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Lee Mgr. speaks about interim job

By Staff | May 20, 2009

BOB PETCHER Karen Hawes, the interim Lee County manager, answers a question at the Greater Fort Myers Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Luncheon Thursday at Truly Scrumptious.

Interim Lee County Manager Karen Hawes knows her position is temporary and that’s alright with her.

Hawes, who recently took over for Don Stilwell -the county’s manager for 16 years before resigning May 6- was unanimously named to the interim position by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners. She was the county’s human services director and has worked for there since 1985.

“It’s been a whirlwind this last week and a half,” said Hawes at the Greater Fort Myers Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Luncheon Thursday at Truly Scrumptious at 7205 Estero Blvd. “I am in an interim position and I do not want the job. I think that the county needs to find someone who has a more global aspect of economical development and tourism.”

Hawes referred to human services as “very progressive.”

“We know that at the department of human services we need the community and we need our community partners,” she said. “We count a lot on our not-for-profit organizations. I hope that we can do that in these next six months.

We have quite the challenge.”

Hawes then described a list of priorities for her first month in the interim position.

“One is getting the time table together and hiring a county manager and looking at the budget and certainly getting us back on track since there has been a lot of controversy and misdirection from the daily job that we should be doing,” she said. “We need to get back to work.”

“(Regarding) the county manager position, I hope to have the seat filled within six months and that will be very dependant on the Board of County Commissioners. We have three firms that we’re looking at right now that we’ll be interviewing.”

Hawes stated the resumes of the top candidates will be online. There also will be a Web site so that a citizen panel can analyze the applications of candidates with a question and answer forum attached.

Hawes then reviewed the scope of the county budget.

“Right now, we’re looking at a possible 30-percent decrease in our general fund property tax revenues,” she said. “Every department will have to look and prioritize to make recommendations to the board.

“We do have some reserves and those reserves will have to carry us for the next couple of years. We’re hoping we do not have any county layoffs that add to the unemployment (rate).”

Hawes knows there will be stimulus money coming soon, but she expressed caution on its use.

“The way to use these stimulus dollars is to really coordinate and communicate so that we’re not tripping over one another,” she said.

“We’re going to have to prioritize over the next few years on what we spend our money on. There certainly isn’t a money tree anymore.”

Hawes commended Stilwell as being “fiscally conservative” by keeping reserves in the accounting department.

“He was looking out and we’re in much better shape (because of it),” she said. “But, we have almost a 12-percent unemployment rate and we’re in the top three in foreclosure. We have serious concerns. The only way to look to the future is to work together.”