ECWCD meeting tonight .................. agenda

http://www.ecwcd.com/agenda.php

Anyone attend the meeting able to fill us in on how things went?

Posted By Damon on 16 Dec 2008 10:34 PM

 

Perception vs. Reality

 

Perception once again proved to be more important than reality for Lehigh Acres during a recent ECWCD board meeting. A vote to approve a project for a new administration building and improvements to district maintenance facilities failed. A lengthy debate regarding the history, need, merit and public perception of this project preceded the vote, perception won. Let’s explore the perception and reality of this matter.

 

Perception, the admin building will house 11 supervisory staff employees. Reality, all 35 employees will use and benefit from the new building. Currently, 4 supervisors and 24 field employees meet, eat, work and break in a dilapidated warehouse also used to store equipment and chemicals. District administration employees (7) work out of leased office trailers which are 10 years old. Can you name one any government agency that uses leased office trailers as a permanent headquarters?

 

Perception, the building is not needed and will place an unnecessary tax burden on the residents. Reality, the district has been discussing the need for a new building for 8 years. Costs for this building have increasing from $400,000 to $2,000,000 during that time. Reality, the building will increase the tax per acre by $1.30 per acre. That means the average homeowner will pay an additional 32 cents in taxes for this project. Reality, construction costs have declined in these troubled times and are at “rock bottom” right now. This project would have supplied work and sales for local businesses, 22% of the total project costs would have gone to local business within the water district and 98% of the total project would have been done by Lee County businesses.

 

Perception, ECWCD Board members are insensitive to the economic conditions by raising taxes when Lee County and State governments are lowering taxes and laying off employees. Reality, ECWCD has not plundered the taxpayer wallets like other government agencies. ECWCD tax assessments today are 35% lower than they were 10 years ago. Board supervisors have cut the budget and spent reserves in recent years, now any project is going to have an impact on their tax assessment.

 

Perception, ECWCD will build their building in a year or two when economic conditions improve. Reality, costs for the project will be much higher, it will be an election year and the building will be delayed once again.

 

When will our local leaders develop the courage to do what’s necessary, not what is politically expedient?

Question: With all the vacant buildings around Lee County right now do to this poor economy, would it be cheaper and more feasible to purchase one of these buildings?

Posted By LeeMedic on 17 Dec 2008 05:13 AM

Posted By Damon on 16 Dec 2008 10:34 PM

 

Perception vs. Reality

 

Perception once again proved to be more important than reality for Lehigh Acres during a recent ECWCD board meeting. A vote to approve a project for a new administration building and improvements to district maintenance facilities failed. A lengthy debate regarding the history, need, merit and public perception of this project preceded the vote, perception won. Let’s explore the perception and reality of this matter.

 

Perception, the admin building will house 11 supervisory staff employees. Reality, all 35 employees will use and benefit from the new building. Currently, 4 supervisors and 24 field employees meet, eat, work and break in a dilapidated warehouse also used to store equipment and chemicals. District administration employees (7) work out of leased office trailers which are 10 years old. Can you name one any government agency that uses leased office trailers as a permanent headquarters?

 

Perception, the building is not needed and will place an unnecessary tax burden on the residents. Reality, the district has been discussing the need for a new building for 8 years. Costs for this building have increasing from $400,000 to $2,000,000 during that time. Reality, the building will increase the tax per acre by $1.30 per acre. That means the average homeowner will pay an additional 32 cents in taxes for this project. Reality, construction costs have declined in these troubled times and are at “rock bottom” right now. This project would have supplied work and sales for local businesses, 22% of the total project costs would have gone to local business within the water district and 98% of the total project would have been done by Lee County businesses.

 

Perception, ECWCD Board members are insensitive to the economic conditions by raising taxes when Lee County and State governments are lowering taxes and laying off employees. Reality, ECWCD has not plundered the taxpayer wallets like other government agencies. ECWCD tax assessments today are 35% lower than they were 10 years ago. Board supervisors have cut the budget and spent reserves in recent years, now any project is going to have an impact on their tax assessment.

 

Perception, ECWCD will build their building in a year or two when economic conditions improve. Reality, costs for the project will be much higher, it will be an election year and the building will be delayed once again.

 

When will our local leaders develop the courage to do what’s necessary, not what is politically expedient?

 

Question: With all the vacant buildings around Lee County right now do to this poor economy, would it be cheaper and more feasible to purchase one of these buildings?

There are a lot! Sounds like that could be a good idea.

A search for an exsisting building is a reasonable question. This has been proposed and several buildings have been considered. One such building was discussed at the last general session meeting. The buidlings that I am aware of that have been investigated were too expensive, have been pulled off the market because of the poor sales market or may have required extensive retrofitting to meet the needs of the District. The "retrofitting" of an exsisting building sometimes can result in higher expense than putting up a new structure when you consider what the end result. The building itself is about 60% of the total project costs of what was printed in the paper this morning.

Don't get me wrong about my earlier comments. I understand this is a tough decision to spend money in this type of economic environment. It is a tough decision even without the current conditions. I know full well the pain and anguish that people are dealing with right now and so do the board members. Input from the public with their governing agencies is always good and creates better understanding for all of the needs and projects that are being considered. Maybe if some of these discussions about alternative exsiting buildings had occured earlier in the process a more economical solutioncould have been arrived at. As I said earlier, the need for a District HQ has been going on for 8 years.

Posted By 1yrLARes on 18 Dec 2008 08:41 AM
While I understand that the additional tax is $.32 per quarter acre lot isn't a lot in the grand scheme, but on the other hand, while the need is there for a new building, in times where people are losing homes, jobs, getting hours cut, etc, asking homeowners to pay additional taxes isn't the right thing to do. I do applaud that the building was rejected. I don't think you can raise taxes, no matter how much, in a time where we all have to watch our pennies.

Will costs be higher in a year or two for a building? Certainly possible, but not sure if it's definite. Look at what the price of oil has done over the past few months. Oil prices are at its lowest since 2004, and we've gone from paying over $3 per gallon of gas to around $1.65-$1.70 whereever you fill up. As oil prices are declining, I would think prices of other materials are dropping as well.

I know and appreciate your comments. The option of looking for an existing building was a good idea as well. It's a tough decision regardless. What's frustrating is to have spent close to a year planning, designing and spending $300,000 and then deciding to stop this project when it should have been completed 3-4 years ago.

 

$300,000UCH!