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News you can use |
Survey: Counties Testing Solar Power OptionsCounties across the nation have begun using the sun to help power their facilities and meet their energy needs, according to the National Association of Counties Green Programs Survey of elected officials. About 14 percent of survey respondents said their county was utilizing some sort of alternative energy resource; 40 percent of those respondents said solar power was their alternative resource of choice.
Solar heating is one of the most efficient uses of solar power, since it requires almost no energy transformation. Other counties using solar water and building heating systems include Washtenaw County, Mich., which uses a solar water heater for its youth center, which provides shelter, showers and laundry centers for approximately 30 people at a time. Several counties are also using solar lighting, both indoors and outdoors. According to the NACo survey, King County, Wash., officials reported that they have installed 102 solar-powered light emitting diode systems in their bus shelters, and that it costs the county less to install the lights than it does to run electrical wires to the shelters, and there is the added bonus of not having a monthly electricity bill. Another growing use of solar energy is photovoltaic (PV) systems, which use panels to convert solar energy into electricity. Counties Counties across the nation have begun using the sun to help power their facilities and meet their energy needs, according to the National Association of Counties Green Programs Survey of elected officials. About 14 percent of survey respondents said their county was utilizing some sort of alternative energy resource; 40 percent of those respondents said solar power was their alternative resource of choice. At least one of those counties is in Texas: Bexar County installed a solar water heater in its Adult Detention Annex. The 30,000 gallon heater is capable of heating 500,000 gallons of water each month and cost the county $495,000. County officials estimate that the project will pay for itself within five years, since operating costs are so low — just $2,600 a year, compared to previous water heating costs of more than $78,000 a year. Solar heating is one of the most efficient uses of solar power, since it requires almost no energy transformation. Other counties using solar water and building heating systems include Washtenaw County, Mich., which uses a solar water heater for its youth center, which provides shelter, showers and laundry centers for approximately 30 people at a time. Several counties are also using solar lighting, both indoors and outdoors. According to the NACo survey, King County, Wash., officials reported that they have installed 102 solar-powered light emitting diode systems in their bus shelters, and that it costs the county less to install the lights than it does to run electrical wires to the shelters, and there is the added bonus of not having a monthly electricity bill. Another growing use of solar energy is photovoltaic (PV) systems, which use panels to convert solar energy into electricity. Counties that have invested resources into PV systems include Washtenaw County, Mich.; Dane County, Wisc.; Delaware County, Penn.; Butte County, Calif.; Salt Lake County, Utah; Multnomah County, Ore.; and Cook County, Illinios. Most PV projects are environmentally and educationally motivated, and many counties utilizing solar power to conduct electricity are doing so with the help of grant funding. For instance, the Washtenaw County commissioners court approved the installation of a 10 kilowatt photovoltaic system (panels that produce electricity) in one county facility. The photovoltaic system, purchased with a $150,000 grant that included money for equipment, installation, mounting, promotional materials and design services, generates enough power for 3 to 5 percent of the facility’s energy needs, which saves the county about $1,000 to $1,500 a year, according to estimates. NACo to host Energy Forum; Begin Plans for County Government Week The National Association of Counties recently announced a change to its popular National County Government Week plans: from now on, the events will be held the first full week in May. The change is effective immediately. National County Government Week is an annual celebration of county government in which local officials hold events to raise public awareness about the roles and responsibilities of county government. Each year, NACo announces a new theme for the event, though counties can choose not to plan their events according to the theme. In addition, TAC hosts several events at the Capitol during the week each year. NACo will announce the May 2009 theme next month. Additionally, NACo is hosting its County Forum on Energy Independence, to be held Dec. 10-11 in Baltimore, Maryland. County officials and staff members interested in understanding the county role in moving the nation toward an energy independent future are welcome to register online at www.greencounties. org/energyindependence. The registration deadline is Nov. 21. Forum attendees will spend time developing goals, policies and plans for local energy strategies; discussing current strategies, challenges and emerging opportunities with an eye toward economic development and job creation; and learning about the latest resources, tools and best practices available for meeting energy goals. For counties that cannot attend the
forum, NACo has a variety of resources
already available online at www.
greencounties.org. Counties do not have
to be members of NACo to view most
of the resources, which include audio
presentations of archived webinars,
newsletters and the Electronic Green
Government Network.
County Software Project Gets a Go-Ahead to Develop StandardsAn effort to get control of county software costs moved a step closer to reality in October when TAC’s County Information Resources Agency (CIRA) agreed to assist counties with beginning the process of standardizing the way counties communicate information among departments, agencies and other counties within the criminal justice system. The county officials and information technology department heads on the CIRA board voted to authorize the staff to assist participating counties in developing a “best practices business process model and data standards model” to create a uniform, consistent approach to data among the 50 counties that have agreed to participate. The long-term goal is to establish an integrated county-owned software system for both criminal justice and financial systems. CIRA Director Gayle Latham stressed that the board’s current action is to create a “framework” rather than the actual software program. “It’s a roadmap for developing a software solution,” Latham said. “It’s a first step in a long term approach to solving the complex problem of justice management software.” Latham said the initial action has several advantages for counties:
The 50 counties that agreed to participate in the initial project were asked to commit a tenth of one percent (.001) of their general fund revenue to provide the needed funding to develop the framework effort. This is a one-time fee with all funds needed as soon as an inter-local agreement is adopted next spring. Other counties that wish to support the project may participate by obtaining commissioners court approval of the software project resolution, available at http://www.cira.state.tx.us. Applications for Best Practices Nominations Available Now; Due April 15County officials who want to get a headstart nominating programs for the 2009 Best Practices Awards have several resources already available to them, including a detailed nomination form inserted in this edition of County. In addition, the TAC Leadership Foundation Web site, www.county.org/cms/leader/practices, includes a nomination form tutorial, complete with video and audio instructions and answers to frequently asked questions. The goal of the Best Practices Program is to encourage innovation and efficiency in county government, and promote those programs across the state. Programs and initiatives nominated for a Best Practices Award should be county- driven, fully operational, replicable in other counties, show measurable results and have been established within 36 months of the application deadline. The awards are divided into categories including public safety and corrections, health and human services, technology, financial and general management, and community improvement. TAC Pool to Provide New Wellness ToolsImproving health and enhancing lifestyles are among the goals of Healthy County, the new wellness initiative introduced by the Texas Association of Counties Health and Employee Benefits Pool. The Pool hopes the initiative will help counties control health care costs so it can continue offering affordable, quality benefits. The vision for the wellness program is to optimize the health of county employees through a partnership between the Pool, member counties and county employees. Working together, Healthy County will strive to:
“More than 70 percent of health care costs are attributable to preventable and lifestyle-related conditions,” said Jennifer Hall, deputy director of Program Administration for Texas Association of Counties. “A good wellness program can effectively reduce health-risk factors for employees, improve their health and add years of quality health to their lives. Employers also benefit because a healthy worker is more productive, less likely to be injured at work and will spend less on health care.” The Pool’s member counties will be asked to designate a wellness coordinator and a wellness sponsor, who will attend a conference in San Antonio February 5-6, 2009. The Pool will cover transportation and hotel expenses. The two-day training will prepare wellness coordinators for their roles and will teach best practices for worksite wellness programs. In addition to programs and benefits offered by the Pool itself, Healthy County will bring together a variety of resources from the Pool’s vendors. Blue Cross Blue Shield will provide a 24-hour nurse line, disease-management programs for members with chronic illnesses, an online personal health manager, telephone coaching, and TAC Pool to Provide New Wellness Tools discounts on Jenny Craig, massage therapy and alternative medicine. In the past, the Pool provided members with access to Matria’s 24-hour nurse line, but beginning Jan. 1, members will use Blue Cross Blue Shield’s nurse line at (866) 412-8795. The Pool also contracted with Planned Action Toward Health (PATH) to provide a 10-week health-action program with an American Revolution theme inspiring members to get active and stay fit. To encourage participation, the Pool is offering its employees incentives for joining Healthy County, including $25 in prizes for completing the PATH program and $25 for completing a health risk assessment. Member counties will also receive employer-matching funds for each employee who completes the PATH program and/or a health risk assessment. The matching funds can be used for future wellness initiatives, such as on-site flu shots. To help chronically ill members stick with their treatment plan, the Pool will reduce co-pays on maintenance medications for diabetes, asthma, high cholesterol and high blood pressure when members enroll in disease management programs. “Evidence shows that members who follow their doctor’s treatment plan and take to their medication regularly can control their symptoms, stay out of the emergency room or doctor’s office, be more productive at work and spend more quality time doing the things they enjoy with family and friends,” Hall said. “Our claims data shows that our adherence rate for drug utilization averages around 30 percent when it should be in the 80s,” said Julie Sullivan, the Pool’s wellness program coordinator. “The golden standard is 80 percent based on best practices of the industry. To get there, we’re offering co-pay reductions of 50 percent as long as they are actively enrolled in a disease management program.” To further support members who are making positive lifestyle changes, in March the Pool added coverage for common tobacco-cessation medications for members using the Caremark card. More than 500 members have utilized the smoking-cessation medication benefit. Combined, the wellness features offered by the Pool and TAC vendors create an inviting package, but the components have never been offered to member counties together as a cohesive plan until now. “The ideas were shaped by researching what types of programs and practices really work, especially with our members,” Hall said. “We’ve been through many pilot projects here at TAC, but it was really time to bring our experiences together into a comprehensive program that makes sense. Once we knew what our vision was, then we could find the best tools and resources to achieve our goals.” The wellness initiative also marks the Pool’s first coordinated effort to communicate directly with employees who work for member counties. Pool members will begin receiving wellness information through the mail at their home addresses this month. The pool is asking member counties to designate a wellness coordinator by Dec. 1. Healthy County launches January 1, 2009, with local programs beginning in March. TAC Pilots One-Stop eNewsletter for National, Legislative NewsLooking for a way to consolidate emails while still getting local county officials all the information they need, TAC has pioneered a monthly electronic newsletter that will include important updates for county officials. The TACNews email will include announcements regarding upcoming legislative hearings, editorial viewpoints about issues affecting counties, newspaper clippings from around the state, reminders of upcoming educational opportunities, attorney general opinions, alerts and news releases from the National Association of Counties, legal calendar notices, news regarding TAC’s insurance pools, and other information as needed. The electronic newsletter will also be available online at http://newsletter.county.org. The Web site will include archived editions. Information included in TACNews will still be included
in other publications, such as this magazine and County Issues, but the electronic newsletter will cut down on the number of emails being sent to TAC members each month and give members another option for how they receive, save and track important communications
from TAC. TCDRS: Your Money Is SecureCounty employees concerned about the recent economic news and financial market turmoil have no reason to fear about the security of their retirement accounts, according to statements released by the Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS). According to TCDRS, the retirement system is designed to keep benefits secure, even in trying times. The agency released several points to keep in mind:
Conference Offers Valuable Administrative TrainingThe annual TAC County Court Assistants Training Conference provides county staff working with judges the opportunity to learn the administrative duties of county judges. Staff members who work with county judges are invited to attend this training designed to inform them of the operational, judicial and administrative role of the judge’s office. The conference will take place in Austin at the Radisson Hotel from Feb. 18-20, 2009, and it offers 1.4 hours of International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) continuing education. Conference registration is $100 until Jan. 29 and $125 after Jan. 29. For more information or to register, visit the Education Center at www.county.org. Register Now for the 2009 Technology ConferenceThe 2009 Courts and Local Government Technology Conference is right around the corner. Officials, department heads and county information technology staff will benefit from the conference’s agenda, which focuses on technological changes for the new economic reality. The conference will feature speakers and presenters from across the country. Jon Fullinwider, the former chief information officer for Los Angeles County, will discuss why and how public services will be dependent on the effective application of technology. Peter Vogel, with the Texas Supreme Court Judicial Committee on Information Technology, will discuss e-discovery and its effect on evidentiary proceedings. Reid W. Wittliff, an Austin lawyer specializing in digital discovery for evidentiary court admission, will explain the tools, techniques and procedures used in the increasingly important field of digital forensics. Other speakers will address a variety of topics, including how to keep email communications secure. For more information about the conference, please see Page 36. Online registration is available via the TAC Education Center Web site at www.county.org. The registration fee is $150 prior to Jan. 1 and $175 after Jan. 1. The reservation deadline for rooms at the Crowne Plaza Hotel is Jan. 12. Indigent Defense Task Force Releases Diversionary Programs Survey Asked to help research the availability and usage of substance abuse and mental health diversionary programs during the legislative interim, the Task Force on Indigent Defense, Office of Court Administration and the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition recently released the results of a statewide survey on the subject. The survey sought to answer two questions:
Results from the survey will benefit the House Appropriations and House Corrections committees, which House Speaker Tom Craddick charged with interim studies relating to the availability of substance abuse treatment services for individuals under community supervision and policy recommendations to address the increasing number of individuals suffering from mental health problems in the criminal justice system. In all, 244 judges responded to the survey. Responses showed that 27 percent of those judges already run a drug court, 17.6 percent run a mental health court, 14.9 percent run a DWI court and 10.8 percent run a re-entry court. Responses also showed that rural or midsized jurisdictions are more likely to suffer from a lack of both mental health and substance abuse resources. Across the board, lack of funding was the top obstacle cited when considering alternative sentencing programs. Other significant findings included:
Specialized Training Set for New Judges and Commissioners In addition to the regional workshops offered to all newly elected officials in December, TAC is co-sponsoring an in-depth seminar for newly elected county judges and county commissioners Jan. 13-16 in Austin. The LBJ School of Public Affairs is presenting this four-day seminar to help new county judges and commissioners understand their role in county government. The seminar will address county finance, budgeting, legal services and the statutory requirements of the office. Registration is $350. The seminar will be held at the AT&T Executive Education Conference Center at the University of Texas at Austin. For more information or to register, contact the LBJ School of Public Affairs Office of Conferences and Training at (512) 471-0820. |
At least one of those counties is in Texas: Bexar County
installed a solar water heater in its Adult Detention Annex.
The 30,000 gallon heater is capable of heating 500,000 gallons
of water each month and cost the county $495,000. County
officials estimate that the project will pay for itself within
five years, since operating costs are so low — just $2,600 a
year, compared to previous water heating costs of more than
$78,000 a year.