Lee County builders want to shut off Estero Fire Rescue District's sprinkler ordinance.
The Lee Building Industry Association, Inc., and the Florida Home Builders Association filed a joint lawsuit in Lee County Circuit Court in an attempt to halt the fire district's recent sprinkler ordinance.
The lawsuit also asks a judge to review whether the fire district followed state law when it created the ordinance, according to Chené Thompson, a private lawyer hired by the builders.
Thompson said Lee County has rules that conflict with Estero's ordinance, and they need a judge to sort it out.
"We are kind of stuck in the middle," Thompson said. "We want to resolve some of the uncertainty."
During their meeting Tuesday, Estero fire commissioners agreed to hold a closed-door executive session next week to discuss the lawsuit with the district's lawyer, Charles Schoech. That meeting starts at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the fire district headquarters on Three Oaks Parkway.
Executive sessions are allowed under state law when public boards want to seek legal advice. A certified court reporter must record the session.
Commissioner Dick Schweers, who serves as the fire commission's chairman, said the sprinkler ordinance is meant to keep Estero residents safe.
"Our charge is to protect property and save lives," Schweers said.
In October, Estero fire commissioners signed off on the ordinance that requires all newly built one- and two-family homes within the district to install automatic fire-sprinkler systems. They later decided to delay enacting the rules until July 31, following pushback from Lee County officials.