Mickey Starling
reporter3@greenepublishing.com
As the Lee Town Council convened on Tuesday, Aug. 4 with a packed house, Mayor James Ruzicka awarded the Lee Volunteer Fire Department and the Lee Public Library with plaques celebrating their excellent service to the community. Leroy Rutherford, with the fire department and Jodi Pitt, with the library, were on hand to receive the awards.
In other business, the Council heard the second reading of Ordinance 2026-04, which would provide for amending the Town’s Land Development Regulations (LDR) to update the flood insurance study, the definition of “market value” and reformat local technical amendments to the Florida Building Code. The ordinance was unanimously approved with a 5-0 vote.
The Council also heard the second reading of Ordinance CPA 2026-05, which seeks to amend the Future Land Use Map for a portion of John Paul Payne’s property to be changed from residential to commercial classification. The ordinance passed by a 4-1 margin, with Councilman Ronnie Bass dissenting.
In new business, Lee Volunteer Fire Department Chief Leroy Rutherford asked the Council to provide signage and an ordinance to deter public parking in front of the department’s bay doors during local events or meetings. Mayor Ruzicka noted that there may be enforcement issues, even with an ordinance. However, the Council agreed to examine a number of options and present them at their next meeting.
The scheduled review of the site plan for the Edge of Town’s Building 3 was postponed until the Council could hold a Planning and Zoning meeting on Monday, Aug. 10. A budget workshop was held at the same meeting.
The next regular monthly meeting of the Lee Town Council is set for Tuesday, Sept. 1, beginning at 7 p.m. All meetings are held at Lee City Hall, located at 286 NE County Road 255, in Lee.