Commissioners approve revised utility easement for D.R. Horton at Lee County Athletic Park

The Lee County Board of Commissioners voted Monday to approve revised purchase-agreement and utility-easement documents that authorize Duke Energy and Central Electric Membership Corporation (CEMC) to relocate electrical utility lines to accommodate a D.R. Horton residential development adjacent to the Lee County Athletic Park.

County staff said the easement had been approved previously in October but required revisions after utility stakeholders identified issues with the original language. Jennifer Gamble, assistant county manager for operational services, told the board the revisions address Duke Energy’s concerns about construction routing, material storage and maintenance access. Gamble said the documents include language requiring restoration of county property if any damage occurs during construction and that the easement areas are shared by Duke Energy and CEMC due to joint infrastructure.

Gamble asked the board to authorize the chair to execute the updated documents and related work plans after board notification of the property trustee. Tom McKay of D.R. Horton was in the meeting and available for questions; no substantive questions were raised by commissioners during the discussion.

The board moved and voted to approve the revised purchase agreement and easement documents; the motion passed by voice vote.

Board action allows county staff to notify the property trustee and complete the closing and recordation steps required by the transaction. The county did not provide documentary excerpts of the trustee notice at the meeting.