FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Karen Forsyth, Lee County Lands, (239) 479-8506

COUNTY WINS NATIONAL AWARD FOR SURPLUS LANDS PROGRAM

FORT MYERS, Fla. (October 13, 2004) - Lee County's Lands Division has won a 2004 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo) for a program that streamlines county land sales and saves taxpayers money.

The Surplus Lands Program allows the county more flexibility in negotiating sales, in addition to simplifying bid specifications and advertising requirements.

The County Lands Division buys and sells property for Lee County Government. Some of its most common functions are negotiating the purchase of such things as Conservation 20/20 properties, right of way for road projects, and facilities such as the recent purchase of the SunTrust Building in downtown Fort Myers that will be used as part of the county's downtown government complex. It also disposes of any county-owned surplus lands, much of which is obtained because of unpaid property taxes.

The Surplus Lands Program was adopted through a new county ordinance in 2002. Its main provisions:

1.  Provides the county an opportunity to use a variety of effective marketing tools;
2.  Allows for a straight-forward bid process which is less laborious and time consuming than as previously  
    dictated by Florida Statute;
3.  Gives county staff the ability to negotiate market driven sales prices; and
4.  Facilitates a more efficient return of surplus lands to the real property tax roll.

The achievement award recognizes Lee County's program for it creativeness and innovativeness.

NACo is the only national organization representing county governments in the United States. Its goals are to improve county government, act as a liaison with other levels of government, present the county position on national issues and advance public understanding of the role of counties.