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Breeze newspapers breezed past too much on the Ceitus stormwater

3 min read

To the editor:

Lee County, as a co signer of the Consent Order that established the terms and agreements of how the Ceitus storm water barrier should be replaced, has to stepped up to file a lawsuit over the failure of the FDEP for not permitting the barrier.

The terms were very clear that if the stakeholders could not find any net benefits, the storm water barrier would be replaced. Folks there were no net benefits, even after having the stakeholders spending two years going over the data found no net benefits.

While the Breeze editorial showed that the FDEP and the City of Cape Coral were in lock step of making sure that every possible wording was used to deny the permit, the problem remains that the second consent order signed by both the FDEP and the City of Cape Coral states that the conditions around the existing mangrove area had washed out and that both parties agreed to move it farther north. Yes, you read that right both FDEP’s Jon Iglehart and the City of Cape Coral signed a consent order to take out the existing storm water barrier and boat lift and replace it by moving it farther north.

In a letter to the United States Army Corps of Engineers dated January 30, 2007, the City of Cape Coral states “The City of Cape Coral, under a Consent Order modification being executed in full cooperation with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection anticipates completing the construction of the replacement barrier by the end of 2007,” …..” The storm water barrier relocation will effectively mitigate ongoing mangrove destruction at the current location. Re-establishment of the barrier will also minimize manatee harm/take.”

The other unique thing about the run off water problem was addressed in the first consent order with the Gulf American Company which stated all building lots had to be high in the back and sloped toward the front so not allow any run off from buildings etc into the canals. While no doubt that the G.A.C . no longer does any construction work the agreement went to the City of Cape Coral.

Folks just how many lots do you think have have been developed along the North Spreader canal have their lots sloping toward the roads as required by the original consent order?

It really makes one wonder who is playing the politics in Lee County, could it possibly be that the Cape and FDEP have found a new game to play called screw the environment?

I had heard that some one on the Cape Council thought that scrub jays were good for cats to eat?

Anyway you cut this mess, I don’t see how a judge would take over an hour to see through the bull crap that seems to be floating down the north spreader canal into Matlacha.Pass and there is no doubt in my mind that he or she would approve the permit to replace the storm water barrier.

Lee County Commissioners, thanks for doing what both the City of Cape Coral and that the FDEP refuse to do to get the storm water barrier replaced. Thanks

Leo Amos