Lehigh Acres, Deetscreek said at a meeting in Lehigh last week.
“We are working to get things going and the county is listening,” he said.
In the past when someone had a complaint, there was really no official office that had authority to make things happen. Lehigh, not being incorporated, needed a group that could deal with county authorities.
Deetscreek said that the formation of the LA-MSID doesn’t change any of the work done in its mission to control water discharge, oversee culverts and bridges, but added responsibility to bring Lehigh closer to county authorities.
The board, elected by the residents, includes: Nathan Stout, chairman; Ken Thompson, vice chairman; Michael Welch, treasurer; David Deetscreek, secretary; and Michael Bonacolta, commissioner.
Deetscreek said the agency is funded through non-ad valorem assessments and noted that all the residents in the district’s boundaries benefit from the infrastructure and services provided by LA-MSID.
He noted that there had been no tax assessment increases in the past several years.
The district’s 311 miles of canals play a crucial role in draining land after heavy rainfalls, as well as in water conservation. Without the canals, Lehigh would be uninhabitable, District Manager David E. Lindsay said.
At the time of its formation, there had been questions about the role the LA-MSID would play since there was already a group – the Lehigh Acres Community Council – that gathered information to pass along to the county.
But council members are not publicly elected, they are volunteers. The council meets monthly and some of its members try to attend LA-MSID’s meetings, but they are held the same night.
Deetscreek was asked if the LA-MSID had considered changing its meeting date so the public could attend both. The council was also asked if it would move its dates.
Both groups declined and Deetscreek said last week that the LA-MSID had been meeting for several years as the former East County Water Control District.
“But there is no power grabs between us. We meet with community council officials and what has happened is that our group was given additional powers as a publically elected body,”?he said.
Deetscreek said LA-MSID wasn’t really in full operation yet and the board was working toward that goal, noting that members cannot discuss what is about to take place between themselves due to Florida’s Sunshine Law.
“But we are trying to make sure everyone knows about LA-MSID,” Deetscreek said.
When asked if people knew of ECWCD, all hands went up. But when he asked about LA-MSID, not as many people were aware of what its mission would be.
Deetscreek noted that property owners pay $26.28 per quarter acre, $52.58 per half acre, or $105.15 per acre a year in non-ad valorem assessments to the agency.
The added powers given to the agency is in five areas, including sidewalks, street lights, community signage, local planning, and water and sewer services, long-time issues facing Lehigh.
It’s a more localized approach to government services in Lehigh, Deetscreek said.
He said he wanted to remind the public that the agency must first enter into an agreement with Lee County and then present the community with a referendum vote to make changes.
But who do you complain to now when there are issues? LA-MSID will listen.
Deetscreek said future committees will be planned to handle different issues. Eventually when LA-MSID is in place, it will report to the county and the county may ask the community to go to the polls to create local rules.
Spelling out the mission of new Lehigh Acres-MSID
David Deetscreek
The Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District is ready to begin work. That’s the word from David Deetscreek, the LA-MSID’s secretary.
Deetscreek said the five-member board was trying to educate itself about the future and scope of the new agency.
Rep. Matt Caldwell sponsored legislation to turn the water taxing district into the LA-MSID, giving it certain authority that is recognized by the state and Lee County. On June 10, Gov. Rick Scott signed the bill.
Its authority is dependent on the taxpayers of Lehigh Acres, Deetscreek said at a meeting in Lehigh last week.
“We are working to get things going and the county is listening,” he said.
In the past when someone had a complaint, there was really no official office that had authority to make things happen. Lehigh, not being incorporated, needed a group that could deal with county authorities.
Deetscreek said that the formation of the LA-MSID doesn’t change any of the work done in its mission to control water discharge, oversee culverts and bridges, but added responsibility to bring Lehigh closer to county authorities.
The board, elected by the residents, includes: Nathan Stout, chairman; Ken Thompson, vice chairman; Michael Welch, treasurer; David Deetscreek, secretary; and Michael Bonacolta, commissioner.
Deetscreek said the agency is funded through non-ad valorem assessments and noted that all the residents in the district’s boundaries benefit from the infrastructure and services provided by LA-MSID.
He noted that there had been no tax assessment increases in the past several years.
The district’s 311 miles of canals play a crucial role in draining land after heavy rainfalls, as well as in water conservation. Without the canals, Lehigh would be uninhabitable, District Manager David E. Lindsay said.
At the time of its formation, there had been questions about the role the LA-MSID would play since there was already a group – the Lehigh Acres Community Council – that gathered information to pass along to the county.
But council members are not publicly elected, they are volunteers. The council meets monthly and some of its members try to attend LA-MSID’s meetings, but they are held the same night.
Deetscreek was asked if the LA-MSID had considered changing its meeting date so the public could attend both. The council was also asked if it would move its dates.
Both groups declined and Deetscreek said last week that the LA-MSID had been meeting for several years as the former East County Water Control District.
“But there is no power grabs between us. We meet with community council officials and what has happened is that our group was given additional powers as a publically elected body,”?he said.
Deetscreek said LA-MSID wasn’t really in full operation yet and the board was working toward that goal, noting that members cannot discuss what is about to take place between themselves due to Florida’s Sunshine Law.
“But we are trying to make sure everyone knows about LA-MSID,” Deetscreek said.
When asked if people knew of ECWCD, all hands went up. But when he asked about LA-MSID, not as many people were aware of what its mission would be.
Deetscreek noted that property owners pay $26.28 per quarter acre, $52.58 per half acre, or $105.15 per acre a year in non-ad valorem assessments to the agency.
The added powers given to the agency is in five areas, including sidewalks, street lights, community signage, local planning, and water and sewer services, long-time issues facing Lehigh.
It’s a more localized approach to government services in Lehigh, Deetscreek said.
He said he wanted to remind the public that the agency must first enter into an agreement with Lee County and then present the community with a referendum vote to make changes.
But who do you complain to now when there are issues? LA-MSID will listen.
Deetscreek said future committees will be planned to handle different issues. Eventually when LA-MSID is in place, it will report to the county and the county may ask the community to go to the polls to create local rules.
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