Governor Rick Scott has signed the state budget and included appropriations for two Cape Coral projects. The budget will provide state funding for the City’s Reservoir Pipeline Project ($1,115,000) and the Mobile Command Center for Cape Coral Police ($176,250).
“We want to thank Governor Scott for supporting these two important projects, which will provide benefits that extend beyond the City of Cape Coral,” said City Manager John Szerlag. “More importantly, we want to thank our local legislators, Rep. Dane Eagle and Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, who worked on our behalf to ensure these projects were included in the final appropriations bill approved by the Legislature.”
Funding for the Reservoir Pipeline Project will enable Cape Coral to engineer, design and permit a 3.5-mile pipeline from Southwest Aggregates Mining reservoir in south Charlotte County to Gator Slough in northeast Cape Coral.
This pipeline will provide an additional freshwater supply for the City’s canal system that provides irrigation and fire protection in Cape Coral. The pipeline project has the potential to provide a benefit to the Charlotte Harbor Flatwoods Initiative area and will reduce flooding in the Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area. Design is expected to take about 18 months to complete. Construction of the pipeline could cost about $8 million and take up to two years to finish.
The Mobile Command Center Vehicle funding will refurbish the Cape Coral Police Department’s existing 2005 vehicle, which had become useless due to inoperable electronics and outdated technology.
The Mobile Command Center is a multipurpose vehicle that can be deployed for a wide variety of emergencies locally and regionally. The vehicle can provide services for emergency operations in the event of a natural disaster, active violent situations, planned special events, crime scene investigations, and special operations.
The Mobile Command Center will allow personnel to communicate and work alongside City departments and neighboring law enforcement and emergency response agencies.
