AAC
F a m i l y F r i e n d s
County Lines Magazine
County Lines is the official publication of the Association of Arkansas Counties. It is published quarterly. For advertising inquiries, subscriptions or other information relating to the magazine, please contact Christy L. Smith or Scott Perkins at 501.372.7550. Executive Director / Publisher Chris Villines Communications Director/ Managing Editor Scott Perkins Communications coordinator/ Editor Christy L. Smith
AAC Executive Board: Mike Jacobs – President Roger Haney – Vice President Judy Beth Hutcherson – Secretary-Treasurer Sherry Bell Debra Buckner Sue Liles Bear Chaney Rhonda Wharton Jimmy Hart John Montgomery Patrick Moore Faron Ledbetter Joe Gillenwater David Thompson Bill Hollenbeck Will Jones Debbie Wise National Association of Counties (NACo) Board Affiliations Alvin Black: Public Lands Steering Committee. He is the Montgomery County Judge.
Roger Haney: Board of Directors. He is the Washington County Treasurer and is also on the Telecommunications & Technology Steering Committee.
Ted Harden: Finance & Intergovernmental Affairs Steering Committee. He serves on the Jefferson County Quorum Court.
Haze Hudson: Transportation Steering Committee. He serves on the Miller County Quorum Court.
David Hudson: Vice Chair of NACo’s Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee. He is the Sebastian County Judge and member of the Rural Action Caucus Steering Committee.
Mike Jacobs: NACo Board of Directors, the Membership Committee and the Agricultural & Rural Affairs Steering Committee. He is the Johnson County Judge.
COUNTY LINES, spring 2014
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AAC remains strong amid much change
Director’s Desk
A
s we move toward the summer of 2014, it Chris Villines dawns on me this is an opportune time for AAC our organization to reflect on all that has Executive Director transpired since our beginning. The Association of Arkansas Counties has undergone tremendous change in facilities, personnel and leadership through the last 46 years, and as we move into our new wing, this is a season to put markers down in remembrance of where we have been. These markers also serve as a compass for where we are going. We are far from alone in our rapid growth. I was recently reminded of this when we hosted a group of 15 southern states’ county associations at a three-day conference in Little Rock. All county associations have seen tremendous change as they respond to the needs of their county constituents. The increasing pressure on a policy front, the stagnant or declining revenue for member counties and the explosive growth in increasingly litigious sectors like risk management and workers’ compensation programs have demanded that each of these associations add staff, buildings and personnel to meet demands. You will read an excellent synopsis of the AAC history in this issue beginning on page 20 and authored under the pen of Eddie Jones. The discussion of our own growth since 1968 is a testament to leaders during those years who have built a strong, yet flexible organization willing to adapt to changing times. I am reminded of a Japanese proverb that says, “The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists.” This is very descriptive of the DNA through the years at the AAC, and in Arkansas county government in general. The AAC is strong because we react well to the changes around us. Moving pieces are a constant, not unique, aspect of our environment — and the legislative session evidences this more than anything. Most of the time these changes come from the outside, but sometimes the changes come from within, and I’d like to take some space here to visit about a couple of changes we are dealing with in the present, and the evolution of our organization to deal with these transitions. As many of you are already aware, we will be losing two valuable team members in the next two months. Jeff Sikes, our legislative director, joined the AAC for two different stints through the years and has decided to pursue other opportunities. He has been instrumental in our federal legislative work and the development of our legislative packages and agendas. Jeff will leave us at the end of July. The other is Wes Fowler, our government relations director, who had agreed to come on board for a few years when David Morris left to become mayor of Searcy. Wes has been a valuable lobbyist and one of our key liaisons with member associations. A former judge and county clerk, Wes will be leaving us for retirement at the end of June. Both of these losses will leave a void at the association, and with me personally. Many of you have built up long-term friendships with them as well, and I encourage all of you to stay in touch with Jeff and Wes. Both are active on social media and I’m sure they don’t plan on throwing away their cell phones! With the leadership of our strong board of directors, we will be shuffling and re-hiring
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