FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Jim Desjarlais, Lee County Administration
               (239) 335-2522

LEE COUNTY WEB INFO. RANKS IN TOP 10 NATIONALLY FOR 2ND YEAR

FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 5, 2004) - For the second year in a row, Lee County Government ranks in the top 10 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.

"The Digital Counties Survey is one of a series of studies we conduct throughout the year that examines how governments are applying IT to effectively serve their constituents," said Cathilea Robinett, executive director of the Center for Digital Government. "Our goal is to keep our fingers on the pulse of technology policies and practices in state, city and county governments, and acknowledge the hard work and effort put forth by of all of them."

A few statistics from the survey (all of which Lee County provides on its web site):

• Eighty-eight percent of all respondents in the top three population categories have an IT strategic plan, and 45 percent of those have updated their plans in the previous two years.

• An average of 19 percent of all counties surveyed provide Web-casting (audio, video or live streaming video) of their county governing body meetings.

• Sixty percent provide meeting agendas or minutes on their Web sites.

• In the top two population categories, more than 50 percent of the counties allow online submission of job applications for 26 percent or more of available county positions.

Lee County's web site has more than 168,000 pages of information for citizens as well as interactive/transactional capabilities. They include:

• Parks & Recreation registration online

• Library Card Catalogue online

• Check a building permit status 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

The county currently is in the process of redesigning its web site to make it even more user-friendly for citizens. The county's IT vendor is Atos Origin.

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.

See announcement release below from the Center for Digital Government