SPOTLIGHT ON: HIGH COURT HANDS WIN TO STATES, LOCALS

FOOD In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday that states and local gov- INSECURITY ernments can require internet retailers to collect sales taxes, even if the online company has no physical presence like a factory or store, in the state. See SCOTUS PG. 3

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES VOL. 50, NO. 13 JUNE 25, 2018

How counties are tackling hunger Pg. 9

Operators of the Veggie Van visit with children in McLennan County, Texas. The Veggie Van brings healthy foods to food deserts in the Learn about one region. Read more about ways counties combat food insecurity in the Spotlight report starting on page 9. Photo courtesy of World Hunger Relief county’s campaign to Relief for opioid crisis PILT counties: Feds attract grocers takes shape in Congress may owe you money to a food desert Valerie Brankovic eral policy actions to address the By Jonathan Shuffield the underpayments of all oth- Pg. 12 legislative assistant crisis, including tweaks to Med- associate legislative director er PILT recipients nationwide icaid and Medicare that could for those years. In December, Congress is expected to con- expand treatment options, as In 2008, Congress signifi- the court ruled in Kane Coun- tinue working this summer to- well as the creation of education cantly amended the Payments ty’s favor for FY2015 and 2016 ward an opioid legislative pack- and technical assistance pro- In-Lieu of Taxes (PILT) stat- underpayments and issued a age following a flurry of action grams for health care providers ute by mandating full funding similar ruling on FY2017 un- around the issue on Capitol Hill treating patients with substance through 2014. Congress also derpayments in March 2018. during May and June. The opi- use disorders. repealed the original statute The federal government ar- oid epidemic has figured as a House members plan to use language that made the pro- gued in court that despite Con- prominent issue for legislators the remainder of the June leg- gram discretionary and subject gress’ removal of the original over the past several months, islative session to vote on ad- to the annual congressional statute language treating PILT and committees in the House ditional bills, with the goal of appropriations process. Due as a discretionary program, and Senate have considered sending a comprehensive pack- to insufficient appropriations Congress placed the 2008– numerous proposals that aim age to the Senate. On June 13, for 2015–2017, PILT recipients 2014 timeline limitation on the to curb the sharp rise in opioid Energy and Commerce Com- did not receive the full amount current statute language mak- overdoses and deaths across the mittee leadership introduced to which they were entitled un- ing PILT mandatory. Federal country. legislation, titled the Substance der the PILT statute based on Judge Elaine Kaplan disagreed, Of the more than 60 opioid Use-Disorder Prevention that the Department of the Interi- calling the government’s argu- measures introduced for con- Promotes Opioid Recovery and or’s full payment calculation. ment “untenable.” sideration in the House, legis- Support (SUPPORT) for Patients As a result, Kane County, In her December 2017 rul- lators recently passed 38 indi- and Communities Act (H.R. 6), Utah filed a lawsuit in the U.S. ing, Judge Kaplan elaborated vidual bills, most of which are that will serve as the underlying Court of Federal Claims in that the federal government bipartisan and narrow in scope. June 2017, seeking to recover The bills propose an array of fed- See OPIOIDS page 2 its own underpayments and See PILT page 2 2 JUNE 25, 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS Congress continues to push legislation to help relieve opioid epidemic

From OPIOIDS page 1 Lessen (HEAL) Substance Use try Act (H.R. 4005), which would the Comprehensive Addiction projected impact of each mea- Disorders Act and the Judiciary direct the Department of Health Resources Emergency (CARE) sure on county governments. vehicle to move most of the ap- Committee advanced five piec- and Human Services (HHS) to Act (S. 2700/H.R. 5545), which The analysis is available on the proved House bills forward as a es of legislation that focus on the issue best practices around pro- would make direct investments NACo website and will be up- package. public safety and law enforce- viding health care for justice-in- in state and local agencies op- dated to reflect new legislative As part of the Senate’s broader ment aspects of the epidemic. volved individuals returning to erating on the frontlines of the developments. efforts around the opioid crisis, their communities from county epidemic, including emergency the Health, Education, Labor Proposals could correctional facilities. first responders, public health Path forward for opioid and Pensions (HELP) Commit- impact local response Two other NACo-supported departments and regional epi- package remains tee in May advanced the Opioid to opioid crisis measures focus on better coor- demiology centers. unclear Crisis Response Act (S. 2680), a Several bills underway in dinating care for individuals with Modeled after the Ryan White Looking ahead, the timeline single, but wide-ranging bill that Congress could impact the local substance use disorders. One Comprehensive AIDS Resourc- for an opioid package remains includes measures intended to response to the opioid epidemic of these bills, the Overdose Pre- es Emergency Act passed in unclear. House leaders plan to expand patients’ access to med- if enacted. NACo is closely track- vention and Patient Safety Act 1990, the CARE Act would com- hold a series of votes ahead of ication-assisted treatment and ing the progress of each bill. (H.R. 6082), would allow for in- mit $100 billion in federal fund- the July recess that could fold train first responders to admin- Two of these bills are now slat- formation-sharing between be- ing over 10 years toward a wide the bills passed in May and June ister overdose antidote drugs. ed for a floor vote in the House havioral health and other health range of research, treatment and into the House’s legislative vehi- Other Senate committees and focus on expanding Med- providers treating addiction, a recovery activities, with special cle for the bills, H.R. 6. have also approved propos- icaid treatment options for jus- long-standing NACo priority. focus given to counties and cit- The Senate, however, is still als that could be combined tice-involved individuals. One The other bill, the Improv- ies disproportionately affected considering various proposals with S. 2680 into a broader set such bill is the At-Risk Youth ing Access to Behavioral Health by the epidemic. and may wait until the House of bills. In June, the Senate Fi- Medicaid Protection Act (H.R. Information Technology Act Other proposals that could advances a final bundle of leg- nance Committee passed the 1925), which would streamline (S. 1732/H.R. 3331), would di- improve counties’ ability to islation. Senate Majority Leader Helping to End Addiction and the delivery of addiction treat- rect the Centers for Medicare respond to the crisis focus on Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has ment services for juveniles re- and Medicaid Innovation to improving prescription drug indicated he could delay move- leased from county correctional incentivize health information monitoring programs (PDMPs), ment on the bills until after mid- facilities. This measure could technology demonstrations for expanding telehealth options term elections in November. help counties provide effective behavioral health providers, for patients in remote areas and Congress must also weigh STATES WITH LOWEST treatment and care coordination including approximately 750 enhancing family-focused resi- legislative priorities beyond the UNEMPLOYMENT RATES services pre- and post-release, county-based behavioral health dential treatment programs es- opioid bills, including reauthori- APRIL 2016 allowing smoother transitions to authorities. This measure could tablished under the Family First zation of the farm bill and other community care for justice-in- support the integration of health Prevention Services Act. federal programs, as well as the volved youth. information into local care de- In May, NACo released a leg- completion of spending bills be- NACo supported another livery systems. islative analysis of bills moving fore the end of FY 2018 on Sept. House bill, the Medicaid Reen- In the Senate, NACo endorsed through Congress, as well as the 30. Class action lawsuit aims to recover PILT underpayments

From PILT page 1 vision of law by implication.” of time before issuing of pay- It is also unclear if the govern- STATE UNEMPLOYMENT The court also certified the ments remain unsettled issues. ment will appeal the rulings. RATE “is urging the Court to read lawsuit as a class action, and Hawaii...... 2.0 the current statute as though it ordered that an official notice HOW TO JOIN THE CLASS ACTION SUIT New Hampshire...... 2.6 still contained the limiting lan- of the formation of a class be North Dakota...... 2.6 guage that Congress repealed sent to each underpaid PILT o participate in the class action lawsuit and collect possible Maine...... 2.7 in October of 2008; in other recipient. That notice of the amounts due them, each underpaid PILT recipient must complete Iowa...... 2.8 T words, the government asks class formation will be mailed and submit a form “opting into” the lawsuit. If a county does not elect Nebraska...... 2.8 the Court to find that Congress on June 19. Smith, Currie and to join the class, they will not be included in the class action lawsuit— Vermont...... 2.8 resurrected a repealed provi- Hancock, LLP will serve as and will not receive any recovered funds. Counties will have until Wisconsin...... 2.8 sion of law by implication… class counsel. mid-September to opt into the class. Colorado...... 2.9 The government does not cite The exact amount each For more information and to access the opt-in form go to: Idaho...... 2.9 a single case that supports the county may receive from Inte- https://www.smithcurrie.com/PILTPaymentsInfo/ Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics resurrection of a repealed pro- rior and the length of the legal

President Executive Editor ADVERTISING STAFF Published biweekly except August by: The appearance of paid advertisements in County POSTMASTER: send address changes to Roy Charles Beverly Anne Job Market/Classifieds National Association of Counties News in no way implies support or endorsement County News, 660 N. Capitol Street, N.W. Brooks Schlotterbeck by the National Association of Counties for any of representative Research Foundation, Inc. STE. 400, Washington, D.C. 20001 Publisher Senior Staff Writer 660 N. Capitol Street, N.W. STE. 400, the products, services or messages advertised. National Accounts (USPS 704-620) n (ISSN: 0744-9798) Matthew Chase Charlie Ban Washington, D.C. 20001 Periodicals postage paid at Washington D.C. and © National Association of Counties representative 202.393.6226 | FAX 866.752.1573 other offices. Public Affairs Senior Staff Writer Research Foundation, Inc. Director Mary Ann Barton Beverly Schlotterbeck E-mail [email protected] Mail subscriptions are $100 per year for non-mem- 202.393.6226 bers. $60 per year for non-members purchasing Brian Namey Design Director Online address www.countynews.org Leon Lawrence III FAX 866.752.1573 multiple copies. Educational institution rate, $50 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 commited 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 JUNE 25, 2018 3 Supreme Court ruling clears way to collecting tax on internet sales

From SCOTUS page 1 ized solution. paid for many online purchas- the law is challenged in court, To require a vendor to col- State and local governments es. It upheld a South Dakota each state supreme court will lect sales tax the vendor must Removing the “physical are losing between $8 billion law that required retailers in be responsible for determining still have a “substantial nexus” presence” standard is a signif- to $13.4 billion a year in un- the state to collect a 4.5 per- what an appropriate standard with the state. The Court found icant change in the sales tax collected taxes for online sales, cent tax on purchases. for “substantial nexus” is in the a “substantial nexus” in this collection landscape. Sales the Government Account- Ultimately the court over- state, whether it meets stan- case based on the “economic taxes are the second greatest ing Office estimated last year. turned previous cases and dards outlined in the Com- and virtual contacts” Wayfair portion of revenue for coun- Some studies put that figure sent the case back to the South merce Clause, and generally has with the state. ties nationwide, and uniform as high as $26 billion a year, Dakota Supreme Court. This if it is appropriate or overbur- The National Association of enforcement and collection is according to the International means the court is leaving the densome. Counties (NACo) and other a top priority for county gov- Council of Shopping Centers. decision up to each state over The National Retail Federa- leading organizations that rep- ernments. The South Dakota Local sales taxes are collected whether to enforce sales tax tion said Thursday that federal resent state and local govern- v. Wayfair decision ending the in 38 states. collection on remote purchas- legislation is necessary to spell ments applauded the decision physical presence standard is In its decision in the case, es. Under this framework, each out details on how sales tax — a big win for their members: a significant win for local gov- South Dakota vs. Wayfair, the state may have to pass legisla- collection will take place, rath- “Today’s ruling will ensure ernments, though it does not high court overturned a 1992 tion requiring remote sellers er than leaving it to each state provide a national, standard- ruling that had let taxes go un- to collect these taxes, and if to interpret. See SCOTUS page 25 House approves ‘minibus’ spending package

By Austin Igleheart Military Construction was recently signed into law by the following programs and civil works program. Under the and Zach George – Veterans Affairs President Trump. The new law agencies are addressed in the House-passed bill, the Corps Appropriations Bill consolidates VA’s communi- bill: would receive $7.28 billion for Earlier this month, the The “minibus” package in- ty care programs into a single ●● Department of Energy: FY2019, $451 million above FY House approved a 2019 cluded $86.4 billion in funding program and shifts funding for The bill contains $35.5 billion 2018 levels. “minibus” appropriations for the Department of Veterans non-VA care from mandatory for DOE, $974 million above spending package consisting Affairs (VA), including $71.2 to discretionary. This means FY2018 levels. Most notably, ●● Waters of the U.S. (WO- of three appropriations bills billion for VA medical care. that non-VA care, including DOE’s Office of Energy Effi- TUS): The bill also includes on a 234 to 179 vote. The leg- This represents a $3.9 billion under the VA Mission Act, will ciency and Renewable Energy a policy rider to expedite the islation included the Military funding increase over FY2018 be subject to the annual ap- (EERE), which works to devel- repeal of the 2015 WOTUS Construction and Veterans funding levels and marks the propriations process and must op and promote clean, afford- rule issued under the Obama Affairs, Energy and Water highest level of funding for the be funded each year. able and secure energy, would Administration. The EPA is and Legislative Branch ap- Military Construction and Vet- The Senate Appropriations see its budget reduced $2.08 currently in the process of propriations language previ- erans Affairs Appropriations Committee included a similar billion. This is a decrease of withdrawing the 2015 rule and ously approved by the House bill. The Military-VA portion of funding level to the House in $2.32 billion under the FY2018 issuing a new rule in its re- Appropriations Committee. the bill enjoyed broad bipar- its Military Construction-VA enacted budget of $2.32 bil- placement. The package received some tisan support throughout the Appropriations bill. Senate lion. bipartisan support, but was budget process. leaders have also indicated The bill also includes $267.7 ●● Legislative Branch Appro- opposed by many Democrats Within the VA, $8.6 billion that they plan to address fund- million for the proposed Yucca priations Bill due to provisions in the Ener- would be appropriated for ing for the new non-VA care Mountain nuclear waste re- Finally, the “minibus” in- gy and Water portion of the mental health care services program in their appropria- pository in Nevada. This pro- cludes $4.9 billion for Legis- bill, which they argued would and $7.4 billion would be allo- tions measure. vision is relevant for counties lative Branch Appropriations weaken environmental pro- cated to treat homeless veter- with nuclear waste facilities, for FY2019, an $180 million tections and hinder renew- ans, including about $1.77 bil- Energy and Water most of which were not de- increase over FY 2018 funding able energy development. lion for homeless prevention Appropriations Bill signed to store spent nuclear levels. Considered noncontro- Despite these objections, programs run by the VA, such The House “minibus” also in- fuel indefinitely. NACo sup- versial, the bill sets discretion- the passage of this $147 bil- as the Supportive Services for cludes the $44.7 billion FY2019 ports construction of a suit- ary spending for the House of lion measure moves the ball Veteran Families program. Energy and Water Appropri- able permanent nuclear waste Representatives, the Library forward for three of the 12 Further, opioid prevention and ations bill. The bill funds the repository, as well as the use of of Congress, the Capitol Police annual federal appropria- treatment programs would re- Department of Energy (DOE), a central interim storage facili- and various legislative agen- tion bills, all of which must ceive over $386 million to help Army Corps of Engineers civil ty until such a site can be com- cies. receive congressional ap- stem the crisis’ disproportion- works program, Department of pleted. The bill does not include an proval by the start of the new ate impact on veterans. This Interior’s Bureau of Reclama- automatic-cost-of-living salary fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2018). opioid funding would also go tion and several other federal ●● Army Corps of Engineers increase for members of Con- These three bills could now toward ensuring non-VA care government agencies. The En- civil works program: The gress. The annual $174,000 sal- be approved by the Senate, providers that treat veterans ergy and Water Appropriations Army Corps is tasked with ary for rank-and-file members although zero-tolerance im- are following VA standards for bill is important to counties building, maintaining and op- has been in place since 2009. migration issues have now opioid safety. because it funds federal ener- erating coastal and inland wa- captured the Senate’s atten- Notably, the minibus does gy, water and flooding-related terways, addressing flooding Igleheart is a legislative associ- tion, pushing aside other leg- not include additional funding infrastructure projects. risk and strengthening ecosys- ate and Zach George is a legis- islation. for the VA Mission Act, which Of importance to counties, tem restoration through their lative assistant at NACo. 4 JUNE 25, 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS Supreme Court upholds Ohio’s purge of voter rolls

By Lisa Soronen lows the NVRA “to the letter.” governments are tasked with ments at a city council meeting run” of First Amendment re- Second, Justice Alito pointed registering voters and main- (possibly because the city had taliatory arrest claims. Instead, In Husted v. A. Philip Ran- to other language in the NVRA taining voter rolls. Processes an official policy of retaliating the court held that because of dolph Institute the Supreme stating that registrants may not vary based on factors includ- against him) was not barred the unique facts of this case Court held that Ohio’s process- be removed “solely by reason ing state law and resources; so, from bringing a First Amend- Lozman “need not prove the es of removing people from of a failure to vote.” According states and local governments ment retaliatory arrest claim absence of probable cause to the voter rolls does not violate to the court, the NVRA “simply need clear direction and flex- against the city even if it had maintain a claim of retaliatory federal law. If a person doesn’t forbids the use of nonvoting as ibility regarding what process probable cause to arrest him. arrest against the City.” vote for two years, Ohio sends the sole criterion for removing they may use to maintain voter Lozman was an “outspoken The State and Local Legal them a confirmation notice. If a registrant, and Ohio does not rolls. The brief notes that while critic” of the City of Riviera Center (SLLC) filed an amicus they don’t respond to the no- use it that way. Instead, as per- in this case Ohio is being sued Beach’s proposed plan to re- brief arguing that an arrestee tice and don’t vote in the next mitted by [the NVRA], Ohio re- for the process it uses to take develop the city-owned ma- could not bring a First Amend- four years, Ohio removes them moves registrants only if they people off the rolls, states and rina using eminent domain. ment retaliatory arrest lawsuit from the voter rolls. have failed to vote and have local governments have been He also sued the city claiming if probable cause for the arrest The State and Local Legal failed to respond to a notice.” sued for keeping ineligible vot- it violated open meetings law. existed. Center (SLLC) filed an amic- The challengers also argued ers on the rolls. He alleged that the City Coun- The SLLC amicus brief ar- us brief in this case support- that because so many people David Orr, Cook County cil held a closed-door meeting gued that if probable cause is ing Ohio. Twelve other states discard the confirmation no- clerk and election administra- in which it devised an official present and officers can still maintain their voter rolls using tice, the failure to send it back tor, labeled the court’s deci- plan to intimidate him in retal- be sued, states and local gov- a similar process. is “worthless” as evidence sion “partisan” in a statement iation for his lawsuit. ernments will have more dif- The National Voter Registra- someone has moved and is in- released shortly after the de- Five months after the ficulty maintaining order and tion Act (NVRA) allows states to eligible to vote. The Supreme cision. “In a partisan 5-4 vote, closed-door meeting, a coun- safety at local-government remove voters if they don’t re- Court rejected the notion it the Court upheld the state of cilmember had Lozman ar- meetings, public protests and spond to a confirmation notice should second-guess the Ohio Ohio’s uniquely aggressive ef- rested during the public com- demonstrations and political and don’t vote in the next two Legislature’s “considered judg- forts to purge its voting rolls, ment period for discussing rallies. Additionally, the brief federal election cycles. But the ment” regarding the “proba- ruling that a state may kick issues unrelated to the city and pointed to the role of state “Failure-to-Vote Clause” says a tive value” of a registrant’s people off the rolls if they skip refusing to leave the podium. constitutions, state courts and state program “shall not result failure to respond to the con- a few elections and fail to re- Lozman conceded that the city internal disciplinary measures in the removal of the name of firmation notice. spond to a notice from state had probable cause to arrest within state and local police any person . . . by reason of the The court again relied on re- election officials … The burden him. But he claimed the city departments to protect free person’s failure to vote.” specting the judgment of the should be on the election ad- should be liable for violating speech and offer “meaningful Two advocacy groups and Ohio Legislature in rejecting minister to keep current voter the First Amendment because remedies for true victims of re- an Ohio resident claimed the challengers’ argument that rolls and not outsource their its strategy to intimidate him to taliation.” Ohio’s process violates the “Ohio’s procedure is illegal duty onto the back of voters,” stop speaking was a “but for” The court declined to de- NVRA’s Failure-to-Vote Clause because the State sends out Orr said. cause of his arrest. cide whether, as a general because “the failure to vote notices without having any In contrast, the city argued rule, probable cause bars First plays a prominent part in the ‘reliable indicator’ that the ad- Retaliatory that Lozman could not sue Amendment retaliation cases Ohio removal scheme.” They dressee has moved.” According arrest case it for retaliatory arrest under against police officers. argue failure-to-vote is used as to the court, “the Ohio Legisla- It is tempting to dismiss this any circumstances if probable a trigger for sending the con- ture apparently thought that case as a mere one-off. But cause existed to arrest him. In Soronen is executive director of firmation notice and as a re- nonvoting for two years was every local government has a an opinion written by Justice the State and Local Legal Cen- quirement for removal. sufficiently correlated with a Fane Lozman (or two, three, or Anthony Kennedy, the court ter. NACo is a founder, a funder The Supreme Court, in a change of residence to justify four) and this case provides a declined to decide wheth- and a board member of the 5–4 opinion written by Justice sending a [confirmation no- cautionary tale. er to extend either the “but SLLC, headquartered in Wash- Samuel Alito, concluded the tice].” In an 8–1 decision in Lozman for” cause rule proposed by ington, D.C. The center extends Ohio process doesn’t violate The SLLC amicus brief v. Riviera Beach, the Supreme Lozman or the absolute bar to NACo’s advocacy on behalf of the NVRA. First, it is undis- points out that hundreds, if not Court held that a citizen who retaliatory arrest claims pro- counties to the highest court in puted the Ohio process fol- thousands, of states and local was arrested for making com- posed by the City to the “mine the land.

New NACo ★ Welcome, Macon-Bibb County, Ga. Member Macon-Bibb County was named for Dr. William Wyatt Bibb, a U.S. senator from Georgia and the first governor of the state GET TO of Alabama, where there is also a Bibb County named for him. KNOW... The City of Macon and Bibb County consolidated in January 2014. The county seat, Macon, is the birthplace of sev- Macon-Bibb eral musicians including Otis Redding, Little Richard, County, Ga. The Allman Brothers Band and Jason Aldean. More than 30,000 college students live in the Macon area — home to the Mercer Bears, the Middle Georgia State University Knights and the Wesleyan College Wolves. COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES JUNE 25, 2018 5 Suicide prevention gains urgency as rates soar By Mary Ann Barton cation program with gun shop senior staff writer owners to raise awareness of suicide prevention strategies In Alcona County, Mich., among fire arm owners and in the state’s northeast Lower their family members. Peninsula, you’ll find 36 miles The San Diego Suicide Pre- of Lake Huron coastline, his- vention Council has taught toric sites and golf courses nearly 15,000 people how galore. But the rural beauty to approach someone who of the county belies its No. 1 might be contemplating sui- ranking in suicides per capita cide through its “Question, in the state, with nearly 25 per Persuade, Refer” training pro- 100,000, according to the Cen- gram, while more than 2,000 ters for Disease Control and first responders have been Prevention (CDC). From 1999 trained in suicide prevention to 2016, the county’s suicide using a special council curric- rate soared 38.8 percent. ulum. The trend is in keeping with “Our goal is to create a the national suicide rate which community where everyone is on the rise as well, with a recognizes that they have a more than 25 percent increase role to play in suicide preven- in the same timeframe, ac- tion,” Aguirre said. “Each of us cording to the CDC. should learn the warning signs In the wake of two high-pro- of people considering ending file suicides earlier this month their lives and encourage them — fashion designer Kate to seek professional help.” Spade, 55, on June 5 and three For counties with small- days later, chef-TV personality er budgets, there is still a lot Anthony Bourdain, 61 — there they can do, he said. “I think is more emphasis than ever on counties and localities should suicide prevention. shamelessly steal from coun- Higher suicide rates often ties that have already done go hand in hand in counties fers classes and workshops ties (12 per 100,000) from 2001 the issue of suicide so it’s not work on this; it doesn’t require where unemployment and to county residents on how to to 2015, according to the CDC. so stereotyped — people begin that many resources to pull to- drug abuse rates are high. help loved ones contemplating The CDC reported that the to realize it affects people of all gether. Interested parties can Alcona County’s unemploy- suicide. state with the highest per- income groups, who you think form an initial steering group ment rate in April, 7.3 percent, “They’re going to be strong, centage increase in suicides is have it all…and yet down deep that is going to then come to- ranked No. 66 among 83 coun- they’re going to take care of North Dakota, with a 57.6 per- they’re in pain and feeling gether and look at the model, ties in the state and higher than their own,” she said. Although cent increase. The state with empty,” he said. and ask, ‘What makes sense for the national rate of 3.8 percent. resources are available, res- the lowest percentage increase San Diego County has been our county?’” The county’s opioid prescrip- idents “don’t look because is Delaware, with a 5.9 percent a leader in educating the pub- Another strategy, for coun- tion rate in 2016 was 118.8 per they’re going to tough it out. increase. The suicide rate is lic about suicide prevention ties with opioid addiction pre- 100 people, according to the “The nature of the rural envi- highest in the West, with Mon- since 2011, when it became vention programs, is to look CDC, higher than the national ronment is there are fewer peo- tana, Alaska and Wyoming re- the first county in California at how they can add a suicide average of 66.5 percent. ple per square mile so there is cording the highest rates. to develop a suicide preven- prevention component into People who live in rural ar- that isolation,” said Meske. In California, there has been tion plan. The county secured the program, he said. “The bot- eas are often slow to ask for Even though it is a rural a 14.8 percent increase, the funding from Prop 63, a state- tom line is the common ingre- help, said Cathy Meske, ex- area, help is just a phone call third lowest in the country, ac- wide voter initiative that ded- dient for people who are over- ecutive director of Northeast away with a hotline set up for cording to the CDC. icated funding to suicide pre- dosing, is the despair.” Michigan Community Mental anyone who is contemplating Even though San Diego vention efforts. Although most statistics Health Authority, which serves suicide, they said. Meske said County’s suicide rate is low- The county recently unveiled show that middle-aged men Alcona County as well as Alpe- they are embracing technol- er than the state and national an expanded campaign to pre- are most prone to suicide, Fair- na, Montmorency and Presque ogy including tele-psychiatry averages, at 11.6 per 100,000, vent suicides, after conducting fax County, Va. is seeing an up- Isle counties. at the region’s only hospi- it was the number one cause surveys and speaking with fo- tick in the number of women “There’s a very strong sense tal and plans for offering the of death last year in the coun- cus groups on the issue. The reaching out for help, accord- of independence that ‘I’ll take myStrength app, which helps ty. The high-profile suicides expansion involves an over- ing to the Fairfax-Falls Church care of myself,’ which is good people monitor their mental of Spade and Bourdain have all plan for the general public Community Services Board. to a point but when people health. brought a renewed spotlight to and a more targeted approach From May 2017 to May 2018, really do need help they’re re- Overall, suicide death rates the issue, said Alfredo Aguirre, to those populations deemed the number of women seeking luctant to reach out, that’s for for rural counties (17 per director, San Diego County most at-risk. mental health support rose 66 physical health as well as men- 100,000 people) are higher Behavioral Health Services. As part of its expanded sui- percent, from 1,830 to 3,060, tal health,” said Mary Schalk, than medium/small metropol- “I think one of the things cide prevention campaign, San the board reported. program coordinator, for Part- itan counties (15 per 100,000) that this has done is it’s Diego County is also planning ners in Prevention, which of- and large metropolitan coun- brought more conversation to to implement a gun safety edu- See SUICIDE page 8 6 JUNE 25, 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS County builds a strong early childhood stakeholder group

By Tracy Steffek early childhood stakeholder vide the perspective of var- What kinds of structured Lastly, meeting agendas group charged with applying ious sectors affecting youth teams have been successful were organized to allow for We’ve all heard the African a systemic lens to the work well-being such as health care, in the community in the past? quick, consent agenda votes proverb, “It takes a village to happening across their juris- non-profit, faith and philan- Contemplate the tradeoffs of on procedural items, more raise a child,” and counties diction. thropy. As an example, SCYPT a stakeholder team that ade- written updates and a focus on exemplify this saying through Recognizing there were includes a community mem- quately includes a variety of key priorities. the significant role they play in multiple efforts to address ber appointed by the Northern perspectives with the optimal Creating opportunities coordinating and administer- broad issues, Fairfax County, Virginia Association for the size to plan and implement ef- for continuous engagement ing services to their youngest Va., first convened its Success- fectively and efficiently. where individuals are focused residents. ful Children and Youth Policy There may be an opportunity on prioritizing goals, identify- The diverse set of commu- Team (SCYPT) in May 2013, Community to organize a larger group us- ing service gaps and strategies, nity-based programs and ser- assigning it the role of setting ing different levels of engage- and driving implementation to vices available to young chil- community-wide goals and members provide ment through subcommittees address the root cause of com- dren only underscores how priorities for public policy as it the perspective where members can provide munity problems keeps mem- vital it is for counties to unite relates to children, youth and subject matter expertise. bers invigorated and feeling these efforts across systems families. of various sectors In the SCYPT governance that their time is being used in and leverage resources to SCYPT has helped to pro- affecting youth model, an executive com- a significant way. make the greatest impact with- vide a leadership “home” for well-being such as mittee, composed of the four Stakeholder groups can in their communities. cross-system issues. elected officials, the deputy help to develop a variety of In the following, I will high- health care, non- county executive, the Fairfax products such as conceptual Building the case light some practical applica- profit, faith and County Public School’s chief papers for new programs, mar- Often local early childhood tions based on Fairfax County’s academic and equity officer, keting strategies, topic-specific groups have mixed begin- journey with its stakeholder philanthropy. and two community-based research reports, policy rec- nings; some groups become group. members, helps to shape the ommendations and data shar- established based on a bold agendas and make key deci- ing agreements, for example. charge stemming from a na- Stakeholders Education of Young Children sions on process and structure. Formulating a clear vision tional or state initiative and Once community buy-in to represent the county’s early Most recently, they’ve con- for the group with realistic others are community-driven has been established there is childhood sector. ducted a survey of over 60 co- goals and objectives will help and form more organically, typically a lot of excitement Additionally, SCYPT mem- alitions and initiatives working prevent participants from feel- bringing together early child- around the opportunity to bership includes three par- on youth issues in Fairfax and ing overwhelmed by a series of hood stakeholders and the generate positive change but ent members appointed by will be using the results of the tasks or issues that seem too general public to address a taking time out to strategize the Fairfax County Council of survey analysis to develop new large to tackle. specific need or challenge in before a launch is a vital step to PTAs, the Fairfax Head Start structures and processes to the community. the group’s long-term success. Policy Council and the Fair- engage and promote contin- Generating impact Local initiatives for children When determining who fax-Falls Church Communi- uous improvement across all Collective impact work is have also generally main- and how to engage stakehold- ty Policy and Management groups. challenging, but once systems tained a focus on an age range ers, those championing these Team, which is a governance thinking is incorporated, the of zero to 5, zero to 8, or even types of efforts should: team for children’s behavioral Keeping your group team can strategize to build cradle-to-career. ●● Consider how to best en- health services. engaged capacity and act as leaders and More recent brain science gage traditional and non-tra- To develop and implement One of the greatest chal- advocates in the community. research at the Center on the ditional stakeholders in the strategies, SCYPT convenes lenges in providing leadership Building collaboration across Developing Child at Harvard process such as community task forces or partners with ex- to a strategic group is keeping stakeholders not only helps University suggests a prenatal developers, parents or the isting relevant coalitions. members motivated and regu- to strengthen and integrate to 3 lens as an opportunity in business community; and In support of early child- larly participating. early childhood systems, but which to make the most im- ●● Analyze the various levels hood development and ensur- Fairfax County has shifted also contributes to community pact. of engagement to determine ing that children are entering its approach over the years well-being and opportunities Commonly, communities if leaders, middle manage- kindergarten ready to succeed, to maintain engagement, but for children to thrive. house many local early child- ment and direct service staff SCYPT has endorsed several attribute three core compo- Developing a cross-sector hood initiatives reflecting are equally represented in the short and long-term strategies, nents to their success. stakeholder team is a large many different perspectives. overall effort. including, most recently, the First, they established an undertaking and any orga- But the challenge to move SCYPT found that it was Equitable School Readiness executive committee to tackle nizational change requires toward an integrated or col- useful to develop “job descrip- Strategic Plan and its accom- process and structure chal- an immense amount of time, lective approach that incor- tions” to identify members’ panying One Year Implemen- lenges of the group so regular commitment and relation- porates budgeting, financing, roles and responsibilities. tation Plan. meetings remain focused on ship-building. intake-case management or Members of the team come A specially-constituted core issues or specific topics. However, it is a momen- data collection and analysis from Fairfax County govern- committee of providers, par- Second, they developed tous first step toward system under a set of shared goals is a ment, Fairfax County public ents, school administrators, standardized templates for integration, increasing invest- steep one. schools (including two partici- teachers and other stakehold- reports and presentations, ments for young children, and A vital first step that county pating members each from the ers developed the plan. so the information received ultimately, affecting individual governments can make toward Board of Supervisors and the is consistent, received in ad- and community outcomes. achieving an integrated sys- School Board), and the com- Establishing a vance and time-limited to al- tem is assessing their current munity. structure low for more time for substan- Steffek is a NACo human ser- environment and building an Community members pro- Consider the following: tive conversation. vices program manager. COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES JUNE 25, 2018 7 Timber takes a new look in Clackamas County

By Mary Ann Barton senior staff writer

A new wood product could be a real economic game-changer for Clackamas County, Ore. and other counties around the country where timber is har- vested. Cross-laminated timber or “mass timber” — kiln-dried wood that is stacked crosswise and glued together — is so strong it can replace steel, ma- sonry and concrete. An added benefit: Instead of giving off carbon, it sequesters it, thereby slowing global warming. “It’s kind of like plywood on steroids,” said Rick Gruen, manager, Clackamas County Parks & Forest, Ag and Forest The “T3” building in Minneapolis is the largest mass timber bulding in the United States, standing seven stories tall and measuring 220,000 square feet. Photo courtesy of Hines REIT Economic Development. Different wood species can are “one-offs” at the moment, 220,000 square feet. Gruen said. There seems to be cent of our footprint is urban. be used but Douglas fir, grown requiring more planning in the The architecture firm has more acceptance by environ- Seventy-five percent of the land in Clackamas County, is ide- design phase. also designed an even larg- mentalists of harvesting trees is forestland.” al, he noted. “That puts us at a He sees the building codes er 11-story timber skyscraper these days. “We want to lead the bur- unique advantage.” catching up within three to for Newark, N.J. that is in the “That’s a significant change geoning cross-laminated tim- New information out this five years, making the building works. in the whole paradigm…no- ber industry by developing a month from Market Research process less complicated. “We’re seeing a groundswell body wanted to talk about Or- supply-increasing pilot pro- Reports notes that the market Legislation introduced movement … there are environ- egon having a natural resourc- gram,” he said, “that can spur for cross-laminated timber is in Congress is designed to mental advantages and we’re es-based economy,” he said. rural Oregon economic devel- forecast to surge by 15 percent streamline those building able to see more emphasis on “We’re an urban metro coun- opment in an environmentally by 2025. codes. sustainable forest practices,” ty but really only about 5 per- friendly manner.” Gruen likens the new wood The Timber Innovation Act product to the agriculture in- would also incentivize the dustry’s “farm to table” move- mass timber industry. ON THE MOVE ment, except this is the “forest Supporters of the bill say it to framework” movement. will not only create jobs but NACo A building that would nor- also establish a new market OFFICERS, They met with WGA staff ●● Jacob Terrell, mally take several weeks or for small-diameter trees and COUNTY to continue a conver- associate legislative months can be done in shorter branches, encouraging more OFFICIALS sation about including director, briefed Missis- timeframe with the new wood active forest management at a county governments sippi state association product, he said, because the time of increasingly large and ●● President Roy and county govern- members on the 2017 pieces are created before they’re destructive wildfires. Charles Brooks ment-produced data in Omnibus funding bill Scott brought to the building site. A grant program would ad- addressed the Gen- the federal consultation during the associa- Cross-laminated timber vance the use of innovative eral Assembly at the process with local and tion’s annual confer- has been used extensively in wood products and a competi- Mississippi Association state governments. ence, June 13. Austria, Germany and Canada, tion for tall wood building (“ply- of Supervisors Annual ●● Jenna Moran, and is now catching on here, scrapers”) designs would ex- Conference in Biloxi, NACo STAFF program manager for re- he said. pose more to the new product. June 13. ●● Arthur Scott, silience, participated on The new wood product is Some architects are already ●● Gila County, Ariz. associate legislative a panel titled “Art-Based being used sporadically across catching on. Michael Green Supervisor Tommie director, spoke on Economic Development the country as building codes Architecture called its tim- Martin, Western Inter- the importance of in Coal-Reliant Coun- Terrell catch up to the new product. ber building in Minneapolis state Region president, data-driven decisions ties” at the Creative “In the United States, the — dubbed “T3” for Timber, and Jonathan Shuffield, for county govern- Placemaking Leader- processing [of the wood prod- Technology and Transit — a associate legislative ments during the ship Conference, held uct] is a new technology,” Gru- “game changer” for the com- director, represented 2018 National Science June 21 and June 22, in en said. Building codes in the mercial building industry. The NACo at the Western Foundation/Alfred P. Charleston W.Va. United States “aren’t there yet” largest mass timber building Governors Association’s Sloan Foundation Data and there is still a lot of testing in the United States (when it Annual Meeting in Rap- Sciences Conference, being done. was completed in 2016) stands id City, S.D., June 25-27. June 5. Moran Projects that are being built seven stories tall and measures 8 JUNE 25, 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS JOHN W. KING Hotline calls tripled in one year Board Member PROFILES IN From SUICIDE page 5 cluded anger, depression, and Board of Chosen Freeholders relationships. Hunterdon County, N.J. SERVICE The number of calls that Through its Fairfax-Falls were serious enough to trigger Church Community Services an emergency response more Board, the county is working than tripled from 82 to 252, to prevent suicides on several according to the board. Of the fronts: Number of years involved in Three people (living or so much bad news and listless females who spoke to crisis ●● By providing two emergen- NACo: 2 dead) I’d invite to dinner reporting and being rewarded by volunteers, 22 percent were cy phone numbers as well as the comics page. Comics remind Years in public service: 22 are: George Washington, Dwight “actively suicidal” and 19 per- an emergency texting number Eisenhower and Barack Obama you of how fun life is. Then I cent of males were suicidal, the ●● Offering mental health first Occupation: Vice president, all at the same time with Antho- find some other news channel board said. aid courses QSSI LLC ny Bourdain as the host and a online to get corroboration of Most commonly, callers ●● Organizing public region- Education: Master’s in case of Baron Lafite Rothschild the “facts.” to PRS CrisisLink focused on al meetings of its community management science, Stevens Reserve Speciale. That would be My favorite meal is: A meat feelings of anxiety, loneliness, services boards Institute of Technology; B.S. in a spirited conversation. loaf Helen has mastered that concern about mental illness, ●● Holding an “Out of the Dark- business administration, Univer- A dream I have is to: Earn a has endeared itself to the boys and life stress. Other topics in- ness Community Walk.” sity of Delaware positive place on the page of a and me. Otherwise, almost The hardest thing I’ve ever history book. anything she makes. She is a done is: Not so simple to You’d be surprised to learn phenomenal cook. NEZ PERCE answer. Having a conversation that I: Never aspired to achieve My pet peeve is: Ingenuous- with my dad two days before he BEHIND COUNTY, IDAHO elected office. ness. THE passed away from cancer with Designed by: Dorothy Gibson The most adventurous My favorite movie is: The us both knowing it would be our Introduced in: 1956 Green Mile. SEAL last. I return to that moment thing I’ve ever done is: Quit frequently with regret for all a decent paying job to strike My favorite U.S. president the things I could have said to out on my own. I’ve done that is: Ronald Reagan. adventure a couple times. It assure him that his life meant My county is a NACo mem- hough the Legisla- doesn’t get easier. ture had authorized something special. Watching ber because: We need to be Idaho counties to use the same thing when Helen My favorite way to relax is exposed to the ideas, aspira- T official seals 40 years ear- suffered through the loss of both to: Be around family and friends tions and perspectives of others lier, Nez Perce County was her parents within a relatively … everything gains perspective. throughout this nation that serve the first to do so, in 1956. short time. Then, there is the I’m most proud of: What Hel- in the same capacity as we do. Dorothy Gibson, a member five years spent with a son in en has accomplished in raising NACo represents a forum for of the committee appointed the Marines serving multiple our boys. She is remarkable. communication that is unique. I to design the county seal, tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. hope we can harness that power Every morning I read: The came up with the design. The moments that test you to effectively shape national Star Ledger. There’s something A sheaf of wheat and a pine are watching him embark and policy. The arrowhead represents the embracing him upon his return. about working my way through tree flanking the arrowhead native Nez Perce Tribe and represent the county’s primary Both have meaning that cannot the banner wrapped around it industries in 1956. The con- be described. is inscribed with a Nez Perce fluence of the Clearwater and phrase, which when translated Snake rivers is shown on the reads “In our hearts we truly overlay of Nez Perce County, believe.” with the star indicating Lewis- ton as “Idaho’s only seaport.” The last Lewis and Clark, below the arrowhead, acknowledge the book I read explorers’ travels through the was: area in 1805. Washington, A Life Would you like to see your county’s seal featured? Contact Charlie Ban at [email protected]. by Ron Chernow. Happy Anniversary County News. COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES JUNE 25, 2018 9

FOOD INSECURITY How counties are tackling hunger

By Mary Ann Barton senior staff writer

n Dodge County, Neb., ground has been broken for a new chicken plant that will bring up to 1,000 new jobs to the region. The $300 mil- lion poultry processing center is expected to ship 400,000 birds a day, raised by local farmers, to Costcos around the country. This region of eastern Nebraska is already home to other meat-pro- cessing businesses including the Hormel hog plant, the nation’s larg- est producer of Spam. The meat-packing industry has changed the cul- tural landscape of the Cornhusker State somewhat, with many workers from IGuatemala, Mexico and Honduras settling there to work at the plants. Ironically, in an area filled with food-related jobs, some of the industry’s workers have trouble finding groceries. With little in the way of public trans- portation, some pockets of the county are food deserts. See SOS page 10

n addition to the 42 million people across the country who depend on SNAP benefits to eat, there SPOTLIGHT ON: Iare many more who don’t qualify who are considered “food insecure.” Solutions in the form of pop-up farmers markets to community gardens to stocking convenience stores with groceries can be FOOD found in counties across the country. In this edition of County News, we present another report in INSECURITY the Spotlight series. This one explores food insecurity in several counties. If you have an idea for a Spotlight series, contact us at 202.942.4249, or pass along your idea to any NACo staffer. 10 JUNE 25, 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS From SOS page 9 es. Kneifl, in Nebraska’s Dodge education supervisor. In turn, Boots on the ground is what locations, senior citizen centers County, works with conve- the county offered to furnish the kick-started a food desert study and housing units, as well as to “You’ve got to bring those nience stores in food deserts. convenience stores with a cooler, several years ago in a county the Meals on Wheels program. services to where they live, work At Brady’s Meats & Foods, a produce scales, display racks and in Texas. The Waco-McLennan The community gardens and play,” said Kathy Kneifl, small grocery and gas station signage purchased with grant County Texas Health District have been in existence for an assistant educator with the in Dodge County, located in funds. The stores get the produce partnered with Baylor Univer- about six years. Being able to Nebraska Extension office for an industrial area down the from local farms and a wholesale sity on the study, to find out the take produce to other parts of Dodge, Saunders and Washing- street from a grain elevator, she needs of local residents. the county starting last year ton counties in Nebraska, who has worked with store man- “All the grocery stores had “was kind of a big step for us,” manages the Healthy Food Re- agement to beef up the run- One of the moved toward the interstate,” Nagy said. tail Recognition program. of-the-mill convenience store answers to bringing said Kelly Craine, public health In addition to produce, the The population helped by offerings to add more groceries healthy foods to information specialist with the Grow Mobile also offers free Kneifl and others in Nebraska that the local residents are most health district. They went ZIP food from the Northern Illinois are a mix of those who qualify likely to buy: cuts of lean beef, those in need was code by ZIP code, targeting Food Bank, a distribution ware- for the Supplemental Nutrition more organ meats, fish and rice a mobile farmer’s residents who were particular- house, that offers food to food Assistance Program (SNAP) as and beans. market. ly in need; public health work- banks donated by local grocery well as some who do not. She also holds community ers and interns fanned out to stores. “This is a wonderful Across the country, about events, including at Brady’s, knock on doors and get some resource we were able to tap 42 million people use SNAP where she partnered with a local market. answers. “We did a door to into,” Nagy said. to purchase food, which costs food truck that regularly does Three stores are currently door survey — ‘How many veg- Another type of mobile mar- taxpayers $64 billion a year. It business in the parking lot. With participating and one in par- etables did they eat? How far ket can be found in Tulsa Coun- works out to about $125 per a grant, they were able to pur- ticular is a “poster child” for did they have to go to purchase ty, Okla., where a former horse person per month. chase meals for residents and the program, Hames said. The groceries?’” trailer was retrofitted into a People who face hunger who brought in interpreters to talk to store owner “really understood One of the answers to bring- one-aisle mobile grocery store, aren’t eligible for SNAP ben- them about healthy eating. the link between healthy eating ing healthy foods to those in said Leslie Carroll, resource de- efits can be found in nearly Food deserts litter the coun- and the business side of it and need was a mobile farmer’s velopment coordinator at the every county across the coun- try. With grocery stores located he’s community-focused, so it market. The health district got Tulsa County, Okla. Health De- try, according to a new report “in town” and no public trans- was just a perfect fit with him.” a grant to help purchase a van partment. released last month by Feed- portation in outlying areas, it’s Some of the markets, as well as (dubbed the “Veggie Van”) for The mobile grocery store ing America, a non-profit that difficult for some residents in several farmer’s markets, take a group called World Hunger visits food deserts and was tracks hunger issues. The report Davidson County, N.C., located SNAP payments. Relief, which grows produce on launched by the Healthy Cor- shows families in 97 percent of about 20 miles south of the Win- For counties trying to help a farm in the county. The Veg- ner Store Initiative, an affiliate counties as “food insecure.” ston-Salem area, to find healthy residents who live in food des- gie Van sets up several farmer’s of the Tulsa Community Foun- Food insecurity is a measure food choices. erts, Hames advises starting by markets around the county dation through its subsidiary defined by the Department of The Davidson County Health connecting with convenience during its weekly stops. R&G Family Grocers. Agriculture as lack of access, Department began cold-calling stores. “Cold calling’s not fun — The county spent grant funds “They really try to pay atten- at times, to enough food for an smaller “quick marts” several the first one we cold-called said to get the word out using paid tion to their customers — if it’s active, healthy life for all house- years ago asking them to sell local ‘No one’s going to buy produce advertising on billboards, ra- a Hispanic community, they try hold members. produce with an assist from the from a gas station.’ … It’s just dio and newspaper about the to offer culturally appropriate For the people who don’t county, said Jen Hames, health boots on the ground.” Veggie Van, farmers markets items such as mangoes,” Car- qualify for SNAP benefits and nutritional cooking classes roll said. Sixty percent of sales but can’t stretch their dollars — some taught by local and ce- come from SNAP recipients. enough to buy groceries on a lebrity chefs — held at farmer’s The converted 36-foot long regular basis, they mainly rely markets and churches. refrigerated trailer offers about on food banks to put food on A different twist on the Texas 600 different food items for sale the table. Feeding America’s county’s concept can be found and last year served 17,000 cus- network of 200 food banks pro- up north in DeKalb County, tomers in food deserts around vides about 4 billion meals an- Ill. where a refrigerated 12-foot the region. They make about nually; for every meal Feeding produce truck dubbed “The four stops a day from 8 a.m. to America provides, SNAP pro- Grow-Mobile” takes fresh pro- 6 p.m. and visit 19 locations six vides 12. duce to pop-up markets across days a week. Key findings of the new re- the county each week, accord- R&G Family Grocers has a port show that food insecurity ing to Moria Nagy, president of waiting list of areas that want exists everywhere — from Jef- the non-profit DeKalb County to be added to their route. The ferson County, Miss., where Community Gardens (DCCG). owners hope to have a second 36 percent (the highest rate in The truck, which is owned by store up and running by next the study) are food insecure, the non-profit, is also used for year. to Loudoun County, Va., where educational workshops. 4 percent (the lowest rate) are The produce is grown at The counties featured in this food insecure. Rural and south- more than 50 community gar- story were among local govern- ern counties tend to have the dens on 15 acres across the ments awarded funding from highest rate of food insecurity, county managed by DCCG. a partnership between the Aet- according to the findings. Since 2012, the community gar- na Foundation, the American Some counties are getting dens have produced more than Public Health Association and creative when it comes to mak- 100,000 pounds of food for lo- NACo. They joined the Healthiest Chef Otis Wagner and Darcy Groom pause before a cooking les- ing sure their residents don’t son at the Veggie Van at a farmer’s market in McLennan County, cal food pantries, day care cen- Cities & Counties Challenge to go without healthy food choic- Texas. Photo courtesy of Waco-McLennan Health District ters, schools, community meal create a positive health impact. COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES JUNE 25, 2018 11 Follow the trails to fresh food By Charlie Ban ty garden coalition, courage interest in or publish something. They call need it the most. SPOTLIGHT ON: senior staff writer while fostering walk- the gardens and keep each other and make sure peo- “And it’s sustainability at its ability, bikeability FOOD them visible to res- ple show up to do things. We best,” she said. Hillsborough Describe a garden and words and transit use, will INSECURITY idents. A few of the know each other’s strengths and County and 49 other finalists like tranquil, quiet and refuge serve as a guide to gardens took some it’s a true partnership.” will be judged independently on spring to mind. other communities interested scouting to find. She acknowledges that com- how their programs effect mea- Not so much in Hillsborough in improving community health “We saw a police substation munity gardens won’t feed ev- surable change in their health County, Fla., where new com- through active living,” said Les- with a lot of property that wasn’t eryone, but they are a step in determinants — in this case munity gardens are just that: ley “Les” Miller, Jr., a Hillsbor- being used,” Ogilvie said. “We the right direction in offering an food deserts and walkability — part of a community, with the ough County Commissioner just asked if they were using it, opportunity for good soil, water for cash awards ranging from accompanying noise and foot and the MPO chairman. they weren’t, and that’s going to and a place to grow healthy food $25,000 to $500,000, following traffic. Luckily, the plants don’t The gardens themselves are be one of our gardens once we — all of which are hard to come an expert site visit and analysis mind. The gardens’ visibility is as varied as their neighbor- remediate the soil.” by in the neighborhoods that of health indicator data. crucial to their integration and hoods, all places where anal- The gardens can be a bar- their goal: making more fresh ysis of health and economic gaining chip with owners of nui- produce available as part of a indicators saw low income, sance properties. walkable community. high rates of chronic disease “If they agree to let us use Michele Ogilvie, an executive and no grocery stores or transit their property as a garden for a planner at the county Metro- options. Some are first-come- certain length of time, we can politan Planning Organization first-serve for plots, available have fines relaxed, and every- (MPO), saw as much when for a monthly membership fee. one wins,” Ogilvie said. she became a community gar- One is maintained by a church, That’s an example of how dener herself. While tending to which pledges a certain amount Ogilvie said the MPO and com- her eggplants, lost in her task, of produce to a local food bank. munities can work together. she was startled to hear peo- Another is owned by the Salva- “Because we’re government, ple walking, talking and biking tion Army, which incorporates we’re able to open all types of nearby. gardening into its therapy. All doors, but they can do far more “I forgot it was right on the are advertised by wayfinding than we can,” she said. “We can Community gardeners show off the bounty from their plots.Photos trail,” she said. “There are people signs that Ogilvie hopes will en- get them free meeting spaces courtesy of the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization walking right by you.” Many of the gardens are connected by a 23-mile paved multi-use trail that the MPO helped plan at the request of the neighborhoods, many in the city of Tampa. After the trail was completed, Ogilvie said, the neighborhoods, encouraged by the successful partnership, asked for help developing their garden network. “It’s not usual that neighbor- hoods say ‘let me help you — we will find the place, we will feed the people, we will bring the people — all you have to do is show up, listen to us, catalog it and turn it into a plan,’” Ogilvie said. “That’s three-quarters of the work. We just had to follow their lead and take care of the planning.” The network is thriving and expanding thanks to that part- nership and now the fruits (and vegetables) of that partnership is part of the Aetna Foundation’s Healthiest Cities and Counties Challenge, which has awarded a $10,000 grant to the partnership to further its goals. “The efforts to improve food quality through our communi- Students learn urban agriculture at the Tampa Heights Community Garden, once a vacant lot. 12 JUNE 25, 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS Get creative to bring grocers to food deserts

By Charlie Ban Jefferson County-Louisville, their markets disappear, lead- ways that a traditional for-profit senior staff writer along with counties in similar- LEARNMORE ing them to close and create developer would try to line up ly-governed states, is unable to food deserts. One was less than tenants, try to line up financing, Grocery stores are a tough offer tax abatements to grocers, “SUPER” MARKETS one-fifth the size of a compet- try to line up a use mix that (fi- enough business as it is, but which Zawacki said is one of Theresa Zawacki ing store that went far beyond nances operations) and serves when combined with the eco- the most effective incentives, pointed to several the traditional grocery model the neighborhood.” nomic challenges in lower-in- without legislative approval. factors crucial to and another failed to make up- Where there was no existing come neighborhoods, running “By virtue of the legal struc- bringing grocery grades that would have kept its grocery store, Louisville For- one becomes a high-wire bal- ture we work in, we have to be stores to food most vulnerable customers in ward is hoping to show a de- ancing act. really creative in how we en- deserts: the store. Louisville Forward mand for one. A collaboration Jefferson County-Louisville, gage in grocery development acquired those buildings and is between Louisville Forward, Ky. is hoping to set the stage for because the financial tools are • Is the store perceived to trying to find tenants. Catholic Charities and the Dare opening two grocery stores in just not available to us.” have good prices? In one, a community organi- to C.A.R.E. heart health screen- urban food deserts Louisville For- zation hopes to install a com- ing program will maintain a SPOTLIGHT ON: • Can you get what you and demonstrating ward is doing that want? mercial kitchen for a meal pro- standalone freezer and cooler the commercial vi- FOOD by removing one of gram, offer job training services at a Dare to C.A.R.E. drop site, ability in another. INSECURITY prospective grocers’ • Is it nearby? and sell grab-and-go meals. dubbed “The Oasis,” where Without full-service largest impediments • Is the building accessi- The other is suited more for a fresh and frozen meat and grocery stores in these com- — real estate. Real estate is the ble, both to people with traditional grocery store. vegetables will be available at munities, residents are left to most challenging part of get- disabilities and using “The market for grocery re- wholesale cost. patch together food from con- ting a grocery store to locate public transit? tail has very small margins The location is at the junc- venience stores or travel long in a food desert, Zawacki said, • Does the operator have across the board and so (for ture of three distressed neigh- distances to access fresh pro- because of the specific require- experience marketing to the county) it really comes borhoods, with 15 percent – 30 duce and other healthy foods. ments in the building to allow low- and moderate-in- down to setting the stage for percent unemployment and “Food access is really difficult for floor drains, insulation for come customers? an operator that has a model high participation in the Sup- because you’re trying to move a freezers and other features, that works for low- and mod- plemental Nutrition Assistance market that doesn’t exist,” said along with the parking lot ca- erate-income customers and Program (SNAP). Theresa Zawacki, senior policy pacity to serve enough custom- serious impediment,” she said. helping to identify all the ways “We hope we can demon- advisor to Louisville Forward, ers. Make such a building avail- “If you’re thinking about going to help that operator get com- strate that retail grocery has a the city and county’s economic able at low- or no-cost, and into a neighborhood where fortable in a location and up space in the market that people development agency. “If it did, Louisville Forward reduces the your margins will be small be- and running for the commu- might not think about when market sector solutions would risk for a grocer. cause your per-basket costs nity,” Zawacki said. “Louisville they are thinking about where take over and government and “It takes a piece of the fund- are going to be lower, building Forward makes the connec- to locate their grocery stores,” nonprofits wouldn’t need to in- ing puzzle out of the equation,” costs are enough to scare you tion, and in many ways serves Zawacki said. “If we show tervene.” Zawacki said. “The cost of the a w a y .” as the community develop- there’s demand, it’s an easier Without home rule powers, construction can be a pretty Two Louisville stores saw ment partner in much the same sell to the right grocer.”

15.2% 18.7% Ind. Miss. 16.4% Maine 15.2% Okla. 15.1% HUNGRIEST N.C. STATES IN 17.5% THE U.S. Ark. Percentage of American 18.1% 18.3% households that were Ala. La. food insecure at least 17.6% 17.3% some time in 2016 N.M. Ky.

Source: USDA’s Household Food Security report COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES JUNE 25, 2018 13

SPOTLIGHT ON: FOOD INSECURITY Rural areas see highest SNAP participation

The Supplemental Nutrition creased probability of report- those whose recovery was as- sasters; and Assistance Program (SNAP) ing excellent or good health; SPEEDREAD sisted by benefits through the ●● Ancillary SNAP resources is the nation’s first line of de- and decreased health care quick-responding program Di- for employment and training. fense against hunger and a key spending, incidence of meta- Of the 77 counties saster SNAP in 2017. Rural county officials can weapon for assisting low-in- bolic syndrome (e.g., obesity, nationwide with SNAP Although SNAP participa- provide leadership to make come Americans and low-in- diabetes, hypertension), and participation levels at or tion is higher in rural areas, sure their counties are not come communities. visits to doctors by adults and above 30 percent of all barriers that often prevent leaving federal SNAP dollars households, more than It is critical for counties, in- hospitals by children. many more eligible rural on the table. two-thirds (69 percent) are cluding rural counties, many SNAP bolsters rural econo- households from accessing They can work with their rural counties. of which are especially hard hit mies through normal streams benefits include lack of infor- federal and state government by poverty and food insecurity. of commerce. It benefits all Out of the 25 counties mation about SNAP, transpor- partners to adopt appropriate Nearly 16 percent of all peo- parts of the food chain: farm- across the country with tation barriers and limited re- SNAP policies and practices ple in nonmetropolitan areas ers, producers, truckers, food the highest percentage sources/abilities to complete that better meet their commu- lived below the federal poverty retailers and grocery clerks. of SNAP-participating the required application pro- nities’ needs. line in 2016, in contrast with Nationally, the Department households, 21 are rural. cesses. They can convene commu- just over 12 percent of all peo- of Agriculture has estimated program resources contribute To maximize SNAP’s effica- nity stakeholders to undertake ple in metropolitan areas. that each $1 of federally-fund- to comprehensive econom- cy and reach in rural areas, six SNAP informational efforts. Households in rural coun- ed SNAP benefits generates ic development strategies to strategies can help residents to They can visit locations ties (16 percent) participate in $1.79 in economic activity. grow jobs and opportunities in more easily access SNAP: where individuals are screened SNAP more often than those Given the thin margins on rural counties. ●● Education and application for SNAP eligibility and farm- located in small town counties which so many food retailers SNAP responds to changes assistance er’s markets and other food (15 percent) and metropolitan operate, SNAP redemptions in need, whether due to eco- ●● Mobile technologies and retailer locations where SNAP counties (13 percent), accord- help local food retail estab- nomic downturns or natural other tools to ease access to clients redeem their benefits. ing to Food Research & Action lishments to be economically disasters. Rural counties are SNAP offices Center (FRAC) analysis. viable. among those that have been ●● Exercising SNAP policy op- Receipt of SNAP benefits sig- In so doing, those substan- hard hit by natural disasters in tions to serve more working For technical assistance on nificantly promotes health and tial SNAP redemptions help recent years. poor and other rural residents these and other strategies to well-being in rural counties, maintain local food access in From wildfires to Hurri- ●● Practices to connect older leverage SNAP resources for based on research on SNAP rural counties for both SNAP canes Harvey and Irma, rural adults to SNAP rural counties, contact Michelle nationally. SNAP’s impacts in- and non-SNAP residents. residents in California, Tex- ●● Plans for Disaster-SNAP to Price at NACo, mprice@naco. clude better dietary intake; in- SNAP benefits and other as and Florida were among respond to future natural di- org or FRAC at www.frac.org. 14 JUNE 25, 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS

SPOTLIGHT ON: Food Insecurity: Finding SPOTLIGHT ON: FOOD FOOD WILSON COUNTY, N.C. INSECURITY Homegrown Solutions INSECURITY

By Garth N. Graham, MD the most pressing issues im- od, involved youth in sum- pacting their societies. mer camps and have reached The single biggest factor Most recently, our organiza- more than 200 households in impacting your health today tions recognized 15 commu- designated food desert areas. isn’t something you’ll find in a nities making a particularly Access to healthy food re- DNA kit or even during a rou- hard-hitting impact — several mains a pressing issue when tine physical. The answer is of which are working to fight it comes to determining the SNAPSHOT* much closer to home. Accord- nutrition issues and food health of individuals and 2017 Population: 81,700 ing to the CDC, a person’s ZIP insecurity. For example, in communities. We all have a 2016 Unemployment Rate: 8.1% code is a greater predictor of Waco-McClennan County, role to play in combating the 2016 SNAP Recipient Households: 6,118 their health and life expectan- Texas, the county is helping negative social determinants 2016 Poverty Rate: 22.3%| 2016 Childhood Poverty: 35.8% cy than other factors, includ- increase access to healthy of health impacting individ- ing genetics. foods through a non-profit uals living in our cities and Access to healthy food, pub- grocery store in an identified counties. Through our work GOAL viduals who have been des- lic safety and environmental food desert. Together, they’re with NACo, we are seeing that The Wilson County Depart- ignated as “ready to work” by factors are all part of the sto- bringing fresh foods to under- the best solutions to food in- ment of Social Services is work- a social worker or community ry and are more visible to a served communities through security are growing in our ing to increase efficiency of ser- partner can seek employment. person’s local county officials a “Veggie Van” and host- own backyards — in counties vice delivery in order to better The department also provides than their doctor. These fac- ing workshops at the Waco across the country. promote safety, self-determina- after-placement coaching to tors are called social determi- Downtown Farmer’s Market tion and self-sufficiency for the increase likelihood that partici- nants of health (SDOH); they to pique interest in healthy Dr. Graham is president of residents in Wilson County, N.C. pants will remain employed. are becoming increasingly in- food options. the Aetna Foundation and fluential to our health as indi- In Leon County, Fla., the vice president of Communi- SOLUTIONS SUCCESSES AND viduals and as communities. iGrow Food Network donated ty Health for Aetna, Inc. He is ●● Developed a “Self-Service OUTCOMES At the Aetna Foundation, more than 100 pounds of fresh also a cardiologist and public Express Center” to increase the ●● 77% of SNAP and nearly one determinant we are fo- produce within a 60-day peri- health expert. efficiency of SNAP and Medicaid 60% of Medicaid walk-ins use cused heavily on is increas- applications and decrease case the self-service kiosks. Case ing access to healthy foods. worker burden. Recognizing that workers have started using the Ensuring easy access to farm- many individuals and families joint application for their one- ers’ markets and community need both programs, the coun- on-one services, and report gardens and making it easier ty worked with a programmer to that it cuts their time with cli- for people to get to their local develop a joint application for ents by 50% grocery story can help lower SNAP and Medicaid services to ●● 80% of call-in customer health issues related to obesi- FOOD INSECURITY BY further streamline the applica- needs are resolved through the ty, such as diabetes. tion process. call center While many of us are lucky HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS ●● Created a call center to ●● The Wilson County Depart- enough to have full pantries The prevalence of food insecurity varied considerably address client needs and con- ment of Social Services has and fridges, a large portion of among household types in 2016. cerns. The dual goal of the call reported an 80% reduction the country is not as fortunate. center is to efficiently resolve in TANF participation in the More than 23 million Amer- Rates of food insecurity were higher than the national client and applicant issues and county icans, including 6.5 million average for the following groups: connect callers with a “real children, live in food deserts • All households with children (16.5 percent), voice.” The department is con- TIPS FOR OTHER — places where fresh fruit and stantly evaluating the call center COUNTIES • Households with children under age 6 (16.6 percent), vegetables (and healthy foods to improve delivery and reduce ●● Be mission-driven. Create in general) are largely inac- • Households with children headed by a single wait and service times. a simple, clear mission state- cessible. A significant per- woman (31.6 percent), ●● Piloted a lobby redesign ini- ment that your employees and centage of this group lives in • Households with children headed by a single man tiative intended to create a built partners can understand and low-income neighborhoods, (21.7 percent), environment that is more condu- champion. both urban and rural. cive to efficient, comprehensive ●● Focus on outcomes: Once This is a national problem, • Women living alone (13.9 percent), delivery of services. Once the re- you have your organization but the solutions are unique • Men living alone (14.3 percent), design is completed, participants aligned under one mission, de- to each community and are will be able to see case workers termine clear indicators for suc- growing in our own back- • Black, non-Hispanic households (22.5 percent), right in the lobby for quick-paced, cess and build mechanisms for yards. Through the Healthiest • Hispanic households (18.5 percent), and “one-and-done” transactions— evaluation into your programs Cities & Counties Challenge, a • Low-income households with incomes below 185 including first-time applications, and initiatives. partnership between the Aet- changes to existing services and percent of the poverty threshold (31.6 percent; the na Foundation, the American recertification. Data Source: County Explorer Federal poverty line was $24,339 for a family of four Public Health Association and ●● Established a “Ticket-to www.NACo.org/CountyExplorer the National Association of in 2016). Work” job fair at which indi- Counties, we’re empowering Source: USDA, Economic Research Service local communities to solve COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES JUNE 25, 2018 15 FOOD INSECURITY

Food Insecure in the United States 41,204,000

Percent of U.S. Population Food Insecure 13%

Average Meal Costs $3.00

Annual Food Budget Shortfall $21,122,544,000

Source: Map the Meal Gap, Feeding America

SPOTLIGHT ON: FOOD SNAPSHOT* SUCCESSES AND INSECURITY ADAMS COUNTY, PA. 2017 Population: 102,300 OUTCOMES 2016 Unemployment Rate: 4.0% 2016 SNAP Recipient Households: 2,982 ●● 70% of Veggie Bucks pro- 2016 Poverty Rate: 9.4% | 2016 Childhood Poverty: 14.0% gram participants reported in- creased fruit and vegetable con- GOAL applied to the five most expensive sumption; over 30% tried new Healthy Adams County’s Food produce items at the point of sale. fruits and vegetables Policy Council — established in Through this program, the county ●● Healthy Adams County re- 2009 by proclamation of Adams sought to increase the number of ports a 96% redemption rate for County’s Board of Commissioners healthy foods purchased by SNAP Healthy Options vouchers, with — strives to ensure that all Adams recipients and help familiarize 75% of voucher funds spent on County residents can access safe, participants with fresh fruits and fruits and vegetable nutritious and affordable food. vegetables. The program was pro- vided during the winter months of TIPS FOR OTHER SOLUTIONS 2017 and 2018. COUNTIES ●● Through the Double Dollars pro- ●● The Healthy Options Voucher ●● Develop partnerships be- gram, the Adams County Farmer’s Program was established to in- fore you begin. Involve stake- Market matches up to $15 daily crease food security for residents holders in your vision from the in SNAP benefits, doubling partic- in the food gap — individuals and beginning to ensure that your ipants’ buying power for healthy families who are living on the goals are shared and there is foods. cusp of SNAP eligibility (within that investment and shared ex- ●● With funding support from the 160 percent—250 percent of pertise from the outset. Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive poverty level). Through this pro- ●● When it comes to goal-set- (FINI) grant program, Healthy Ad- gram, participants receive $45 ting, quality trumps quantity. Set ams County was able to provide a per month to use in the Adams one to two feasible goals. This tip “Veggie Bucks” program for SNAP County Farmer’s Market. During is especially important for rural participants, providing a 50%dis- the winter months, participants counties that may lack capacity. count on all fresh fruits and vege- can use their vouchers at Ken- tables sold through a partnership nie’s Market. Participants also *All data from NACo County with a local grocery store — Ken- receive nutrition education as a Explorer: Residents purchase fruit at a local farmer’s market. nie’s Market. Veggie Bucks could be part of this program. www.NACo.org/CountyExplorer Photo courtesy of Adams County, Pa. 16 JUNE 25, 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS

LAST CHANCE TO SAVE. REGISTER BY JULY 6!

NACo Exposition U.S. Communities Lounge Explore products and services tailored to YOUR county’s needs. For a list of exhibiting companies visit: The U.S. Communities Government Purchasing www.NACo.org/ExhibitMap Alliance has several activities planned in the lounge. Treat yourself to refreshments, enter to Friday: 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. win giveaways, have fun in the photobooth or Welcome Reception - Enjoy refreshments and Lunch served from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. fill a backpack with school supplies that will be live music as you network with colleagues and donated to a local elementary school. representatives from over 150 companies! Sunday: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Friday: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Photobooth

Saturday: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Photobooth and backpack build HOTEL ROOMS SELLING OUT. BOOK NOW!

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Smarter Counties Summit: Technology Affordable Housing Forum A How-To Discussion on Financing Main Driving Innovation Street Redevelopment Projects Criminal Justice and Crisis Communication Strategies for County Behavioral Health Enhancing County Engagement in Early Officials Childhood Development Emerging Strategies in Addressing Poverty Leveraging New Technologies to Build More The Opioid Crisis: Supporting County Medical Land-Use Planning for Resilient & Sustainable Communities Examiners’ Offices Large-Scale Solar Development Engaging Artists, Building Community 2020 Census: What Counties Need to Do Automated Vehicle Employment Now to Prepare & Deployment

Full schedule of events available at www.NACo.org/Annual COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES JUNE 25, 2018 17

2018 NACo FIND YOUR ELECTION VOTE TOTAL 18 JUNE 25, 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS

uring NACo’s 2018 Annual Conference in Nashville-Davidson County, 2018 Tenn., delegates from member counties will cast their votes for a new Dexecutive leadership team and new policy positions for the American County Platform. Following are the vote totals for each member county. The NACo number of votes assigned to each county is based on a formula that awards one vote for every $1,200 (or fraction thereof) paid in NACo dues. County delegates must be present at the Annual Business Meeting, ELECTION Monday, July 16, to cast their votes.

Alabama Perry County...... 1 Yuma County...... 3 Monroe County...... 1 Marin County...... 5 and County...... 1 Autauga County...... 1 Pickens County...... 1 Montgomery County...... 1 Mariposa County...... 1 Chaffee County...... 1 Total 85 Baldwin County...... 3 Pike County...... 1 Nevada County...... 1 Mendocino County...... 2 Cheyenne County...... 1 Barbour County...... 1 Randolph County...... 1 Arkansas Newton County...... 1 Merced County...... 4 Clear Creek County...... 1 Bibb County...... 1 Russell County...... 1 Arkansas County...... 1 Ouachita County...... 1 Modoc County...... 1 Conejos County...... 1 Blount County...... 1 Shelby County...... 3 Ashley County...... 1 Perry County...... 1 Mono County...... 1 Costilla County...... 1 Butler County...... 1 St. Clair County...... 2 Baxter County...... 1 Phillips County...... 1 Monterey County...... 7 Crowley County...... 1 Calhoun County...... 2 Sumter County...... 1 Benton County...... 3 Pike County...... 1 Napa County...... 3 Custer County...... 1 Chambers County...... 1 Talladega County...... 2 Boone County...... 1 Poinsett County...... 1 Nevada County...... 2 Delta County...... 1 Cherokee County...... 1 Tallapoosa County...... 1 Bradley County...... 1 Polk County...... 1 Orange County...... 42 Dolores County...... 1 Chilton County...... 1 Tuscaloosa County...... 4 Calhoun County...... 1 Pope County...... 2 Placer County...... 5 Douglas County...... 3 Choctaw County...... 1 Washington County...... 1 Carroll County...... 1 Prairie County...... 1 Plumas County...... 1 Eagle County...... 1 Clarke County...... 1 Wilcox County...... 1 Chicot County...... 1 Pulaski County...... 7 Riverside County...... 29 El Paso County...... 10 Clay County...... 1 Winston County...... 1 Clark County...... 1 Randolph County...... 1 Sacramento County...... 24 Elbert County...... 1 Cleburne County...... 1 Clay County...... 1 Saline County...... 2 San Benito County...... 1 Fremont County...... 1 Total 109 Coffee County...... 1 Cleburne County...... 1 Scott County...... 1 San Bernardino County...33 Garfield County...... 1 Colbert County...... 1 Alaska Cleveland County...... 1 Searcy County...... 1 San Diego County...... 42 Gilpin County...... 1 Conecuh County...... 1 Anchorage Municipality.....5 Columbia County...... 1 Sebastian County...... 3 San Francisco City and Grand County...... 1 City and Borough Coosa County...... 1 Conway County...... 1 Sevier County...... 1 County...... 14 Gunnison County...... 1 of Juneau...... 1 Covington County...... 1 Craighead County...... 2 Sharp County...... 1 San Joaquin County...... 11 Hinsdale County...... 1 City and Borough of Sitka..1 Crenshaw County...... 1 Crawford County...... 1 St. Francis County...... 1 San Luis Obispo County.....5 Huerfano County...... 1 City and Borough of Cullman County...... 2 Crittenden County...... 1 San Mateo County...... 12 Wrangell...... 1 Stone County...... 1 Jackson County...... 1 Dale County...... 1 Cross County...... 1 Santa Barbara County...... 8 City and Borough of Yakutat...1 Union County...... 1 Jefferson County...... 9 Dallas County...... 1 Dallas County...... 1 Santa Clara County...... 30 Denali Borough...... 1 Van Buren County...... 1 Kiowa County...... 1 DeKalb County...... 2 Desha County...... 1 Santa Cruz County...... 5 Fairbanks North Star Washington County...... 3 Kit Carson County...... 1 Elmore County...... 2 Borough...... 2 Drew County...... 1 White County...... 2 Shasta County...... 3 La Plata County...... 1 Escambia County...... 1 Haines Borough...... 1 Faulkner County...... 2 Woodruff County...... 1 Sierra County...... 1 Larimer County...... 5 Etowah County...... 2 Kenai Peninsula Borough...1 Franklin County...... 1 Yell County...... 1 Siskiyou County...... 1 Lincoln County...... 1 Fayette County...... 1 Ketchikan Gateway Borough.... 1 Fulton County...... 1 Solano County...... 7 Logan County...... 1 Total 94 Franklin County...... 1 Kodiak Island Borough...... 1 Garland County...... 2 Sonoma County...... 9 Mesa County...... 3 Geneva County...... 1 Matanuska-Susitna Borough.... 2 Grant County...... 1 California Stanislaus County...... 9 Mineral County...... 1 Greene County...... 1 North Slope Borough...... 1 Greene County...... 1 Alameda County...... 26 Sutter County...... 2 Moffat County...... 1 Henry County...... 1 Petersburg Borough...... 1 Hempstead County...... 1 Alpine County...... 1 Tehama County...... 2 Montezuma County...... 1 Houston County...... 2 Skagway Borough...... 1 Hot Spring County...... 1 Amador County...... 1 Trinity County...... 1 Montrose County...... 1 Jackson County...... 1 Howard County...... 1 Butte County...... 4 Tulare County...... 8 Morgan County...... 1 Total 21 Jefferson County...... 11 Independence County...... 1 CAColusa County...... 1 Tuolumne County...... 1 Otero County...... 1 Lamar County...... 1 Arizona Izard County...... 1 Calaveras County...... 1 Ventura County...... 14 Ouray County...... 1 Lauderdale County...... 2 Apache County...... 2 Jackson County...... 1 Contra Costa County...... 18 Yolo County...... 4 Park County...... 1 Lawrence County...... 1 Cochise County...... 3 Jefferson County...... 2 Del Norte County...... 1 Yuba County...... 2 Phillips County...... 1 Lee County...... 3 Coconino County...... 3 Johnson County...... 1 El Dorado County...... 3 Pitkin County...... 1 Total 505 Limestone County...... 2 Gila County...... 1 Lafayette County...... 1 Fresno County...... 16 Prowers County...... 1 Lowndes County...... 1 Graham County...... 1 Lawrence County...... 1 Glenn County...... 1 Pueblo County...... 3 Macon County...... 1 Greenlee County...... 1 Lee County...... 1 Humboldt County...... 3 Colorado Rio Blanco County...... 1 Madison County...... 6 La Paz County...... 1 Lincoln County...... 1 Imperial County...... 3 Adams County...... 7 Rio Grande County...... 1 Marengo County...... 1 Maricopa County...... 42 Little River County...... 1 Inyo County...... 1 Alamosa County...... 1 Routt County...... 1 Marion County...... 1 Mohave County...... 3 Logan County...... 1 Kern County...... 13 Arapahoe County...... 10 Saguache County...... 1 Marshall County...... 2 Navajo County...... 2 Lonoke County...... 1 Kings County...... 3 Archuleta County...... 1 San Juan County...... 1 Mobile County...... 7 Pima County...... 16 Madison County...... 1 Lake County...... 2 Baca County...... 1 San Miguel County...... 1 Monroe County...... 1 Pinal County...... 3 Marion County...... 1 Lassen County...... 1 Bent County...... 1 Sedgwick County...... 1 Montgomery County...... 4 Santa Cruz County...... 1 Miller County...... 1 Los Angeles County...... 51 Boulder County...... 5 Summit County...... 1 Morgan County...... 2 Yavapai County...... 3 Mississippi County...... 1 Madera County...... 3 Broomfield City Teller County...... 1 COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES JUNE 25, 2018 19 Washington County...... 1 Pasco County...... 7 Jeff Davis County...... 1 Cassia County...... 1 Bartholomew County...... 2 Appanoose County...... 1 Weld County...... 4 Pinellas County...... 16 Jefferson County...... 1 Clark County...... 1 Benton County...... 1 Benton County...... 1 Yuma County...... 1 Polk County...... 10 Jones County...... 1 Clearwater County...... 1 Blackford County...... 1 Black Hawk County...... 3 Putnam County...... 2 Lamar County...... 1 Custer County...... 1 Boone County...... 1 Boone County...... 1 Total 110 Santa Rosa County...... 3 Lee County...... 1 Elmore County...... 1 Brown County...... 1 Bremer County...... 1 Delaware St. Johns County...... 3 Liberty County...... 2 Franklin County...... 1 Daviess County...... 1 Buchanan County...... 1 Kent County...... 3 St. Lucie County...... 4 Lowndes County...... 2 Fremont County...... 1 Dearborn County...... 1 Buena Vista County...... 1 New Castle County...... 9 Suwannee County...... 1 Lumpkin County...... 1 Gem County...... 1 Decatur County...... 1 Butler County...... 1 Sussex County...... 3 Taylor County...... 1 Macon-Bibb County...... 3 Gooding County...... 1 Dubois County...... 1 Calhoun County...... 1 Total 15 Volusia County...... 9 Madison County...... 1 Idaho County...... 1 Elkhart County...... 4 Carroll County...... 1 Wakulla County...... 1 McDuffie County...... 1 Jefferson County...... 1 Floyd County...... 2 Cass County...... 1 District of Columbia Walton County...... 1 Mitchell County...... 1 Jerome County...... 1 Franklin County...... 1 Cedar County...... 1 District Of Columbia...... 11 Washington County...... 1 Monroe County...... 1 Kootenai County...... 2 Fulton County...... 1 Cerro Gordo County...... 1 Total 11 Morgan County...... 1 Latah County...... 1 Gibson County...... 1 Cherokee County...... 1 Total 302 Oconee County...... 1 Lemhi County...... 1 Greene County...... 1 Chickasaw County...... 1 Florida Georgia Oglethorpe County...... 1 Lewis County...... 1 Hamilton County...... 3 Clarke County...... 1 Alachua County...... 5 Appling County...... 1 Paulding County...... 2 Lincoln County...... 1 Harrison County...... 1 Clay County...... 1 Baker County...... 1 Athens-Clarke County...... 2 Peach County...... 1 Madison County...... 1 Hendricks County...... 2 Clayton County...... 1 Bay County...... 3 Augusta-Richmond County....4 Polk County...... 1 Minidoka County...... 1 Henry County...... 1 Clinton County...... 1 Bradford County...... 1 Baldwin County...... 1 Putnam County...... 1 Nez Perce County...... 1 Indianapolis and Marion Crawford County...... 1 Broward County...... 30 Banks County...... 1 Rabun County...... 1 Oneida County...... 1 County ...... 16 Dallas County...... 1 Calhoun County...... 1 Bartow County...... 2 Rockdale County...... 2 Owyhee County...... 1 Jay County...... 1 Davis County...... 1 Charlotte County...... 3 Bleckley County...... 1 Screven County...... 1 Payette County...... 1 Jennings County...... 1 Des Moines County...... 1 Citrus County...... 3 Brantley County...... 1 Spalding County...... 2 Power County...... 1 Johnson County...... 3 Dickinson County...... 1 Clay County...... 3 Brooks County...... 1 Stewart County...... 1 Shoshone County...... 1 Knox County...... 1 Dubuque County...... 2 Collier County...... 5 Bryan County...... 1 Sumter County...... 1 Teton County...... 1 Kosciusko County...... 2 Emmet County...... 1 Columbia County...... 2 Butts County...... 1 Talbot County...... 1 Twin Falls County...... 2 Lake County...... 9 Franklin County...... 1 DeSoto County...... 1 Valley County...... 1 Camden County...... 1 Taylor County...... 1 LaPorte County...... 2 Fremont County...... 1 Dixie County...... 1 Washington County...... 1 Candler County...... 1 Thomas County...... 1 Madison County...... 3 Greene County...... 1 Duval County/City of Marshall County...... 1 Jacksonville...... 15 Carroll County...... 2 Troup County...... 2 Total 55 Grundy County...... 1 Monroe County...... 3 Escambia County...... 5 Catoosa County...... 1 Twiggs County...... 1 Illinois Hamilton County...... 1 Montgomery County...... 1 Flagler County...... 1 Charlton County...... 1 Union County...... 1 Boone County...... 1 Hardin County...... 1 Morgan County...... 2 Franklin County...... 1 Chatham County...... 5 Walton County...... 1 Cass County...... 1 Harrison County...... 1 Newton County...... 1 Gadsden County...... 1 Cherokee County...... 3 Ware County...... 1 Champaign County...... 4 Howard County...... 1 Noble County...... 1 Gilchrist County...... 1 Clayton County...... 5 Warren County...... 1 Cook County...... 49 Humboldt County...... 1 Ohio County...... 1 Glades County...... 1 Clinch County...... 1 Wayne County...... 1 De Witt County...... 1 Jackson County...... 1 Owen County...... 1 Gulf County...... 1 Cobb County...... 11 Wheeler County...... 1 DeKalb County...... 2 Jasper County...... 1 Parke County...... 1 Hamilton County...... 1 Columbia County...... 2 Whitfield County...... 2 DuPage County...... 16 Johnson County...... 3 Perry County...... 1 Hardee County...... 1 Cusseta-Chattahoochee Wilkinson County...... 1 Fayette County...... 1 Jones County...... 1 County...... 1 Pike County...... 1 Hendry County...... 1 Gallatin County...... 1 Kossuth County...... 1 Dade County...... 1 Total 165 Posey County...... 1 Hernando County...... 3 Jo Daviess County...... 1 Lee County...... 1 Dawson County...... 1 Pulaski County...... 1 Highlands County...... 2 Hawaii Kane County...... 8 Linn County...... 4 DeKalb County...... 12 Putnam County...... 1 Hillsborough County...... 19 Hawaii County...... 3 Knox County...... 1 Lucas County...... 1 Randolph County...... 1 Holmes County...... 1 Dougherty County...... 2 Honolulu City and County....16 Lake County ...... 12 Lyon County...... 1 Rush County...... 1 Indian River County...... 3 Douglas County...... 2 Kauai County...... 2 Livingston County...... 1 Madison County...... 1 Shelby County...... 1 Jackson County...... 1 Elbert County...... 1 Maui County...... 3 Marshall County...... 1 Marion County...... 1 Fannin County...... 1 McHenry County...... 5 Spencer County...... 1 Marshall County...... 1 Jefferson 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2 Union County...... 1 Throckmorton County...... 1 Charles City County...... 1 Frio County...... 1 Mifflin County...... 1 South Dakota Walworth County...... 1 Travis County...... 15 Charlotte County...... 1 Gaines County...... 1 Monroe County...... 3 Aurora County...... 1 Yankton County...... 1 Trinity County...... 1 Chesterfield County ...... 5 Garza County...... 1 Montour County...... 1 Beadle County...... 1 Ziebach County...... 1 Tyler County...... 1 Clarke County...... 1 Bennett County...... 1 Gillespie County...... 1 Upshur County...... 1 Craig County...... 1 Northampton County...... 5 Total 69 Bon Homme County...... 1 Glasscock County...... 1 Philadelphia County...... 26 Washington County...... 1 Culpeper County...... 1 Brookings County...... 1 Goliad County...... 1 Pike County...... 1 Tennessee Wharton County...... 1 Cumberland County...... 1 Brown County...... 1 Gonzales County...... 1 Potter County...... 1 Anderson County...... 2 Willacy County...... 1 Dickenson County...... 1 Brule County...... 1 Gregg County...... 3 Schuylkill County...... 3 Bradley County...... 2 Williamson County...... 4 Dinwiddie County...... 1 Buffalo County...... 1 Grimes County...... 1 Snyder County...... 1 Campbell County...... 1 Wilson County...... 1 Essex County...... 1 Butte County...... 1 Hamilton County...... 1 Wise County...... 1 Somerset County...... 2 Chester County...... 1 Fairfax County...... 19 Campbell County...... 1 Harris County...... 45 Yoakum County...... 1 Sullivan County...... 1 Hamilton County...... 6 Fauquier County...... 2 Charles Mix County...... 1 Harrison County...... 2 Young County...... 1 Tioga County...... 1 Hardin County...... 1 Floyd County...... 1 Clark County...... 1 Haywood County...... 1 Hartley County...... 1 Fluvanna County...... 1 Union County...... 1 Total 326 Clay County...... 1 Henry County...... 1 Hays County...... 2 Franklin County...... 1 Warren County...... 1 Codington County...... 1 Hickman County...... 1 Hidalgo County...... 10 Frederick County...... 2 Washington County...... 4 Utah Corson County...... 1 Knox County...... 8 Hood County...... 1 Beaver County...... 1 Giles County...... 1 Wayne County...... 1 Custer County...... 1 Lauderdale County...... 1 Hopkins County...... 1 Box Elder County...... 1 Gloucester County...... 1 Wyoming County...... 1 Davison County...... 1 Lincoln County...... 1 Houston County...... 1 Cache County...... 2 Grayson County...... 1 Total 184 Day County...... 1 Marshall County...... 1 Hutchinson County...... 1 Carbon County...... 1 Greene County...... 1 Deuel County...... 1 Metropolitan Government Irion County...... 1 Daggett County...... 1 Greensville County...... 1 24 JUNE 25, 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS Hanover County...... 2 Grays Harbor County...... 2 Fayette County...... 1 Taylor County...... 1 Jackson County...... 1 Washburn County...... 1 Henrico County...... 6 Island County...... 2 Gilmer County...... 1 Tucker County...... 1 Jefferson County...... 2 Washington County...... 3 Henry County...... 1 Jefferson County...... 1 Grant County...... 1 Tyler County...... 1 Juneau County...... 1 Waukesha County...... 7 Highland County...... 1 King County...... 33 Greenbrier County...... 1 Upshur County...... 1 Kenosha County...... 3 Waupaca County...... 1 Isle of Wight County...... 1 Kitsap County...... 5 Hampshire County...... 1 Wayne County...... 1 Kewaunee County...... 1 Waushara County...... 1 James City County...... 1 Kittitas County...... 1 Hancock County...... 1 Webster County...... 1 La Crosse County...... 2 Winnebago County...... 3 King And Queen County.....1 Klickitat County...... 1 Hardy County...... 1 Wetzel County...... 1 Lafayette County...... 1 Wood County...... 2 King George County...... 1 Lincoln County...... 1 Harrison County...... 2 Wirt County...... 1 Langlade County...... 1 Total 124 Lancaster County...... 1 Okanogan County...... 1 Jackson County...... 1 Wood County...... 2 Lincoln County...... 1 Lee County...... 1 Pacific County...... 1 Jefferson County...... 1 Wyoming County...... 1 Marathon County...... 3 Wyoming Loudoun County...... 3 Pend Oreille County...... 1 Kanawha County...... 4 Marinette County...... 1 Albany County...... 1 Total 63 Louisa County...... 1 Pierce County...... 14 Lewis County...... 1 Marquette County...... 1 Big Horn County...... 1 Madison County...... 1 San Juan County...... 1 Lincoln County...... 1 Wisconsin Milwaukee County...... 16 Campbell County...... 1 Mathews County...... 1 Skagit County...... 2 Logan County...... 1 Adams County...... 1 Monroe County...... 1 Carbon County...... 1 Mecklenburg County...... 1 Skamania County...... 1 Marion County...... 1 Ashland County...... 1 Oconto County...... 1 Converse County...... 1 Middlesex County...... 1 Snohomish County...... 11 Marshall County...... 1 Barron County...... 1 Oneida County...... 1 Crook County...... 1 Montgomery County...... 2 Spokane County...... 8 Mason County...... 1 Bayfield County...... 1 Outagamie County...... 3 Fremont County...... 1 Nelson County...... 1 Stevens County...... 1 McDowell County...... 1 Brown County...... 5 Ozaukee County...... 2 Goshen County...... 1 New Kent County...... 1 Thurston County...... 4 Mercer County...... 2 Burnett County...... 1 Pierce County...... 1 Hot Springs County...... 1 Northampton County...... 1 Wahkiakum County...... 1 Mineral County...... 1 Calumet County...... 1 Polk County...... 1 Johnson County...... 1 Northumberland County....1 Walla Walla County...... 1 Monongalia County...... 2 Chippewa County...... 2 Portage County...... 2 Laramie County...... 2 Nottoway County...... 1 Whatcom County...... 4 Monroe County...... 1 Clark County...... 1 Price County...... 1 Lincoln County...... 1 Orange County...... 1 Whitman County...... 1 Morgan County...... 1 Columbia County...... 1 Racine County...... 4 Natrona County...... 2 Page County...... 1 Yakima County...... 5 Nicholas County...... 1 Dane County...... 9 Richland County...... 1 Niobrara County...... 1 Patrick County...... 1 Ohio County...... 1 Dodge County...... 2 Rock County...... 3 Park County...... 1 Total 126 Pittsylvania County...... 2 Pendleton County...... 1 Door County...... 1 Rusk County...... 1 Platte County...... 1 Powhatan County...... 1 West Virginia Pleasants County...... 1 Douglas County...... 1 Sauk County...... 2 Sheridan County...... 1 Prince Edward County...... 1 Barbour County...... 1 Pocahontas County...... 1 Dunn County...... 1 Sawyer County...... 1 Sublette County...... 1 Prince George County...... 1 Berkeley County...... 2 Preston County...... 1 Eau Claire County...... 2 Shawano County...... 1 Sweetwater County...... 1 Prince William County...... 5 Boone County...... 1 Putnam County...... 1 Florence County...... 1 Sheboygan County...... 2 Teton County...... 1 Pulaski County...... 1 Braxton County...... 1 Raleigh County...... 2 Fond du Lac County...... 2 St. Croix County...... 2 Uinta County...... 1 Rappahannock County...... 1 Brooke County...... 1 Randolph County...... 1 Forest County...... 1 Taylor County...... 1 Washakie County...... 1 Richmond County...... 1 Cabell County...... 2 Ritchie County...... 1 Grant County...... 1 Trempealeau County...... 1 Weston County...... 1 Roanoke County...... 2 Clay County...... 1 Roane County...... 1 Green County...... 1 Vernon County...... 1 Total 25 Rockbridge County...... 1 Doddridge County...... 1 Summers County...... 1 Iowa County...... 1 Vilas County...... 1 Rockingham County...... 2 Russell County...... 1 Scott County...... 1 Shenandoah County...... 1 Southampton County...... 1 Spotsylvania County...... 2 Surry County...... 1 Sussex County...... 1 Tazewell County...... 1 Warren County...... 1 Washington County...... 1 Westmoreland County...... 1 Wise County...... 1 Wythe County...... 1 York County...... 2 Total 134 Washington Benton County...... 3 Chelan County...... 2 Clallam County...... 2 Clark County...... 7 Columbia County...... 1 Cowlitz County...... 2 Douglas County...... 1 Ferry County...... 1 Franklin County...... 1 Garfield County...... 1 Grant County...... 2 COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES JUNE 25, 2018 25 Main Street BRIGHTIDEAS MERCER COUNTY, W.Va. winner, too A county with heart cleans up its act From SCOTUS page 3 parity for Main Street retail- ers and will help close an ev- PROBLEM: er-growing sales tax collec- Too much trash was ending up on tion loophole that results in the side of the roads in Mercer billions of dollars in revenue County, W.Va. going uncollected each year,” NACo said in a statement. “For SOLUTION: 26 years, the court has waited Create an annual 40-day spring for Congress to fix this prob- clean-up blitz powered by lem, but Congress demurred. hundreds of volunteers. Therefore, the court revisited the issue and recognized that the nature of contemporary By Mary Ann Barton commerce necessitates that all senior staff writer sellers, regardless of their loca- tion, follow the same laws. No When Greg Puckett became more, no less.” a county commissioner in In the Supreme Court’s Mercer County, W. Va., in 2015, decision, Justice Anthony one of the first things he did Kennedy wrote the majority was put out a call to communi- opinion, stating that brick- ty leaders to help him organize and-mortar stores were be- a clean-up campaign to get rid ing put at a disadvantage by of tires, trash and old furniture having to charge a sales tax strewn about the county. while online retailers did not. “When I became a commis- That rule “prevented market sioner, one of the major things participants from competing I wanted to see was a cleaner on an even playing field,” he county,” he said. “My philos- wrote. “It is unfair and unjust ophy is if you look better you to those competitors, both feel better, if you feel better you local and out of state, who act better.” Puckett contacted must remit the tax; to the con- the Convention and Visitors sumers who must pay the tax; Bureau, the schools, local mu- and to the states that seek fair nicipalities and the solid waste enforcement of the sales tax authority to help get the effort Rocky the Raccoon gets an assist from a helper during clean-up efforts in Mercer County, W. Va. — a tax many states for many off the ground. Photo courtesy of Mercer County years have considered an in- To help attract volunteers dispensable source for raising and get the momentum go- ing it when he ran for office. “I ed structures ordinance — we grants for their efforts and revenue.” he wrote. ing, they created a campaign, only spent $2,300 on my cam- don’t have zoning in the coun- now has a truck to use during In a dissenting opinion, branding it “Love Where You paign.”). ty so it’s sort of the Wild West cleanups, as well as new trail- Chief Justice John Roberts Live: Keep Mercer Clean.” A That was in 2015 and the in terms of accountability. ers and recycling bins. said that the decision could local graphic artist created sev- cleanup campaign has blos- This is community ownership. Puckett said their efforts detract from online sales “sig- eral logo samples for them to somed into an annual effort. It Community ownership cre- have not only changed the nificant and vibrant part of choose from, and the logo they even has a mascot now, Rocky ates accountability.” landscape of the county, but our national economy.” decided on was featured every- the Raccoon. The schools got into the act attitudes as well. Those who voted in the ma- where — from Facebook posts “The story behind Rocky is as well. “Not only is it about “Unfortunately, in southern jority were: Justices Anthony to murals painted on the sides raccoons are usually a men- clean-up, it’s about educa- West Virginia, because of the Kennedy, Clarence Thomas, of buildings around the county. ace,” Puckett said with a laugh. tion,” Puckett said. One year, economic depravity that we Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Samuel After finding volunteers “We said Rocky was very con- students created environmen- see, there is a mindset of ‘Well, A. Alito Jr. and Neil M. Gor- via social media (Facebook, scious about the environment, tal posters. The next year, they we just don’t care,’” Puckett such. Those who voted in the Twitter and Instagram) and he didn’t like the way that his repurposed recycled materi- said. “I think that’s what we are minority were: Justices John purchasing grabbers, trash brethren were tearing up stuff als. “Hey you can make a bird trying to instill in people. You Roberts, Stephen Breyer, Sonia bags and fluorescent vests, and he wanted to be responsi- feeder, you can make a cat bed do need to care, you do need to Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. the group decided they would ble.” — it makes it an engaging thing love where you live.” Read the opinion of the court clean up the county during The cleanup has led to in- where we can educate them at https://bit.ly/2lmAMwR. a 40-day blitz from March 20 spiration to tidying the coun- about ‘Don’t let this trash get For more information about to April 30. (Puckett said he ty even more, he said. “It’s out there, you can repurpose the cleanup campaign, contact Mary Ann Barton, Jack Peter- knew social media was the all coming together,” he said. it,’” he said. Puckett here: gregpuckettwva@ son and Lisa Soronen contrib- way to grab attention, after us- “We’re working on a dilapidat- The county has received gmail.com. uted to this report. 26 JUNE 25, 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS

NEWS that it was “humanitarian” to ply online. “My first priority posted a photo of the suspect FROM renew the contract because it is to the Palm Beach County as well as two pounds of mar- ACROSS could allow some detainees taxpayers,” Tax Collector Anne ijuana, $5,000 in cash and an to remain closer to family, the Gannon announced. “I want to AK-47 found at the suspect’s newspaper reported. make sure our residents receive home, along with the hashtag the attention and level of ser- … #THISAINTCOLORADO- THE NATION vice they paid for and deserve.” BRO. ●● PINELLAS COUNTY re- MICHIGAN sponders. cently completed a six-day hur- Taking photos in an OTTA- A volunteer firefighter ricane preparedness exercise, WA COUNTY park won’t be himself, he noted that first bringing all departments to- as simple as saying “cheese!” responders “have got to have gether to get on the same page come this fall. That’s when the the equipment they need to and share lessons learned, the county plans to start enforcing operate.” He also said he hopes Tampa Bay Times reported. a rule for commercial photog- to improve the county’s infra- One of those lessons was about raphers who need to have a structure, noting the county’s ●● In a first for the Golden the evacuation process. Inter- permit before snapping photos 600 miles of dirt roads. State, Punjabi, a language im Emergency Management for weddings or other events. spoken primarily in Pakistanvote! Director David Halstead said The county decided to start CALIFORNIA and India, made its way onto they will get information out enforcing the rule in order to ●● By a 3–2 vote, the SACRA- the ballot June 5 in SUTTER to residents more often and maintain the tranquil ambi- Spivey MENTO COUNTY Board of COUNTY, where 15 percent sooner, if needed, this hurri- ance of the parks. “Recently, ALABAMA Supervisors ended a contract of the population speaks the cane season. Another area of several photographers have Most 18-year-olds are like- between the county and DHS’ language, CBS-13 reported. concern included maintaining taken advantage of that lenien- ly spending their summers Immigration and Customs En- California’s election law states power at more than 300 sewage cy and set up makeshift studios around the pool or working at forcement (ICE) to detain im- that if 3 percent of the popula- lift stations. The county utili- in the parks complete with sig- their first job. Weston Spivey is migrants in county facilities tion speak a certain language, a ties department has 25 mobile nage, props, lights and even a preparing to join the Board of while they awaited deportation ballot must be provided in that generators; trucks are outfitted receptionist desk,” the county Commissioners in GENEVA proceedings, The Sacramento language. with software to help workers noted in a news release. “Oth- COUNTY this fall after winning Bee reported. Since 2013, the keep tabs on any problems. ers frequently blocked trails or the Republican primary June 5. Sheriff’s Department received FLORIDA prevented regular users from No Democrat or independent undocumented people de- ●● Starting July 1, PALM HAWAII accessing parts of the park.” entered the race. tained by federal immigration BEACH COUNTY will limit An eruption June 10 at the Permits will cost $25 for a day Spivey ran his campaign authorities and housed them at driver’s license services for summit of Hawaii’s Kilauea pass or $150 for an annual pass. while he was a senior at Ridge- a correctional center. ICE paid non-county residents, the Palm volcano stands as the most de- Funds from the permits will be crest Christian School and the department millions of dol- Beach Post reported. Non-res- structive in U.S. history since used to help regulate the policy. helping out at the family busi- lars per year to provide up to idents will need to make an at least the 1980 eruption of ness, a farm-to-fork food dis- 165 beds for ICE detainees. appointment in person in ad- Mount St. Helens in Washing- tributor. “That was one of the “Our budgets must reflect vance by visiting the tax col- ton state, according to a report biggest challenges — trying our values,” Supervisor Phil lector’s office. About 100,000 by Scott Rowland, a volcanolo- to graduate and campaign Serna said. “I do not value jail- out-of-county residents seek li- gist at the University of Hawaii and run the business all at the ing immigrants, some of whom censes there each year and with at Manoa. HAWAII COUNTY same time,” he said. During his have not committed any crim- the closing of another driver’s Mayor Harry Kim lost his va- campaign, he focused primar- inal violations.” Proponents of license office coming June 29, cation home June 5 to a river of ily on economic development the contract, Supervisors Sue lines are expected to get even lava from the Kilauea volcano. and supporting emergency re- Frost and Susan Peters, argued longer. Residents may still ap- Kim had purchased the prop- erty in 1971 for $5,000. The vol- cano began erupting May 3 and has devastated the area. The last official count of homes de- ARIZONA stroyed stands at 117. The Ha- MARICOPA COUNTY is handing out $150 vouchers to- waii County Civil Defense said ward the purchase of electric lawn mowers. The county’s they expect that number to rise. air quality department is teaming up with the state de- Read more about the volcano partment of environmental quality to offer the vouch- eruption in County News here: ers to those willing to trade in their gas-powered https://bit.ly/2JiwxRs mowers, The Republic newspaper reported. High pollution alerts triggered by ozone are common KENTUCKY in the area, especially in warmer months. In a message to the public on its Facebook page, the FRANK- LIN COUNTY Sheriff’s De- partment reminded residents that marijuana is not legal in the county or the state, fol- lowing a drug bust. The sheriff COUNTY NEWS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES JUNE 25, 2018 27

health hazard. WASHINGTON NEVADA The ban applies both within In a case brought by KING CLARK COUNTY Commission- city limits and in unincorporat- COUNTY, a federal judge ers plan to vote on a resolution ed areas, except in established has blocked a Department of calling for Congress to release al- campsites. It also bans the con- Health and Human Services most 39,000 acres of federal land struction of semi-permanent or effort to cut off funding for to the Las Vegas metropolitan area permanent structures. sex education programs that so it can grow beyond its current Law enforcement can remove were not focused on absti- boundaries. the campsite if the camper does nence. The commissioners’ proposal not move after being given rea- KING COUNTY sued the also would designate new wilder- sonable notice, if the property federal government when the ness and set aside tens of thou- appears to be abandoned or last three years of a five-year, sands of acres as areas of crit- unclaimed, if the property is $5 million grant was in jeop- ical environmental concern for contraband, if officials have ardy, the Associated Press re- the desert tortoise and other probable cause to believe that ported. Multnomah County, protected species. The land is illegal activities are occurring at Ore. also sued. outside the existing dispos- the campsite or if the property King County said HHS of- al boundary established in presents immediate danger to fered shifting explanations 1998 as part of the Southern human life, health or safety, The about why it was ending the Nevada Public Land Man- Daily Herald reported. funding. Multnomah County agement Act, which allows for said states like Oregon, which the sale of federal land within VERMONT mandate scientific curricu- the Las Vegas Valley for private In advance of a change July lums, would be at a disadvan- development, the Review-Journal 1 that will allow Vermont resi- tage. reported. dents to possess a small amount U.S. District Judge John C. of marijuana, the WINDSOR Coughenour wrote that the de- COUNTY state’s attorney orga- partment’s “failure to articulate MINNESOTA ing education programs. City Paper shows that Amazon’s nized an expungement work- any explanation for its action, HENNEPIN COUNTY has failure to collect local sales tax shop for residents to erase their much less a reasoned one based hired a director of disparity re- OREGON is depriving the ALLEGHENY records of misdemeanor mari- on relevant factors, exemplifies duction. Alex Tittle will look to Following China’s refusal to COUNTY library system of $1.49 juana charges. arbitrary and capricious agency reduce differences in areas such accept some Western recycla- million annually. A study by the Petitions for expungement action meriting reversal.” as employment and income bles, MARION COUNTY resi- Institute on Taxation and Eco- will be submitted after July 1. that adversely impact residents. dents are facing fines if they in- nomic Policy concluded that Ultimately, a judge will decide WISCONSIN “These differences affect resi- clude certain materials in their Amazon isn’t collecting the 1 if an expungement is warranted After years of using private dents negatively, and Henne- weekly pickup. China previously percent sales tax the county lev- based on the nature of the con- email, RACINE COUNY super- pin County must align its work took most of Oregon’s recycling. ies on local purchases. The Re- viction. visors will be assigned county under the priority of reducing Now, shredded paper, egg gional Asset District tax contrib- accounts for all county business. disparities in 2018 and beyond,” cartons, milk boxes, most plas- utes to public parks, museums VIRGINIA Michael Lanzdorf, corpo- said County Administrator Da- tic containers and a long list of and distressed municipalities Solar energy farm proposals ration counsel for the county, vid J. Hough. Tittle will develop other items are banned from in addition to generating more must include a traffic study and told The Journal Times that this and implement plans to reduce curbside recycling barrels, and than $31 million yearly to public a plan for how the installation change would keep the coun- disparities in several areas in- members of the Mid-Valley Gar- libraries. will be decommissioned after ty in line with state and federal cluding education, employ- bage & Recycling Association the life of the project, according statues on records retention and ment, health, housing, income, can fine customers as much as UTAH to an ordinance passed by the public records laws. justice and transportation. $15.45 per pickup. The UTAH COUNTY Com- CAMPBELL COUNTY Board of DOUGLAS COUNTY halted mission passed an ordinance Supervisors. The ordinance will News from Across the Nation is NEW YORK all recycling completely in re- banning camping on county require solar inverters to be set compiled by Charlie Ban and ●● ERIE COUNTY is crack- sponse to the Chinese ban. property. The ban was moti- back 500 feet from the proper- Mary Ann Barton, senior staff ing down on people who park vated by long-term homeless ty line for noise mitigation, the writers. If you have an item for in handicapped spots illegally PENNSYLVANIA camps that were saturated with Lynchburg News and Advance News From, please email cban@ with increased enforcement. If Analysis by the Pittsburgh human waste and comprise a reported. naco.org or [email protected]. the sheriff’s office finds the- per mit holder is not in the car, not NEW YORK only will violators face a ticket, ●● CHEMUNG COUNTY might have found a clue to cutting down its high obesity rates but the permit will be seized for adults and adolescents. The county’s health department is holding asummer-long and returned to the municipal- scavenger hunt in the county’s parks. Solving each puzzle will earn one entry into a ity that issued it. random drawing for gifts. A recent report shows the “We, on purpose, designed it trying to find clues where you couldn’t find them online, county has collected 36 percent you couldn’t drive around in your car and look and see. We tried to make the clues more in the $30 surcharges re- where you had to get out of your car, walk on the trail, walk around the park, and lated to handicapped parking look for what the answer to the clue is. The point is to get people out and walking,” violations compared to last year. Dawn Bush, public health coordinator for the health department, told My Twin Tiers. Half of that fee goes to the coun- ty to pay for handicapped park- 28 JUNE 25, 2018 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES COUNTY NEWS the HR Lowering Life Expectancy – DOCTOR Harming Dreams With Phil Rosenberg

merica is the land of dreams. We are so fortunate to live in a place where dreamsA about positive futures for ourselves and our families have a real chance of com- ing true. Yet for many around the world, including many in America, dreams of what could be often give way to more im- mediate critical needs like where the next meal will come from or where we will sleep tonight. Even these folks have a better chance to survive and thrive than people in many oth- er countries. Our most pervasive “Ameri- can Dream” isn’t about buying some flashy new car, RV or even cy is now 78.6 year, ranking the the top 10 causes of death … in believe me, but just in case you electronic toys. Instead, en- a home of our own. It is about USA 30th among nations. a tragic lineup with heart dis- don’t, try calling in sick yourself gage more with friends, volun- our children. We dream about Any of us working in local ease, cancer, accidents, chronic one afternoon. Waste hours teer for charity work, take up and have come to expect that government know that poor lung disease, stroke, influenza, of your precious life watching hobbies and, as my K9 health the lives of our children will be health in the community is a kidney disease, diabetes and daytime TV. This “delightful” professionals remind me, get a longer and better than our own major public administration Alzheimer’s. experience is highlighted by a dog. lives or those of our forebears. issue not just a personal health The science behind most of constant litany of drug com- At the community level, we The average life expectancy one. Indigent health care is a these plagues is increasingly mercials, intermingled with can create “healthy communi- of Americans has risen every public expense, not to mention better understood. But science lawyer commercials urging ty” initiatives, improve parks, year almost without exception one which impacts the insur- alone is not the answer to lon- you to sue the makers of “bad issue challenges, involve local for as long as we have kept re- ance premiums for those lucky ger and healthier lives. The pol- drugs.” businesses and schools, and cords of such things. The life ex- enough to have coverage. itics of the country, along with A final key element in this teach every one of our kids pectancy figure is a compelling The large bulk of fire-rescue education and science, deter- depressing discussion is the about actions to improve health metaphor for our overall well- calls have nothing to do with mines the life expectancy of our increasing difficulty we seem while caring more for others. being, both in terms of person- fires. Rather they are medical children. to have in accepting personal These ideas are every bit as al health and, in a larger sense, calls. Local law enforcement is A nation without universal responsibility for what we do. important to our personal “se- the health of the country. our prime acute mental health health care access is not a truly Lifestyle choice, or lack of curity” as building fences and We have much to celebrate intervention agency, notwith- advanced one. A nation where choices, drives many of the walls and hiring additional po- when we see the number in- standing limited training for shortages in available health leading causes of death. Smok- lice officers. crease. Likewise, when and if officers in this area. care professionals is chronic ing — and now e-smoking — Despite all of this, however, the number goes down, we had Mental illness aligns with in many places has to rethink along with little or no exercise, only a national “brain trans- better pay attention and con- economic dislocation and drug its support for the education poor diets and meager social plant” to implement universal sider why this is happening in use to create homelessness, of physicians and nurses. The engagement harm our physical health care, to encourage inno- the richest of nations. hunger and yet more health debt faced by new doctors, now and mental health. vation in science and bureau- The “we better pay attention” issues. Lack of insurance cov- averaging $190,000, retards What can we do? We can cratic process improvement, to warning came once again with erage drives many to delay or health care. The burdensome begin by realizing that our best mitigate health professional’s the release of the most recent avoid the health care they need paperwork and insurance re- hope for longer and healthier debt in trade for public health year of statistics on life expec- until the problem is acute and strictions make doctors want to lives rests at the personal level. service, and to create sustained tancy released by the Centers hugely expensive emergency call in sick. A brilliant doctor friend re- support for preventive health for Disease Control. rooms or trauma units become We undervalue prevention sponded to my question about will return the dream of longer The life expectancy for Amer- a person’s doctor’s office. and health education in favor how to lose weight by saying, and better lives for our kids and icans declined for the second There are more gun violence of intervention only after acute “Eat less, move more.” That is a ourselves. straight year — the first such deaths now than vehicle acci- symptoms of illness appear. powerful prescription. We have the knowledge to double year decline since the dent deaths in 21 states and the That intervention, we all know, It goes along with not watch- improve life expectancy. The early 1960s — nearly two gen- overall number of such deaths usually comes in the form of ing as much TV or otherwise question is whether or not we erations ago. The life expectan- is converging. Suicide ranks in drug prescriptions. I know you staring at the screens of our have the will to do so.