Government Digest

Utility project off again
CAPE CORAL — A proposed $77 million utility expansion was voted down by the City Council 4-3 on Aug. 31. Affecting about 6,200 residents, the project would have provided water, sewer and irrigation utilities costing about $17,000 for an average two-lot parcel. Tens of thousands of lots are only served by wells and septic systems in a city with 350,000 lots. The council has changed its vote five times in the last year, ultimately deciding that economic conditions warranted deferring the project to a future council. The primary election for three council seats and the mayor's seat is Sept. 15.