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From the Director’s Desk
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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:
Judy Beth Hutcherson – President Debbie Wise – Vice President Bear Chaney – Secretary-Treasurer Sherry Bell Debra Buckner Cindy Walker Brandon Ellison Andrea Billingsley Jimmy Hart John Montgomery Patrick Moore Rhonda Cole Joe Gillenwater David Thompson Bill Hollenbeck Will Jones Debbie Cross
National Association of Counties (NACo) Board Affiliations
Ted Harden: Finance & Intergovernmental Affairs
Steering Committee. He serves on the Jefferson
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.
AAC: Being resilient in the face of change
Director’s Desk
Many times this magazine covers Chris Villines change in county government. Sometimes these changes impact AAC Executive Director us very little at the Association, but there are times like these when the changes loom much larger. This is one of those latter times. Being an officer on the AAC Board of Directors is an honorable position. It means that you have ascended as a leader and both your peers and also a statewide network recognize your ability.
It is no surprise that Judy Beth Hutcherson, the Clark County Treasurer and new president of the Association of Arkansas Counties, has arrived at this point. The same can be said for our newly elected Vice President Debbie Wise, Randolph County Circuit Clerk. And let’s not forget that Bear Chaney, former Benton County Assessor, was elected as secretary/treasurer to our board a couple weeks before he accepted the Assessment Coordination Department director position. These individuals are leaders and advocates for great county government. Congratulations to a deserving group.
They are to be commended for being elected locally, within their associations, and now on a statewide platform to help lead us forward. They will do a tremendous job representing all of you in county government as we press on.
But as Madame President Hutcherson said, “The shoes to be filled are enormous.”
I could fill volumes of magazines with the experiences Mike Jacobs, former AAC president and Johnson County Judge, and Roger Haney, former Washington County Treasurer and AAC vice president, have had in county government, and even more in their roles as committee members for the National Association of Counties. They have served their counties well, the state of Arkansas and counties across the nation.
Jacobs has not only impacted Johnson County in a very positive manner during his 24 years as county judge, but he has also helped guide AAC through a coming of age during the last 15 years as association president. His fingerprint on AAC will be long lasting. Thank you, Judge Jacobs. You are our sunshine.
Haney, who served as Washington County Treasurer for 36 years before his retirement, has been a calm and stable board of director officer for
three years. His work for the Arkansas Treasurers Association of Arkansas as legislative chair has served Arkansas treasurers well. Thank you Roger, and we wish you the very best in the next phase of your life.
The show must go on.
Our new leadership on the board of directors comes on the heels of a facility expansion last summer, growth in our Risk Management Services and Workers’ Compensation programs, the reorganizing and additions to our policy and lobbying team and a commitment to top-notch continuing education, communications and member benefits.
This 90th Arkansas General Assembly’s pace will soon begin to slow down; however we will focus “Our new leadership on the board of directors comes on the heels of a on finishing it strong for county government. Our focus will then turn to reporting to facility expansion last summer, growth in our Risk county officials about the bills that manifestManagement Service and Workers’ Compensation ed into acts and their impact on our role as a programs, the reorganizing and additions to our subdivision of the state. The show does go on policy and lobbying team and a commitment to for county government. We’re thankful for our top-notch continuing education, communications past leaders and what and member benefits.” they have accomplished for county government and AAC and we look forward to the future under the next leaders of the association. 75 Counties. One voice.
AAC board of directors elects new officers
The Association of Arkansas Counties’ Board of Directors met on Feb. 11, 2015, and elected new officers, as it does every two years. The board also welcomed three new members at its first meeting of 2015: Greene County Treasurer Debbie Cross, Polk County Judge Brandon Ellison and Columbia County Collector Cindy Walker. They replace White County Collector Sue Liles, former president of the County Collectors Association, and the now retired Johnson County Judge Mike Jacobs and Washington County Treasurer Roger Haney. Arkansas Supreme Court Associate Justice Courtney Hudson Goodson administered the oath of office to the new officers before a crowd that included AAC staff, county elected officials, legislators and other guests.
Above left: Arkansas Supreme Court Associate Justice Courtney Hudson Goodson swears in Judy Beth Hutcherson, Clark County Treasurer, as the AAC Board of Directors’ new president. Above right: Pictured here are Secretary/Treasurer Bear Chaney, former Benton County Assessor, who has been appointed director of the state’s Assessment Coordination Department; President Judy Beth Hutcherson, Clark County Treasurer; Arkansas Supreme Court Associate Justice Courtney Hudson Goodson; and Vice-President Debbie Wise, Randolph County Circuit Clerk and chair of AAC’s Legislative Committee.
AACRMF benefits continue to strengthen program!
What’s in your county ?
n GUARDIAN RFID has been exclusively endorsed by the National Sheriffs’ Association since 2008 and was the first product in the world to earn this distinction. n GUARDIAN RFID is the only Inmate Management System in the world that exclusively leverages radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology.
The AAC Risk Management Fund is managed by a Board of Trustees comprised of youR county colleagues. As a fund member, you help develop the fund’s products that meet the needs of our unique and valued county resources and employees. Our latest added benefit came to fruition in a partnership with Guardian RFID inmate tracking systems. All AACRMF member counties will reap the benefits of this cutting-edge system.This unique tool exceeded the needs and met the concerns of many members in regards to the challenges in county jails.
We listened and now we’re proud to welcome this product to the Risk Management Fund program and we look forward to a continued partnership with all of you.
Program outline:
GENERAL LIABILITY AUTO PROTECTION PROPERTY PROTECTION RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENT PROGRAM
n Guardian Inmate tracking system
GUARDIAN RFID is 20x faster and more defensible than barcode.
n Partnership with Metro to provide P.O.M Services Your peace of mind partnership for emergency claim services. RMFMembers receive priority response with participation in the AAC Property Program.
n Codification of county ordinances.
Accessing your ordinances is made efficient by AAC compiling your substantive county ordinances and codifying them into a single-bound volume.
Debbie Norman RMF Director 501.375.8247
Cathy Perry Claims Analyst 501.375.8805 Barry Burkett Loss Control 501.375.8805
n Drug testing
Free CDL drug testing with participation in the RMF Auto Program.
