Lee County commissioners approve routine consent and administrative items; defer hearing‑examiner evaluation

Lee County's Board of County Commissioners approved a series of routine and administrative items during its Sept. 2 meeting, including a staff augmentation for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) implementation, a four‑year engineering services contract for the new southeast water treatment plant, and a land purchase agreement for property at 1100 Main Street on San Carlos Island. The board also certified solid‑waste non‑ad valorem assessment roles for placement on the tax roll and approved an amendment to the Babcock Ranch development agreement.

The approvals were largely unanimous. Commissioners deferred one itemthe hearing examiner's evaluationuntil the board's next meeting on Sept. 15.

Key votes at the Sept. 2 meeting (motions and outcomes as recorded):

- Motion to defer the hearing examiner's evaluation until the next meeting: motion made on the floor; outcome: deferred (motion carried unanimously). (Topic: hearing examiner evaluation; action recorded as deferred.)

- Approve task order for CDBG staff augmentation and implementation funding (item 8): motion made and seconded on the floor; outcome: approved unanimously. Staff said the augmentation is to provide affordable‑housing expertise to aid pending deals and that the task order assumes multiple deals would move forward; staff also said the not‑to‑exceed amount is conservative and they do not expect to approach it. (Topic: affordable housing/CDBG; action recorded as approved.)

- Approve CDBG awards (item 9): motion and second recorded; outcome: approved unanimously. The board treated the item as previously discussed and moved it forward.

- Approve engineering services agreement for the Southeast Water Treatment Plant (item 34): motion by Commissioner Mullica, second by Commissioner Hammond; outcome: approved unanimously. Staff clarified the $13,285,000 figure in the agenda packet covers the four‑year contract period (not the current fiscal year only); the county will budget out‑year costs in subsequent budgets.

- Approve land purchase agreement for 1100 Main Street, San Carlos Island (administrative agenda item 35): motion by Commissioner Walker, second by Commissioner Lorraine; outcome: approved unanimously. County Lands staff said the purchase price is up to $1,900,000 with a $25,000 refundable deposit; if combined with an adjacent parcel the assemblage would total roughly 2.5 acres with about 38 trailer parking spaces when fully assembled, though site plans and road improvements have not been completed.

- Approve amendment to the Babcock Ranch development agreement (item 37): second and final public hearing; motion and second on the floor; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Adopt resolution certifying solid‑waste non‑ad valorem assessment rolls for FY2025‑26 and forward the rates approved Aug. 5 to the tax collector for placement on the tax roll (item 38): motion and second on the floor; outcome: approved unanimously. Solid Waste Director Rebecca Rodriguez said today's action is ministerial, sending previously approved rates to the tax collector.

- Commissioner items and directions: The board unanimously approved a motion directing county staff to meet with the Kohl's Gardens project team to evaluate whether the long‑standing affordable homeownership proposal can be made compliant and competitive for CDBG funding. The board also unanimously approved a letter drafted in support of the Kingston development to be sent to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

- Appointments and reappointments: the board approved a slate of appointments and reappointments to advisory boards and committees (multiple motions; outcome: approved unanimously).

The board indicated it will return to deferred items at its Sept. 15 meeting and has asked staff to provide briefings on pending CDBG deals referenced during the meeting.