During Tuesday's meeting of the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC), the commissioners were pleased to approve a revamped recycling program that will be less expensive to residents, and accepted a donation of land to complete a wildlife corridor along State Road 82.

Chairman Hall began the meeting with a ceremonial presentation honoring the Girl Scouts.

"March 12th marks the 98th anniversary of the formation of the Scouts, and since that time 50 million girls have participated - growing strong, learning leadership skills and realizing their potential,” she said. "Locally, the Girl Scouts of the Gulf Coast Council was formed in 1957 and we ask all county residents to join us in celebrating this tradition by making March 2010 Girl Scout month.”

After the Board moved the entire Consent Agenda, Commissioner Ray Judah pulled an item from the Administrative Agenda to point out the accomplishments of Lindsay Sampson and the rest of county staff in securing the bids for the new recycling program.

"This is remarkable, these bids that came in and in terms of how Lee County has been able to provide a very stable rate structure,” he said, before asking Lindsay Sampson from Lee County Solid Waste to explain what staff had accomplished.

"Virtually all of the residential rates will remain the same as they are or will be slightly reduced, and the commercial rates that we're recommending range - in the five franchise areas - anywhere from a minus 2% to a plus 6%,” he said. "We had seven companies proposing for this work, and they were very competitive.”

Commissioner Mann had a question about whether or not those rates would go up, considering rising fuel costs.

"I'm very pleased, as Commissioner Judah pointed out, that we're maintaining our level rates - or a slight reduction - in a time when gasoline prices are going up like that,” he said. "How long are we protected? I'm hearing this morning that gas rates are expected to go to $3 a gallon.”

After Sampson explained that the contract was for five years and could be adjusted annually, Mann replied, "So it can be safely said that the rates are going to remain the same or slightly less across the board for all of our customers through Fiscal Year 2011? Thank you.”