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CSI: Texas – County Solutions to InjuriesWhat sent the squad car into the bushes? Was it the fact that the driver didn’t have time to stop for his usual morning coffee? Was it because he was catching a cold? Was it the weather – gray and dismal, with drizzle just barely too light for the wipers to help? Or was it the worn tires that couldn’t be replaced in this year’s budget? TAC’s safety specialists report that it is very likely the car ended up in the bushes for many different reasons – seldom does an accident occur because of a single incident. That’s the message TAC’s Safety Specialists are presenting at regional workshops this fall to train county officials and law enforcement personnel in “CSI: Texas – County Solutions to Injuries.” With a focus on injury prevention in law enforcement, the regional seminars will explain the “Root Cause Analysis” method of investigating an injury accident, from a simple slip that causes a sprained ankle to a major pile-up with fatalities, and everything in between. The “Job Hazard Analysis” format goes through the tasks of an employee’s job step by step and analyzes the dangers and possible solutions at each step. Although designed for Law Enforcement personnel, the workshops are open to any county official or employee at no charge. The one-day workshops will be held in September at several locations across the state: • Tuesday, Sept. 11 – Plainview and Huntsville
For more information about the CSI: Texas workshops, contact TAC’s Safety Specialists at 800-456-5974. Speakers Scheduled for Annual ConferenceNationally-known speakers will talk about enhancing personal performance and self improvement at TAC’s Annual Conference at the Hilton Hotel Downtown in Austin Aug. 15-17. Dr. Rick Rigsby will open the conference with a talk that challenges the listener to be a peak performer by making an impact, not merely an impression. For more than a decade, Rigsby was on the faculty of the Texas A&M School of Communications, twice winning the Distinguished Teacher award. Rigsby’s motivational presentation. His latest book is Lessons from a Third Grade Dropout. Addressing the closing general session will be radio personality and author Bryan Dodge, who will talk about self improvement and personal growth. Co-author of the book Becoming the Obvious Choice, Dodge is the host of the “Build a Better you” radio show on Dallas/Fort Worth’s WBAP 820 AM. In addition, the 2007 Annual Conference Golf Tournament will be held Aug. 14 at the Riverside Golf Course in Austin. Lunch and golf cart are included in the $40 fee, which will be collected at the course. Lunch will be served at noon, followed by a 1 p.m. shotgun start. Players can sign up for the tournament by calling Haley Haygood at 800-456-5974 or emailing haleyh@county.org. The three day event will also feature an array of programs highlighting the effect of bills recently approved by the Legislature. For more information, visit the Education Center tab at www.county.org or call 800-456-5974. Board Hires Karen Ann Norris As New TAC Executive Director
At a special called meeting at TAC offices in Austin, the TAC Board of Directors discussed the recommendations of a board search committee and then voted to offer the position to Norris, who has served the past 17 years as assistant executive director under the late Sam Seale. Norris has acted as interim executive director since Seale passed away Feb. 7. Brazos County District Clerk Marc Hamlin, president of the Association, said Norris’ long experience with the organization affected the board’s decision. “Not only TAC but Texas counties are fortunate to be able to call upon her years of experience with the organization and upon the leadership ability she has demonstrated through the years,” Hamlin said. He said that over the last three months the search committee conducted a series of extensive interviews with several applicants for the position before bringing their findings to the board. After joining the TAC staff in 1984, Norris was named assistant executive director in 1990 and later was given the additional responsibility of leading a newly formed Communications/Education Department. In those roles, she has been intimately involved in the organization’s rapid development from an organization of six employees in 1984 to 130 employees today. Norris is currently a member of the Advisory Committee of the Texas Leadership Institute, the Board of Directors for the Texas Rural Leadership Development Program and the Advisory Council of the University of Texas Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution. Her family includes three daughters, a son, two grandsons and a granddaughter. Census Bureau Needs Help From Counties for 2010 CountAlthough the 2010 Census is still three years away, the U.S. Census Bureau has begun mailing informational booklets to local governments about an initiative, called the Local Update of Census Address (LUCA) program, for them to provide updated addresses for their communities. This joint and voluntary program between the Census Bureau and local government is the official start of the 2010 Census, which depends on a complete and accurate address list. In partnership with the Census Bureau, local governments will use their area knowledge to improve the list of addresses for housing units and group quarters, including growth from new construction or annexation. After registering for LUCA between July 2007 and January 2008, participating gov-Census Bureau Needs Help From Counties for 2010 Count ernments will receive review materials and will have 120 days to review and improve the address list. The information contained in the address list is confidential by law, and those governments that choose to participate in the LUCA program will be provided an option to review the Census Bureau’s address list. After LUCA but prior to the 2010 Census questionnaire delivery, address listers will perform a field canvass across the country to make sure the latest address list is correct. Using GPS mapping on handheld computers, workers will be able to update information electronically while out in the field. For more information, visit the 2010 Census LUCA Program at www.census.gov/geo/www/luca2010/luca.html. NACo Blog Focuses on White House CandidatesInterested in finding a county spin to the united States presidential campaigns? Just go online, and look no further than the Website nacoblog.blogspot.com. It’s a regularly updated compilation of articles and thoughts – known as a ‘blog’ – focused entirely on the 2008 race for the White House, started by the national Association of Counties as part of its 2008 Presidential Election Project. “We understand with the length of the presidential campaign and the demands of everyday life, it is hard to keep up-to-date on everything,” said NACo President Colleen Landkamer. “That’s why we established the blog – it’s a place where county officials can comment and tell their stories as well as catch up on what the candidates are saying about county issues.” The blog features links to interesting news articles, websites and videos, as well as a list of endorsements for different presidential candidates by various county officials. According to NACo’s compilation of presidential endorsements, Rudy Giuliani and John McCain had racked up the most NACo Blog Focuses on White House Candidates support from county officials across the country, with 46 endorsements going to Giuliani and 60 going to McCain as of June 13. Giuliani’s endorsements are largely from the new Jersey area, whereas McCain’s are mostly from South Carolina, new Hampshire, Michigan, Florida, Alabama, Arizona and California. County officials and other readers can leave comments on blog entries if they wish. officials wanting to post their own entries on the 2008 election can contact Kim Rogers at krogers@naco.org. The 2008 Presidential Election Project is an initiative to reach out to the united States presidential candidates and familiarize them with important county issues. “The goal of the project, which is a nonpartisan effort, is for all of the candidates to hear the same message from county offi cials on key issues. Hearing the same message from county offi cials will encourage the candidates to focus on these issues as part of their campaign,” states the nACo Website, www.naco.org. Besides the blog, the initiative includes a list of upcoming campaign events for major candidates so that officials may know when candidates will be in the area, as well as a list of county-related questions officials can ask candidates. Announcing BuyBoard 2007 Vendor DirectoryAn updated directory of vendors whose products may be purchased through the BuyBoard purchasing co-op is now available. The BuyBoard Vendor Directory contains the names and addresses of the more than 600 vendors with which BuyBoard has secured contracts, spanning categories from audio-visual equipment to motor graders and office supplies. Each of the vendors has gone through the bidding process mandated by state purchasing laws, relieving the county of having to repeat the process. The BuyBoard is a purchasing cooperative formed through an agreement with TAC, the Texas Municipal League and the Texas Association of School Boards. Through their efforts, counties have a low-cost, time-saving alternative for purchasing goods and services. To receive an updated Vendor Directory or to learn more about the BuyBoard, call Steve Fisher at 800-695-2919. Affiliate Associations Elect New PresidentsThe following associations installed their new presidents at their annual meetings during the first half of 2007: • West Texas County Judges & Commissioners:
Roberts County Judge Vernon H. Cook
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Karen Ann Norris was selected June 12 to be the new executive director of the Texas Association
of Counties.