The Board of County Commissioners came on step closer to making the new Red Sox stadium a reality Tuesday when they voted to authorize the sale of bonds to begin construction of the $75 million dollar project.

The meeting began with Commissioner Ray Judah reading a ceremonial presentation recognizing Healthy Start, a program that assists pregnant moms and their babies with medical care.

The BoCC then passed the entire Consent Agenda, which included the addition of $927,764 in grant funds to the Low Income Energy Assistance Program to help struggling residents with their utility bills and the adoption of a resolution requesting funding for the coming fiscal year from the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection Beach Erosion Control Program - this enables the County to qualify for state assistance for beach erosion control projects.

The first item on the Administrative Agenda authorized a Bond Purchase Agreement for the purpose of locking in a low interest rate for the construction of a new Red Sox stadium. The new stadium and training facility will be built on 100 acres of land on Daniels Parkway north of the airport.

Craig Dunlap, financial advisor to the County, informed the board that federally subsidized interest rates on bonds for the stadium could be as low as 3.5 percent provided they lock in soon. This is about 20% lower than previous estimates, which Dunlap explained had to do with the county's exemplary bond ratings.

"The strong management of the county was a very important factor, as was the fiscally conservative nature and the amount of the reserves,” he said. "All indicative of how well you are managing your county in this economic environment.”

The Board then voted 4-1 to approve borrowing up to $89 million - actually expected to be $81 million - to cover the $75 million construction project, the required $5 million reserve and administrative costs.

Bigelow, after questioning how Merrill Lynch was selected to be the firm to underwrite the bonds, dissented.

Commissioner Frank Mann reminded everyone that this stadium is being paid for by funds from the Tourist Development tax and not property taxes.

"There is great confusion still out there in the public about where this money's coming from,” he said. "We have various pots of money that the government works from and one of them is the tourist development tax. It's with that tax, paid by our northern visitors, bless their hearts, that we are building this stadium. Initially we were borrowing ad valorem taxes from our citizens, and I wasn't happy, but once we came to this new funding source where our northern friends were paying for it, I was all for it. You're also, without using any local dollars, creating 400-500 jobs. So I see no strong argument against this - the tourists who are going to be going to these games are paying for it.”

On the Carry Over Agenda, the board discussed the construction of a class one deep injection well at Lee County's Waste to Energy facility. Large volumes of wastewater, high in total dissolved solids (TDS) and inorganic chemicals can be injected into class 1 deep injection wells, but they are not without controversy.

The wells are designed to inject waste into an area below the lowermost underground source of drinking water. Though the wells are regulated by the EPA, communities often raise concerns about well safety and other matters.

"Is there no alternative, environmentally compatible way to deal with this?” asked Judah.
Lindsay Sampson, Director of Lee County Solid Waste , explained that the well is the most cost effective way to deal with the wastewater.

"A treatment plant would cost $7.5 million, with ongoing operating costs significantly in excess of our current facility,” he said, and explained to Judah that it is not possible to recycle the material, either.

After Bigelow indicated that he, too, would be interested in looking at alternatives and the motion passed 4-1 (Bigelow dissenting).

The next meeting of the Board of Lee County Commissioners is Tuesday, September 7th, at 9:30am in the Old Lee County Courthouse in downtown Ft. Myers. There will also be a budget workshop that afternoon at 1:30. For more information , go to www.lee-county/gov/bocc.

Keri Hendry