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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES VOL. 51, NO. 6 MARCH 18, 2019 TIMELINE GETS TIGHT FOR 2020 CENSUS

by Charlie Ban senior writer

The 2020 census is coming in a matter of months, not years, and time is running out for counties to be ready. The results of the census will determine how more than $900 billion in annual funding is al- located and congressional seats are apportioned, which could change in 13 states. “Illinois lost a congressional Surrounded by county officials, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) speaks in support of the Payment in Lieu of Taxes and Secure seat after the 2010 census and Rural Schools programs at a March 5 Capitol Hill press conference following NACo’s Legislative Conference. See conference workshop we could lose one or two more,” and speaker coverage starting on page 7, plus a photo spread, starting on page 19. Photo by Denny Henry Cook County, Ill. Commissioner Stanley Moore told the Rural Ac- Alabama county cleans tion Caucus at its March 4 meet- NACo rolls out app ing during NACo’s Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. up after tornado kills 23 to test broadband by Rachel Looker tornado, which are clocked at See CENSUS page 3 staff writer between 166 to 200 MPH. The by Mary Ann Barton identify areas with low con- tornado hit the county’s Be- editor nectivity to help ensure ade- Lee County, Ala. officials auregard-Smiths Station com- quate funding for broadband are cleaning up after a torna- munity. More than 100 homes Members of NACo’s Tele- infrastructure. App users will do packing 170-MPH winds were destroyed. communications and Tech- be able to test their broad- ripped through the communi- The United States has not nology Policy Steering Com- band speeds with the push of ty March 3, killing at least 23 seen a tornado of such magni- mittee March 2 expressed a button. people and injuring dozens. tude since 2017, according to frustration over lack of inter- Meanwhile, April Jones, “It’s very important to me to The Weather Channel. The last net and cellphone service in legislative assistant to Sen. come before you as your com- EF4 struck Van Zandt County, many parts of the country, Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), missioner to say my sorrow, Texas, in the northeastern part but there was one bright spot: and Brendan Dailey, legis- sympathy and heart goes out of the state. The Lee County, NACo has launched a mobile lative assistant to U.S. Sen. to the families,” said Lee Dis- Ala. tornado was the deadli- app, dubbed “TestIT,” geared Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. trict County Commissioner est since 2013, when an EF5 toward getting accurate infor- Va.), took part in a discussion Richard LaGrand Sr., at a news killed 24 in Cleveland County, mation when it comes to who with some frustrated mem- conference. “And all the first Okla. The tornado was estimat- has broadband — and more bers of the Telecommunica- responders — I take my hat off ed to be .87 miles wide and its importantly who does not. tions and Technology Policy to you. This is a tough time for track nearly 27 miles across NACo partnered with the Steering Committee at NACo, u s .” Alabama and 43 miles in Geor- Local Initiatives Support who talked about poor inter- Preliminary reports from the gia, according to the National Corporation and the Rural net and cell phone service. National Weather Service clas- Community Assistance Part- sified the tornado as an EF-4 See TORNADO page 2 nership to develop the app to See TELECOM page 16 2 MARCH 18, 2019 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS Lee County, Ala. Emergency Management Director: ‘Be as ready as you can be’

Management Agency (EMA), should you have a natural di- United Way and the Red Cross saster or event,” he said. are among the units that are Carson emphasized the im- in it for the long haul, Carson portance of constructing tor- said. The organizations will be nado shelters in every home staying active in the area and in case of an emergency situ- overseeing continued recov- ation. ery efforts. “It can happen in your Jones said the biggest chal- hometown and we knew that lenges the county faces are the before this event occurred, cleanup efforts and respond- but it becomes way more real ing to the needs of those who when it does,” she said. lost their loved ones or their “Be as ready as you can pos- homes. sibly be, but you will never be He advised other counties completely ready.” to have good, working rela- The local government is for- tionships with partners in first ever changed by witnessing response. the disaster, according to Car- “Establishing those rela- son. tionships and being on a first “It just increases out dedi- name basis with individuals cation tenfold to our jobs and involved goes a long way in that what we provide to the streamlining and providing public is the best that it can A man salvages belongings March 4 in Lee County, Ala., after a tornado ripped through the area, a more efficient response be,” she said. killing 23. Photo by Mickey Welsh/Montgomery Advertiser; used with permission

From TORNADO page 1 Jones said church groups, zations like the Red Cross and business groups and Com- the Small Business Adminis- Weather Service. munity Emergency Response tration to discuss issues or file Lee County is now picking Team-certified responders are claims. THE TOP FIVE POULTRY up the pieces and beginning some of the many organiza- President Trump approved PROCESSING STATES the road to recovery. tions working to clear debris. a major disaster declaration (BY PAID EMPLOYEES, IN THE UNITED STATES.) According to County Direc- “It’s all about getting the re- March 4 for Lee County after tor of Emergency Management sources that are most needed Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey re- Kathrine Carson, emergency now as far as what can be uti- quested it. responders began providing lized whether it’s heavy equip- The declaration triggers immediate assistance after the ment and trucks,” Jones said. assistance from the Feder- tornadoes hit to fill survivors’ “Just whatever it takes to get al Emergency Management needs, such as providing nec- into the area to get to clean up Agency (FEMA) for temporary essary medications. the debris.” housing, home repairs, low- “We took care of as many Carson said there are distri- cost loans to cover uninsured people as we could find in bution centers in five different property losses and other pro- the immediate aftermath and locations across the coun- grams to help individuals and made sure everyone had a ty where survivors can get business owners recover. place to go,” she said. supplies. She encourages all “That turned a lot of avenues Carson said recovery efforts county members to call 211 to for our people for help,” said NUMBER OF are on track and may even be report any unmet needs. Carson, who added the speed STATE EMPLOYEES considered “ahead of sched- “If we don’t know about in which President Trump is- GEORGIA...... 32,212 ule.” To aid in the recovery, Lee their needs, we can’t meet sued the declaration is “un- ARKANSAS...... 28,390 County Sheriff Jay Jones said them,” she said. heard of.” ALABAMA...... 22,278 multiple response units from Individuals will be able to Both Carson and Jones said NORTH CAROLINA...... 21,759 both inside and outside the visit disaster recovery centers FEMA has been very respon- MISSISSIPPI...... 15,497 community are helping repair that open soon, to meet with sive in the county. SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2016; National Poultry Day is March 19 the damage. representatives from organi- The Lee County Emergency

President Editor and ADVERTISING STAFF Published biweekly except August by: The appearance of paid advertisements in County POSTMASTER: send address changes to Greg Cox Senior Writer Job Market/Classifieds National Association of Counties News in no way implies support or endorsement County News, 660 N. Capitol Street, N.W. Mary Ann Barton by the National Association of Counties for any of Publisher representative Research Foundation, Inc. STE. 400, Washington, D.C. 20001 Matthew Chase Digital Editor 660 N. Capitol Street, N.W. STE. 400, the products, services or messages advertised. National Accounts (USPS 704-620) n (ISSN: 0744-9798) and Senior Writer Washington, D.C. 20001 Periodicals postage paid at Washington D.C. and Public Affairs © National Association of Counties Charlie Ban representative 202.393.6226 | FAX 866.752.1573 other offices. Director Research Foundation, Inc. Brian Namey Staff Writer Mary Ann Barton E-mail [email protected] Mail subscriptions are $100 per year for non-mem- Rachel Looker 202.942.4223 Online address www.countynews.org bers. $60 per year for non-members purchasing Design Director FAX 866.752.1573 multiple copies. Educational institution rate, $50 Leon Lawrence III per year. Member county supplemental subscrip- tions are $20 each. Send payment with order and address changes to NACo, 660 N. Capitol Street, We are committed to getting County News on your desktop ASAP. Send your address corrections to [email protected]. N.W. STE. 400, Washington, D.C. 20001. COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES MARCH 18, 2019 3 County outreach assists census response from hard-to-count populations From CENSUS page 1

“This isn’t a Republican issue or a Democratic issue, this is a national issue.” Census data determine re- gional eligibility for programs including rental assistance programs, loan programs, di- rect payments and the Nation- al School Lunch program. The Supplemental Nutrition Assis- tance Program allocates $71 billion per year based on census data. Although the controversial citizenship question remains in the courts, counties can still pre- pare by organizing outreach ef- forts to make residents aware of the census and the importance of having an accurate count. “If your state association Stanley Moore, commissioner, Cook County, Ill. explains to the Rural Action Caucus March 3 why complete count committees are im- doesn’t have a seat on your portant. Photos by Leon Lawrence III governor’s complete count task prescribe how it is you will do fering. ulation one way or shifts the force, ask for one,” said Gary your work because every area of Doyle explained that if three population another way, but the Moore, Boone County, Ky.’s the country is different and you internet-first postcards, sent truth of the matter is you have to judge-executive and NACo’s know what’s best for your com- to 95 percent of the U.S. pop- come up with some kind of met- second vice president. “That’s munity, certainly much better ulation, go unanswered, the ric to do that,” she said. where the work is done and the than we do.” bureau will send a paper form. According to the Census Bu- money is allocated.” Moore suggested that coun- Addresses that don’t follow an reau, April 1 has been the refer- Among states most likely to ties should recruit volunteers to typical urban or suburban for- ence date since 1910. see congressional changes as a staff their complete count com- mat would be sent paper forms During the RAC day of action result of population shifts, Mary mittees, to promote grass-roots by default. March 6, Blue Earth County, Jo Hoeksema, Population Asso- support for the effort rather The internet-first approach is Minn. Commissioner Vance ciation of America, said Texas, than elected officials instituting a cost-saving measure to avoid Stuehrenberg acknowledged California, Arizona and Colo- a top-down approach. printing and mailing unnec- that while the loss of the stu- rado likely stood to gain seats, Sylvia Doyle, U.S. Census The Census Bureau’s Haley essary paper forms or sending dent population hurt some while Minnesota, Michigan, Bureau Ashcom said later that if coun- enumerators in person to com- counties, it accurately repre- Rhode Island and Illinois were get the lines of responsibility ties assign a staff member as plete counts for each house- sented where those students likely to lose seats. crossed, Stanley Moore said. a liaison to the their complete hold. If those paper forms go would be using county services To retain 18 congressional “Your complete count com- county committee, they should unanswered, then an enumera- most of the year. seats, Stanley Moore said, Il- mission does not count people, choose a staff member who tor will try in person to reach the Nathan Ohle, executive di- linois would have to grow its your complete count commis- works in communications or resident at home. rector of Rural Community As- population to 13.6 million from sion educates people on the public affairs, versus one from “If people in your county sistance Partnership, pointed the 2010 census’ count of 12.9 importance of being counted,” the planning department. don’t want someone knocking out to RAC meeting attendees million. he said. “The census will do the “It’s going to be an out- on their door, you should ex- that 79 percent of what the “We’ve only gained about counting. Your job is to go out ward-facing role dealing with plain that it’s important they Census Bureau called “hard-to- 50,000, so we are extremely con- and make sure people who are the public better suited for their answer the mailed form,” Doyle count” counties were rural, and cerned about this,” he said. “In- uncounted or hard to count un- skills, even though planning said. could be disproportionately af- diana gained 122,000.” derstand the importance of be- might seem more relevant.” fected by low response rates. ing counted.” Save the date “If you get a miscount, where Complete counts Sylvia Doyle, intergovern- Rural concerns The reference date for the you have an underrepresenta- In Illinois, the state has set mental affairs liaison at the Cen- In 2016, 60 programs using census, that people should an- tion or overrepresentation of aside $33 million for its state- sus Bureau, further outlined the census data specifically targeted swer in the county where they household income, you can be wide complete commission role of the committees. rural areas distributed $30 bil- live most of the time as of April 1, eliminated from viability for and encouraged every county to “They are formed in whatever lion, which was of great interest will cause students to be count- some USDA program,” he said. set up its own local committee. way and by whoever you feel is to RAC members. ed at their college addresses. “These miscounts often affect Cook County funded its to the going to work for your commu- The Census Bureau has set a That led to complaints from primarily communities of color, tune of $2 million. nity. They are there to educate, goal for 55 percent of respon- several RAC members. Doyle communities in the South and “It’s an investment because if inform and assist your com- dents to reply online. Though acknowledged that that date tribal areas.” they have the correct number of munity in whatever way you this goal caused some conster- would end up hurting rural “It’s up to us to connect people, they’re going to get bil- feel they need,” she said. “(The nation among RAC members, counties those dones more clearly for lions back,” Gary Moore said. Census Bureau) will get you ma- the online option is just the first “There are communities people to know what is at But it is important not to terials and advice, but we don’t of several that the bureau is of- where that (date) shifts the pop- stake,” he said. 4 MARCH 18, 2019 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS NACo’s ‘New’ County Explorer more simple, accessible

by Ricardo Aguilar

NACo’s Counties Futures Lab unveiled an upgrade to its County Explorer tool during the Legislative Conference. On the surface, it is a simple interactive map, but under the hood, it contains a universe of data and insights. Currently, County Explorer has more than 800 indicators each telling a unique county story. The powerful tool can com- pare counties across multi- ple data points and create pre-packaged advocacy mate- rial — and serves as a founda- tion and a resource for NACo members. Simple, accessible and im- pactful describe the guiding principles which have led to the creation of the new tool. The new County Explorer is more user-friendly with its easy-to-navigate menus. The tool sports a redesigned user interface which makes exploring data simple, while maintaining familiarity, along with a sleek visual representa- tion of the data. It now works on mobile devices and looks particularly great on tablets. County Explorer’s landing page features the newly de- on topics, counties and cities. rized counties and click on A new style of county and nardino County in California, signed “Find a County” fea- The search feature not only the same category again to state profiles has also been you get PILT information for ture. combines multiple County get back to the full map. Ad- created. The new profiles have the county, state and the Unit- The feature allows County Explorer functionalities into ditionally, double-clicking on a beautiful interface which ed States. Additionally, a table Explorer users to type in any one area, but it is far more counties will create a Quick provides a lot more informa- with data for all the counties keyword to look for counties. comprehensive than previous Compare table which allows tion on the topic. Profiles now in California is added at the “Find a County” combines tools. comparison of information on include tables with informa- bottom of the profile. the city/ZIP search, state Comparing data in County the current map. tion about other counties in In addition to a better ex- search and county search Explorer is easy. The Quick Compare tool that county’s state. perience, simple yet elegant into one. Just type in the You can click on any of the enables you to compare data For example, if you open design and impactful new name of a city or a ZIP code, categories on the map legend for up to 10 counties (example the Payments in Lieu of Tax- features and data, the new hit “enter” and County Ex- to isolate similarly catego- below). es (PILT) profile for San Ber- County Explorer tool offers plorer will present you with lots more content, reach and a list of counties correspond- functionality. ing to your search. You can experience the new The redesigned county in- County Explorer at Explorer. formation box features an NACo.org and sign up for the interface with state-specific monthly email letter to stay images themed “America the up to date with everything Beautiful.” County Explorer. The long-term goal is to have a photo for each county, Aguilar is a data analyst in which represents a point of NACo’s Counties Futures Lab. pride for their community. Teryn Zmuda, director of Re- The search bar on the top search and Data Analytics in right part of the navigation bar NACo’s Counties Futures Lab, can now help with searches contributed to this article. COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES MARCH 18, 2019 5 Supreme Court to take up 2020 census citizenship question

by Lisa Soronen in accordance with law. 93-year-old, 40-foot tall Latin cross violates the Establish- and universalization of re- A federal district court found cross memorializing soldiers ment Clause. ligion, and not the message *Indicates a case where the numerous APA violations in who died in World War I. The lower court first con- of individual memorializa- SLLC has filed or will file an the manner in which the ques- The Fourth Circuit applied cluded that the cross has a sec- tion and remembrance that is amicus brief. tion was added to the census. the so-called three-prong ular purpose, thus passing the presented by a field of grave- The Supreme Court’s docket For example, “[Ross] failed to Lemon test, as modified by first prong of the Lemon test. stones.” for its current term is set. This consider several important the Supreme Court’s most re- Specifically, the Commission The Fourth Circuit also term lacked a blockbuster case aspects of the problem; alter- cent monument decision Van obtained the cross to maintain concluded that the cross fails for local governments (and in nately ignored, cherry-picked, Orden v. Perry (2005), to con- safety near a busy highway in- Lemon’s third prong because general) until the Court de- or badly misconstrued the clude that the government dis- tersection and preserves the it creates an excessive entan- cided to hear a case challeng- evidence in the record before play and maintenance of this memorial to honor World War glement between government ing the addition of a question him; acted irrationally both in I soldiers. and religion. First, the Com- about citizenship to the 2020 light of that evidence and his But the Fourth Circuit con- mission has spent $117,000 census. own stated decisional criteria; cluded that a reasonable ob- to maintain and repair it. In The Court will also decide and failed to justify significant The Supreme Court server would understand this 2008 it set aside an additional a religious display on public departures from past policies will decide wheth- cross to advance religion. The $100,000 for renovations. land case, a significant proce- and practices — a veritable er the Secretary of Latin cross is the “preeminent “Second, displaying the dural employment case and a smorgasbord of classic, clear- symbol of Christianity.” While Cross, particularly given its case involving money damag- cut APA violations.” Commerce violated the cross has secular elements size, history, and context, es against a local government In Maryland-National Cap- the Administrative (like the words “valor,” “en- amounts to excessive entan- employee who allegedly fabri- ital Park and Planning Com- Procedures Act (APA) durance,” “courage” and “de- glement because the Commis- cated evidence used in a trial. mission v. American Human- votion” inscribed on its base sion is displaying the hallmark In Department of Commerce ist Association* the Supreme by adding a question and a plaque at the base listing symbol of Christianity in a v. New York, the Supreme Court will decide whether a about citizenship to the memorialized soldiers), manner that dominates its sur- Court will decide whether the local government has violat- the 2020 census. the “immense size and prom- roundings and not only over- Secretary of Commerce vio- ed the First Amendment by inence of the Cross” ... “evokes whelms all other monuments lated the Administrative Pro- displaying and maintaining a a message of aggrandizement at the park, but also excludes cedures Act (APA) by adding all other religious tenets.” a question about citizenship The question the Supreme to the 2020 census. In March Court will decide in Fort Bend 2018, Secretary of Commerce County v. Davis*is if an em- Wilbur Ross issued a memo- ployee fails to exhaust admin- randum stating he would add istrative remedies with the the question (for the first time EEOC before filing a lawsuit, is since 1960). He claimed the the lawsuit barred? Department of Justice (DOJ) Lois Davis claims she was wanted the data to enforce the fired for not reporting to work Voting Rights Act’s prohibi- on a Sunday (she attended a tion against diluting the voting church service), in retaliation power of minority groups. for reporting that she was sex- The Census Bureau “strenu- ually harassed and sexually as- ously” objected warning “that saulted by a superior. She filed adding a citizenship question sexual harassment and retal- would harm the quality of cen- iation charges with the Texas sus data and increase costs sig- Workforce Commission. After nificantly and that it would do investigating, the Commission so for no good reason because told her she could sue and she there was an alternative way to brought a retaliation and reli- satisfy DOJ’s purported needs gious discrimination lawsuit. that would not cause those Fort Bend pointed out she harms.” didn’t exhaust her adminis- A number of state and local trative remedies by filing a governments and nonprofits charge of religious discrimina- sued the Secretary claiming tion with the Texas Workforce that adding this question is Commission. Fort Bend argues arbitrary and capricious in vi- that administrative exhaustion olation of the APA. The APA is a jurisdictional requirement prohibits federal agencies of Title VII, meaning if an em- from acting in a manner that is arbitrary and capricious or not See HIGH COURT page 6 6 MARCH 18, 2019 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS Local government EEOC case coming up before Supreme Court

From HIGH COURT page 5 enforcement process and the on the day of his acquittal. news, Justice Brett Kavana- power of a court to hear a Title McDonough argued his ugh joined the Supreme Court ployee fails to satisfy it, a court VII case.” Since 2010, claim was most analogous to this term replacing Justice cannot hear the case. The issue the Supreme Court the Supreme a malicious prosecution claim, Anthony Kennedy. The most Davis argues that exhaustion will decide in McDonough v. Court has refused which does not accrue until a obvious impact of him joining is a “waivable claim-process- Smith is whether the statute of favorable termination of the the Court thus far is the Court ing requirement” and that Fort limitations for a due process to hear almost prosecution. agreeing to hear New York Bend waived it by waiting five fabrication of evidence claim 100 gun cases. But according to the Second State Rifle & Pistol Association years “and an entire round of begins to run when the crim- Circuit: “Because the injury New York State Rifle & Pistol appeals all the way to the Su- inal proceedings terminate in for this constitutional viola- Association Inc. v. City of New preme Court” before raising it. the defendant’s favor or when fabricating evidence.” tion occurs at the time the York, New York.* In this case The Fifth Circuit held that the defendant becomes aware After two trials, McDonough evidence is used against the the Court will decide whether the failure to exhaust admin- of the tainted evidence and its was ultimately acquitted. Just defendant to deprive him of New York City’s ban on trans- istrative remedies is a waivable improper use. before three years passed since his liberty, whether it be at the porting a handgun to a home rule, not a jurisdictional rule, Edward McDonough, for- McDonough was acquitted, he time he is arrested, faces trial, or shooting range outside that would bar the lawsuit mer Democratic commission- sued Smith under Section 1983 or is convicted, it is when he city limits violates the Second from proceeding. The lower er of Rensselaer County (N.Y.) for violating his due process becomes aware of that tainted Amendment, the Commerce court reasoned: “Here, Con- Board of Elections, approved rights by fabricating evidence evidence and its improper use Clause, or the constitutional gress did not suggest — much forged absentee ballot appli- and using it against him. that the harm is complete and right to travel. Since 2010, the less clearly state — that Title cations which he claims he The Second Circuit held that the cause of action accrues. In- Supreme Court has refused VII’s administrative exhaus- didn’t know had been falsified. McDonough’s due process deed, the harm — and the due to hear almost 100 gun cases. tion requirement is jurisdic- Youel Smith investigated claim was time barred because process violation — is in the This case will not be decided tional, and so we must treat and prosecuted McDonough. the three-year statute of lim- use of the fabricated evidence until next term. this requirement as non-ju- McDonough claims Smith “en- itations started running when to cause a liberty deprivation, risdictional in character. The gaged in an elaborate scheme the fabricated evidence had not in the eventual resolution Lisa Soronen is executive direc- statute says nothing about a to frame McDonough for the been disclosed to him (as late of the criminal proceeding.” tor of the State and Local Legal connection between the EEOC crimes by, among other things, as the end of his first trial), not In other Supreme Court Center in Washington, D.C.

CONNECTING THE UNCONNECTED

#NGCM

Learn more www.NAC.org/ncgm COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES MARCH 18, 2019 7 Perdue plugs TestIt app, plans for rural broadband

USDA Sec. Sonny Perdue (right) touts a new app launched by NACo that helps measure the strength of internet connectivity in an attempt to help map coverage in rural areas. He was introduced by NACo President Greg Cox. Perdue addressed NACo members at the General Session March 5. Photo by Denny Henry

by Charlie Ban accurate,” he said. “I think you to connect one another — ru- state and local levels, which senior writer all can be very, very helpful ral, urban, suburban — for the Perdue thinks, particularly with the data nationwide to benefit of our great country, I after inviting county elected The divide between urban report in. think it’s going to require con- officials to the White House, and rural America seems to “Those unserved areas, nectivity.” the Trump administration is be growing, but U.S. Secretary those underserved areas are In some places, he added, building. of Agriculture Sonny Perdue exactly what we’re looking “You’ve got kids in your coun- “We want to be on your side, sees an opportunity to bridge for.” ty driving to town 10 to 20 our building doesn’t get big- that divide, with counties’ He also promoted USDA’s miles to do their homework ger or better without a strong help. ReConnect program, which is in a parking lot. Think about foundation,” he said. Like residents of many rural offering $600 million evenly the creativity and ingenuity if Perdue reflected on his own counties, he sees that bridge divided among grants, loans we could get broadband to ev- service in county government, to be broadband internet ac- and loan-grants combinations ery home, every hamlet, every as a Houston County, Ga. cess, and he sees himself as a Planning & Zoning Commis- proponent in the Trump ad- “It was the best experience I sion member in the 1980s. ministration for a “moonshot” “It was the best experience I effort to get ubiquitous broad- could have for a public official could have for a public official band access across America. — it taught me how to listen.” — it taught me how to listen,” While speaking to the Gen- he said. “We saw the right to —Perdue, on his own county experience eral Session March 5, he en- own property colliding with couraged county officials to the tension for the communi- spread the use of NACo’s Tes- to help build rural broadband field across America. We need “Those lines blur, you’ve ty good — that I can do with tIt app, which evaluates the infrastructure. Grant appli- it now, sooner rather than lat- seen some or your counties my property most everything strength of internet connec- cations are due April 29, loan e r.” transition,” he said. “We’re I want as long as it doesn’t tivity and sends it to a central and grant combination appli- He sees a lot of common working together on common affect my neighbors. It taught map, to help give NACo and cations are due May 29 and mission and customers with policies and protocols and me how proud we were of our USDA tangible numbers with low-interest loan applications the Small Business Adminis- rules and regulations when communities, our neighbor- which to work as the govern- are due June 28. tration and other executive those things change, how hoods and our properties.” ment seeks to spread broad- “Ubiquitous broadband departments, including Hous- do we work together. Clarity He also remarked that he band internet access. from the major cities to the ing and Urban Development, leads to compliance.” only worked in an advisory “These data maps we have smallest hamlets is the rural particularly as some rural Underlying all of those ef- role for the county, and that basically from the incumbent electrification of the 21st cen- counties transition to become forts, though, is a strong con- the big decisions were left to carriers I don’t think are quite tury,” he said. “If we’re going suburban and urban areas. nection among the federal, the elected officials. 8 MARCH 18, 2019 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS HUD Secretary Ben Carson: Opportunity Zones can lift distressed communities out of poverty

by Mary Ann Barton of these areas in all, Carson editor said, where 35 million people live — more than 10 percent of Taking advantage of Oppor- the U.S. population. tunity Zones and streamlining Carson urged county offi- regulations are two ways that cials to align transportation, county officials can help cre- land use plans and infrastruc- ate more affordable housing in ture projects with private de- their communities, HUD Sec- velopment to maximize re- retary Ben Carson told coun- turns for all — investors, the ty officials March 5 at NACo’s county and most of all “its 2019 Legislative Conference. most vulnerable residents.” “Our programs try to em- “There are always people power local governments,” said who say ‘I don’t like this be- Carson. “We have a new tool, cause rich people are always Opportunity Zones, created by getting an advantage.’ You the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Bill.” know what? I don’t care who The goal of Opportunity Zones gets an advantage, as long as is to spur private investment in everybody gets an advantage,” low-income rural and urban Carson said to applause. “This U.S. Sec. of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson speaks with NACo Second Vice President communities nationwide. is the last place on earth that Gary Moore March 5 during the General Session at the NACo Legislative Conference. Photo by Denny Henry As chair of the Opportuni- we should be entertaining ty and Revitalization Council, class warfare.” and housing prices, Carson self-sufficiency.” see a 3D-printed house, built created by the White House In addition to Opportunity said. “A lot of these things have Later, in an interview with in 48 hours. in December, Carson oversees Zones, county officials should been on the books, 10, 20, 50, County News, Carson said he Carson also urged county the new program. Governors look at any “archaic” rules, 100 years. We need to be think- is always on the lookout for officials to check out “Humans can designate 25 percent of regulations and zoning re- ing about the rules and regula- innovation in housing — and of HUD” on the HUD website their most most economical- strictions that might be adding tions that keep people mired noted that he was on his way to read about the “trials and ly-distressed areas as Oppor- anywhere from 25–42 percent in poverty,” he noted. “These later Tuesday to Texas, where triumphs” of people that HUD tunity Zones. There are 8,761 to the cost of home-building aren’t things that promote he planned a stop in Austin to serves. Trump administration to push for ‘a million apprenticeships’ by Mary Ann Barton “Kids can take apprentice- editor ships and get a college degree with no student debt,” he said, President Donald Trump, noting that they can come who popularized apprentice- out making on average of $28 ships in his TV show “The Ap- an hour. “Is that the message prentice,” before his move to schools are sending? It’s ‘col- the White House, is pushing to lege or bust!’” make apprenticeships an even Acosta also wants county bigger part of the American officials to be aware that occu- workplace. pational licensing regulations That was the message Labor can hurt people who move Sec. Alexander Acosta touted from one state, county or city to a NACo audience March 4 to the next; he zeroed in on during the General Session. one audience that is particu- The administration has a larly hard hit: military spouses. goal of reaching 1 million new “Our men and women in apprenticeships, Acosta said. the armed forces … often, we Trump signed an executive recruit them as an individual order in 2017 to increase the U.S. Sec. of Labor Alexander Acosta speaks to NACo members March 4 during the General Session. and somewhere along the line number of apprenticeships, Photo by Denny Henry they get married,” he said. which currently stand at half a What happens with frequent million, Acosta said. the business community,” are required.” employers and educators. moves, Acosta noted, is that “We’re going to announce Acosta said. Acosta told the audience to Acosta asked county officials a spouse who is in a licensed grants of $150 million to com- “It’s a win-win. Businesses be sure to check out appren- to talk to their schools about occupation might lose that li- munity colleges, asking them get skills they ask for and col- ticeship.gov, a DOL website showing students “multiple cense, interrupting his or her to find matching partners in leges get insight into skills that that connects career seekers, paths to success.” career. COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES MARCH 18, 2019 9 Ernst stresses county roots in Senate service

by Charlie Ban “When I’m looking at a pol- senior writer icy issue in Washington, my first thought is ‘What do the Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) has folks on the ground have to say not forgotten her county roots about this particular issue?’ as the Montgomery County, I rely on local officials across Iowa auditor, a role she held Iowa to give me the informa- from 2005-2011. tion and feedback I need to “Much of what I learned make informed decisions.” and experienced as a county She supports policies that official has informed my work delegate as much authority as in the United States Senate,” possible to state and local gov- she told the Opening General ernments. Session audience at the NACo “It’s not important only to Legislative Conference. listen to you but also to em- “Perhaps most importantly, power you,” she said. working as a county auditor Ernst also wants to see more gave me a true appreciation for diffusion of federal govern- the importance of local con- ment throughout the United U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), speaks to NACo members March 4 at the Opening General Session at the trol.” States, and introduced a bill NACo Legislative Conference. Photo by Denny Henry That county feedback and that would move executive focus on local control moti- branch agency headquarters sible policy-making,” she said. would be great for them to Echoing her senior col- vated Ernst’s sponsorship of a out of the Washington, D.C. “We would love the opportu- move out into the states that league Sen. Chuck Grassley joint resolution in 2015 to re- area. nity to compete for some of they represent.” (R-Iowa), she visits each of the scind the Waters of the United “This would bring good these headquarters, and it just Ernst lauded President state’s 99 counties every year, States of the Clean Water Act, a government jobs to different makes sense. I don’t know of Trump’s effort to bring coun- though she has a while to go thorn in county governments’ parts of the country and it too many farmers and ranch- ty officials to the White House to match Grassley’s 38-year sides for years. would also result in more sen- ers in the D.C. Metro area. It over his first two years in office. streak.

CELEBRATING 49 YEARS OF INNOVATION 2019 ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

APPLY FOR THE 2019 ACHIEVEMENT IMPORTANT DATES: AWARDS • SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE: Does your county have an innovative program that improves MARCH 25, 2019 AT 11:59 P.M. EDT county government and enhances services for county • NOTIFICATIONS OF ACHIEVEMENT residents? Apply for the 2019 Achievement Awards! There are AWARDS: WEEK OF APRIL 22, 2019 18 categories ranging from information technology, health, criminal justice, human services and many more. • NACo ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXPOSITION: JULY 11 – 15, 2019 To begin your application visit: CLARK COUNTY/LAS VEGAS, NEVADA www.naco.org/achievementawards 10 MARCH 18, 2019 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS LUCC members eye strategies to erase homelessness by Mary Ann Barton one important factor is to be editor sure that the infrastructure is available (sewer, roads, etc.) to Members of NACo’s Large support it. “It needs to be sus- Urban County Caucus (LUCC) tainable,” she said. discussed ways they can con- Fernandez also said that quer homelessness in their HUD is working on a proposed meeting March 3 at NACo’s rulemaking to help streamline Legislative Conference. regulations that hamper the “We face a crisis,” said Or- building of affordable housing. ange County Supervisor An- Miami-Dade County, Fla. drew Do, who was one of four Commissioner Sally Heyman panelists in the packed room noted that her county makes at the Washington Hilton. The use of a half-cent tourist tax first step that county officials that goes into a “homeless who are facing the issue of trust.” Heyman also suggested homelessness in their com- that a “best practices” on find- munities can take is to form a William Crozer, special assistant to the President and deputy director of Intergovernmental Affairs ing solutions to homelessness regional public-private leader- at the White House, speaks March 3 to members of NACo’s Large Urban County Caucus at NACo’s be accessible to NACo mem- Legislative Conference. Photo by Denny Henry ship group, he said. bers. “We have to play the role of solutions, including bringing than a third struggling with but we’re looking at the root The 2018 LUCC Symposium facilitator,” said Do, who not- in members of the county’s mental illness. She and her causes,” Barger said. will take place Nov. 6-8 in Mi- ed that he himself is an immi- real estate and construction fellow supervisors are urging When affordable housing ami-Dade County, Fla. grant from Vietnam. industries. their state to apply for a Medic- is going up in your county, LUCC members were ad- Fellow panelist, Clackamas Los Angeles County Super- aid waiver that would expand panelist Claudette Fernandez, vised to take advantage of the County, Ore. Commission- visor Kathryn Barger told the coverage for inpatient mental director, Office of Block Grant just-released NACo Affordable er Martha Schrader, said her audience that her county has health treatment at residential Assistance, U.S. Department Housing Toolkit: https://www. county also develops pub- about 52,000 homeless on the facilities. of Housing and Urban Devel- naco.org/resources/afford- lic-private partnerships to find streets each night, with more “There is no ‘one size fits all,’ opment (HUD), noted that able-housing-toolkit.

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www.NACo.org/WIR2019 COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES MARCH 18, 2019 11 Klobuchar talks jobs, infrastructure, criminal justice reform

by Mary Ann Barton was focused on our town. editor People went in and out of that murky water to save lives.” Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobu- “A school bus plunged down char, a former county attorney, 30 feet and the driver one by told a NACo audience March 5 one got the kids off that bus,” that Congress and county of- she said. “That is community. ficials “have our work cut out I know you have seen it every for us” when it comes to ev- single year in your own com- erything from criminal justice munities.” reform to infrastructure. “In the words of my friend The former Hennepin Coun- John McCain, fight for a cause ty attorney told NACo mem- larger than ourselves,” she bers at the annual Legislative said. Conference that it was “proba- “Locks and dams; rail, roads bly the best job I ever had.” and bridges — we need to in- Klobuchar, 58, is running for vest in infrastructure in this another job — she announced country,” she said. “I truly be- a run for the White House lieve there’s a will to get it done Feb. 10 on a snowy day in her and we need your help.” U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), waves to the crowd March 5 before addressing NACo members at hometown, joining a crowded Rural broadband, she noted, the 2019 Legislative Conference. Photo by Denny Henry field of Democrats running for should be able to “get done” in president in 2020. the United States “by 2022.” On another issue important about the taxpayer burden.” ey with shorter sentences and “We couldn’t have a more “If the whole country of Ice- to counties — immigration re- Challenges to counties, she treatment for drug offenders, important time for local of- land is hooked up I think we form — the country needs to said, continue to be the opioid she added. ficials…with healthcare, in- can too” she said. “There’s no look at it “not just as a securi- epidemic and criminal justice “There’s a lot of work cut out frastructure or dealing with reason we should have a digi- ty issue,” she said. “We need reform. Government needs to for us,” she said. criminal justice issues,” said tal divide.” workers in our factories and change prescription practic- “I have an optimistic view of Klobuchar, who mentioned Other areas that need work, our fields. They are America.” es and stop illegal drugs from our country, I see people every she was recovering from a she said include workforce Costs in the form of pharma- coming out of places like Chi- day doing their jobs, like you. cold. training. “Counties have job ceuticals and healthcare was na, she said. I’ve been there on the local lev- “It’s one of the reasons I get openings and the workforce another topic that Klobuchar Criminal justice reform is a el and I bring that every day to energized when I visit all of our doesn’t match up,” she said. mentioned in her address, challenge whether you’re in work.” 87 counties in Minnesota.” “We should be doing so much specifically how to bring down a rural or urban county,” she “We want to improve peo- What she hears when she’s more with apprenticeships. those costs by stopping “big said. ples’ lives and we need to put visiting counties in Minneso- Not everyone wants to needs a pharma” from “paying off ge- “Part of our job is to build politics aside,” Klobuchar said. ta: The cost of their healthcare, four-year degree.” nerics to keep their products trust and talk about what we “I cannot emphasize infrastructure and workforce “My own dad started out off the market.” can do better. We have to have enough how important that issues, she said. with a two-year degree,” she “We don’t have compeititon more accountability in our is. So, thank you for being at “What it means is we should said. “There are many paths for for so many drugs,” she noted. criminal justice system,” such that point in democracy. If we be governing from the heart, success and we need to design “Think about what we could as videotaping interrogations, didn’t have you I think we’d from opportunity and not from our education system to meet do” if Medicare could negoti- she said. be in a lot more trouble in this chaos,” she noted. those needs.” ate prices, she added. “It’s also Counties can also save mon- country.” Klobuchar recounted a story about the Interstate-35 bridge, an eight-lane steel truss arch bridge, that fell across the Welcome, Pike County, Ill. Saint Anthony Falls of the Mis- Pike County was founded in 1821 and sissippi River. is named for Zebulon Pike, leader of “Last time I was here, I re- GET TO the Pike expedition in 1806 to map member the story about the KNOW... out the south and west portions of bridge coming down on a the Louisiana Purchase. The county beautiful day in Minnesota,” Pike seat and most populous city in the coun- she said. “A bridge shouldn’t County, Ill. ty is Pittsfield, where Abraham Lincoln fall down in the middle of practiced law. The county courthouse America.” built in 1894 and designed by Robert The bigger story, she noted Franklin, is a popular landmark and “was about community. When often photographed by tourists. it collapsed, the entire world 12 MARCH 18, 2019 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS SRS supporters advocate Counties can boost for long-term funding economy by wooing foreign investment

by Mary Ann Barton (EDOs) with qualified foreign editor firms to jumpstart business in- vestment and job creation. Pasco County, Fla. Commis- “It’s sort of like speed dat- sioner Kathryn Starkey wants ing,” said Starkey, who was to get the word out to counties recognized in 2017 as “Inter- that there are foreign compa- national Person of the Year” by nies out there looking to ex- the Tampa Bay Organization of pand. Women in International Trade. Just ask her — she travels to Panelist Marek Gootman, Switzerland and Germany on fellow and director of Strate- trade missions to talk to com- gic Partnerships and Global pany heads that have located Initiatives at the Brookings In- in her county. Pasco County stitution in Washington, D.C., sits just north of Tampa. said he often sees well-mean- Starkey moderated a discus- ing economic development sion about international trade activities going on, “but they’re Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) speaks to the crowd during the PILT and SRS press conference March 5 at the U.S. Capitol. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) stands to the left. Photo by Denny Henry Sunday with members of NA- not well-coordinated, there is Co’s International Economic limited strategy.” by Charlie Ban as ranking Democrat on the managed by the Bureau of Rec- Development Task Force Sat- “There is a significant senior writer Senate Finance Committee, lamation, Bureau of Land Man- urday as part of the NACo Leg- amount of resources but it’s and Crapo, the senior Republi- agement, U.S. Fish and Wildlife islative Conference. not organized,” he said. Coun- With sympathetic legislators can on the committee, seemed Service and U.S. Forest Service. Speaker Brian Lenihan, ex- ties need to partner with oth- in influential positions, county to have the clout to move the “When SRS wasn’t reautho- ecutive director of SelectUSA, er counties, cities, business and congressional supporters bill. rized (for FY 2016), we were Commerce Department pro- groups and universities to sell of federal public lands policies “We just might be well posi- having conversations on what gram, told audience members themselves to foreign inves- feel they’re in a better place tioned to finally get the revenue roads we were going to grind that they have a chance to tell tors, he said. than ever to achieve long-term to secure the services that you up,” said Commissioner Mark their county’s story to inves- Brand recognition and visi- stability for crucial funding pro- had a right to have starting over Owens. tors at the annual Investment bility, in the context of the re- grams. 100 years ago,” he said. “We were not going to have Summit set for June 10-12 at gion, is extremely important, At a Capitol Hill briefing “This is going to be a chal- the money to protect the invest- the Washington Hilton. Gootman noted. March 5, those supporters ad- lenge, we’ll have to educate ment and the equity in infra- SelectUSA pairs economic “Ask yourself: What is our vocated for permanent fund- members of Congress who structure of our roads. We were development organizations advantage?” ing for the Payment in Lieu of come from places where there talking about losing 24-hour Taxes (PILT) program and a aren’t a lot of federal lands.” law enforcement and hospice long-term funding solution for “We already did it once, 20 care.” the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) years ago nobody had ever Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Ca- program, both of which com- heard of any of us.” lif.), a former Santa Barbara pensate counties for federally Rep. Cathy McMorris Rod- County supervisor, didn’t like managed land that cannot be gers (R-Wash.), chair of the that proposition. taxed. House Republican Conference, “That uncertainty is not the In particular, they champi- framed PILT and SRS as leveling way local governments want oned the Forest Management the playing field for rural coun- to budget to address safe- for Rural Stability Act, spon- ties. The 10 Eastern Washington ty-net issues like making sure sored by Sens. Ron Wyden counties in her district received our homeless veterans have (D-Ore.) and Mike Crapo $4.5 million in PILT funding in services, that we have mental (R-Idaho), which would create FY 2018. health programs, that we are an endowment to fully fund “Without PILT and SRS, serving our infrastructure and SRS, first passed in 2000 and many of the counties I repre- providing for public safety,” he which Wyden sponsored. sent would only struggle more said. “We are as close now as we to keep up,” she said. The tradeoff seemed fair to have ever been,” said Sen. Jeff “Both of these programs Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.). Merkley (D-Ore.), who that day need long-term certainty. Our “If we’re going to have fed- declined to run for president in rural counties need this cer- eral lands, we should compen- favor of a Senate reelection race tainty.” sate the counties that provide in 2020. Harney County, Ore., which emergency services, provide “We need to seize this mo- received $2.8 million in FY roads and other services that Brian Lenihan, executive director, SelectUSA, U.S. Department of ment and make this happen.” 2018, is larger than six states county residents depend on,” Commerce, speaks March 3 to NACo members at the International Wyden pointed out that he, but three-quarters of its land is he said. Economic Development Task Force meeting. Photo by Denny Henry COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES MARCH 18, 2019 13 Seeking DOJ grants? ‘Identify a need’ MARTHA PROFILES IN SCHRADER Board Member SERVICE Commissioner Clackamas County, Ore.

Number of years involved in NACo: 16 Years in public service: 16 Occupation: County Commis- sioner Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Biology/Environment Edu- cation from Cornell University; Master of Science in Entomology from the University of Illinois; SCHRADER Master of Science in Education from Portland State University Andre Bethea, policy advisor, Corrections, Bureau of Justice Assistance, speaks March 2 to members Every morning I read: Celtic of NACo’s Justice and Public Safety Policy Steering Committee. Photo by Denny Henry The hardest thing I’ve ever Prayers from Iona by Mary Ann Barton make awards if you don’t apply “Identify a need in your done is: Raise my five children My favorite meal is: Home- editor — creativity is on you,” he told community,” he said. “There is and run a 60-acre farm at the made ravioli with meat sauce same time members of NACo’s Justice a great deal of flexibility.” My pet peeve is: Getting up Andre Bethea, policy advi- and Public Safety Policy Steer- Bethea, a former 911 opera- Three people (living or at 6 a.m. sor for Corrections and Reen- ing Committee March 2 at the tor in New York early on in his dead) I’d invite to dinner The last book I read was: try, Justice Department, has a kick-off to the association’s an- career, amazed members with are: Pope John XXIII, Mohandas Leadership in Turbulent Times message for counties: “I can’t nual Legislative Conference. his ability to recall grant activ- Gandhi and Martin Luther King, by Doris Kearns Goodwin ity in each state and discussed Jr. Moon- with members which states A dream I have is to: Travel My favorite movie is: From HEADLINE page x struck and counties were actively the world with a backpack seeking and getting grants, and

THE My favorite music: Anything ON MOVE You’d be surprised to learn: which were not. by Bruce Springsteen NACo COUNTY OFFICIALS County officials and staff I was a librarian at a Benedictine My favorite U.S. president: ●● Second Vice President Gary Moore spoke to the National heard from federal partners monastery Lyndon B. Johnson Association of Regional Councils Feb. 11 in Washington, D.C., and policy experts on the latest The most adventurous updating the membership on NACo’s federal policy achieve- developments in justice-relat- thing I’ve ever done is: Hike My county is a NACo mem- ments. ed policy issues. Lake Como and the Swiss Alps ber because: The organization ●● First Vice President Mary Ann Borgeson gave an update Discussion topics included (last year!) brings all the counties in the Feb. 12 on NACo federal legislative efforts at the West Vir- the outlook for implemen- My favorite way to relax is United States together where we can share ideas from diverse ginia Association of Counties conference in Kanawha County tation of the Juvenile Justice to: Read and go kayaking (Charleston). Delinquency Prevention Act communities about good gover- ●● President Greg Cox spoke Feb. 14 at the Police Jury As- and the Second Chance Act, I’m most proud of: My nance. sociation of Louisiana’s conference in Calcasieu Parish (Lake passed in the closing days of children Charles). the 115th Congress. “I’m for pushing funding NACo STAFF outside of the beltway,” Caren ●● Abel Darg recently joined NACo as Harp, administrator, Office of a staff accountant and is responsible Juvenile Justice Delinquency for accounts receivables, membership Prevention, Justice Depart- dues/sponsor revenues, general ledger ment, told the audience. processes and account reconciliations. Several members of the Prior to joining NACo, Abel worked as a committee had questions for financial analyst with Easter Seals. Abel Darg Harp about prevention fund- holds bachelor’s degrees in Accounting ing for girls and women since A dream I and Business, as well as a master’s de- they’re seeing an uptick in have is to: gree in Accounting. crime in that demographic. ●● Rachel Looker has joined the staff Harp told them there’s $2 Travel the of County News as a writer responsible million a year to spend na- world with a for contributing articles for each bimonth- tionwide, and some said they backpack ly issue. Prior to joining NACo, Rachel thought that amount was too worked as a web producer and assign- low. He said to be sure to let ment editor for WFMZ-TV. Rachel holds Looker their representatives in Con- a bachelor’s degree in Digital Media from gress know if their communi- Marywood University in Scranton, Pa. ties need more funding in that area. 14 MARCH 18, 2019 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS Zero traffic deaths? Not a pipe dream by Charlie Ban highways and roads at HDR, crucial to improving road safe- to bring all factors together. cal improvements and safety senior writer Inc., an architectural, engi- ty, but stressed that leadership Engineering, education, emer- features are added to every neering and consulting firm. was paramount. gency services and enforce- model year Bernard Arseneau told the He previously worked for the “Top-down leadership does ment all complement each 4. Enhanced emergency Transportation Steering Com- Minnesota Department of work,” he said. “You have the other. medical services - improved mittee that it’s not unrealistic Transportation. ability and influence to say ‘we Focusing on six areas, he response times and making to imagine a world with no fa- “This whole concept of zero have to do more.’” said, can influence road safety. sure accident victims are taken talities on public roads. is something people struggle He added that a technical Those areas are: to the appropriate medical fa- And even if that target isn’t with,” he said. champion, one who is working 1. The road infrastructure cilities are crucial hit, any improvement would be “We’re not going to get there in engineering or enforcement itself 5. Safer vulnerable users- better than the 37,133 deaths tomorrow … we can have a departments, was pivotal, too, 2. The driver - more than 90 such as bicyclists, motorcy- recorded in 2018, which was broader collaboration of folks giving a political leader some percent of traffic accidents are clists and pedestrians an improvement over 2017. who can buy into this thing.” backup. due to driver error 6. Improved safety manage- Arseneau is the director of He outlined the six areas Collaboration is necessary 3. The vehicle - technologi- ment. NACo, sheriffs zero in on Medicaid inmate policy

by Mary Ann Barton den” is “unconscionable.” ●● Co-Chair: Nancy Sharpe, Orange County, Fla. ●● Hon. John McMahon, sher- editor “This is our humanitarian ob- commissioner, Arapahoe Coun- ●● Hon. John Flynn, district at- iff, San Bernardino County, Ca- ligation — we must treat these ty, Colo. torney, Erie County, N.Y.; Board lif. NACo is teaming up with people with dignity,” he noted. ●● Co-Chair: Greg Cham- of Directors member, National ●● Hon. Gabriel Morgan Sr., the National Sheriffs’ Associ- “[We] must stop putting them pagne, sheriff, St. Charles Par- District Attorneys Association sheriff, Newport News, Va. ation (NSA) to try to put a stop in jails and put them where they ish, La. ●● Hon. Daron Hall, sheriff, Da- ●● Hon. Christopher Moss, to a practice that leads to more belong,” he said to applause. ●● Delrice Adams, executive vidson County, Tenn. county executive, Chemung problems — people who lose Thompson urged the audi- director, Cook County, Ill. Jus- ●● Hon. Michael Heldman, County, N.Y. their Medicaid benefits when ence to talk to members of Con- tice Advisory Council sheriff, Hancock County, Ohio ●● Hon. Eric Severson, sheriff, they’re locked up in jail, NACo gress on Tuesday when they vis- ●● Hon. Michael Adkinson, ●● Hon. David Hudson, judge, Waukesha County, Wisc. President Greg Cox announced it Capitol Hill. sheriff, Walton County, Fla. Sebastian County, Ark. ●● Hon. Helen Stone, commis- at NACo’s Legislative Confer- “Share those personal sto- ●● Hon. Kathryn Barger, super- ●● Hon. Clay Jenkins, judge, sioner, Chatham County, Ga. ence. ries,” he said. “Tell them about visor, Los Angeles County, Calif. Dallas County, Texas ●● Hon. Tim Svenson, sheriff, NACo is teaming up with the the 17-year old who woke up ●● Hon. Roy Charles Brooks, ●● Hon. Peter J. Koutoujian, Yamhill County, Ore. NSA, forming a task force to one day with schizophrenia and commissioner, Tarrant County, sheriff, Middlesex County, Mass. ●● Hon. Janet Thompson, com- tackle the problem. couldn’t control his rage. Tell Texas ●● Hon. Steven Leifman, asso- missioner, Boone County, Mo. Medicaid benefits are them about the 35-year old with ●● Hon. Brett Clark, sheriff, ciate administrative judge, Elev- ●● Hon. Errol Toulon, Jr., sher- stripped from people “on ad- PTSD who did nothing more Hendricks County, Ind. enth Judicial Circuit of Florida, iff, Suffolk County, N.Y. mission to jail, not upon con- than decide it was so hot out, he ●● Hon. Jerry Clayton, sheriff, Miami-Dade County, Fla. ●● Hon. Jenny Wilson, mayor, viction, terminating federal had to take his clothes off to stay Washtenaw County, Mich. ●● Nick Macchione, director, Salt Lake County, Utah benefits from those who are cool.” ●● Hon. Thomas Dart, sheriff, Health and Human Services ●● Edward Zachary, director, presumed innocent — it is a “We cannot do this anymore,” Cook County, Ill. Agency, San Diego County, Veterans Service Office, Medi- violation of their constitutional he said. “The most civilized na- ●● Hon. Jerry Demings, mayor, Calif. na County, Ohio rights,” said Cox, a San Diego tion in the world is locking peo- County supervisor, at the March ple up … because they’re men- 4 General Session. He intro- tally ill or addicted to a drug.” duced NSA Executive Direc- “Ladies and gentlemen to- tor Jonathan Thompson to the gether we can fix this crisis,” crowd. Thompson said. “We have a crisis before us,” The task force is made up of Thompson told the audience. NACo and NSA members repre- “Every day in this country, more senting county leaders, law en- than 300,000 individuals are in forcement, judges, prosecutors, our jails for one reason — be- public defenders, behavioral cause they are mentally ill.” health and veterans’ services. “To me, the father of two chil- They will explore the impacts of dren who have mental illnesses, the national mental and behav- we can’t do this alone,” he said. ioral health crisis and the Med- “We cannot arrest our way out icaid Inmate Exclusion Policy, of an opioid crisis, and we can’t which strips federal health and arrest our way out of the mental veterans’ benefits from individ- illness crisis facing this country.” uals upon admission to jail – not Thompson said asking sher- upon conviction to conviction – iffs, county officials and other leading to increased recidivism. local government officials and Members of the task force Jonathan Thompson, CEO and executive director of the National Sheriffs’ Association, speaks during employees to “carry this bur- are: the General Session March 4, after being introduced by NACo President Greg Cox (left). Photo by Denny Henry COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES MARCH 18, 2019 15 Federal legislation moving on cannabis

by Charlie Ban opposition. Proven success reg- senior writer ulating cannabis would be the record on which the movement State and local efforts to le- could run, but information ex- galize and regulate cannabis change and state sovereignty may be more consequential are crucial. than any federal drug laws en- “Most folks from Oklahoma forcement, according to Saphi- have never been to Washington ra Galoob, CEO of the Liaison (state) and seen how a regulat- Group, which lobbies exclu- ed industry will reveal itself, she sively on federal cannabis is- said. “States should be in the sues. driver’s seat. If the state wants “While you think what hap- an opt-out provision or a state pens in D.C. with me has a big wants no cannabis, then the impact on you locally, I want STATES Act approach is what to let you know it’s actually the you want.” reverse,” Galoob told partic- Galoob called the biparti- ipants March 3 at a cannabis san STATES Act, which would Federal cannabis lobbyist Saphira Galoob, CEO of the Liaison Group, addresses the Cannabis Round- roundtable. “What’s happen- recognize legalization of can- table March 3. Photo by Leon Lawrence III ing locally has far more of an nabis and the U.S. state laws impact on where we’re going that have legalized it through removing cannabis from the that would deschedule canna- ations process defunded the and how we’re going to get their legislatures or citizen ini- Drug Enforcement Agency’s bis could clear the House, the Department of Justice’s ability there federally.” tiative, a good first step, if an most-regulated Schedule I, likelihood that Senate Majority to prohibit a state from imple- There is a generational di- imperfect bill. where it has been since the Leader Mitch McConnell (R- menting its own medical can- vide among support for can- “It’s a fairly simple and di- Nixon Administration. Ky.) would allow such a vote nabis laws. nabis legalization in Congress, rect solution that allows us to “We haven’t had the are slim. Although it is difficult “We want to continue that with fairly even support across continue to evaluate how we thoughtfulness and the federal to pass standalone legislation, support so lawfully licensed younger members of both par- in the states want to address framework on what would be the appropriations process re- regulated businesses in your ties, and the stigma associated the cannabis situation,” she the impact of descheduling,” mains a powerful tool. For ex- counties are free from federal with the drug plays a big part in said. Roughly 60 bills propose Galoob said. Although bills ample, in 2014, the appropri- interference,” she said. Immigration policies exacerbate worker shortages by Mary Ann Barton erated the discussion. “Politics is an impediment,” And builders are losing buildings because the work- editor Panelists said that the im- said Paul Schlegel, managing workers who can hop to other force is jumping from com- migration issue has been par- director for Public Policy at jobs for a raise in pay due to petitor to competitor, because alyzed by extremists in both American Farm Bureau. He the worker shortage, said Ben there’s such a shortage.” A packed room of county parties, leaving behind frus- noted that the farming indus- Brubeck, vice president of Reg- Hanna Siegel, managing di- officials heard from immigra- trated, hard-working busi- try is facing competition for ulatory, Labor and State Affairs rector, New American Econo- tion experts March 3 who said nesses and workers faced with workers. “They’re leaving agri- at the Associated Builders and my, said her group’s forte is tell- county officials frustrated by a tangle of regulations. culture for construction.” Contractors. “They can’t finish ing the stories of the economics worker shortages in their com- of the issue in communities munities need to tell their sto- across the country. She pointed ries to members of Congress in out that immigrants are more order to make changes to im- likely to become entrepreneurs migration policy. because they don’t have con- Industries including farm- nections to find a job. ing, construction, home “Your voices are so import- healthcare, hospitals, hospi- ant on Capitol Hill,” she said. tality and janitorial services Brunswick County, N.C. depend on immigrant pop- Commissioner Patricia Sykes ulations and are taking a hit said that immigrants in her due to ongoing confusion with county do a good job when immigration policies, panelists they work, but employers of- said. ten don’t abide by laws and Charlotte County, Fla. Com- regulations, often paying cash missioner Bill Truex, who to workers. chairs the Immigration Reform Siegel said counties can offer Task Force, introduced the Paul Schlegel, managing director for Public Policy at American Farm Bureau, makes a point as Ben information to the immigrant speakers and Theresa Brown, Brubeck, vice president of Regulatory, Labor and State Affairs at the Associated Builders and Con- community in their language director of Immigration Policy, tractors, looks on March 3 at a meeting of NACo’s Immigration Reform Task Force at the Legislative to help them understand laws Bipartisan Policy Center, mod- Conference. Photo by Denny Henry and regulations. 16 MARCH 18, 2019 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS Residents complain to FCC, but blame county officials From TELECOM page 1 vice is just fine. ielowski said her county is Another county official stuck with a provider who In Capito’s home state, 74 said she hears from constit- receives federal funding for percent of rural residents do uents who write to the Fed- landline services, but won’t not have access to broad- eral Communications Com- upgrade the service and band. mission, but never hear a won’t allow competitors to Kent County, Del. Commis- word back. “Thousands have lay fiber. sioner Allan Angel, vice chair made complaints to the FCC, “We are falling way be- of the committee, said he with no action — they blame hind,” she said. can’t talk to constituents in me,” said Henrico County, “It’s a conversation we’ve his own county in some areas Va. Commissioner Patricia been having for a long time. due to poor cell phone ser- O’Bannon. Kids are sitting outside of April Jones, legislative assistant to Sen. Amy Klobuchar vice, but he can go all the way Another member, Sher- restaurants at 10 o’clock at (D-Minn.), makes a point as Brendan Dailey, legislative assistant to Hawaii and talk to family burne County, Minn. Com- night looking to get broad- to U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), looks on. The two spoke to members of NACo’s Telecommunications and Technolo- members back home and ser- missioner Raeanne Dan- band.” gy Policy Steering Committee. Photo by Denny Henry Sen. Rubio: Priority on innovation can start at county level

by Rachel Looker staff writer

Could your county be home to the next big start-up compa- ny? According to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Steve Case, director of the Advocacy for Social Justice and Sustainabili- ty Program, increasing innova- tion and entrepreneurship op- portunities to grow the nation’s economy can start at all levels of government. During the 2019 NACo Leg- islative Conference, Rubio and Case discussed the importance of leveling the playing field when it comes to providing op- portunities for job creation. According to Case, it is a problem that three quarters of venture capital funding goes to three states: California, New (L-r): John Lettieri, president and CEO of Economic Innovation Group, speaks March 5 with Steve Case, chairman and CEO of Revolution York and Massachusetts. He and co-founder of America Online, and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) during the General Session. Photo by Denny Henry explained there is a correla- tion between venture capital business and entrepreneurship small businesses need help to companies. displaced if we do not begin to funding and job creation, spe- issues. Rubio, who also serves turn an idea into a business “The only sustainable ap- change our mentality on that cifically in the start-up sector as chair of the Senate Small plan that becomes a reality, proach to economic develop- front and government policy which accounts for most new Business and Entrepreneur- which is where counties can ment is backing little compa- should achieve it,” Rubio said. job growth. ship Committee, explained get involved. nies that are doing crazy things, Rubio advised counties to “If we’re only backing or the agency helps to provide a Counties may play a role in some of which are going to be understand their cities and the predominantly backing entre- healthy economy that provides accessing export markets for the big companies of tomorrow unique role they play in the preneurs in a few places like opportunities for small busi- services or goods when, for that really elevate your county,” broader economy. He asked Silicon Valley and not all over nesses and entrepreneurs. example, it comes to helping Case said. attendees to ensure their coun- the country, we shouldn’t be “We have a responsibility at small businesses figure out Internationally, Rubio said ties have environments that surprised that a lot of people every level of government — how to access international the country’s economic status are conducive to growth and are feeling kind of left out, left county level, federal level, state customers or clients, he said. will impact the outcome of recommended creating a chief behind, maybe anxious about level — to ensure that we iden- Case warned against com- geopolitical competition, spe- innovation officer position to the future as opposed to opti- tify what are our national or placency and said it is critical cifically with China, which will help find advantages within mistic,” he said. local priorities and make sure that counties create a sense of define the 21st century. the community. The Small Business Admin- there are policies reflecting possibility by creating a collab- “What we have in this coun- “Don’t underestimate the istration (SBA) is an indepen- those priorities,” Rubio said. orative, risk-taking atmosphere try is not self-perpetuating. power of county governments dent agency focused on small Rubio added that many that will launch the next big It will go away and we will be to be conveners,” he said. COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES MARCH 18, 2019 17 THE CONFERENCE ALL PHOTOS BY DENNY HENRY IN PHOTOGRAPHS (UNLESS NOTED)

A color guard enters the Washington Hilton Ballroom March 4 at the opening of the NACo Legislative Conference General Session.

Valley County, Idaho Commissioner Gordon Cruickshank, NACo Western Region representa- Wayne County Commissioner Alisha Bell, chair of tive, enjoys a performance March 4 by the Capitol NACo’s Justice and Public Safety Committee, briefs Steps. members March 2.

NACo President Greg Cox, San Diego County supervisor, greets Nationwide’s Eric Stevenson, se- nior vice president, Retirement Plans Distribution, at General Session. 18 MARCH 18, 2019 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS

NACo members pause for a photo at the U.S. Capitol March 5 during the 2019 NACo Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. Photo by Hugh Clarke 2019 LEGISLATIVE NACo MEMBER PORTRAIT COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES MARCH 18, 2019 19

CONFERENCE NACo MEMBER PORTRAIT 20 MARCH 18, 2019 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS

Loudoun County, Va. Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis Randall and Richard “Dick” Cecil, executive director, Delaware Association of Counties, enjoy a performance by the Capitol Steps a the 2019 NACo Legislative Conference. Photo by Leon Lawrence III

(l-r) Catoosa County, Ga. Commissioner Chuck Harris, Catoosa County, Ga. Commissioner Jim Cutler and Shelby County, Ala. Manager Alex Dudchock

Ruby Brabo, supervisor, King George County, Va., makes a point during the NACo Board Forum. Photo by Leon Lawrence III

Patrick Mullen, director of Utah’s Op- portunity Zone Planning and Imple- mentation, talks Opportunity Zones. Doug Hill, executive director of the County Commissioners NACo First Vice President Mary Ann Borgeson chats with Association of Pennsylvania, talks to NACo members March County of Hawaii Councilmember Valerie Poindexter. 4 about emerging trends in state legislatures. COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES MARCH 18, 2019 21

Pasco County, Fla. Commissioner Kathryn Strakey talks about interna- Blue Earth County, Minn. Commissioner Colleen Landkamer (right), a former NACo president, at an extreme weather workshop. tional investment in your county.

(l-r) Douglas County, Colo. Commissioner Abe Laydon chats March 4 with Alamosa County, Colo. Commissioner Darius Allen.

The United States Army Brass Quintet performs March 4 at the beginning of the General Session.

Hall County, Neb. Super- Suffolk County, N.Y. Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. visor Pamela Lancaster, speaks at a Capitol Hill briefing March 5 on chair of the Community health care in county jails. Economic and Workforce Development Steering Committee, listens to a speaker during the com- mittee’s meeting March 2. 22 MARCH 18, 2019 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS

Kellyanne Conway, assistant to the president and senior counselor, speaks with NACo President Greg Cox March 4 at the General Session.

Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), speaks to county officials March 5 at a Capitol Hill briefing on health care in county jails.

County officials stand for the opening ceremony at the March 5 General Session.

(l-r) Ramsey County, Minn.’s Jennifer O’Rourke, Aide Ethan Osten, Commissioner Trista MatasCastillo, enjoy Coconino County, Ariz. Deputy County a performance by the Capitol Steps March 4. Also at the Manager Lucina Andreani and Pinal table are (center) Miami-Dade County Commissioner County, Ariz. Supervisor Todd House, Sally Heyman; to the right is former Fairfax County, Va. participate March 2 in the Resilient Supervisor “Gerry” Hyland. Photo by Leon Lawrence III (l-r): Second Vice President Judge Gary Moore, judge-ex- Counties Luncheon: Addressing On- ecutive, Boone County, Ky., First Vice President Mary Ann going and Emerging Threats Due to Borgeson, commissioner, Douglas County, Neb., Presi- Adverse Weather Patterns. dent Greg Cox, supervisor, San Diego County, Calif. and Immediate Past President Roy Charles Brooks, commis- sioner, Tarrant County, Texas. Photo by Lana Farfan COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES MARCH 18, 2019 23 Counties, Congress still looking for infrastructure fix

by Charlie Ban mittee Chairman Peter De- “It’s unrealistic for you to as- “It was a classic bait and He was optimistic about De- senior writer Fazio (D-Ore.) and ranking sume, at the state or local level, switch,” he said. Fazio and Graves’s testimony member Sam Graves (R-Mo.) responsibility for projects that “The tax bill made infra- as a first step toward progress Since his victory speech in testified March 6 in front of are multimodal, multiyear and structure financing more ex- on a new transportation bill. November 2016, President the House Ways and Means in some cases multi-state; you pensive due to the changes “We hope the president rec- Trump has touted plans to re- Committee to outline funding need that federal partnership.” and treatment of municipal ognizes this bipartisan cooper- build American infrastructure. options. Rep. Donald Payne (D-N.J), bonds and property taxes. The ation and signs legislation that More than two years lat- “Where you can listen to a former Essex County, N.J. tax code drastically reduced will help our county and state er, nothing has materialized, local residents, chambers of freeholder, agreed. the amount of federal funding governments address their in- though talk in the Capitol commerce, local truckers, lo- “You’re fixing the bridge, available for domestic spend- frastructure needs in a mean- swirls around the opportunity cal unions and local officials you’re filling the pothole, so ing.” ingful way,” he said. for a bipartisan infrastructure and what you want Congress it’s our obligation to support bill in 2019. you in getting that done,” he All the while, the national said. gas tax has remained at the “If we listen to The lack of a long-term high- level set in 1993, fuel efficiency way bill has frustrated county WORD TULARE COUNTY, Calif. and work with has increased, some vehicles governments. SEARCH Created by: Rachel Looker have gone hybrid or electric the American “It’s very hard to plan mul- and freight truck weight has tiple years with a continuing public, this is G N C O F A N N T L O A U W P S U Y H U increased. resolution,” said Gary Moore, W N H U Z R G I N A X J T U N H G A E A During a March 5 briefing within our skill NACo second vice president, N F I X B W U M R G J L B I S I V Q V L on Capitol Hill, county officials set.” Boone County, Ky. judge exec- I G R R O T U L A R E L A K E P A R D N and members of Congress out- utive and former chairman of K W X Q U B I Q C I I T R R R P W H O L lined some of the needs local NACo’s transportation steer- F F B F T T G J G C N F E R T I L E D C governments have for a new ing committee. A G T N D R C P L U S V I W L N Y V D V infrastructure bill and the ways to do,” Blumenauer said, not- “One thing I’ve found about R I K N O O B A O L U C C D W G E Y X B to generate support for new fi- ing that 35 states had passed a tax increase is that is people C K L K O X N M F T R L E Z K A K C R Z nancing. gas tax increases in recent can see what they are paying E G M A R D T R R U M R D N C M O I B X Rep. Earl Blumenauer years to deal with their own is actually returning to their P R Y T S Y B S B R N L P F J G J N O J (D-Ore.), a longtime support- declining coffers. community, they’re seeing X N R E V I R H A E W A K C M S V C X L er of a gas tax increase, would “If we listen to and work infrastructure improving be- Z C L W W T V U S C P V M E K N S V X Y like to see each congressional with the American public, this cause of additional revenue, V U M E S Y W S O U S W W B M C R C G J district play host to informal is within our skill set.” they’re more likely to under- T M B D P K R N P X H Z X E I I R O L T discussions about the need Blumenauer served as a stand and support it.” M L F H N M X A I J H V T X N W Q M K K to invest in infrastructure and Multnomah County, Ore. com- Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), J K L H F Q Y H R T S R M L A U H Y E T likely find a new way to raise missioner for eight years. who served eight years as a K W T C F Y G R A I D I Z L F C S I P B revenue for the highway trust “Do not allow someone to DeKalb County commissioner, U H E X M R V U M S S Q W M E C J N Q H fund to pay for projects, in- tell you they support infra- criticized the Trump admin- F B B C B E F O Z N R Q L B R F G G L D cluding a possible user fee for structure unless they’re pre- istration and GOP-held Con- electrical vehicles or vehicle pared to tell you what they will gress for passing tax reform miles traveled fee. do to finance it,” Blumenauer before addressing infrastruc- AGRICULTURE: Tulare County is a top OUTDOORS: The county has all-sea- House Transportation Com- said. ture needs. producer of agricultural products in son outdoor recreation including the United States. hiking, water skiing, snow skiing, CENTRAL: Tulare County is located fishing and boating. in central California in the heart of PUBLIC LANDS: The county is pri- Central Valley. marily made up of public lands such FERTILE: The land in the valley floor of as the Sequoia National Park and the western half of the county is very National Forest. fertile. SHIPPING: The county has substan- KAWEAH RIVER: The first Americans tial packing and shipping operations. visited the area that is Tulare County TULARE LAKE: The county was origi- in 1800 and first settled near the nally named for Tulare Lake, a large, Kaweah River. freshwater lake. MANUFACTURING: More manufac- TULES: The name “Tulare County” turing plants are being added to the comes from the tules, a plant that area. grows in wet areas. MARIPOSA: Mariposa was one of VISALIA: Visalia is the county seat the largest counties when California and the gateway to Sequoia National became a state and was later divided. Park. The southern part became Tulare WILDERNESS: The eastern half of the County, which was divided again to county is primarily public lands and create four additional counties. includes the Mineral King, Golden MOUNTAINS: Mountain peaks from Trout and Domeland Wilderness the Sierra Nevada range are more areas. than 14,000 feet in the eastern half of WET: There were many wet areas Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) speaks to NACo members during a March 5 Capitol Hill briefing on the the county. in the county before the land was need for a new surface transportation bill. Photo by Denny Henry cultivated. 24 MARCH 18, 2019 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS BLM continues streamlining, addresses grazing in 2018 before that year’s foals versus 4-6 months in 2017). were born, which Steed said The same has gone for pro- upped estimates to 100,000. cessing permits for drilling “Those horses are above car- leases. During FY 2018, the rying capacity on the lands,” BLM processed 4,527 permits, Steed said. “I can take you an increase of 1,500 from 2016. places in Nevada where you The backlog has been pared can find areas eaten down to down to 176 days versus 257 in the ground. We’re losing soil, 2016. native species and springs,” The BLM is also working to and they cost up to $5 a day to get the authorities to stream- feed. line the timber production The BLM has undertaken a process. review of the 2015 sage grouse “We produce more forest plan after some states were than we harvest,” Steed said. upset with the process, even A year after the Department though they liked the out- of Interior’s watershed-based come. The draft plan for Wyo- reorganization was struck Brian Steed, Bureau of Land Management deputy director for policy and programs, speaks March 2 to ming, Colorado, Utah, Oregon, down, the department con- the Public Lands Steering Committee. Photo by Leon Lawrence III Nevada and California and the tinues to figure out how it will by Charlie Ban grams who exercises the au- grazing policies, in part be- records of decision would like- regionalize. Steed said that senior writer thority of the director, offered cause a court ruling that pro- ly be released in March. the state director system will general observations about tects the sage grouse interferes The bureau, along with the be retained, based on public The Bureau of Land Man- that process to the Public with current regulations. Steed rest of the Department of Inte- feedback. agement is continuing its ef- Lands Steering Committee thinks grazing could be a tool rior, is trying to reduce the time The department’s new pro- forts to update its operations, March 2. in removing invasive species it takes to process requests and posed regions would consoli- streamline processes and pos- “We’ve been working very and fuel for wildfires. On the the size of documents, includ- date different agencies to help sibly reorganize how it region- hard to be more responsive other side, wild horses con- ing a cut to 150 pages in a doc- reduce conflicts between dif- alizes the country. to counties and local govern- tinue to overgraze large parts ument versus 300, the time it ferent regions. Congress has Brian Steed, BLM’s deputy ment,” he said. of the interior West. The BLM takes to publish documents in “blessed” the reorganization, director for policy and pro- The BLM is reviewing its counted roughly 83,000 horses the Federal Register (39 days Steed said. Prepare now for disasters: ‘The buck stops here’ by Mary Ann Barton of urgency — before disaster ma County, Calif. Supervisor “There’s a reason why the lobbying for the funding of editor strikes. “What I want to do is Susan Gorin, who also told the doors were opened here [to planning, experts, forecasting take each one of you by the audience about projected ris- accommodate such a large and working with the local ju- It was standing room only shoulders and shake you,” said ing sea levels along the Califor- crowd], this issue affects every risdictions to prepare our infra- March 2 at the NACo Legislative Gore, who chairs the NACo nia coastline and more extreme single county,” she said. “It’s structure for when, not if, this Conference Resilient Counties Resilient Counties Advisory weather patterns. time for NACo to do massive happens.” Luncheon: “Addressing Ongo- Board. ing and Emerging Threats Due “Focus on this now, because to Adverse Weather Patterns.” if you have to focus on this Over the past three years, on av- while you’re in a crisis, and you erage, 25 percent of all counties haven’t even had your PIO go received at least one major pres- through training and they’re idential disaster declaration due writing press releases instead of to devastating wildfires, hurri- posting warnings for residents canes, flooding, tornadoes or to get out of their homes, you’re other natural disasters. going to be in a tough position Broward County, Fla.’s Jason as a local leader, because the Liechty, senior environmental buck stops here.” project coordinator, Environ- County officials need to en- mental Planning and Commu- gage with local residents when nity Resilience Division, told it comes to preparing for disas- the audience about prepara- ters, he noted. tions for rising sea levels. “We’re dependent on private “I could stand here for six landowners — but everybody hours and tell you what we’re expects the government to do doing about it,” he said. i t .” Broward County, Florida’s Jason Liechty senior environmental project coordinator, looks on as Clau- Sonoma County, Calif. Su- “…Funding [for disaster mit- dia Nierenberg, deputy division director, Climate and Societal Interactions Division, NOAA Climate pervisor James Gore said coun- igation] takes forever — we Program Office, speaks to NACo members March 2 at the Resilient Counties Luncheon: Addressing ty officials should feel a sense don’t have forever,” said Sono- Ongoing and Emerging Threats Due to Adverse Weather Patterns.Photo by Denny Henry COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES MARCH 18, 2019 25 Smarter Counties workshop uses ‘Design Thinking’

by Diane Duff standing of her likely prob- lems and challenges. Developing better interac- “Design Thinking provid- tions between citizens and ed Sonoma County a road- government requires a hu- map to Access Sonoma, their man-centered approach to rapid response solution, al- problem-solving. Often re- lowing them to better serve ferred to as “Design Think- displaced residents, but also ing,” the process itself focuses created a new model of oper- on the experience of the per- ations, allowing them to see son — “the user” — needing how Multi Discipline teams to access a program or ser- could empower caseworkers vice. Gathering diverse per- and the community through spectives about possible user a more holistic approach to experiences generates more, care,” said Mary-Sara Jones, and ultimately, better ideas Industry Leader, Health and for transforming service de- Human Services, Global livery. And while intensive, Business, Services, IBM. the approach allows teams Access the study here: to work faster and test out Participants brainstorm during a NACo Legislative Conference workshop exploring how county ser- https://www.naco.org/spon- vices can better work together, especially during disasters. Photo by Hugh Clarke their ideas in smaller venues, sor/ibm. thereby making mistakes less possibilities, each team de- concerns. Based on those would want to be enabled expensive. veloped ideas about what she needs, teams began to de- to do, identifying solutions Duff is director of Corporate NACo turned to trusted might need to address her velop ideas of what “Sarah” through a growing under- Relations in NACo’s CSI. corporate partner IBM to introduce Design Thinking during a two-part Smarter Forest Service chief touts firefighting tools Counties workshop at the 2019 NACo Legislative Con- by Charlie Ban on too many layers and it’s un- ference. While relevant to senior writer necessary, and more resources nearly any county program are going into planning and or service that interfaces The farm bill and omnibus analysis when we can switch with citizens, this high-level funding bill passed in 2018 those resources and get more workshop introduced Design gave the U.S. Forest Service a work done on the ground.” Thinking by presenting hy- variety of new tools to combat She added that high value pothetical situations drawn wildfires. timber policies, for example, from Sonoma County, Calif.’s Vicki Christiansen, recent- are 40 years old and don’t actual experiences helping its ly confirmed as chief of the match the market. displaced citizens in the af- Forest Service after several “We can be more relevant to termath of the 2017 Sonoma months in an interim role, out- match the work that needs to Complex Fires. lined those tools to the West- be done on the ground,” she IBM’s Global Business ern Interstate Region’s Board said. Services Design Strategist Meeting March 3. The previous 10-year stew- Chris Magdelain and Global Nearly 41 percent of forest ardship contracts have been Design Lead Mark Stewart land under federal manage- increased to 20 years, which divided the workshop par- ment is at moderate-to-high Christiansen said was more in ticipants into teams and led risk of catastrophic fire or in- line with the state of the timber those teams through a set of sect infestation, according to industry. exercises designed to help Christiansen. The farm bill has expanded Vicki Christiansen, chief of the U.S. Forest Service, addresses the them focus on the perspec- “This can’t be business as Good Neighbor Authority so Western Interstate Region Board of Directors March 3. Photo by Leon tive of a hypothetical person usual,” she said. “We have the Lawrence III that the Forest Service can en- facing a specific situation. conservation challenge of our ter into contracts with counties First, teams had to predict time in America.” and hunters and sportsmen Internally, the Forest Service and tribes and has increased the feelings, thoughts and The omnibus bill’s fire fund- alike,” Christiansen said. “They has been reviewing its process- the service’s ability to carve reactions of someone con- ing fix creates a disaster fund realized we were in a freefall es, looking for what to update. out categorical exclusions on fronted with a scenario sim- starting in FY 2020 that the with our budget.” “They’re not contemporary lands subject to fire, insects ilar to the Sonoma fires. For Forest Service can use, rather “With the rising amount of and they don’t match the busi- and disease. example, what might “Sarah,” than borrowing from non-fire fire on the landscape, the For- ness needs of today,” she said. This year’s Western Inter- a 24-year-old single woman, accounts, which has been done est Service’s constrained bud- “We are not trying to cut any state Region Conference will in her first job, living in an ur- in 12 of the previous 15 years. get more and more was going corners. We want to continue be held May 15-17 in Spokane ban county and experiencing “A broad coalition came to- to fire and less and less going to be good stewards of our en- County, Wash. and the 2020 her first emergency, say, do, gether, from the forest prod- to the active management on vironmental assessments and conference will be held May think or feel in that situation? ucts industry to the conserva- the ground to be proactive,” our decisions,” she said. 13-15 in Mariposa County, Ca- After defining an array of tion community, recreationists she noted. “But quite frankly, we put lif. 26 MARCH 18, 2019 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS Board adopts new policies ranging from immigration to lack of cell phone service

Gene Smith, county administrator of Iron County, Mich., takes the microphone during a discussion of interim policy resolutions. Photo by Leon Lawrence III NACo’s Board of Directors approved 26 interim policy resolutions at the Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. These interim policy resolutions will supplement existing NACo policy until NACo’s 2019 Annual Conference.

COMMUNITY, nity Development Block Grant Economic Development planning. Congress should collaboration and resource ECONOMIC AND (CDBG) formula funding; no Administration Reau- also authorize additional integration. WORKFORCE less than $1.5 billion in for- thorization funding investments for spe- ●● Expand EDA Disaster and DEVELOPMENT mula funding for the HOME ISSUE: Support appropria- cial initiatives so as not to steer Recovery Relief Eligibility. Investment Partnerships Pro- tions and reauthorization of funding away from EDA core EDA has a significant role to FY 2020 Appropriations gram (HOME); $2.6 billion for the U.S. Department of Com- programs. play in post-disaster relief and for the U.S. Department Homeless Housing Assistance merce Economic Develop- ●● Encourage regional collab- long-term recovery assistance of Housing and Urban grants, including at least $270 ment Administration. oration by rewarding and in- for impacted communities. In Development million for the Emergency ADOPTED POLICY: NACo urg- centivizing local governments, areas where a major disaster or ISSUE: Support FY 2020 ap- Solutions Grant program plus es the U.S. Congress to appro- businesses and communities emergency has been declared propriations for the U.S. De- an amount to fully fund expir- priate funding and reauthorize to participate in the Compre- under the Stafford Act, EDA partment of Housing and Ur- ing supportive housing and the U.S. Department of Com- hensive Economic Develop- grant recipients should be el- ban Development (HUD). Shelter Plus Care rent subsidy merce Economic Develop- ment Strategy (CEDS) process. igible for up to 100 percent of ADOPTED POLICY: NACo contracts; full funding for ex- ment Administration (EDA) as The CEDS process brings to- the cost of the project. urges Congress to support isting Section 8 project-based follows: gether stakeholders to develop ●● Strengthen EDA’s National the following levels of fund- and tenant-based contracts; ●● Provide at least $304 mil- regional strategies and goals. Technical Assistance program ing for core U.S. Department and $500 million in Section lion in appropriations annual- ●● Elevate EDA’s role as an in- for small and distressed rural of Housing and Urban Devel- 108 Loan Guarantee authority. ly for EDA to support econom- tegrator of federal economic communities to allow greater opment (HUD) programs in ic assistance programs. development planning pro- access and leveraging of fed- the FY 2020 Transportation, ●● Focus on EDA’s core infra- grams and formalize EDA’s eral, state, local and regional Housing and Urban Develop- structure and economic ad- role as the federal govern- economic development pro- ment, and Related Agencies justment programs – public ment’s lead integrator for eco- grams. Appropriations bill: no less works, economic adjustment nomic development and cen- than $3.8 billion in Commu- assistance and partnership tral facilitator for interagency See POLICY page 27 COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES MARCH 18, 2019 27 Coal export facilities shouldn’t preempt local authority

From POLICY page 26 line the process for granting low income communities and schedule. reciprocity for military spous- environmental benefits to de- Support Development ADOPTED POLICY: NACo Opportunity Zones es who must relocate from termine the benefit of federal of New Coal Export urges Congress to allow qual- ISSUE: Support the issuance state to state in support of our investments in flood control Facilities ified improvement properties of guidance and regulations men and women in uniform as projects. Additionally, NACo ISSUE: Natural resources are (QIPs) to be eligible for bonus from the U.S. Department of they provide for the security of urges Congress to authorize an economic driver in many and accelerated depreciation Treasury on the newly created our nation. the Army Corps to implement communities and new export as intended by the Tax Cuts Opportunity Zones tax benefit. the 2013 Principles, Require- facilities would deliver an eco- and Jobs Act of 2017. ADOPTED POLICY: NACo ENVIRONMENT, ments and Guidelines to allow nomic boost. urges the U.S. Department of ENERGY AND LAND rural communities to fairly ADOPTED POLICY: NACo HEALTH Treasury to provide guidance USE compete for federal funding supports the development of and regulations on the new- by considering non-popula- new coal export facilities in Reduce Disparities in ly created Opportunity Zones Revise the Process tion-based criteria for water the United States, as long as it African American Child tax benefit that prevent abuse, to Assess Benefits of projects. does not preempt state or local Deaths promote developments that Federally Funded Water authority. ISSUE: African American support and provide public Infrastructure Projects Compensatory Mitiga- children die at disproportion- benefits and encourage col- ISSUE: The process for con- tion In-Lieu Fee Pro- FINANCE, PENSIONS ate rates across the United laboration with local jurisdic- ducting cost-benefit analyses grams AND INTERGOVERN- States, impacting families and tions and stakeholders. for flood control projects does ISSUE: Ensuring that miti- MENTAL AFFAIRS communities. not properly acknowledge the gation programs occur in the ADOPTED POLICY: NACo Support Legal Migra- value of agricultural land or watershed or region where the Restore Tax Incentives supports federal legislative ef- tion to Strengthen socio-economic factors. impact occurred. for Automatic Fire forts to fund local initiatives Local Economies and ADOPTED POLICY: NACo urg- ADOPTED POLICY: NACo Sprinkler Systems to reduce African American the Workforce es the U.S. Army Corps of En- urges the U.S. Army Corps of ISSUE: A portion of the child deaths through collective ISSUE: The role legal immi- gineers (Army Corps) and the Engineers to give preference Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 impact models and targeted, gration plays in our nation’s White House’s Office of Man- to mitigation projects funded (TCJA) prevents fire sprinkler community-based programs workforce and local econo- agement and Budget (OMB) by in-lieu fees for compen- systems and other interior to reduce risks. mies. to add a quantitative indexed satory mitigation in the local building improvements from ADOPTED POLICY: NACo urg- value to life-safety, agricultur- watershed where the fee was qualifying for a limited peri- es Congress and the adminis- al land value and the impacts collected in consultation with od of full expensing as well as tration to enact legislative and of crop flooding, protection of local officials. an accelerated depreciation See POLICY page 28 regulatory proposals that pro- vide improved and efficient legal avenues for immigrants to enter the United States and contribute to the workforce and local economies.

Streamlining State Li- censing Procedures for Military Spouses ISSUE: The men and wom- en who serve in uniform, and their families, experience hardships following a move when seeking employment due to licensing procedures. ADOPTED POLICY: NACo urges the U.S. Department of Defense to implement the pro- visions of Public Law 115-91 to fully reimburse military spous- es for costs they incur in trans- ferring professional licenses and certifications from state to state. Further, counties should do all that they can to sup- port the U.S. Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Labor and the Military Spouse Employment Partnership in encouraging states to stream- Jefferson County, Kan. Commissioner Richard Malm takes the microphone during a policy discussion.Photo by Leon Lawrence III 28 MARCH 18, 2019 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS NACo: Legal immigration levels should not be reduced

From POLICY page 27 calculations of state waivers tives such as citations or sum- disaster. peer-reviewed, irrefutable sci- for the Supplemental Nutrition mons, 2) replace money bail ADOPTED POLICY: NACo entific evidence that doing so Fund and Improve Rural Assistance Program (SNAP). with non-financial, less restric- urges Congress to direct the would be detrimental to the Emergency Medical ADOPTED POLICY: NACo tive conditions, and restrict Federal Emergency Manage- range. Additionally, counties Services Needs Grants urges USDA to modify sub- detention to only the most se- ment Agency (FEMA) to clar- recommend that all grazing ISSUE: Rural fire and emer- stantially the proposed rule on rious offenses in which, after ify FEMA’s debris removal re- permits be treated as out- gency medical services (EMS) SNAP waivers. NACo supports a rigorous process, a court de- imbursement guidelines for come-based in order to grant agencies currently struggle to the continued ability of states termines that no condition or private roadways and gated federal agencies greater flexi- fund their EMS operations. to request statewide waivers, combination of condition can communities to simplify and bility to respond to conditions ADOPTED POLICY: NACo urg- as well as the current flexibil- reasonably assure appearance expedite the process. on the ground. es Congress to fund the SIREN ity states have when grouping in court and public safety, and grants at $20 million for FY counties subject to a waiver. 3) reduce disparities within the Urge the Federal Emer- Council of Environmen- 2020. The SIREN grants will NACo supports greater flex- pretrial justice system. NACo gency Management tal Quality’s Revisions provide funding for rural fire ibility to allow able-bodied urges the federal government Agency to Coordinate to the National Envi- and EMS agencies to recruit adults without dependents to support county efforts to with Local Government ronmental Policy Act personnel, procure emergency (ABAWDs) to receive SNAP explore disparity reduction Stakeholders on Af- Implementing Regula- medical supplies and provide benefits as they find jobs, in- in the pre-trial justice system ter-Action Reports tions EMS training classes. Only cluding increasing federal through funding and technical ISSUE: Citizens, business- ISSUE: The Council of En- public and nonprofit agencies support and administrative assistance, including data col- es and governments that are vironmental Quality (CEQ) is are eligible to receive these flexibility in administering lection and studies to identify impacted by disasters should in the process of updating its funds. SNAP Employment and Train- successful reform solutions. be provided a simple process, National Environmental Policy ing (E&T) programs. Finally, clear guidelines and timely Act (NEPA) implementing reg- HUMAN SERVICES NACo supports a change in the Urge the Federal Emer- reimbursement assistance to ulations. AND EDUCATION waiver process to allow coun- gency Management recover from a disaster. ADOPTED POLICY: NACo ties to apply for an ABAWD Agency to Conduct an ADOPTED POLICY: NACo supports revising NEPA imple- Minimize the Negative waiver if a state does not ap- Assessment and De- urges Congress to direct the menting regulations to require Impact of Immigration ply for a state-wide or partial velop an Improvement Federal Emergency Manage- federal agencies to regularly Enforcement on Fami- waiver. Plan on Individual As- ment Agency (FEMA) to coor- provide meaningful opportu- lies and Children sistance Programs dinate with local government nities for states and counties to ISSUE: The need to carry Maintain Current Levels ISSUE: Citizens, businesses stakeholders and residents on be involved in the NEPA pro- out enforcement of immigra- of Legal Migration and governments impacted by FEMA After-Action Reports. cess for planning and projects tion law in a matter that does ISSUE: The health of our disasters should be afforded on federal lands that may af- not increase reliance on local economy and communities a simple process, clear guide- PUBLIC LANDS fect the economy, society and social safety-net services or in- and our economic growth as lines and timely assistance to culture of constituents. NACo crease administrative costs for counties depends on a robust recover from a disaster. Support Using Domes- asks that the CEQ work close- counties. legal immigration system. ADOPTED POLICY: NACo urg- tic Livestock Grazing ly with state and local govern- ADOPTED POLICY: NACo urg- ADOPTED POLICY: NACo es Congress to direct the Fed- as a Cost-Effective and ments to revise the NEPA reg- es the federal government to supports legislative or regu- eral Emergency Management Viable Method for Haz- ulations. carry out its enforcement of latory proposals that at least Agency (FEMA) to conduct a ardous Fuels Reduction immigration law in a manner maintain current statutory study on FEMA’s Individual ISSUE: Allowing grazing as Wildland Fire Regula- that minimizes negative im- legal immigration levels and Assistance programs to mea- an acceptable form of active tions and Policies pacts on families and children opposes any efforts that would sure the simplicity, clarity and forest and vegetation manage- ISSUE: Federal regulations, and does not increase reliance significantly reduce legal im- expediency of applying for as- ment to reduce hazardous fuel policies and guidelines that on local social safety-net ser- migration to the United States. sistance and take appropriate loads. allow lightning-caused fires vices or create new demands actions to refine the programs ADOPTED POLICY: To pro- to burn on federal lands at all and administrative costs for JUSTICE AND PUBLIC based on results. tect communities and critical times and that permit the use counties. SAFETY infrastructure, NACo urges of prescribed fires, regardless Urge the Federal Emer- the Trump Administration of ignition source, on federal Oppose the Proposed Pretrial Bail Reform gency Management to instruct federal land man- lands at all times. Rule Further Restrict- ISSUE: Reforming bail to re- Agency to Clarify Debris agement agencies to utilize ADOPTED POLICY: NACo ing the Ability of States duce disparities in the pretrial Removal Guidelines for domestic livestock grazing supports greater coordination to Request Waivers to justice system. Private Roadways and as a cost-effective and viable between federal land man- Modify Supplemental ADOPTED POLICY: NACo urg- Gated Communities method of hazardous fuels agement agencies and local Nutrition Assistance es support for a nationwide ef- ISSUE: Citizens, businesses reduction on public lands in governments in implementing Program Work Require- fort to make communities saf- and governments that are lo- the West. In accordance with wildland fire suppression pol- ments for Single Indi- er and ensure better outcomes cated on private roads or with- Executive Order 13855, coun- icies and strategies, with the viduals for all by applying common in private gated communities ties urge the administration to understanding that a blanket, ISSUE: The U.S. Department sense solutions to widespread and are impacted by disasters require agencies to reactivate one-size-fits-all policy is un- of Agriculture (USDA) has pretrial justice challenges. The and should be provided a sim- all suspended non-use Animal tenable on diverse landscapes. issued a notice of proposed goals are to: 1) help counties ple process, clear guidelines Unit Months (AUMs) when Federal agencies must work rulemaking (NPRM) that reduce unnecessary arrests by and timely reimbursement requested by permittees, un- would change the criteria and expanding the use of alterna- assistance to recover from a less the agencies can produce See POLICY page 29 COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES MARCH 18, 2019 29 Address cell phone coverage in underserved areas

Alameda County, Calif. Supervisor Keith Carson discusses a policy point at the NACo 2019 Legislative Conference. Photo by Leon Lawrence III

From POLICY page 28 urges the Federal Communi- lands and the District of Co- Funding the Assistance support a nationwide, individ- cations Commission (FCC) lumbia. to Local Emergency ual state driven model which with local governments to ac- to direct additional funding Response Training allows persons with hidden complish their land manage- for the build-out of addition- TRANSPORTATION (ALERT) Grant disabilities to voluntarily reg- ment goals, including wildfire al cellular communications ISSUE: Funding support for ister that they have such a suppression and risk reduc- capabilities in the unserved Regulating Air Ambu- the Assistance to Local Emer- disability when applying for tion, and ensure such efforts and underserved areas of the lances Under the Airline gency Response Training a government issued identi- do not jeopardize the health, United States through the High Deregulation Act (ADA) (ALERT) grants. fication card and/or driver’s safety and welfare of local res- Cost Program administered by ISSUE: Air ambulance regu- ADOPTED POLICY: NACo urg- license. idents. the Universal Service Adminis- lation under the Airline Dereg- es Congress to designate $6 trative Company (USAC). ulation Act (ADA). million in dedicated funds for TELECOMMUNI- ADOPTED POLICY: NACo the ALERT grant, administered CATIONS AND Support Federal Leg- supports policies to remove air by the Pipeline and Hazardous TECHNOLOGY islation to Implement ambulances from the defini- Materials Safety Administra- Next Generation 911 tion of “Air Carrier” in the Air- tion (PHMSA). Call for the Federal ISSUE: There is an urgent line Deregulation Act (ADA) Communications Com- need to implement Next Gen- and ensure other federal laws Support National Volun- mission to Address the eration 911 systems and ser- do not prevent states from reg- tary Registry of Persons Lack of Cellular Phone vices nationwide to ensure ulating air ambulance billing with Invisible Disabili- Coverage for Unserved that members of the public rates to protect consumers ties When Applying for and Underserved Areas and first responders (i.e., 911, from price-gouging and/or a Government Issued of the United States police, fire, EMS) benefit from balance billing conducted by Identification Docu- ISSUE: Many areas of the modern emergency communi- some air ambulance providers. ment United States, particularly in cations services. NACo encourages Congress to ISSUE: Persons with invisi- rural areas, are either under- ADOPTED POLICY: NACo urg- direct a thorough and com- ble disabilities drive, work and served or not served at all by es Congress to pass legislation plete study of Air Ambulance play in our society and the rec- cellular phone carriers, pre- that affirms nationwide imple- operations to be conducted. ognition of such disabilities by venting residents and visitors mentation of Next Generation law enforcement is paramount from accessing emergency 911 and provides funding to fa- to everyone’s safety. services through E-911. cilitate implementation across ADOPTED POLICY: NACo urg- ADOPTED POLICY: NACo all states, U.S. territories, tribal es the federal government to 30 MARCH 18, 2019 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS

BRIGHTIDEAS ALAMEDA COUNTY, Calif. Honor Society Motivates Immunization Compliance

PROBLEM: Alameda County, Calif. kindergarten immunization rates were lagging behind other school systems. SOLUTION: Incentivize immunization compliance by recognizing schools.

by Charlie Ban senior writer

Call it bumper sticker envy. “My child is on the honor roll at Amelia Earhart Elemen- tary School.” Any proud parent would be pleased to slap that on the family car. Although Alameda County, Calif. wasn’t giving out bumper stickers to indi- viduals, it found a way to turn and costly. So, using publicly In the first year, 40 schools recognition their way and available data on immuniza- were below 80 percent com- encourage the schools to im- tion rates, the county creat- pliance in having all students prove immunization rates for ed its Immunity Community current on immunizations. A their students. Honor Society, separating year later, that was down to A few years ago, the county’s schools into four levels of vac- two schools. low immunization rates didn’t cine compliance and publiciz- “It wasn’t anything people make sense. Alameda Coun- ing it in hopes of motivating couldn’t find out on their own ty’s kindergarten immuniza- schools to improve. if they were really motivated, tion rates were always lower “We used school terminol- but you can only look up one than the state average. ogy and called them things school at a time,” Pine said. “We’re a pretty urban coun- like ‘Honor Society,’” Pine said. The county sent certificates ty, we have a lot of access to “That’s what made the biggest of achievement to schools with care,” said Amy Pine, director impact and barely cost anything. exemplary records. of the public health depart- For principals, seeing how they “A few schools called to ment’s immunization section. Alameda County’s certificates of achievement helped compliant compared to their peers was the thank us and tell us nobody “Access to immunization isn’t schools feel recognized. most important thing.” recognizes them for anything,” a problem here — why are our The county sent the lists to Pine said. “It was a little ges- rates lower than the state aver- other counties.” to school,” she said. “They’re principals and administrative ture that went a long way.” age?” The answer could be found up to date.” staff with a cover letter ex- The issue wasn’t what is be- in the county’s conditional Alameda County’s schools plaining the intent of the con- The Community Immunity ing debated in several state entrance rates. A child may misinterpreted conditional en- ditional entrance rule and how Honor Society was named best legislatures right now, amid have the bare-bones immu- trance rules and allowed stu- schools could address the dis- in category for civic education several measles outbreaks — nizations, at the time to start dents to start on the condition crepancies. in the 2018 NACo Achievement personal belief exemptions school, but months later, they that they get immunizations, “Life in public schools is Awards. Does your county have that allow families to consci- could be due for more, but just and many just didn’t. With the hard, there’s always transition, an innovative program that entiously object to immuniza- slip through the cracks. vast number of students enter- people who need to be trained,” improves county government tion requirements. “For example, they’re due ing school in the San Francisco Pine said. “We don’t have and enhances services for coun- “It wasn’t pockets of over- for two measles-mumps-ru- Bay-area county, it was easy to school nurses who are check- ty residents? Apply for the 2019 educated, anti-vaccine people bella shots, but they have to be lose track. ing immunizations. It’s proba- Achievement Awards through here, like we suspected,” she a month between the doses, so The health department tried bly someone who works in the March 25! To begin your ap- said. “Our personal belief ex- the child who received the first doing one-on-one training, front office who has to do it and plication, visit www.naco.org/ emption rates were lower than dose should be allowed to go but that was time consuming doesn’t even realize it.” achievementawards. COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES MARCH 18, 2019 31 LEADERSHIP EDGE Small Details ... Never Are by Tim Rahschulte, PhD

You may be familiar with, or at least have heard of, the book Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson. Carlson further explains in the book’s subtitle that it’s all small stuff. Therein lies the challenge. It’s all small stuff, and small de- tails never are small, insignifi- cant or forgettable. Do you re- member this old proverb? For want of a nail, the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe, the horse was lost. For want of a horse, the rider was lost. For want of a rider, the mes- sage was lost. For want of a message, the battle was lost. For want of a battle, the king- dom was lost. And all for the want of a horseshoe nail. attention to details.” Indeed! and conducted a number of this is that, based on the mass action of the domino will have When it comes to details, the He described the value and experiments to understand the and motion, a single domino a reaction. You have a similar small ones never are small. All importance of details and con- impact that aeroacoustics fric- can topple another that’s 1.5 effect as a leader. Your every of them are important. Wheth- cluded, “Where people win in tion at supersonic speeds had to 2 times its size in its path. action is affective — for better er it be a product requirement, business, in their careers, and on aircraft material and the That’s important because your or worse. Whether you intend quality expectation, customer elsewhere is often in the small people inside. As noted, he’s a actions are similar, and you for it to affect or not, it does, need, board member request, print.” Those are the details! rocket scientist! need them to be so in order and there’s a subsequent ef- or part of a message to ex- Details always add up, just as The reason Mike is import- to achieve any goal or desired fect. So, act accordingly: Pre- plain a vision, the details are the proverb above illustrates. ant here is his understanding future state. The reason why is pare, plan, align, connect, important to ensuring results The nail of a horseshoe can of physics. To accomplish any because no goal of yours can and rely on your momentum align with needs, goals and lose an entire kingdom. The big goal, you have to under- be achieved in a single action. (mass in motion) to accom- strategy. So absolutely sweat best leaders communicate this stand physics. Like me, you Any big goal is accomplished plish smaller things that accu- the small stuff, because it’s all importance to enable people may not have an advanced by aggregating small(er) ac- mulate to much bigger things. small stuff! to see the importance of their degree in physics. Mike likely complishments over time and The best leaders look out for Just as small actions are nev- roles and responsibilities to would say, “That’s fine. Even aligned to the next larger one. the details of the horseshoe er small when trying to accom- the larger whole. without a degree in physics, In other words, big things are nail. They know the kingdom plish big goals, small details To further illustrate the pow- you likely remember play- only accomplished one small relies on it, just as Mike knows never are. In fact, it’s often the er of small details, let me intro- ing with dominoes as a kid.” detail at a time, added up over of the catastrophic implica- small details that really thrill duce you to Mike, an academic Again, if you’re like me, your time. tions of a little friction at su- people enough to tell their friend and former rocket sci- dominoes were all the same Think back to when you personic speed. You don’t friends, exert extra effort and entist. Seriously, he worked size and rectangular, and you were a kid playing with the need to understand physics understand their role in some- for NASA, and according to his enjoyed lining them up on end dominoes. Think about the to be a great leader, but if you thing much bigger. business card, he’s a “rocket in a very even row (or perhaps vision or end goal to see the understand dominoes, you Harrison Barnes, the found- scientist.” with an occasional curve) be- last domino fall. Before that can appreciate and under- er and chief executive officer of Mike’s job was to under- fore knocking one over and occurs, you need proper stand the need to sweat the the Employment Research In- stand things like the dynamic then watching the rest of them preparation, a strategy, and small stuff. stitute, understands this rule. load pressure relative to twin tumble one at a time when hit a plan for how the dominoes Not too long ago, he posted supersonic plume resonance by the falling domino placed will be organized. You also Tim Rahschulte is the CEO of an article titled “Pay Attention and the implications from such before it. That’s physics! need alignment to assure one the Professional Development to the Details.” In it, he says, pressure. He also researched The action and subsequent domino’s mass in motion will Academy and chief architect “One of the most important the implications of Mach wave reaction of each domino is hit its next target and have the of the NACo High Performance things you can do in your ca- emission from supersonic jets caused by mass in motion. energy to topple it over and Leadership Program (naco. reer, business, and life is pay operating at high temperatures The interesting thing about into the next domino. Every org/skills). 32 MARCH 18, 2019 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS BEHIND MONEYMATTERS THE SEALSEAL Modernizing Municipal Bonds by Emily S. Brock municipal bond market and by allowing states and local the bondholder’s tax liability. allow issuers to continue to im- governments to refinance ex- The direct payment BABs of- While the tax exclusion for prove and enhance our nation’s isting debt with the greatest fered a similar subsidy that was ROCKBRIDGE municipal bond interest re- infrastructure. GFOA encour- flexibility leading to reduced paid to the bond issuer. The U.S. COUNTY, Va. mained intact despite threats of ages all county officials to dis- borrowing costs. In the ab- Treasury made a direct pay- elimination during the Tax Cuts cuss these proposals with your sence of advance refunding, ment to BAB issuers in the form ockbridge County is and Jobs Act (TCJA) debate in finance officers and advocate new market-borne financial of a 35 percent subsidy on the centrally located in the 2017, the 116th Congress may for refinement of these critical products intended to achieve interest owed to investors. As a RShenandoah Valley re- continue to look at changes to tools to provide for infrastruc- savings similar to those found result of sequestration, issuers gion of Virginia and includes the tax code that affect public ture. previously have emerged. saw a consistent annual reduc- more than 100 cultural and finance. Providing the tax ex- Advance refunding repre- tion in their subsidy payments. historical sites. The county emption to municipal bond Federal tax policy and sented 27 percent of municipal Proposed Legislative was named for the Natural investors comes at a cost to the the 2017 Tax Cuts bond market activity in 2016 Change: GFOA has support- Bridge, which stands at 215- federal government, though, so and Jobs Act and 19 percent in 2017. In the ed issuers’ access to capital, feet tall and was once owned the exemption itself is always The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act previous sessions of Congress, including through the form of by Thomas Jefferson. vulnerable. (TCJA), which was passed by bipartisan legislation was in- direct pay subsidy bonds. The The benefit of the municipal Congress and signed into law troduced to reinstate govern- federal government should bond market should be no sur- in 2017, made several changes ments’ availability to use ad- honor its commitment and prise to all state and local gov- to the tax code. Although the vance refunding. Protect Build America Bond ernment officials. Tax-exempt full tax exemption for munici- The elimination of advance payments to issuers in case bonds are the primary mecha- pal bond interest was retained, refunding in the TCJA as a of sequestration (Section nism through which state and other changes noteworthy to cost-savings tool for state and 6431(b)). Credit payments to local governments raise cap- issuers of municipal bonds in- local governments has limit- issuers of Build America Bonds ital to finance a wide range of clude: ed the options for refinancing were not intended to be subject essential public infrastructure ●● The elimination of advance debt, especially since interest to budget sequestration; this projects. The volume of muni refunding. rates will certainly fluctuate would conform treatment of bond issuance for the period ●● The elimination of tax credit over the lifetime of outstanding these payments to treatment of The bridge, featured in the center from 2007 to 2017 amounted to bond programs. governmental bonds (which in other tax credit payments. of the seal, is considered a $3.6 trillion. The Joint Commis- ●● The reduction of the corpo- many cases is 30 years). As a “must see” by tourists near and sion on Taxation tallies the total rate tax rate and the elimina- result, state and local govern- Private use limits far. The bridge and its surround- cost of providing the tax ex- tion of some corporate, bank, ments are now paying more in The core private use test for ing property opened as a state emption at $359 billion. If state and insurance tax incentives to interest, a cost either passed on government bonds requires park in 2016. and local governments lose the purchase municipal securities. to citizens or paid for by reduc- that no more than 10 percent ability to use tax-exempt bonds According to the 2017 Infra- ing expenses in other import- of the proceeds a government’s Rockbridge County is the birth- and are compelled to issue tax- structure Report Card by the ant services areas. bond issue can satisfy the pri- place of Cyrus McCormick, who able bonds an alternative, proj- American Society of Civil En- Proposed Legislative vate needs. The only use that is created the Mechanical Reaper ects would be more difficult gineers (ASCE), our nation’s Change: GFOA’s primary ob- not private business use is use featured on the right side of the and costly to finance, which infrastructure earned a cumu- jective for this 116th Congress by a state or local government seal. He first demonstrated the will have significant impact on lative grade of D+.2 The 10-year has focused on infrastructure, (an individual not in trade or mechanical reaper in 1831, our nation’s infrastructure. funding gap between the $4.6 to fully reinstate state and local business, or the general pub- which revolutionized the grain harvesting process. The 116th Congress began trillion in infrastructure needs government’s authority to issue lic). GFOA has long supported work in January 2019 to ad- and public spending neces- tax-exempt advance refunding restrictions on these types of dress their work product for the sary to achieve a state of good bonds. financings because of their im- The seal also includes Wash- coming two years. This will un- repair is $2 trillion. With direct pact on the cost of borrowing ington and Lee University’s doubtedly include an intense federal support to state and lo- Reinstate full subsidy for public purposes. However, Washington Hall. The university interest in finding solutions for cal governments continuing to payments of direct- a number of supplementation was founded in 1749. infrastructure and a critical as- decrease, and the lack of a clear pay subsidy bonds restrictions further complicate sessment of the federal govern- vision from Congress or the ad- Direct-pay subsidy bonds, the rule, and we do not believe The Virginia Military Institute’s ment’s ability to provide a fund- ministration on a path forward like Build America Bonds that arbitrary volume caps are cadet barracks can be seen ing stream for infrastructure. for infrastructure, the impor- (BABs), are debt securities (e.g., an appropriate way to deal with below Washington Hall on the Together with the Administra- tance of the municipal bond municipal bonds) issued by a the issue. Proposed legislative seal. The universities are central tion, the Democratic House market cannot be overstated. state, municipality, or county to change will eliminate duplica- to the history of the county and and the Republican Senate will finance capital expenditures. In tive and burdensome rules and played important roles through- work toward advancing mutual Restore and advance general, there are two distinct address our concerns. out the country’s history. goals, including plans that will refunding bonds types of BABs: tax credit and di- Proposed Legislative address America’s infrastruc- Issuers have saved substan- rect payment. Tax credit BABs Change: The government If you would like your county’s ture. tial sums over time through offered bondholders and lend- should repeal these supple- seal featured in “Behind the Below is an overview of the use of advance refunding, ers a 35 percent federal subsidy mental restrictions that require Seal,” contact Rachel Looker at GFOA’s positions on legislation which freed up capital to use on the interest paid through re- [email protected]. that would help modernize the for other infrastructure needs fundable tax credits, reducing See BONDS page 35 COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES MARCH 18, 2019 33 the HR DOCTOR With Phil Rosenberg Waiting

pring is the season of hope, of joy, and of by the great expectations. It is the time of celebration Sthat difficulties have been over- come and of looking ahead. This sense is reflected in our Mailbox folklore and mythology as well as in our farming practices. Even our religions share a sense of hope and glory ahead. Call it Easter, Passover, the Hindu fes- tival of “Devali” or by any other name, the underlying concepts are the same. So, why not also in public as though it were yesterday run- The same scenario replayed ed you may be by your fellow It may be something like administration? What a perfect ning to the mailbox every day itself a generation ago in the students, the Attending Physi- medical boards or getting a pro- season to introduce innova- as a high school senior waiting Rosenberg family with two cian who grades you, or your motion. It may be good news tion and hope in the delivery of for a letter from UCLA. Then major events occurring in patients, you simply cannot be from the doctor or good news public services? Why not make the letter arrived and I recalled close proximity. Wonderful HR a doctor — you cannot graduate about other people you work the springtime the season of being paralyzed for several mo- daughter Elyse, a county gov- — unless you pass the various with or care very much about. management and superviso- ments. Do I open it? What if I ernment Senior Management state medical board examina- The situation is the same. Every ry training and development haven’t been admitted? I have and Budget analyst at the time, tions. These are two-day mar- one of us faces these moments opportunities, of planning for shared my hopes and dreams applied for a promotion to athons — grueling, nerve-rack- in our lives when we “wait by improvement or reforming HR with friends and colleagues. I manager. ing examinations — which can the mailbox” — either literally practices, and much more!? have waited for weeks and now We all strive to advance our shatter a student’s confidence or figuratively. A metaphor for the spirit of the letter is in my hand. Do I career, even though it might and leave you wondering if in- These moments of great im- the season rests in the U.S. Post- open it now? I did. I stared at mean leaving the comfort zone stead of being a doctor, perhaps portance are benchmarks in al Service, notwithstanding its the letter in silence as I read of a job we understand and you should consider a career the progress of our careers and ongoing financial woes. These the words “Congratulations on working with people we respect, as a greeter at Walmart. The our lives. While we believe that troubles periodically manifest your admission to the Univer- to risk the unknown of a new di- monumental board examina- joy is far better than disappoint- in rate hike discussions, threat- sity of California, Los Angeles!” rector, a new department, unfa- tions were taken and it took two ment, the HR Doctor wondered ened elimination of Saturday If it had been bad news, I would miliar work and our first major months to receive the results. — but only briefly — how the deliveries, closures of local post have stared at it in silence in supervisory responsibility. Am Every day the “HR Daddy” was HR daughters would have re- offices (you know, the ones much the same way, though the I doing the right thing? Will this dispatched out to the mailbox acted if the promotion went opened years ago amid a flour- later celebration and joy would work out? How do I excel in su- by his daughter who is involved to someone else or the board ishing of congressional rib- not have been there. pervision? How do I handle my doing clinical rotations half a scores were disappointing. How bon-cutting and posing for pho- The same feeling of impa- first staff meeting with new sub- continent away. “Has the letter we handle disappointment and tos), and concerns for the threat tience, worry, fear and hope- ordinates? Several years after arrived?” “I don’t think I did failure is, arguably, more im- of continued replacement of fully joy is something we all that promotion was offered and well!” “What if I failed?” portant than how we handle basic services by e-mail, UPS experience. Sometimes, that accepted, Elyse and the rest of Needless to say, the letter ar- success. and FedEx privatization, etc. It concern is reflected when we us look back on our careers and rived, ironically, while Rachel The best bosses, colleagues, still falls to the U.S. Postal Ser- visit a doctor’s office with a find that the answers to these was on the telephone talking spouses and parents work vice to be an instrument in the medical problem and we wait questions were all inside of us to dad about her day’s experi- through the process of recovery arrival of news of momentous for the doctor to come in to the already. We may have had self- ence. I got to open the magic and growth out of disappoint- importance to each of us. chilly, Spartan examining room doubts, but somewhere along letter from the dreaded “Board ment with the ones they care Here is a reprise of a well-re- to tell us the results of tests. the line a mentor or a sensitive of Medical Examiners” and got about with equal passion and ceived HR Doctor article from Sometimes at work we wait for executive understands that to say immediately, “It’s a Pass, sharing as though it was joy years ago to reinforce the point: the results of the performance there is nothing to worry about Rachel! Not only is it a pass, it’s rather than sadness. In our careers and in our evaluation. Every appointed except, to paraphrase the great a ‘super pass’!” Perhaps it was Joy may not be as great a char- lives, there are moments of key official has waited, either impa- HR Director, Franklin Roos- wrong to open the letter while acter builder as disappointment importance when news finally tiently, nervously, or both, while evelt, “Fear Itself.” my daughter was driving home can be, but it is much more fun! arrives that we have expected the elected city commission, The other “blessed event” from a day at the hospital be- The HR Doctor hopes that your impatiently for a long time. The county commission or board of involved wonderful HR doctor cause the tears which followed time spent “waiting at the mail- wait by the mailbox seems in- supervisors considers our rec- daughter Rachel. No matter made driving dangerous. How box” produces equal joy to what terminable. ommendations and then says how hard you work in medical wonderful that they were tears has occurred repeatedly in our The HR Doctor remembers to the clerk “Call the roll!” school, no matter how respect- of joy. house. 34 MARCH 18, 2019 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS

NEWS site where the homeless were living needed to be cleaned FROM up. The county library direc- ACROSS tor showed reporters photos of homeless people sleeping in front of library entrances, drug paraphernalia found on library Girl Power! THE NATION grounds and one of three $800 chairs that one entity in control could clear had to be thrown up the “considerable confu- out after someone sion” among riverside residents urinated on it, about who is in charge of what, the librarian told said Sarah Rascon, urban riv- the Palm Coast er program officer for the Observer. County Mountains Recreation Commissioner Joe and Conservation Au- Mullins paid for se- thority. curity out of his own pocket after meeting ●● A new SAN DIEGO COUN- with library staff; the ALABAMA TY public-private program of- county planned to take over MOBILE COUNTY is fers relief to those who care for security last week. While li- INDIANA ty health department is getting creative to help coun- people with Alzheimer’s or de- brarians said they “will be able A new MARION COUN- teaming up with the public ty employees get healthy, the mentia, according to a report to focus on our jobs for once,” TY program is designed to school and the Women’s Mobile Press-Register reported. by CBS8.com. The new Respite they added that they thought it promote the social well-be- Fund of Central Indiana to Employees who lose 10 pounds Voucher Program offers family was “a Band-Aid solution.” The ing of girls, according to a launch the “Give an Hour” during a 10-week weight loss members and others a county county is continuing to try to report by RTV6. The coun- program. The 10-week pro- incentive program that recently voucher to cover half the cost of find answers. kicked off will qualify for four hiring a fill-in caregiver. Two lo- hours of paid time off. They’ll cal groups provide services and HAWAII enjoy another four hours off if support, and split the cost with TheCOUNTY OF HAWAI’I is public roadways. ILLINOIS they maintain the 10-pound the county 50/50. The program initiating a short-term program The county will dispose MADISON COUNTY’s Pub- weight loss for six months. “It’s is run by the county’s Health this month designed to help of one vehicle per registered lic Safety Committee is expect- a catalyst to encourage our em- and Human Services Agency. residents dispose of unwanted owner at no charge, paying the ed to consider an ordinance ployees to get healthier and we vehicles, KHON-2 reported. fee to a designated vehicle dis- requiring pawn and second- may be offering additional in- FLORIDA The Vehicle Disposal Assis- posal contractor. The owner hand stores to participate in an centives,” said Commissioner ●● FLAGLER COUNTY at- tance Program is aimed at help- is responsible for towing. The online registry, The Telegraph Connie Hudson. “I think the tempted to move a group of ing people dispose of vehicles county will try out the program newspaper reported. Under idea is to do what we can to homeless people away from legally, to reduce the number until April 30 and may extend it the proposal, businesses would assist employees to help have a county library grounds to of abandoned vehicles left on if funding is available. register on a site and then enter healthier lives.” The voluntary a county park but decided information daily about items program is open to part-time against it after protests on social purchased or pawned. Current- and full-time employees. media by people who lived near ly, the county sheriff’s office is the county park, The Daytona spending time hand-writing or CALIFORNIA Beach News-Journal reported. typing “pawn tickets” submit- ●● LOS ANGELES COUN- The county took the action after ted on a weekly basis. TY, in its first step to establish the city of Palm Coast notified The proposed regulations local control over 40 miles the county that the wooded would bring the county into of flood control channels, re- cently voted to send a letter to their congressional represen- tatives urging them to support a study that would look at how FLORIDA the county could take the reins ●● The PINELLAS COUNTY Jail has started a sew- from the federal government. ing circle that meets three times a week and is open to incar- The Los Angeles County Flood cerated women, WFTS reported. The program is called the Red Tent Control District and the U.S. Women’s Initiative, blending a sewing circle and group therapy. “Their Army Corps of Engineers work vibe changes, their energy changes,” said Ramona Schaefer, supervisor together now to maintain water of the program. “They’re meditating and they’re concentrating and they’re infrastructure throughout the speaking of whatever trauma they may be going through. Substance abuse, county. But county officials say life on the street.” insufficient funding has ham- pered the federal government’s ability to keep its segments up to county standards. Having COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES MARCH 18, 2019 35 How to fund health and behavioral facilities ment releases large groups infrastructure and over the last six months of migrants nearby, and the of 2018, the county spent $1.4 $20,000 salary will come from From BONDS page 32 million to house inmates with the $100,000 county leaders had mental illness. approved for immigration pur- a 5 percent unrelated or dispro- Early estimates say the fa- poses. County leaders told the portionate test (Section 141(b) Girl Power! cility itself could cost between local CBS affiliate they hoped (3) of the code), the $15 million $10 million and $13 million, other organizations could con- per project limit on private busi- with projected yearly operating tribute enough to boost the ness use on certain output fa- costs between $2 million and salary to $50,000. The volunteer cilities (Section 141(b)(4)), and $2.5 million. A preliminary re- coordinator would also work the volume cap requirement for port suggests the facility would with the Paso del Norte Foun- governmental bond issues with be available for use by all Sarpy dation, United Way and the city a nonqualified private business County law enforcement agen- of El Paso. amount in excess of $15 million cies, as well as CASS, DODGE, (Section 141(b)(5)). DOUGLAS and WASHINGTON ●● HARRIS COUNTY voters counties. will be able to exercise their Partnership right anywhere in the county financings PENNSYLVANIA on Election Day. Texas Secre- The current administration ●● Deputies in BEAVER tary of State David Whitely ap- has proposed new programs COUNTY are getting new proved the switch to a County- that would provide incentives gram is school-based and girls with gender-specific Tasers, replacing an aging in- wide Polling Place Program, for public-private partnerships promotes social and emo- programming they grow up ventory, but the department which stops limiting voters to to help fund public-sector tional well-being of young to become strong, confi- has said the devices, which have the precinct assigned to them. infrastructure needs. GFOA girls. The first pilot includes dent women and that’s ben- been in use since 2007, have Harris County’s 2 million regis- believes that the federal gov- fifth and sixth-graders. eficial for all of our society,” been good for the department’s tered voters makes it the largest ernment should work in part- “When we support young one programmer said. bottom line. Over an 11-year county in the country to imple- nership with state and local period worker’s compensation ment the program, KHOU News government to achieve mutu- claims at the county jail have reported. ally beneficial outcomes, with dropped 60 percent, since dep- minimum disruption to these compliance with state law, save is going to have them in their uties started carrying them, The WISCONSIN entities and the tax-exempt police departments money and house,” said Cliff Bennett, di- Beaver County Times reported. ●● In a first for the Midwest, bond marketplace. make it easier to track poten- rector of the shelter. “So we had the DANE COUNTY Board of In addition, we always urge tially stolen items. Secondhand a whole new group of cats to try ●● Citizens in BERKS COUN- Supervisors passed a resolu- the federal government to hold or pawned items covered would and help and help a new group TY liked colored lights atop tion urging the Legislature to public hearings on matters include electronic equipment, of people to try and pair them the county courthouse, which ban competitions that involve that affect local and state gov- jewelry, stamps and precious up with.” It’s been a year since reflected weather conditions killing wildlife. The board said ernments. While it is unclear metals. Garage sales, yard sales the service began and they’ve with different combinations but competitions like these that kill if Congress will address these and similar activities would be placed 120 cats. The shelter went out in 2013 when the roof predators don’t serve any legiti- proposals, governments should exempt. The county sheriff’s spays, neuters and resettles was repaired. Although com- mate wildlife management pur- be aware of potential financial department said that thieves them, serving a much-needed missioners balked at replacing poses, WMTV News reported. tools that are or may be avail- know they can bring items to gap in cat adoption services. them because of the cost, they able and evaluate them to de- the county because items are later found out that the LED ●● Seeking to avoid lawsuits, termine if they may be appro- not tracked daily online as they NEBRASKA lights would interfere with the the MILWAUKEE COUNTY priate for your government. are in St. Louis, about a The SARPY COUNTY Board county’s emergency communi- Sheriff’s Office will stop re- This article has been mod- 40-minute drive away. approved a land purchase cations system. porting to Immigrations and ified from an earlier version that will play host to a men- “I know there’s been letters Customs Enforcement about published in Government MONTANA tal health crisis center. The to the editor and stuff on social detainees’ immigration sta- Finance Review. Additional In an attempt to get Board cited an “unmet mental media saying we should relight tus, a change from the previous materials including GFOA re- control over the num- health crisis” while ap- the courthouse but there needs administration, according to ports on the following are all ber of stray cats proving the $1 million to be recognition that the emer- Wisconsin Public Radio. Sher- available on GFOA’s website at in the county, the purchase. The Omaha gency radio system is much iff Earnell Lucas established a www.gfoa.org, including: FLATHEAD COUN- World-Herald reported more important to the safety of policy ensuring that absent a ●● Infrastructure funding in TY Animal Shelter the center will serve as a people in Berks County,” Com- valid judicial warrant, informa- the new budget environment began a cat adoption short-term emergency missioner Kevin Barnhardt told tion would no longer be shared ●● Tax-exempt municipal service, cold calling en- provider where people The Reading Eagle. with ICE or hold inmates for an bonds and infrastructure: Over tities they thought could voluntarily go to re- additional 48 hours after they 100 years of building together benefit from having a cat ceive mental health and TEXAS should be released. ●● Understanding financing to chase away rodents — in substance abuse assess- ●● EL PASO COUNTY is fund- options used for public infra- places like equestrian barns, ments. It will provide law ing a new temporary staff News From Across the Nation structure. hay businesses, dairies and enforcement officers with position to help coordinate is compiled by Charlie Ban and other structures, the Daily a dedicated facility to bring migrant shelters. The staffer Mary Ann Barton, senior writ- Emily S. Brock is director of Inter Lake reported. “When people who don’t belong in will organize volunteers and ers. If you have an item for News GFOA’s Federal Government they are untamed, you can’t jail or a traditional hospital. migrant shelters when Immi- From, please email cban@naco. Liaison Center in Washington, adopt them to someone who The county jail lacks mental gration and Customs Enforce- org or [email protected]. D.C. 36 MARCH 18, 2019 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS

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