Board approves CDBG‑DR awards and gives limited flexibility for Sanibel police station costs

Lee County commissioners approved amendments to the county’s CDBG‑DR action plans to permit more nimble project awards and approved a slate of hurricane‑recovery projects, including funding support for the Sanibel police‑station rebuild; the board granted a 10% variance specifically to accommodate higher reconstruction costs.

County manager staff said the action‑plan amendments are intended to give the county the flexibility needed to reallocate remaining CDBG‑DR funds and to award projects more quickly in order to meet grant timelines. Glenn Salyer presented the item and recommended the board approve the amendments and the project awards; some awards were contingent on the action‑plan amendments while several projects were ready to proceed immediately.

Sanibel’s mayor and city staff attended and urged approval: Vice Mayor Holly Smith said replacing the station is critical after lower‑level flooding during Hurricane Ian forced the police to operate in constrained conditions. The board’s motion — made by a commissioner who requested a 10% variance for Sanibel’s police‑station reconstruction — carried unanimously.

At least one public speaker cautioned the board against moving housing dollars to infrastructure uses; Marsha Ellis asked the board to treat housing allocations as sacrosanct within HUD/CDBG rules and to avoid reallocating housing funds to large infrastructure projects. County staff replied that several housing applicants previously awarded grants had declined to proceed because of financing and market barriers; staff said they were committed to housing but also needed to manage unspent allocations within federal timelines.

Ending: The board approved the action‑plan amendments and the project awards with a specific, limited variance for the Sanibel police station; staff will proceed to implement the awards consistent with CDBG‑DR requirements and grant timelines and will report back on any major changes.