1. Approve Easement Purchase Agreement with Jason M. Brennan and Deborah A. Burton, for the purchase of Parcel 110-TCE (±5,000 square foot temporary construction easement), in the amount of $1,750 for the North Lee County Water Treatment Plant Wellfield Expansion Project No. 7619, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Agreement;

2. Authorize the Chair, on behalf of the Board, to execute the Easement Purchase Agreement and Temporary Construction Easement Agreement;

3. Authorize payment of necessary fees and costs to close the transaction;

4. Authorize the Department of County Lands to handle and accept all documentation necessary to complete this transaction.

The proposed well is only a test well and will be approximately 700’ deep (Lower Hawthorn aquifer).  The TCE will be used for staging of equipment only with the test well constructed within the right-of-way adjacent to the property.  This well is being used to confirm whether the corridor along Deal Road is feasible for future wells, between the water treatment plant and an area already identified with good quality water and moderate to high flows to the east.

The North Lee County Water Treatment Plant was constructed in 2005 with a permitted capacity of 5 MGD and 8 wells.  A plant expansion was completed in 2011 increasing the capacity to 10 MGD of finish water.  The plant expansion cost was approximately $17M.  To supply additional raw water to the plant there were 11 new wells added at an average cost of $1.3M per well, which included all piping necessary to get the water from the wells to the plant.  Two of the 19 wells have been taken out of service due to poor water quality conditions.

Lee County Utilities is planning to expand the North Lee County Wellfield, which is required to support the current raw water capacity of the North Lee County Water Treatment Plant.  The water treatment plant serves the potable water needs within the North Lee County Service area.

The siting of production wells requires the analysis of subsurface geology and hydrology. In order to conduct such analyses, test wells are drilled at various locations to help determine potential wellfield target areas. The acquisition of Parcel 110-TCE will provide the area required for the purpose of installing a necessary test well.

Property Owners: Jason M. Brennan and Deborah A. Burton, joint tenants

Site Address:  11410 Deal Road, North Fort Myers

Part of STRAP No.: 13-43-25-00-00002.0020

Purchase Price: $1,750

Estimated Closing Costs: $1,000 (Costs include title agent fees)

Five-year Sales History:  None

The subject easement was not appraised. The purchase price is based upon a voluntary resolution and avoidance of appraisal and acquisition costs, which would have exceeded that amount.