Polk County Judge Heads National COG Group

POLK COUNTY JUDGE JOHN P. THOMPSON was elected president of the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) during the NARC 40th Annual Conference.

“I am honored and at the same time humbled to be selected president of NARC. Honored because of the opportunity to follow the many great individuals who have served as presidents of NARC in our 40-year history, and humbled to know that my colleagues from throughout the country have chosen me to serve,” Thompson told almost 400 representatives of regional planning and development organizations from across the United States.

In addition to the county judge position, Thompson is a past president of the Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG) and currently serves on the DETCOG Board of Directors. He has also served as president of the Texas Association of Regional Councils.

NARC is a non-profit membership organization and public interest group whose mission is to build regional communities through regional collaboration.

New Association Presidents Take Office

SUMMER IS OVER, and with it most associations’ annual elections. The following county officials associations have elected new presidents for 2006- 2007:

• County and District Clerks Association - Swisher County District/County Clerk Brenda Hudson;
• North & East Texas County Judges & Commissioners - Johnson County Judge Roger Harmon;
• South Texas County Judges & Commissioners - Zavala County Commissioner Miguel Acosta;
• West Texas County Judges & Commissioners - Kerr County Commissioner H. A. Baldwin;
• Justices of the Peace & Constables Association - Navarro County Justice of the Peace Connie Mayfield;
• Sheriffs Association of Texas - Burnet County Sheriff Joe F. Pollock;
• Texas Association of Tax Assessor-Collectors - Washington County Tax Assessor-Collector Candy Arth.

National Magazine Honors Eckels as County Official of the Year

AMERICAN CITY & COUNTY® MAGAZINE has honored Harris County Judge Robert Eckels as their 2006 County Leader of the Year for his efforts in leading his county’s and the Houston region’s response to the dual disasters of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita last fall. The award by publisher Prism Business Media was presented at the National Association of Counties August annual conference in Chicago.

As director of Harris County’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, he marshaled a team of government officials, private organizations and community groups immediately following Hurricane Katrina to transform the Houston Astrodome into housing for nearly 30,000 New Orleans evacuees and a processing point for 40,000 more.

Three weeks later when Rita hit, Eckels coordinated with local and state authorities to evacuate nearly 3 million people from the Houston-Galveston area within 24 hours. The magazine article pointed out that while Eckels is a Republican and his city counterpart, Houston Mayor Bill White, is a Democrat, “the operation ran fairly smoothly across city and county lines, and political lines.”

“A number of problems arose with Rita,” Eckels told the magazine. “But you didn’t see the judge point the finger at the mayor and the mayor pointing the finger at the governor. Instead, we looked at how we could all do better next time.”

Eckels’ dad, Bob Eckels, was a Harris County Commissioner for 15 years as well as a former president of the Houston school board, prompting the publication to say that “local government is in Eckels’ blood.” “I grew up around politics and have been involved in local government my whole life,” Eckels said. “County government is a place where you can really affect people’s lives. It’s a place where you can quickly impact and influence the community.”

Eckels also told the magazine about why he intends to stay in county government. “State and federal officials often talk about the services they provide, but in the end it’s usually the local governments who are on the ground providing those services from the beginning,” he said. “People who worry about what they’re running for next forget about what they’re doing right now - and right now, this is exactly where I want to be.”

Public Sector Alliance To Save Taxpayers On Comp Costs

FOUR PUBLIC SECTOR ASSOCIATIONS have joined forces with TAC to create a statewide workers’ compensation alliance to provide a cost-effective way to contract with doctors and other providers to treat employees who have filed workers’ compensation claims, a project that should aid local taxpayers’ pocketbooks significantly. When the Legislature overhauled workers’ comp laws last year, it encouraged creation of health care delivery networks similar to those developed for managed care programs in employer-provided health insurance. The idea was to develop large networks of hospitals and doctors whose combined services might be negotiated to more reasonable levels of care and better return-to-work results. Lawmakers mandated that all employers utilize one of several large health care delivery systems that were expected to be developed by the private sector.

At the request of local government associations, however, other options unique to their needs were also authorized, including the authority of local governments to contract directly with doctors, hospitals and other medical providers.

“We had concerns that the private sector would focus on the metropolitan markets and not create networks that covered the entire state,” said Jim Jean, TAC’s director of program administration and business manager for TAC’s Workers’ Compensation Fund. “We’ve developed relationships with physicians and providers all over Texas and we’re making sure that our employees will get quality care at an appropriate cost.”

The result is the new Political Subdivisions Workers’ Compensation Alliance, which is comprised of pools representing counties, cities, school boards, mental health districts and water/special districts.

In addition to the TAC Fund, the new alliance will include:

• Texas Association of School Boards Risk Management Fund;
• Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool;
• Texas Council Risk Management Fund (local MHMR centers);
• Texas Water Conservation Association Risk Management Fund (water districts and other special districts).

Jean said the public sector organizations closely followed the legislative rewrite of workers’ comp laws and approached legislators to get authority for political subdivisions to utilize other alternatives for employee care. Based on the Legislature’s consent to the alternative approach, the pools joined together in order to save money for local taxpayers.

“Our workgroup of political subdivision associations carefully examined all the private sector alternatives and came to the conclusion that the networks would be too expensive for local governments, and importantly, they wouldn’t be able to offer medical care throughout the state,” Jean said. “It makes more sense for the alliance to contract directly with health care providers across the state.”

The new alliance will provide services to 500,000 public employees, including 40,000 from the TAC Workers’ Compensation Fund.

Jean, who is chairing the alliance’s board, cautioned counties to carefully review any private sector health care network proposals. “There are some networks out there that may sound like a good deal, but if you review them carefully, they may not work out as well as their marketing promises,” he said. Members of TAC’s pool will not need to take any action; these counties will be eligible for automatic access to the medical providers.

The alliance should be in operation by early 2007, he said.

Training for New Elected Officials Scheduled

TAKING A NEW JOB as an elected county official can mean a whirlwind of new responsibilities and bureaucratic complications but after November’s election, new Texas officials will have an opportunity to get a quick orientation on what to expect.

TAC will host eight regional seminars in early December to provide newly elected officials an all-day look at what it’s like to hold office when they’re sworn in come January.

Training will be held at the following locations:

• Dec. 4, Conroe, at Del Lago Resort and Conference Center (600 Del Lago Boulevard);
• Dec. 4, Abilene, at MCM Elegante Suites (4250 Ridgemont Drive);
• Dec. 5, Tyler, at Holiday Inn Select (5701 South Broadway)
• Dec. 5, Odessa, at MCM Elegante (5200 East University);
• Dec. 6, Waco, at Waco Hilton (113 University Parks Drive);
• Dec. 7, Amarillo, at Ambassador Hotel (3100 IH-40 West);
• Dec. 11, McAllen, at Casa De Palmas Hotel (101 North Main Street);
• Dec. 13, San Antonio, at Omni Colonnade (9821 Colonnade Boulevard).

New officials can visit the Education Center at www.county.org for more information.

BuyBoard Now Free To All Texas Counties

BUYBOARD, a purchasing cooperative sponsored by Texas Association of School Boards, Texas Association of Counties and Texas Municipal League, is now offering its services to all Texas counties free of charge. The $200 annual fee is no longer required.

The local government purchasing cooperative was created to increase the purchasing power of government entities and to simplify their purchasing by using a customized electronic purchasing system.

The BuyBoard's simple format allows point-and-click access to detailed product descriptions, part numbers, and images. Buyers simply select products that best fit their needs. Searching can be done by keyword, part number, vendor, or even manufacturer. The cooperative complies with all state requirements concerning requests for bids. As of Sept. 1, 155 counties were BuyBoard participants. Members purchased $39 million worth of goods through the cooperative in the past year.

BuyBoard vendors provide everything from paperclips to road graders. To become a BuyBoard vendor, a company has to respond to a request for bids, sent in the same way a county would do. Vendors are carefully screened, and their performance in satisfying county needs is constantly monitored.

To participate, a county must adopt an interlocal agreement as well as a court resolution; these documents can be downloaded from their web site, www.buyboard.com. Officials can also call the BuyBoard's toll-free number at 800-695-2919 for more information

TAC Assembling Core Legislative Team

WORRIED ABOUT MORE UNFUNDED MANDATES coming down from the state? Concerned that some legislators just don’t understand what capping counties’ revenue would mean to services? Want to help spread the word at the Capitol about the good, cost-effective programs counties provide their constituents?

TAC’s Legislative Department is putting together a database of county officials who are interested in taking an active role in communicating with lawmakers. TAC needs to know who in county government has a good relationship with their own legislators as well as who is willing to actively communicate to representatives and senators as needed.

“Advocates on behalf of counties report that when legislators are faced with issues that affect local government, they prefer to hear from fellow public officials about the potential impacts,” TAC Media Relations Director Elna Christopher said. “That’s why it’s important for county officials to maintain constant relationships with their representatives and senators so that when a crucial issue arises, officials can communicate by phone, e-mail or fax on how issues will affect local taxpayers and county services.”

To sign up to be part of TAC’s Core Legislative Team, officials may contact Christopher or the TAC Legislative Department at 800-456-5974.

Investment Training Open to Court Members, Local Investment Officers

GETTING THE MOST RETURN ON THE COUNTY’S TAX DOLLARS requires an effective, prudent investment policy. That’s why state law requires commissioners courts to appoint an official to be responsible for their county’s investments.

But state law also requires commissioners courts to develop and oversee the investment strategies that the designated investment officers must carry out. Doing that job well requires a good understanding of local government investing.

A good way to pursue that wisdom – for commissioners court members as well as investment officers – is by attending TAC’s 2006 Texas Public Funds Investment Conference Nov. 17-18 at the Renaissance Houston Hotel at 6 Greenway Plaza East in Houston.

Basic and advanced investment training is offered for all local government entities, including counties, municipalities and special districts. The basic track curriculum is designed for those who are new to the field or who are constitutionally responsible for their entity’s public funds yet unfamiliar with day-to-day investment practices. The advanced track is planned for those who perform the routine investment of their entity’s funds.

Attendees may earn continuing education credits required under the Public Funds Investment Act (PFIA) as well as certified county investment officer credits. Sessions will deal with the PFIA and what is required to satisfy it, the basics of buying and selling securities, comparing investment yields and creating effective internal controls, among other topics.

The TPFIC registration form is on page 20; enrollment is limited. Deadline to enroll is Oct. 24.

BEST IN CLASS: TAC Communications Staff Receives Top Honors

THE TAC COMMUNICATIONS STAFF took home two of the highest honors during an award ceremony held last month in Chicago by the National Association of County Information Officers (NACIO).

The purpose of ceremony was to recognize the winners of the 2006 NACIO Awards of Excellence Competition, in which nominees can enter published works in 10 major categories, including computer media, special projects, AV productions, photography, graphic design, writing, external publications, internal publications, brochures/multiple page booklets and annual reports.

For each major category, NACIO judges select one entry to win the Best in Class Award, the highest honor. Runner-up entries deemed commendable can then earn, in order, Superior, Excellence or Meritorious awards.

This year TAC staff earned two Best in Class Awards, one Superior Award and one Excellence Award. Congratulations go to:

• Assistant Art Director David Garcia for his watercolor illustration titled “Tax Games,” published in the November- December 2005 issue of County. The illustration earned the Best in Class Award for the Graphic Design category.
• Communications Staff Members Shayla Fleshman, Deann Wilson, Raul Martinez, Joe Hernandez and Elna Christopher for the production of TAC’s 2005 Member Report.

The report earned the Best in Class Award for the Annual Report category.

• Assistant Editor Maria Sprow for the feature section “Winning the Jailhouse Blues Game,” published in the September-October 2005 issue of County. The articles earned a Superior award in the Feature Writing category.
• Editor Jim Lewis for his article “Bad Day in Clay County,” published in the May-June issue of County. The article won an Excellence award in the Feature Writing category.

Since 1993, TAC has received 57 awards from NACIO.

City-County Cooperation Awards Presented at Conference

THE INNOVATIVE, cooperative efforts of counties and cities in two different communities were honored recently by the Texas Association of Counties and the Texas Municipal League.

To specifically recognize outstanding cooperation between cities and counties, the first-ever City-County Cooperation Awards were presented at the TAC Annual Conference to Weatherford and Parker County as well as to Somerville and Burleson County. The awards were initiated by TAC and TML to recognize communities where local governments unite on a project that provides important services to the public, save taxpayer dollars and can be replicated by other cities and counties.

The awards were presented by TML Immediate Past President Dock Jackson, Bastrop council member, and TAC President Marc Hamlin, Brazos County district clerk and TAC President-Elect J.D. Johnson, Tarrant County commissioner. Accepting the awards were Parker County Judge Mark Riley, Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler, Weatherford Chief of Police Jerry Blaisdell, Weatherford Assistant City Manager Jennifer Fadden, Burleson County Judge Mike Sutherland and Somerville Mayor Tommy Thompson.

“We are pleased to honor these Texas cities and counties that are working together to meet the challenges faced by local governments in the 21st Century,” Hamlin said. “These winning programs show innovative problem-solving and successful merging of resources to better protect property taxpayers while delivering excellent services.” “Local government in Texas is the best in the nation,” Jackson said. “These cooperative programs prove that when cities and counties join for higher goals, our taxpayers reap the benefits.”

There were 37 outstanding award applications, ranging from the state’s largest population centers to the smallest. Judging was conducted by a panel of former city and county officials who determined one winning program in counties with populations of 100,000 or more and one program in counties with populations of less than 100,000. The judges made special note of several important and excellent applications related to the Katrina and Rita hurricanes and wildfires. Those entries included:

• Harris County and the City of Houston for hurricane work;
• Hardin, Jefferson and Orange counties and the cities of Beaumont, Bevil Oaks, Bridge City, China, Groves, Kountze, Lumberton, Nederland, Nome, Orange, Pine Forest, Pinehurst, Port Arthur, Port Neches, Rose City, Rose Hill Acres, Silsbee, Sour Lake, Taylor Landing, Vidor and West Orange for hurricane work;
• Polk County and the cities of Corrigan, Goodrich, Livingston, Onalaska and Seven Oaks for hurricane work;
• Bell County and the City of Killeen for hurricane work;
• Callahan County and the City of Cross Plains for wildfire work.

Additional ceremonies honoring the recipients will be held at meetings of TML and the Texas Association of Regional Councils.

Burleson County, City of Somerville Create Health Resource Centers

IN BURLESON COUNTY, access to health services was no small challenge. Residents, many of whom lacked transportation, typically had to drive 30 to 50 miles to get their needs met. There was a lack of job training and substance abuse programs, both of which would have benefited many Burleson County residents.

County officials joined forces with leaders in the City of Somerville, who were also recognizing the growing need for health services in their small community. County Judge Mike Sutherland and Somerville Mayor Barbara Pederson began investigating possible solutions, coming across the Brazos Valley Health Partnership, an organization of health services providers that helps match Brazos County clients with the services they need.

To Sutherland and Pederson, it sounded like just the thing their local jurisdictions needed. Together, they worked to create the Burleson County Health Resource Center-Somerville, which provided clients information and access to a wide variety of community programs, including the case management agency Project Unity, the Brazos Valley Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse, Brazos Valley Workforce Solutions, a domestic violence safe place group called Phoebe’s Home and Mental Health Mental Retardation services, among others.

To get the new health resource center off the ground, the commissioners court created the Burleson County Health Resource Center Commission in 2005, of which Pederson was a member. Its first physical location was at the Burleson St. Joseph Hospital in Caldwell, and the commission was able to secure grant funding to purchase a new van to transport clients to their health appointments. Partnerships between the Burleson County Hospital District and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program also helped launch the center.

In April 2006, with help from the county and the Somerville Independent School District, a second resource center opened in the City of Somerville. Together, the two centers have helped more than 2,000 residents.

Parker County, City of Weatherford Combine Resources for Special Crimes Unit

WHEN THE CROSS TIMBERS MAJOR Crimes Task Force lost its grant funding in 2005, several of its members, including Parker County, no longer had sufficient resources to do any undercover investigations. However, undercover investigations are a necessary part of law enforcement, especially when it comes to stopping the spread of illegal narcotics. So rather than take the loss in funding sitting down, Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler decided to join forces again, seeking out the help of Weatherford Police Chief Jerry Blaisdell. Together, the two created one joint “special crimes” unit, supervised by a Sheriff’s department lieutenant and consisting of three police officers and two sheriff’s deputies and a drug dog.

As part of the partnership, the Parker County Sheriff and the Weatherford Police Department communicate on an almost daily basis, responding to call-outs together when necessary and helping each other financially to support their mutual goals.

“There are several operations whereby law enforcement can be more productive collectively than they can be individually,” Blaisdell said in a statement. “Obviously, criminals do not restrict their activity to jurisdictional boundaries and generally commit crimes on a regional basis. The ability to coordinate and combine our efforts is essential if we are to have any hope of effectively addressing the crime problems of this city and county. Combining resources to achieve a common goal is not only more productive, it is also more cost effective.”

The partnership has resulted in $1.7 million worth of drugs being confiscated and 370 arrests. The Special Crimes Unit has also recovered 84 rifles, shotguns and handguns, 15 stolen automobiles and $70,000 in stolen money, just to begin.

“It was not only the sharing of resources, manpower and mutual effort that generated the Unit’s success, but the professional growth, personal rapport and the professional relationships forged among our respective ranks and departments that ultimately allowed us to combat narcotics in our community to the benefit of all in Parker County,” Fowler said in a statement.

Among other headlines, the Special Crimes Unit has gained positive publicity for a raid on a troublesome mobile home park that resulted in 17 arrests, for an effort to round up more than 60 residents with felony warrants out for their arrests, and for breaking up a major identity theft ring that had possessed more than 30 stolen or fake credit cards, 200 stolen or fake checks, 20 birth certificates and social security cards, 200 account numbers and 30 driver’s licenses, and other items that could be used to commit fraud. The unit has also been praised for several methamphetamine-related arrests.

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