The new Welcome to Lehigh sign was unveiled last Wednesday. MELISSA BILL

news@breezenewspapers.com

Lehigh Acres has a new Welcome to Lehigh sign.

The Board of Commissioners and staff at the Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District hosted a micro-event last Wednesday to celebrate the unveiling of the district’s first welcome sign located near the entrance to the community on Lee Boulevard between State Road 82 and Leonard Boulevard.

The ribbon cutting ceremony observed CDC guidelines and followed precautions to protect against COVID-19 spread.

LA-MSID staff, commissioners and other local leaders came to celebrate the sign installation, which marks a historic milestone for the district.

Event guests included Lee County Property Appraiser Mathew Caldwell, Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District’s Fire Chief Robert DiLallo and Public Relations Officer Katie Heck; and Lee County Sheriff Office East District Captain Mark Mallard and Ann Kelly from its Community Response Unit.

LA-MSID Commissioner Chair Katy Hoover opened the ceremony with a brief overview of the project and the district’s journey to get to this point.

“Today we are here to unveil the district’s first Welcome to Lehigh Acres sign. Our board felt it was important to commemorate this special milestone for the Lehigh Acres community, with a small scale gathering of community leaders. For it was a small journey to get here today,” Hoover said.

“In 2015, the district’s legislation was changed to allow for the pursuit of new powers in five areas through both an agreement with the county and successful referendum. Those areas included sidewalks, street lighting, community signage, local planning and water and sewer services,” continued Hoover. “The action was done with the intent to provide a more localized approach to government services.”

The first of these powers to be pursued by the district was community signage. During the November 2018 election, 70 percent of residents voted in favor of the Municipal District assuming authority for the installation and maintenance of outdoor signage, monuments and decorative banners and lights.

“Following the passage of the referendum passed, LA-MSID’s board began to discuss the process and identify potential locations for future signage,” Hoover said. “As chair of the board, this project became a passion of mine. I worked with staff to find a sign that would represent both the past and future of the community, which we are eagerly awaiting to show you all.”

Before the unveiling ceremony, Hoover and fellow commissioners took time to thank former state representative and newly elected Lee County Property Appraiser Matt Caldwell for his role as the champion of the legislation that led to this momentous event.

“This is a truly a great moment for the Lehigh community,” Caldwell said.

District Manager David Lindsay then escorted commissioners, agency leaders and members of the public over for a brief ribbon cutting ceremony, following the unveiling of the Welcome to Lehigh Acres sign.