Macon meeting reveals successes, challenges

By Alissa Willett
Legislative Grassroots Coordinator

The NCACC’s Government Relations team visited five counties during the final quarter of 2011 to learn about issues affecting those counties and to build relationships with county officials. Team members traveled to Macon County to visit with commissioners and department heads. Sen. Jim Davis, who represents the eight westernmost counties in North Carolina, also attended.

“It’s so important for department heads to watch what’s happening at the Legislature and be sure that the NCACC is a strong advocate at the Legislature,” Davis said. “I’m a strong local government guy.”

Davis’ words came as no surprise to his audience of 23 department heads and Macon County commissioners. Davis served two and a half terms on the Macon County Board of Commissioners before being elected to the Senate, and he has not forgotten the importance of local government. His close relationship with county commissioners has proven beneficial for all constituents as well as the locally elected officials.

Direct involvement with state legislators fosters the strongest, most enduring relationships.

NCACC Second Vice President and Macon County Commissioner Ronnie Beale highlighted specific issues that were of interest to the NCACC. Like most counties in North Carolina, smaller budgets and increased needs are a sign of the times.

According to Macon County Social Services Director Jane Kimsey, 18.8 percent of Macon County residents are currently below the poverty line – a number that has jumped from 12.8 percent in just three years. Food stamp costs have increased from $2 million to $10.8 million, and Medicaid needs are growing rapidly as well. In addition, heating assistance was cut by 90 percent at the state level.

DSS has reduced its Consolidated Senior Services budget by 47 percent and has reinvested those savings into more efficient services for residents. A new community helpline and community resource center has created improved outreach opportunities for local residents. DSS created a mental health task force and identified gaps in children’s services that are being addressed. An investment in a document management system has produced solid returns – saving 20 to 30 minutes per social services case despite a smaller DSS workforce – and has enabled DSS to return $5,000 to the county.

The Health Department, directed by Jim Bruckner, has 23 major programs divided into two arms. Population health includes such programs as WIC, community health and Smart Start and has 1,800 clients receiving more than 6,000 services. Direct personal health services – or clinical health – has 8,100 clients receiving 32,900 services. Due to funding cutbacks, the department relies on community partnerships to provide services.

Representatives of the Solid Waste, Planning, Emergency Management and Information Technology departments also discussed various county concerns and successes.

Solid Waste Director Chris Stahl spoke about the Bail Facility turned Recovery Facility. The building was converted in 2008 and began by pulling out cardboard and scrap metal to recover. Now the recovery facility houses electronic waste, wood pallets, mixed rigid plastics as well as normal commodities such as bottle and cans for recovering. This recovery project gives waste a second chance to be recycled without putting additional mandates on county residents.

“Last year, 360 tons of waste was recovered out of that facility,” said Stahl. “If it wasn’t recovered it would be buried at the landfill with the other waste.”

This effort has landed Macon County in the top 10 counties for per capita recycling rate for the past 10 years.

The Macon County trip concluded with a visit led by County Manager Jack Horton to the K-4 Iotla Valley Elementary School construction site. The lengthy planning period for this project was well worth its time, as commissioners were able to take advantage of the poor economic times to lock in a low net interest rate to the county of 0.48 percent. The debt will retire in 17 years, and the school is on schedule to be completed and occupied in August.

As the visit illustrates, involving your legislators in local government discussions and celebrating your county’s accomplishments are notable ways to enhance positive relationships with your area delegation. County officials can create their own relationship-building opportunities by facilitating meetings such as this one between county leaders and local legislators.

Contact Alissa if you would like assistance reaching out to your local legislators, help organizing an upcoming legislative meeting or event, or are simply interested in learning more about how to get involved with the NCACC to increase your grassroots efforts. Alissa can be reached at (919) 715-7654 or alissa.willett@ncacc.org.