AAC names 2014 scholarship recipients

Their studies include communications, finance, occupational therapy

The Association of Arkansas Counties recently announced its 2014 AAC Scholarship Trust recipients. AAC established the trust in 1985 to provide college financial assistance to the children, stepchildren and grandchildren of Arkansas county and district officials and employees. AAC has since awarded more than $170,000 in scholarships.

Along with AAC, the following county associations contribute to the scholarship trust annually: The County Judges Association of Arkansas, the Arkansas County Clerks Association, the Arkansas Circuit Clerks Association, the County Collectors Association of Arkansas, the Arkansas County Treasurers Association, the Assessors Association of Arkansas, the Arkansas Association of Quorum Courts and the Arkansas Sheriffs’ Association.

• Jennifer Poole – Jennifer is a 2014 graduate of Conway High School and the daughter of Faulkner County Deputy Assessor Jamie Poole. Jennifer plans to attend John Brown University in Siloam Springs while pursuing a degree in photography.

• Ben Worley – Ben is a 2014 graduate of Harmony Grove High School and the grandson of retired Circuit Clerk Catherine Richardson of Bradley County. Ben will attend Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia to obtain a degree in business finance.

• Damian “Jerome” Berry – Damian is a 2014 graduate of Bearden High School and the grandson of Dallas County Collector Brenda Wilson Williams Black. Damian plans to attend the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where he plans to pursue a master’s degree in forensics.

• Morgan Miller – Morgan recently graduated from Cave City High School and is the daughter of Independence County Road employee Marty Miller. Morgan will be attending Lyon College in Batesville in the fall.

• Alivia Rouse – Alivia is a 2014 graduate of Harrisburg High School and the daughter of Poinsett County Deputy Clerk Teresa Rouse. She plans to attend Arkansas State University in Jonesboro to pursue a degree in graphic design.

• Patrick Ameling – Patrick, a 2012 graduate of Nettleton High School, is the son of Lt. Chris Ameling of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department. Patrick is working toward a degree in physical therapy from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway.

• Kaitlyn Dahlke (Photo Unavailable) – Kaitlyn is a 2014 graduate of Ouachita High School and the granddaughter of Hot Spring County Treasurer

Ben Worley Morgan Miller Patrick Ameling

Jennifer Poole Damian “Jerome” Berry Alivia Rouse Matthew Crow

Mary Cansler. Kaitlyn will attend the University of Central Arkansas in Conway to pursue a degree in occupational therapy.

• Matthew Crow – Matthew is a 2014 graduate of Ashdown High School and the grandson of Little River County Circuit Clerk Bobbie Green. Matthew will attend Southern Arkansas University Tech in Camden to pursue a degree in aviation maintenance.

• Jack Thomas – Jack is a 2014 graduate of Central Arkansas Christian Schools and the grandson of Craighead County Assessor Eddie Thomas. Jack will attend Harding University in Searcy for a degree in business management. He is the recipient of the Matt Morris Scholarship. The scholarship was established following the death in 1999 of Matt Morris. Matt was the son of Searcy Mayor David Morris, who is a former AAC employee. Matt was an Arkansas Razorback baseball recruit. The scholarship is funded by donations made in Matt’s name and by the County Judges Association. It is awarded each year to an applicant who reminds the scholarship committee of Matt, either through their sports involvement or by helping others.

• Katherine Kemp – Katherine is a 2014 graduate of Conway High School and the granddaughter of deceased Independence County Justice of the Peace James Kemp. She will attend Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, where she will pursue a degree in mass communications. Katherine is the recipient of the Randy Kemp Memorial Scholarship.

Katherine is the great-niece of the scholarship’s namesake, Randy Kemp. Randy served as AAC communications director from July 2008 until his death in August 2011. The scholarship is funded exclusively by the annual AAC golf tournament and awarded each year to an applicant who plans to study journalism or mass communications.

Jack Thomas Katherine Kemp

AAC is proud to announce an interactive game designed for 6-12th graders and teachers that can be accessed on our Web site at www.arcounties. Think you can run your own County?

Look for the banner below on our Web site to play. If you earn re-election, be sure to share your experiences with us on Facebook. Players will learn about the various services provided by county departments and make tough budget decisions, handle resident complaints and concerns and face re-election.

Counties Work was created by iCivics, Inc. and the National Association of Counties (NACo).

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www.arcounties.org

Returning to the fold

Returning to the fold

Greer brings hands-on experience with county government to his role as legal counsel with the association

Story and Photography by Christy L. Smith AAC Communications Coordinator

The Association of Arkansas Counties welcomed General Counsel Jonathan Greer back into its fold on June 1. He joins the three attorneys already on staff — Mark Whitmore, Brandy McAllister and Lindsey Bailey.

Greer is the staff contact for the Arkansas Circuit Clerks Association, the Arkansas County Tax Collectors Association, the Arkansas County Assessors’ Association and the Arkansas Association of Quorum Courts.

AAC Executive Director Chris Villines said Greer’s knowledge of Arkansas law, his ability to communicate effectively to stakeholders, and his leadership skills make him an asset to the association.

“Jonathan’s previous experience at AAC as general counsel and his time as a county attorney will prove to be extremely beneficial to our association and our stakeholders. We’re thrilled to have him on the team,” said AAC Executive Director Chris Villines. “His familiarity with county government, current trends and challenges make him a great fit for our association as we continue to grow and expand our services for county elected officials across the state of Arkansas.”

Greer served as general legal counsel for AAC from 2002 to 2007. And one of the biggest successes during that fiveyear tenure was getting state lawmakers to pass a recording fee increase for the Circuit Clerks Association, he said.

At the time, the fees paid for recording instruments such as mortgages and deeds in the circuit clerk’s office were $8 and $3.

“We did a study of the states that bordered Arkansas and compared the average cost to record instruments in their states,” Greer explained. “We were at or near the bottom.”

Increasing the fees to $15 and $5, respectively, put Arkansas more in line with neighboring states, Greer said. But it “was a tremendous lobbying effort,” to convince legislators to support the increases, he said.

“[Circuit clerks] weren’t generating enough revenue to meet the expenses of their office. [The increase] put them on more sound footing, to meet the expenses and to keep up with the automation requirements of their offices,” Greer said.

Greer and his wife, Karen, were born and raised in Star City

(Lincoln County). His father worked for the planning district in Pine Bluff, and his mother was a bookkeeper at his grandfather’s oil company. His grandmother worked in the circuit clerk’s office. Greer, who grew up wanting to be a lawyer, graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 1994 with a bachelor of science in public administration. He attended classes at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law at night to earn his juris doctor. Before passing the bar and joining the AAC family in 2002, Greer worked for two years as a grants administrator at the Southeast Arkansas Economic Development District (SEAEDD). He left AAC in 2007 to serve as Saline County attorney, a position in which he advised county elected officials, the “His familiarity with county government, current trends and challenges quorum court, the Saline County planning board, the airport commission and the rural fire departments. “Working for Saline make him a great fit for our association as we conCounty was a great experience,” Greer said. “The elected officials and employtinue to grow and expand our services for county ees were extremely dedicated elected officials across the state of Arkansas.” Chris Villines to serving the public.” Villines, who was Saline County collector for 11 years and worked with Greer at the courthouse level, said Executive Director, Association of Arkansas Counties he knew Greer would be an “asset to us here at the AAC” when the legal counsel role became available. “I think it’s a grand slam for AAC to be able to pick up an attorney of his caliber,” Villines said. And Greer has hit the ground running, attending summer association meetings and preparing for the upcoming legislative session. He said one of his largest tasks between now and January will be to research and draft bills and find sponsors for each one. But he’s not daunted by the large task at hand. “I look forward to being able to lobby on behalf of improved county government,” Greer said. “I think that working at the courthouse gave me a better sense of what county officials face on a day-to-day basis, and I hope that experience I gained can be useful here at AAC.” Greer and his wife live in Benton with their 3-year-old son, Charlie Gage. He enjoys golf and hunting, but horse racing is a passion. “I love going to horse races at Oaklawn during racing season. This year it occurs during the legislative session, so I might have to skip it,” he said, smiling.

Left: Little River County native Jeff Sikes served as AAC’s legislative director for seven years. Right: Sikes was honored for his service to AAC at a July 18 open house. He is pictured along with retired AAC Governmental Affairs Director Wes Fowler and AAC Executive Director Chris Villines.

Sikes retires from legislative director post

He earned the respect of elected officials with his knowledge of the issues

By Christy L. Smith AAC Communications Coordinator

The Association of Arkansas Counties honored retiring Legislative Director Jeff Sikes at a July 18 open house that was attended by approximately 150 county and state officials.

“Jeff has been a part of the AAC family for many years, and we will miss his presence and influence on our team,” said Chris Villines, AAC executive director. “He has been an advocate for county officials and has helped AAC improve county government through countless pieces of legislation, educational projects and presentations and legislative advocacy. We wish him the very best in his next journey.”

Sikes began working for AAC in 1990 as an administrative assistant and later transitioned into the role of staff attorney. He worked for AAC for nine years, then left to become a private lawyer. While in private practice, Sikes continued to work with AAC as a contract lobbyist. But, he said in a 2008 interview, his private-sector experience provided him an up-close and real-world view of the state’s court system, which is so integral to county government functions.

“It brought a lot of that stuff in from the abstract,” he said. “There’s a world of difference in how it’s done in the law and how it’s done in the real world.”

In July 2007 Sikes returned to work for AAC as its legislative director and served as the staff contact for the Arkansas County Clerks’ Association, the Arkansas Circuit Clerks’ Association and the Arkansas County Treasurers’ Association. He also was a valuable advisor to AAC’s legislative committee, said Debbie Wise, Randolph County circuit clerk and chairman of the legislative committee.

“Jeff Sikes taught me most everything I know about the legislative process. I would go with him and follow him around the Capitol. Jeff was very respected. I could tell that they trusted him,” she said. “He encouraged me. I wouldn’t know what I know today without him. He had a great deal of knowledge, and he was very well respected and loved by the people who were up there on that hill.” Sikes is a lifelong native Arkansan who hails from Little River County. The grandson of former Little River County Judge Ray Sikes, he has been in and around Arkansas county government most of his life. In fact, Judge Sikes was one of the founding members of AAC, along with former political legends Marion Crank, Shug Banks and Jim Pledger.

Jeanne Hunt, executive assistant to AAC’s director, said she and Jeff struck an easy friendship when he started working at AAC. She said his transition into county advocacy was seamless.

“He has always had the best ‘homespun’ stories from back in Little River County, and he has certainly entertained us many a lunch hour,” she said. “If someone needed a helping hand, Jeff was always the first to offer. After coming to AAC, Jeff quickly became the ‘go-to’ person for questions from our officials.”

Though Sikes and his wife, Linda, call Little Rock home, they have purchased an RV and plan to spend their retirement traveling.