County seeking nominations for citizen of the year award
Lee County is accepting nominations for the 2009 Paulette Burton Citizen of the Year Award.
The award recognizes “exemplary civic-minded” citizens who “get involved in the community and work diligently for causes in which they believe,” said Lee County Special Events Coordinator Booch DeMarchi. The Lee County Board of County Commissioners will choose the winner from the nominees.
“In 1991, Paulette Burton as a private citizen was going to some government meeting. She was in a car accident and died,” he said. “A very good friend of hers, Steve Maxwell, went to the commissioners and asked the board to start an award in Paulette’s honor in recognizing civic-minded activists like Paulette.”
The selection criteria includes “a positive attitude, knowledge of the objectives and activities of Lee County government, a demonstrated interest in community/county government partnerships and promotion of harmony between the community and county government.”
“The award is not about volunteerism in all things in Lee County,” DeMarchi said. “The focus here is on citizens who work with county government staff and commissioners on county government issues.”
As of Friday, four applications had been received.
“Generally speaking we land between eight and 12,” he said.
Nomination forms are available at Lee County libraries and recreation centers. Citizens can also complete and submit a form at the Lee County Web site at: www.lee-county.com. Click on the “Paulette Burton Nomination Form” link under “Featured Content.”
Nominations are due by Jan. 22 at 4 p.m.
Commissioners will consider the nominees, then select a winner.
“They vote as individuals and then the announcement is made publicly,” DeMarchi said. “The announcement will be made at the Tuesday, Feb. 16, board meeting.”
The winner receives a framed certificate, he added. Runners up get an unframed certificate.