$1.3M allocated for local roads
Frank Mann
During a discussion of depressed roads and streets and potholes, Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann told members of the Lehigh Community Council that millions of dollars are spent annually of Lehigh roads.
“And this year, we have passed a budget to award $1.3 million in road improvements just to Lehigh Acres. That’s up from a million spent last year,” Mann told the council at the April 18 meeting.
There probably isn’t a mention of street paving and repairs, which heavily includes potholes, at the council’s monthly meeting.
“The $1.3 million is earmarked in the budget recently passed for the new fiscal year. This year’s million dollars has been doled out to repair Lehigh area streets and repair potholes,”?Mann said.
“In the new budget, we are going to also start later this year are the improvements for Homestead Road,” he continued.
Mohamed Yasin
Mann reminded members of the size of Lehigh and said there is a master plan for road work throughout the community.
“If you have problems with your streets, you can call the county Department of Transportation. They have a master list when streets are to be worked upon. Ask them and they will give you that information,”?he said. “If you are not satisfied with their response, call my office and we will take care of your request. We can tell you when your street will be paved or repaved.”
“I can assure you though that the Department of Transportation will physically check every call,” Mann said.
Mohamed Yasin, president of the council’s executive board, is also a member of the Lehigh Acres Architecture Board.
He noted that last week there was another ribbon cutting opening another Family Dollar store.
Some on the board complained that there were too many “dollar stores” in Lehigh already.
Mann told the group that the stores generate business in Lehigh and also hire Lehigh residents.
“Each store hires three, four or five new employees and that’s good for the Lehigh economy,” Mann said.
The new store is at Lee Boulevard and Lee Street.
Tami Baker, past president of the council, told Mann that it was a dangerous area and there had been many accidents there and she thought the site should be considered for a traffic signal light.
Council Member Debbie Derums, a representative from Lee County’s Department of Parks ad Recreation, said it was her last meeting. She is retiring in July after over 30 years of public service.
Derums told the council that a project is being planned to extend the Trailhead Park, opened last year, off of Joel Boulevard.
“Plans are for extending the park and walkways all the way to Sunshine Boulevard. Just how that will be done is in the planning stages,” she said.
Derums did not know who from the department would be attending the future meetings, but said the county will provide someone.
Mann noted, along with Yasin, that demolition was scheduled to begin within the next few weeks of a bank building next to Murphy Gas on Lee Boulevard.
The spot will the site of Culvers, a new restaurant chain.
“There is a significant flag pole there and they want to offer it to the community to be located in the so-called nickel sign area,” he said.
The area is known for the “Welcome to Lehigh” sign.
“What they need is for someone to come and take the flagpole down before the building is demolished,”?he said. “The American Legion has promised to store the flagpole, but someone is needed with knowledge of how to pull up a flag pole that may be buried in enough cement to keep it standing.”
Baker said she looked toward Mann’s direction and asked when the county was going to put a light on that small plot of land.
Flags of the nature being discussed must be lowered at night if they are not illuminated by lights. Who is going to pay for the lighting had not been decided when it was brought up several months ago.
DeWitt Green, the group’s recording secretary, and Yasin brought up the subject of members not showing up for meetings.
While the group’s rules call for the removal of members who do not attend a set amount of meetings, it has not been carried out.
Green noted that a few members are not always at the meetings. Those who have a special reason not to attend are excused.
Also discussed with the lack of attention being given to the council’s website.
The members voted not to have their personal information on the website, including emails. If someone wants to email a member, they must contact the council.
The Lehigh Acres Community Council meets at 6:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month; the public is invited to attend.
Yasin asked everyone to start brining non-perishable food to the meetings so it can be supplied to Lehigh Community Services.
-
- Mohamed Yasin
$1.3M allocated for local roads
Frank Mann
During a discussion of depressed roads and streets and potholes, Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann told members of the Lehigh Community Council that millions of dollars are spent annually of Lehigh roads.
“And this year, we have passed a budget to award $1.3 million in road improvements just to Lehigh Acres. That’s up from a million spent last year,” Mann told the council at the April 18 meeting.
There probably isn’t a mention of street paving and repairs, which heavily includes potholes, at the council’s monthly meeting.
“The $1.3 million is earmarked in the budget recently passed for the new fiscal year. This year’s million dollars has been doled out to repair Lehigh area streets and repair potholes,”?Mann said.
“In the new budget, we are going to also start later this year are the improvements for Homestead Road,” he continued.
Mohamed Yasin
Mann reminded members of the size of Lehigh and said there is a master plan for road work throughout the community.
“If you have problems with your streets, you can call the county Department of Transportation. They have a master list when streets are to be worked upon. Ask them and they will give you that information,”?he said. “If you are not satisfied with their response, call my office and we will take care of your request. We can tell you when your street will be paved or repaved.”
“I can assure you though that the Department of Transportation will physically check every call,” Mann said.
Mohamed Yasin, president of the council’s executive board, is also a member of the Lehigh Acres Architecture Board.
He noted that last week there was another ribbon cutting opening another Family Dollar store.
Some on the board complained that there were too many “dollar stores” in Lehigh already.
Mann told the group that the stores generate business in Lehigh and also hire Lehigh residents.
“Each store hires three, four or five new employees and that’s good for the Lehigh economy,” Mann said.
The new store is at Lee Boulevard and Lee Street.
Tami Baker, past president of the council, told Mann that it was a dangerous area and there had been many accidents there and she thought the site should be considered for a traffic signal light.
Council Member Debbie Derums, a representative from Lee County’s Department of Parks ad Recreation, said it was her last meeting. She is retiring in July after over 30 years of public service.
Derums told the council that a project is being planned to extend the Trailhead Park, opened last year, off of Joel Boulevard.
“Plans are for extending the park and walkways all the way to Sunshine Boulevard. Just how that will be done is in the planning stages,” she said.
Derums did not know who from the department would be attending the future meetings, but said the county will provide someone.
Mann noted, along with Yasin, that demolition was scheduled to begin within the next few weeks of a bank building next to Murphy Gas on Lee Boulevard.
The spot will the site of Culvers, a new restaurant chain.
“There is a significant flag pole there and they want to offer it to the community to be located in the so-called nickel sign area,” he said.
The area is known for the “Welcome to Lehigh” sign.
“What they need is for someone to come and take the flagpole down before the building is demolished,”?he said. “The American Legion has promised to store the flagpole, but someone is needed with knowledge of how to pull up a flag pole that may be buried in enough cement to keep it standing.”
Baker said she looked toward Mann’s direction and asked when the county was going to put a light on that small plot of land.
Flags of the nature being discussed must be lowered at night if they are not illuminated by lights. Who is going to pay for the lighting had not been decided when it was brought up several months ago.
DeWitt Green, the group’s recording secretary, and Yasin brought up the subject of members not showing up for meetings.
While the group’s rules call for the removal of members who do not attend a set amount of meetings, it has not been carried out.
Green noted that a few members are not always at the meetings. Those who have a special reason not to attend are excused.
Also discussed with the lack of attention being given to the council’s website.
The members voted not to have their personal information on the website, including emails. If someone wants to email a member, they must contact the council.
The Lehigh Acres Community Council meets at 6:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month; the public is invited to attend.
Yasin asked everyone to start brining non-perishable food to the meetings so it can be supplied to Lehigh Community Services.
-
- Mohamed Yasin
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