FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Pete Winton, Lee County Administration
              (239) 335-2777

LEE COUNTY RANKS 4TH NATIONALLY FOR GOVERNMENT INFORMATION
ON WEB SITE

FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 26, 2003) - Lee County Government ranks 4th in the nation for the amount and ease of information it provides citizens on its Internet web site.

The ranking - by a survey conducted by the Center for Digital Government, National Association of Counties (NACo) and Government Technology magazine - is for counties with population between 250,000 and 499,999. Microsoft Corp. underwrites the awards. Lee County's web site is www.lee-county.com.

Lee County Commission Vice Chairman John Albion will accept the award at NACo's Annual Conference in Milwaukee on July 13. Commissioners Bob Janes and Doug St. Cerny also are scheduled to attend the conference.

"The Web has become a critical tool for service delivery in counties," said NACo Executive Director Larry E. Naake. "Citizens have come to expect the same convenience from counties that they receive from buying books and paying their utility bills online. The winning counties offer excellent examples of how to bring government closer to the people and improve the way services are provided."

Lee County's web site has thousands of pages of information for citizens as well as interactive/transactional capabilities. They include:

•  Parks & Recreation registration online
•  Library Card Catalogue online
•  Department of Transportation "Requests for Action" - complete an online request for service
•  Animal Services - check for lost/adoptable pets online
•  Human Services Directory (searchable database of local agencies)
•  Apply for a county job online
•  Public safety/emergency preparedness information online
•  Contact Your Commissioner - E-mail a question or comment
•  The Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code (searchable by keyword)
•  Community Development - committee agendas, permit information, new zoning applications
•  Financial documents - annual budget book, revenue manual, debt manual
•  Weekly agendas and backup, board minutes, all ordinances and administrative codes
•  News releases and capital project updates
•  County Purchasing - vendor applications and complete quote and proposal packages

Lee County's technology vision is to provide "all citizens, businesses, employees and guests with easy access to County information and services from anywhere at anytime." See the attached national media release for more information.