Fort Myers City Council on Oct. 6 approved amendments to two State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan agreements to increase borrowing for a drinking-water plant expansion and for a deep-injection well project at the central wastewater plant. Council members voted without recorded opposition to adopt the loan amendments.

The council approved an amendment that increases the city's DW (drinking water) SRF construction loan by $30 million and also approved an amendment that increases the city's WW (clean water) SRF construction loan by $20 million for the deep injection well project. The council also approved additional time to complete the drinking-water plant project, extending the construction deadline from April 15, 2027, to Sept. 15, 2028.

The measures were presented as amendments to existing loan agreements with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's SRF programs. City staff said the increases are to cover higher construction costs for the water-plant expansion and for work on the wastewater central plant. No council discussion of alternatives or dissent was recorded in the meeting transcript.

City Manager Line and department directors were asked whether staff presentations were required; council moved the items, each motion was seconded and the presiding officer called for a vote. For the drinking-water loan amendment the transcript records "Motion by council person Bohnck, second by council person Watkins Brown." For the wastewater loan amendment the transcript records "Motion by council person Bunk, second by council person Watkins Brown." Both motions were announced as carrying with no opposition when the mayor called for the vote.

The actions add borrowing capacity to the city's capital program for water-system expansion and for the deep injection well at the wastewater plant. The amendments as read at the meeting specify only the increase amounts and the new completion date for the drinking-water project; the transcript does not provide a detailed repayment schedule or the interest terms of the amended loans.

City officials did not record roll-call vote tallies in the portions of the transcript covering these items. Council members who moved and seconded the motions, and city staff who were identified during the items, are listed below. The items will appear in the city's administrative record for the project and in follow-up procurement and construction schedules.

Council and staff signaled no further public comment on these particular items during the meeting; the motions were approved as presented.