Lee County manager to retire
Lee County Manager Roger Desjarlais recently announced to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners that he will retire effective July 31.
At its meeting on June 6, the board voted unanimously to name Deputy County Manager Dave Harner as the interim manager effective Aug. 1.
Desjarlais has served as county manager the past 10 years and started his career with the county in the 1970s.
He informed the commissioners of his intent to retire in a letter dated June 1. In his letter, Desjarlais highlighted the commission’s efforts to reduce taxes four times during his tenure.
A contract will be negotiated between the commissioners and Harner.
Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass thanked Desjarlais for “building a great team around you.”
Commissioner Kevin Ruane said he wanted a national search for a permanent successor to Desjarlais, though the majority of the board said it would prefer to hire from within and keep someone local.
“We are a county that promotes within,” Vice Chairman Mike Greenwell said. “We are still recovering and we are going to be recovering for years.”
Chairman Brian Hamman thanked Desjarlais for his efforts, particularly through Hurricanes Ian and Irma and through the COVID pandemic.
Desjarlais previously served with Lee County government as a paramedic, EMS director, Public Safety director, Community Services director and assistant county manager — a post that he left in late 1997 to head to Broward County, where he was county manager from 1998 to 2005.