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CountyLines: January 2012
Volume 38, No. 1

Six district meetings set for April

The Association has announced locations for its series of six district meetings to be held this April.

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Value outweighs challenges of running a license plate agency

Ashe, McDowell officials share experiences with implementation
Over the past few years, several counties across North Carolina have contracted with the Division of Motor Vehicles to operate license plate agencies. While it might seem like a natural fit for a county to operate an agency, McDowell County Manager Chuck Abernathy says there are a lot of issues to consider.

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Optional jail program can benefit state and counties

Evolution of bill creating program shows importance of partnership with Legislature
On Jan. 1, the Statewide Misdemeanor Confinement Program officially began. The program pays counties to house misdemeanants with sentences between 90 and 180 days – inmates who would normally be assigned to a state prison. Counties that have extra bed space in their county jails can choose to participate in the program and receive a per diem for housing the extra prisoners that should more than cover any costs incurred. The program truly represents a win-win for the state and counties. The state is able to relieve some of the overcrowding in the state prison system by diverting some short-term inmates to county jails. And counties with extra space that choose to participate in the program can receive a new revenue stream to support jail operations.

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Washington, D.C. welcomes county officials in March

N.C. counties will caucus, visit with congressional delegation during Legislative Conference
County officials from across the country will convene in the nation’s capital March 3-7 for the National Association of Counties’ annual Legislative Conference. The conference is being held at the Washington Hilton. The NCACC has scheduled three events specifically for North Carolina attendees.

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Partnership essential in biz recruiting

Secretary of Commerce addresses Board of Directors
Secretary of Commerce Keith Crisco told members of the NCACC Board of Directors on Dec. 14 that while North Carolina has many advantages in the ever-competitive world of business recruitment, the state can continue to set itself apart through a collaborative approach and a strong partnership between the state and counties.

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Outstanding County Program Award entries due Feb. 17

If your county has developed a uniquely innovative process, solution or idea to address a county or multi-jurisdictional issue and/or to prevent a future problem from developing, consider applying for an Outstanding County Program Award. The Feb. 17 deadline to submit entries is quickly approaching.

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Pools to hold regional meetings in February

The NCACC Risk Management Pools are planning regional meetings at four locations across the state for the benefit of member counties and related entities. There is no charge to attend.

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Managing Your Risk
Why bother with insurance to value?

The dilemma of how much insurance is needed to rebuild a given building, especially if constructed a number of years ago, is a truly important question that comes up fairly often.

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OSHA simply a starting point for safety & health program

Although OSHA has been a strong driving force in employee safety and health for the past four decades, it has some shortcomings. Given this, depending on OSHA compliance alone to be your guide for the development of a safety program can leave a lot of gaps in your overall safety and health program.

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Macon meeting reveals successes, challenges

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.

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Guide offers a helping hand on leading a governing board

The latest Readers’ Corner review provides an overview of "Leading Your Governing Board: A Guide for Mayors and County Board Chairs," by Vaughn Upshaw.

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More from this month's CountyLines:
Craven among counties celebrating anniversaries
2012 chairs and vice chairs for county boards of commissioners
Briefs and shorts
Staff notes: Scudder to open law firm
Career opportunities