Happy Holidays from Uranium Inc
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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES n WASHINGTON, D.C. VOL. 43, NO. 24 n December 19, 2011 Board OKs major change to NACo drug card program By Beverly sChlotterBeCk and election guidelines for second EXECUTIVE EDITOR vice president candidates at their fall meeting held this year in NACo’s Board of Directors ap- Orange County (Orlando), Fla., proved a significant change to the Dec. 8–10. popular NACo Prescription Dis- By a near unanimous vote, the count Card Program, adopted a Board directed staff to move for- $20.7 million consolidated annual ward with negotiating a new con- budget for 2012 and postponed tract for the prescription program a decision to eliminate printed with CVS Caremark that provides copies of County News in favor of participating counties with an a weekly, electronically delivered option to receive a $1 fee for each publication. Board members also okayed See NACo BOARD page 7 new legislative policy priorities Photo courtesy of the Wakulla County, Fla. Sheriff’s Office Santa Claus hears gift requests from the children of Wakulla County, Fla. during Christmas in the Park, the QuickTakes Uranium 12th such annual event sponsored by the sheriff’s office and parks and recreation department. Top Five mining could Christmas Tree Warm temperatures can’t melt Producing States come to rural 1 - Oregon Virginia Christmas spirit in Florida county 2 - North Carolina 3 - Michigan By Charles Taylor By Charlie Ban “It’s our way to reach out to The Sheriff’s Office sponsors 4 - Pennsylvania SENIOR STAFF WRITER STAFF WRITER the community,” Massa said. “We the event, along with the county’s 5 - Wisconsin want everyone to have a chance to parks and recreation department, Source: National Christmas Tree Association, A National Academy of Sciences In Florida’s panhandle, songs see Santa.” and a local bank. USDA Census of Agriculture 2009 study, due out any day, may help like “Let it Snow” demand a Massa himself once donned determine whether uranium mining certain suspension of disbelief. the jolly man’s red snowsuit and is allowed in Pittsylvania County — But as abstract as a lot of win- held court, but recent weight loss CountyNews and elsewhere — in Virginia. ter imagery can be for children, rendered him an unconvincing Informed by this and other recent the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Kriss Kringle. He delegated the Happy Features studies, the Virginia General As- Office does its best to make the role to one of his volunteers, who sembly is poised to decide when it holiday season special for them. soldiered through two hours of convenes in January whether to lift Its Christmas in the Park cel- pretty warm temperatures to hear Holidays a 29-year moratorium on mining the ebration, now in its 12th year, saw the Christmas wishes of hundreds radioactive element in the state. its highest participation yet, with of children. The county of 63,500 in south- more than 500 children waiting “We can have cold temperatures Whatever holiday you central Virginia is home to the largest in line to meet Santa Claus. The in the winter, it can be downright celebrate this time of underground uranium ore deposit event is routinely scheduled for bone chilling, but the last week, known to exist in the state, worth the second Friday in December. we’ve had highs in the mid-70s,” year, may it be merry. an estimated $7 billion. Virginia Maj. Larry Massa, the event’s he said. Happy Holidays from Uranium Inc. says it can safely mine longtime coordinator, attributed Despite the temperatures, Massa the staff at County a site it owns, with substantial benefit the crowds to the tough eco- said the holiday spirit was evident to the county’s economy. nomic conditions in the county in the more than 1,300 attendees, News and NACo. Uranium-related operations of 30,000 south of Tallahassee. the copious decorations and bevy could generate more than 1,000 Even without snow, Azalea Park of activities. jobs and pump $3 million or more drew hundreds of families for “It’s pretty good as it would a year into local and state tax activities, including train rides, be anywhere,” he said. “We don’t face painting, art stations and a need snow to bring out the same See URANIUM page 6 raffle for bicycles. emotions.” 2 December 19, 2011 CountyNews • Helping county health through tough economic times By aniTa Cardwell contain health care costs,” said SENIOR ASSOCIATE NACo president Lenny Eliason, whose presidential initiative directly Approximately 70 county officials complements the Healthy Counties and county staff from nearly 40 coun- Initiative as he is focusing on help- ties attended NACo’s 2011 Healthy ing counties develop local programs Counties Forum, “Creating Healthy and policies that promote healthy Counties: Investing in County Health lifestyles. “We heard about a range in Tough Economic Times,” Dec. of efforts from both urban and rural 1–2, in Washington, D.C. counties that have made great strides Featuring a mix of speakers toward improving the health of their including federal officials, county populations through innovative leaders and private sector representa- solutions involving public-private tives, the forum highlighted a range partnerships and other strategies,” of topics such as tools that can help he said. guide county health policy deci- Future forums, conference work- sions, opportunities to improve care shops and webinars will be offered coordination and the importance of through NACo’s Healthy Counties building broad community partner- Initiative, which is guided by a public- ships to support local health and private advisory board of county wellness promotion efforts. officials and staff, and the initiative’s Dr. Anand Parekha, a deputy as- Photo by Anita Cardwell corporate supporters. Commissioner sistant secretary at the Department of (l-r) Joan Ralph, Premier, Inc.; DeKalb County, Ga. Commissioner Larry Johnson, chairman of the Healthy Coun- Larry Johnson from DeKalb County, Health and Human Services, opened ties Advisory Board; NACo Second Vice President and Linn County, Iowa Supervisor Linda Langston; NACo Ga. is the 2011–2012 chair of the the forum with a detailed overview President and Athens County, Ohio Commissioner Lenny Eliason; and Nick Macchione, health and human advisory board. of recent federal-level investments services director, San Diego County, discuss how public-private partnerships can support county health activities To download copies of the forum in prevention and public health. Dr. during a breakout session of the Health Counties Forum. presentations, visit www.naco.org/ Jonathan Fielding, director, Los healthycountiesforum, and for more Angeles County Department of implementing these changes in among local governments, private are involved with, such as public information about NACo’s Healthy Public Health and the county’s health 2006, the county has already seen its entities and other key stakeholders health, county employee health Counties Initiative, see www.naco.org/ officer, followed by highlighting how employee health care costs markedly in the community health assessment coverage and direct care delivery healthycountiesinitiative. counties play a key role in creating the decline. and improvement process. services. local-level conditions for community Throughout the forum, at- The forum was held as one of “The forum provided an im- health and wellness through policy, tendees also heard from many the activities of NACo’s Healthy portant opportunity to examine a system and environmental decisions. of NACo’s Healthy Counties Counties Initiative, launched this number of health issues, including Another session featured model Initiative corporate partners about year to engage county officials and how counties can implement and President | Lenny Eliason county initiatives to incorporate ways that collaboration with the private sector partners to support and sustain prevention-focused initia- Publisher | Larry Naake Public Affairs Director | Tom Goodman health factors in county planning and business community and innova- promote best practices within the tives that have strong potential to Executive Editor | Beverly Anne Schlotterbeck land use decisions, as well as ways tions offered through the private many areas of health that counties improve community health and Senior Staff Writer | Charles Taylor to improve county employees’ well- sector can support counties’ health Staff Writer | Charlie Ban Graphic Artist | Jack Hernandez ness and promote access to healthy activities. Presenters said coun- Editorial Assistant | Christopher Johnson and affordable food. Baltimore City ties can use mapping and other councilwoman Helen Holton, chair data-synthesizing tools to more Online Achievement Award ADVERTISING STAFF of NACo’s Large Urban County effectively target local public health Job Market/Classifieds representative Applications Now Available Christopher Johnson Caucus, spoke about Baltimore’s resources and options for improving National Accounts representative Food Policy Initiative, which is an communication among safety net Beverly Schlotterbeck intergovernmental collaboration to health care providers to provide Applications for the 2012 Achievement Award program are now (202) 393-6226 • FAX (202) 393-2630 provide healthier food selections in better and more cost-effective care available. The annual program is non-competitive and recognizes Published biweekly except August by: innovative county government programs. Since this is not a com- National Association of Counties areas of the city where these options for individuals with