County budget a topic at LA-MSID meeting
Cecil Pendergrass
Lee County Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass spoke before the Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District on Wednesday, Dec. 16, and gave a detailed report of how Lee County spends its money in Lehigh Acres and Lee and how the county finds itself in the black with a surplus.
“That money is sitting there and even though we need to have reserves, when we have a large amount, we should put it to use in the county,” Pendergrass said.
That message sounded good to more than 100 people who attended the Holiday Town Hall Meeting, held at the LA-MSID office at 601 E. County Lane.
Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott had also been invited to attend, but he was unable to at the last minute.
No other county commissioners were invited to attend.
When Pendergrass finished his presentation, he asked for questions from the audience and got an earful of complaints and requests. Questions ranged from traffic problems, to trash on the roads and the future development in Lehigh.
He spoke about the budget of the LCSO and noted that about 48 percent of the budgets goes to support the jail and correctional costs.
Some in the audience wanted to know about deputies in Lehigh.
Capt. Todd Garrison, the commander of the East District, noted that the agency is looking for more deputies, but it takes several months of training before they can be assigned. Already over the past year, Scott has increased the number of deputies in Lehigh.
Pendergrass noted the traffic conditions in Lehigh and said the widening project of Homestead Road, from Alabama Road to Sunshine Boulevard, should begin in July or August.
Probably the biggest concern of attendees was the future development of Lehigh. Pendergrass and others in the audience noted that Lehigh was nearly platted to completion in the 1950s and that it is difficult to find land that can be rezoned for commercial purposes.
He pointed out Lee Boulevard and the businesses on the main road into Lehigh, but also noted that the depth of the properties is not deep enough for large stores and that there are houses a block behind most of the businesses on Lee.
Mohamed Yasin, chairman of Lehigh Acres Community Council, told Pendergrass that infrastructure is an import aspect for progress and asked him to become an advocate for new business in Lehigh.
“The traffic situation is heavy here and we need your help. We also look forward to your help for more law enforcement in Lehigh,” Yasin said. “Your single vote on the commission can often help.”
Many in the audience agreed that model housing should never have been allowed on Lee, where developers put up homes on lots that now sit idle and vacant.
Pendergrass noted that when Hertz Rental was looking at Lee for a place for its headquarters offices, officials were brought to areas of the county, including Lehigh. Hertz chose a spot near Estero instead.
Pendergrass was urged to make Lehigh a place for new industry to relocate and to come up with rezoning ways to make that happen.
Mike Welch, of the LA-MSID, noted that the government cannot always take platted lots away from landowners and rezone it from residential to commercial.
“Property rights must be respected,” Welch said.
J. Nathan Stout, also of the LA-MSID, also noted the problems with rezoning in Lehigh.
LA-MSID Member David Deetscreek noted the problems with fire equipment getting to houses behind businesses on Lee.
Pendergrass noted that the average price for a home in Lehigh is $46,000 and said it is not enough to break even on the services that the county hands back to Lehigh.
Two men complained about the speeding vehicles on Sunshine. Others complained about heavy traffic and road rage on Lee.
Pendergrass, who lives in Gateway off of Daniels Parkway, noted the heavy traffic problems on state Route 82 and noted that work is underway in Hendry County for a widening project.
Rep. Matt Caldwell, who attended the meeting, added that the road project could begin in Lee County next year, but it will take a few years to complete.
Rae Nicely, director of Lehigh Community Services, was congratulated on the work that she does for her agency, which helps to feed the needy, among other things.
She received heavy applause from the audience.
Welch told Pendergrass that he was amazed to see people are still driving while texting, “doing their makeup and other things all at the same time.”
Pendergrass and Garrison said motorists should call 911 when they see such actions because driving and texting or doing other distractive things can lead to crashes.
Pendergrass asked the crowd if the 20/20 legislation should remain as it or be put back on the ballot.
Most in the audience told him to keep the 20/20 program as it is.
One plot of land, a lake in Lehigh, is up for consideration in the 20/20 purchase program, but the county has refused to overspend what they consider its current worth.
County budget a topic at LA-MSID meeting
Cecil Pendergrass
Lee County Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass spoke before the Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District on Wednesday, Dec. 16, and gave a detailed report of how Lee County spends its money in Lehigh Acres and Lee and how the county finds itself in the black with a surplus.
“That money is sitting there and even though we need to have reserves, when we have a large amount, we should put it to use in the county,” Pendergrass said.
That message sounded good to more than 100 people who attended the Holiday Town Hall Meeting, held at the LA-MSID office at 601 E. County Lane.
Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott had also been invited to attend, but he was unable to at the last minute.
No other county commissioners were invited to attend.
When Pendergrass finished his presentation, he asked for questions from the audience and got an earful of complaints and requests. Questions ranged from traffic problems, to trash on the roads and the future development in Lehigh.
He spoke about the budget of the LCSO and noted that about 48 percent of the budgets goes to support the jail and correctional costs.
Some in the audience wanted to know about deputies in Lehigh.
Capt. Todd Garrison, the commander of the East District, noted that the agency is looking for more deputies, but it takes several months of training before they can be assigned. Already over the past year, Scott has increased the number of deputies in Lehigh.
Pendergrass noted the traffic conditions in Lehigh and said the widening project of Homestead Road, from Alabama Road to Sunshine Boulevard, should begin in July or August.
Probably the biggest concern of attendees was the future development of Lehigh. Pendergrass and others in the audience noted that Lehigh was nearly platted to completion in the 1950s and that it is difficult to find land that can be rezoned for commercial purposes.
He pointed out Lee Boulevard and the businesses on the main road into Lehigh, but also noted that the depth of the properties is not deep enough for large stores and that there are houses a block behind most of the businesses on Lee.
Mohamed Yasin, chairman of Lehigh Acres Community Council, told Pendergrass that infrastructure is an import aspect for progress and asked him to become an advocate for new business in Lehigh.
“The traffic situation is heavy here and we need your help. We also look forward to your help for more law enforcement in Lehigh,” Yasin said. “Your single vote on the commission can often help.”
Many in the audience agreed that model housing should never have been allowed on Lee, where developers put up homes on lots that now sit idle and vacant.
Pendergrass noted that when Hertz Rental was looking at Lee for a place for its headquarters offices, officials were brought to areas of the county, including Lehigh. Hertz chose a spot near Estero instead.
Pendergrass was urged to make Lehigh a place for new industry to relocate and to come up with rezoning ways to make that happen.
Mike Welch, of the LA-MSID, noted that the government cannot always take platted lots away from landowners and rezone it from residential to commercial.
“Property rights must be respected,” Welch said.
J. Nathan Stout, also of the LA-MSID, also noted the problems with rezoning in Lehigh.
LA-MSID Member David Deetscreek noted the problems with fire equipment getting to houses behind businesses on Lee.
Pendergrass noted that the average price for a home in Lehigh is $46,000 and said it is not enough to break even on the services that the county hands back to Lehigh.
Two men complained about the speeding vehicles on Sunshine. Others complained about heavy traffic and road rage on Lee.
Pendergrass, who lives in Gateway off of Daniels Parkway, noted the heavy traffic problems on state Route 82 and noted that work is underway in Hendry County for a widening project.
Rep. Matt Caldwell, who attended the meeting, added that the road project could begin in Lee County next year, but it will take a few years to complete.
Rae Nicely, director of Lehigh Community Services, was congratulated on the work that she does for her agency, which helps to feed the needy, among other things.
She received heavy applause from the audience.
Welch told Pendergrass that he was amazed to see people are still driving while texting, “doing their makeup and other things all at the same time.”
Pendergrass and Garrison said motorists should call 911 when they see such actions because driving and texting or doing other distractive things can lead to crashes.
Pendergrass asked the crowd if the 20/20 legislation should remain as it or be put back on the ballot.
Most in the audience told him to keep the 20/20 program as it is.
One plot of land, a lake in Lehigh, is up for consideration in the 20/20 purchase program, but the county has refused to overspend what they consider its current worth.
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