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Lee County approves guaranteed maximum price for new Southeast wastewater reclamation facility
Summary
The Lee County Board of County Commissioners approved a guaranteed maximum price to build a new 6 million gallons-per-day (MGD) wastewater reclamation plant, with room to phase to 10 MGD; staff said construction is expected through 2029 and will be funded primarily with sewer capacity fees and future bonds.
The Lee County Board of County Commissioners voted Aug. 19 to approve a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) and move forward with construction of the Southeast Advanced East wastewater reclamation facility, a new plant planned for the I Iiko/Green Meadows area.
County staff said the facility will be sized for 6 million gallons per day (MGD) with the ability to phase up to 10 MGD as demand increases. County staff and consultants told commissioners the project has been planned since 2010, went through zoning and comprehensive plan amendments, and reached the final design stage after public meetings in 2023.
The county presentation said construction is expected to continue through 2029, with an additional year planned for post‑construction adjustments. Staff said much of the parcel remains wetlands and is being managed under conservation easement and other regulatory designations as part of siting and permitting work.
Why it matters: county staff and commissioners framed the project as necessary to serve recent and forecasted development in the Corkscrew/Iliko corridor and to avoid expanded reliance on septic systems and private wells. Staff said funding will come largely from sewer capacity fees charged to developers and from future bond proceeds; the GMP was reported to be lower than prior estimates.
Details: presenter Pam Keyes summarized the project timeline, phasing and funding approach and answered commissioners’ questions about siting and compatibility with nearby uses. Staff showed a comparison to the county’s 3 Oaks plant, saying that plant sits near residential and school uses without the types of noise or odor complaints sometimes raised by neighbors. Commissioners emphasized keeping the county’s sewer enterprise fund separate and funded by development fees rather than ad valorem taxation.
Board action: a motion to approve the GMP and proceed with the contract amendment passed by voice vote. Commissioners also discussed continuing public outreach and oversight as construction proceeds.
What’s next: staff will finalize contract documents and begin construction procurement and mobilization per the approved GMP schedule. Any future budget amendments or bond issuance related to the project will return to the board for approval.
