LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Commissioners approve creation of 23 community development positions, funds for families

To the Editor: The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to approve the immediate creation of 23 new positions within the Department of Community Development to address increasing building permit volumes. Increased permitting volumes are projected to continue over the next several years as Lee County’s population continues to grow and as residents continue to rebuild following Hurricane Ian. From Oct. 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023, Staff accepted 72,516 permit applications, 45,411 of which were identified by the applicant as being hurricane-related. Staff issued 68,362 permits, 43,006 of which were identified by the applicant as being hurricane-related. In the same period, 207,056 inspections were requested and 131,323 inspections were completed, of which 108,831 were hurricane-related.