The Lee Board of County Commissioners has a new chairman.

Lee County Clerk Kevin Karnes and Commissioner Brian Hammond got the move started Tuesday and the selection ensued:

“I'd like to nominate Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass for chairman. Commissioner Hammond, would you like to vote aye or nine for the new chair? Aye or nine for the new chair, yes. Commissioner Pendergrass, yes. Commissioner Wayne, yes. Commissioner Mulicka, yes, the vote is unanimous. Congratulations, yes, the vote is unanimous. Congratulations, Mr. Chair, thank you.”

The board unanimously selected District 2 Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass to serve as Board Chairman for the coming year and District 3 Commissioner David Mulicka to serve as vice chairman.

More

• For biographies of the members of the Lee Board of County Commissioners visit www.leegov.com/bocc.

The Board selects a chairman annually on the third Tuesday in November from among the commissioners. Pendergrass previously served as vice chairman.

Pendergrass was first elected to the Board in 2012. Commissioner Mulicka was selected in 2024.

In other action by the board

Commissioners voted to award a contract to repair and reconstruct four boardwalk sections within Lakes Park, 7330 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers.

The work is separate from the boardwalk maintenance project completed earlier this year in the area west of Whistle Stop Ice Cream and marina area.

On Feb. 6, 2024, Commissioners approved a professional service contract to evaluate the structural integrity of eight park boardwalks and provide construction plans and specifications for necessary repairs or replacements. Half of the boardwalks were addressed in previous projects. The contract approved Tuesday will allow for the repair of replacement of the four boardwalk sections constructed more than 40 years ago.

The $248,002 contract with Superior Builders Group Inc. is funded through Lee County’s general fund.

The county’s work also continues at Lakes Park on other projects, including:

• A project to replace the splash pads at the park that were destroyed by Hurricane Ian. Work is expected to be finished in Summer 2026.
• A project from Lee County Natural Resources to settle out excess nutrients and algae. This will help remove about 3,300 pounds of nitrogen annually before it enters the Hendry Creek watershed. An additional benefit of this settling process is improved water clarity within the lake. Work is expected to be complete in early 2026.

Lakes Park work

Commissioners voted Tuesday to award a contract to construct improvements to the intersection of Treeline Avenue and Daniels Parkway, including restructuring lanes to add a second northbound right turn lane.

The improvements include:

• Converting a northbound left-turn lane from Treeline Avenue onto Daniels Parkway into a thru-lane.
• Converting a northbound thru-lane into a second northbound right turn lane.
• ADA improvements at both the Daniels Parkway/Treeline Avene and the Treeline Avenue/Intercom Lane intersections.
• Signal improvements.

Analysis of the current intersection demonstrates that the three existing northbound left turn lanes are now underutilized because of changing traffic patterns following the construction 10 years ago of the RSW Direct Connect from Interstate 75 to Terminal Access Road. However, cars queuing to turn right onto Daniels Parkway often stack up well south of the intersection.

The work is expected to begin in April and be completed in September, weather permitting. The construction will be completed at night to minimize disruption to motorists during peak hours.

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