MELISSA BILL The Lehigh Acres Community Council held its monthly meeting on Aug. 21.

Thousands of new street lights have been installed in Lehigh Acres and more are on the way.

Lori Borman, coordinator with Lee County’s Municipal Services Taxing/Benefit Unit, addressed the Lehigh Acres Street Lighting District at the Aug. 21 meeting of the Lehigh Acres Community Council. She covered the district’s 2017-18 budget, as well as how the street light installations are prioritized.

According to Borman, MSTU is changing the way it assesses the need for a street light.

“The old process just required residents to have a minimum of three houses on their street. Now, we have broken Lehigh Acres up into sections and place street lights where they are needed most,” she said.

Areas of high priority are school bus stops where students wait and busy intersections.

MELISSA BILL The Lehigh Acres Community Council held its monthly meeting on Aug. 21.

“We are asking the community to notify us about lighting issues around bus stops and other places where kids wait for school transportation,” Borman said.

Residents can call 239-533-2308 to report an area.

According to Borman, 5,000 street lights have already been installed. A recent order for 1,149 additional lights has been placed with Lee County Electric Cooperative and Florida Power & Light.

“FPL said that they won’t be able to get to those sections until the beginning of next year,” she said.

“The installation usually takes between three to six months after we place the order,” Borman added.

Also a priority are areas where light poles already exist, but there are no street lights.

“If you have a pole but no light, please contact the county so we can put you on the list,” she said.

According to Borman, many of the decorative lights that lined the streets of main roads such as Homestead Road must be replaced, as well.

“Presently, there are 109 decorative lights in Lehigh, but unfortunately those designs no longer exist. We will have find an alternative to the original lighting in those sections,” she said.

At the meeting, the council discussed forming a new committee. According to council members, it would review proposals from builders and developers for commercial and residential projects.

“Right now, builders and developers have two choices – do it themselves or present their project in front of Lehigh Acres Architectural Planning and Zoning Review Board for a fee $150,” President Rick Anglickis said.

Council members discussed having builders and developers offer a donation, which could be used toward the ongoing incorporation efforts and feasibility study for Lehigh.

Anglickis said he would follow up with county officials this month on the idea.

Under new business, the council unanimously approved Dr. Tina M. Despin as a new member at the meeting. She recently applied for a membership. Despin will be sworn in at the Sept. 18 meeting.

Joan Cunningham, president of Incorporate Lehigh Inc., was on-hand to give an update of the group’s latest efforts. She reported that a boundary study would not be necessary due to the passage of Senate Bill 1255, which outlines the current boundaries of Lehigh.

Cunningham also mentioned that the group’s first fundraiser had a light turnout.

“In total, we raised $1,500 towards the feasibility study during the bowling tournament,” she said. “Whether you are for it or against it, we need more community involvement to get the feasibility study done. Then we can determine what’s best for Lehigh.”

Attendees were reminded of the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District meeting.

Council Member Bob Saul suggested that the public attend it on Aug. 29.

Vice President Mohamed Yasin suggested trying to get an amendment on next year’s election ballot that would put a limit on the fire board’s ability to raise the special assessment fee for the fire district.

The Lehigh Acres Community Council’s next meeting is Sept. 18 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Lee County Sheriff’s Office East District substation, at 1301 Homestead Road N.

For more information, visit: www.lehighacrescommunitycouncil.com/