County garners win on additional debris collection
On Nov. 8, Lee County Government reported that it has garnered a win for residents in unincorporated areas — which includes Captiva — with commercial properties impacted by Hurricane Milton.
The county was prevented from collecting storm debris from commercial property sites, such as apartments, condominiums and trailer parks. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) rules state that those property owners must work with their insurance providers to cover the cost of debris removal.
That meant that the county’s contracted debris hauler was not collecting debris from the right-of-way (ROW) in front of those sites in unincorporated Lee. Doing so would have resulted in non-reimbursable expenses. The county explained that in short, FEMA would not authorize funds for that activity, so local taxpayers’ dollars had to be used.
However, in partnership with the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), county officials have now received a waiver from FEMA. The county thanked the FDEM for its assistance. The waiver states that the county’s hauler can make one pass for the debris placed at the ROW.
– The county’s hauler began collecting on the weekend of Nov. 9-10, and it will continue until the single pass is complete. This may take several weeks.
– Any additional debris placed in front of condominiums, apartments and trailer parks after the county’s hauler completes its single collection will not be picked up by the county.
– Debris set out after the waiver-approved single pass will have to be handled by the owners of the condos, apartment buildings and trailer parks using their insurance providers and private haulers.
– Condominiums, apartment complexes and trailer parks that are gated must take one additional step prior to their debris being picked up:
— A Right of Entry (ROE) and Indemnification form must be filed with the county to allow the county’s contractor to access their gated property.
— Lee County has an easy, online process for professional property managers and residential homeowners’ association (HOA) presidents to submit the necessary paperwork.
— Forms are available for communities located within unincorporated Lee on the ROE Communities page at https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/23e165f3f9e945a19319b4e6aebf59a2. The link is also at www.leegov.com/solidwaste/hurricane; scroll down to “Gated communities.”
The county reported that it is typical receiving such a waiver takes time after a storm makes landfall. With Hurricane Ian in 2022, it received its waiver to collect in front of trailer parks, condominiums and other commercial sites a month after landfall. The waiver for Milton came just shy of one-month post landfall.
Residents with questions can call Lee County Solid Waste customer service at 239-533-8000.
Additional information is available at www.leegov.com/storm.