Staff notes: March 2010

NCACC awarded for support of IEI

NCACC Executive Director David F. Thompson accepts an award on behalf of the Association for its long-term support of the Institute for Emerging Issues at N.C. State University. Thompson was presented the award during a Feb. 8 leadership dinner on the opening night of the 2010 Emerging Issues Forum, an annual two-day event. This year's Forum was entitled "Creativity, Inc.," and focused on innovation in government. In the background is former N.C. Governor Jim Hunt, who presented the award to Thompson. (Photo courtesy Steve Exum for the Emerging Issues Forum)

More staff notes: Members of the Government Relations Team made site visits to Wake County on Feb. 15 and Onslow County on Feb. 22. In addition to having lunch with each Board of Commissioners, members toured facilities such as the Hammond Road Detention Center in Wake County and the 911 facility in Onslow County. … Government Relations Director Kevin Leonard provided a preview of the 2010 short session to the Durham County Board of Commissioners during the Board's annual planning retreat Feb. 18. … Policy Advocate Anthony Allen traveled to Rowan County to meet with 911 Communications staff members, County Manager Gary Page and N.C. Rep. Lorene Coates on Feb. 18. …Executive Counsel Sharon Scudder and Intergovernmental Relations Director Rebecca Troutman met with Union County's manager and finance officer Feb. 25 to learn about issues the county is facing as it prepares its 2010-11 budget. The next day, the duo visited Mecklenburg County to update the Board of Commissioners during its annual Strategic Planning Budget Retreat on the state budget outlook and its possible impacts on counties, and to review several legal cases that could be of interest to the county. … Legislative Counsel Jim Blackburn told the Legislative Study Commission on Urban Growth and Infrastructure Issues on Feb. 25 that counties and cities have a lot of the tools they need to plan regionally for orderly growth, and that local officials are very interested in being able to plan on a regional basis. … Deputy Director Patrice Roesler taught a session on county jails at the School of Government's County Administration Course on Feb. 26. … Judy Rhyne, Catherine Franklin, Nancy Johnson, Penny Cummings and Willie Allen – all members of the strategic goals team charged with enhancing the state-county relationship through effective communication and the development of a working partnership – traveled to Randolph County on March 4 to meet with county staff and gain a better understanding of the challenges facing Emergency Services and Information Technology. … Leonard co-chaired a March 4 meeting of the Water and Wastewater Study Commission subcommittee that is examining infrastructure funding issues. … Also on March 4, Troutman provided an update to the N.C. Association of County Finance Officers on the state budget and sales tax collections.