CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
Cape Coral mayoral candidate Lisa Cohen-Adkinson plans to file a lawsuit against the city council in order to stop the November 2 vote on the Cape Coral North 3 Utilities Extension Project.
The city council approved the utility expansion project assessments during a September meeting. The project aims to replace well water with city water, sewer and irrigation services. Homeowners east of Burnt Store Road will face $35,264 in assessments, while those west of Burnt Store Road will pay $41,029.
Cape Coral residents have been pushing back against the UEP, citing potential financial strain, as well as the council’s plan to vote on the project assessments the day before November’s general election.
Although she lives in Southwest Cape Coral and has already paid her assessments, Cohen-Adkinson said she feels it is her duty to support residents in Northwest Cape Coral, such as John Swartz.
“It’s just a very bad time economically to hit us with such a king-size assessment,” Swartz said.
Cohen-Adkinson has retained attorney Anthony Sabatini to challenge the council’s decision to vote the day before the election. Cohen-Adkinson is set to face off against Rick Erickson for the seat of Cape Coral mayor on election day.
“I’m glad she’s doing it. I hope it’ll be more incentive to get this thing to be put on hold till we can normalize our pricing,” Swartz said. “They are just totally hitting us here on the west side of Burnt Store Road with a whole bunch of road improvement projects that are amenities, not necessary to the utilities expansion project.”
Cohen-Adkinson also urges Cape Coral residents to stay informed and attend the November 2 City Council meeting.
“Scheduling the vote one day before the election disenfranchises every resident of this city,” Cohen-Adkinson said. “The people of Cape Coral deserve to make their voices heard at the ballot box before a big decision is made for them. Rushing it through 24 hours before voters go to the polls is not how a city government should treat the people it serves.”
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