AAC
County Lines County Lines [(ISSN 2576-1137 (print) and ISSN 2576-1145 (online)] is the official publication of the AAC. It is published quarterly. For advertising inquiries, subscriptions or other information, please contact Christy L. Smith at 501.372.7550. Executive Director/Publisher Chris Villines Communications Director/ Managing Editor Christy L. Smith Communications Coordinator/ Editor Caitlin Brown
AAC Executive Board: Debbie Wise – President Brandon Ellison – Vice President Jimmy Hart – Secretary-Treasurer Tommy Young Deanna Sivley Debra Buckner Dana Baker Kevin Cleghorn Terry McNatt Debbie Cross Brenda DeShields Ellen Foote Doug Curtis Gerone Hobbs Marty Boyd John Montgomery Heather Stevens Randy Higgins National Association of Counties (NACo) Board Affiliations Debbie Wise: NACo board member. She is Randolph County Circuit Clerk and president of the AAC Board of Directors. Brandon Ellison: NACo board member. He is Polk County Judge and vice-president of the AAC Board of Directors. Ted Harden: Finance & Intergovernmental Affairs Steering Committee. He is a member of the Jefferson County Quorum Court. David Hudson: Vice-Chair of Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee. He is Sebastian Co. Judge and member of Rural Action Caucus Steering Committee and IT Standing Committee. Barry Hyde: Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee. He is the Pulaski County Judge. Rusty McMillon: Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee. He is Greene County Judge Joseph Wood: Community, Economic and Workforce Development Steering Committee. He is Washington County Judge. Kevin Smith: IT Standing Committee. He is the Sebastian County Director of Information Technology Services. Gerone Hobbs: Membership Committee. He is the Pulaski County Coroner. Paul Elliott: Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee, vice-chair of law enforcement subcommittee. He is a member of the Pulaski County Quorum Court. Ellen Foote: Community, Economic & Workforce Development Steering Committee. She is the Crittenden County Tax Collector. Tawanna Brown:Telecommunications & Technology Steering Committee. She is Crittenden County Chief Computer Operator.
COUNTY LINES, SPRING 2022
DIRECTOR’S DESK
Conference, retirements and a legislative session are to come
I
n early July you find our staff feverishly preparing for the AAC annual conference. As we put together speakers and events we constantly communicate about what we believe will bring you the best proChris Villines gramming in a short amount of time. For many years when I AAC Executive Director was the Tax Collector in Saline County, I circled these August dates as a period of time I could get away from the office, reconnect with all of my friends, and enjoy presentations that made me a better collector at home. Many of you, like me, have circled these dates in 2022 and our registration numbers are climbing yet again. Another record year for attendance could be in the making — and Hot Springs is a wonderful venue that everyone seems to enjoy. I say all this to tell you, it is not too late if you have not yet registered. At the time of magazine printing there may still be time to register and get a room, but hotel space is quickly filling up and this fact may push you to an off-site hotel. Please let us know if you need any help. ••• It’s always bittersweet to say farewell in retirement to people we’ve worked closely with, but two such people have recently decided to enjoy their time after county government. You know both of them well, and I’d like to take this time to wish Fran Walker with Nationwide Retirement Solutions and our own Becky Comet a wonderful future as they ease into the next stage of life. Becky joined the AAC 10 years ago on the heels of being a finalist on “The Biggest Loser” television show. What many of you may not know is that Becky lived next door to my family on Lynnwood Drive in Benton. We had known her for some time and call the Comet family friends. Her daughter, Samantha, even watched our children a few times. Becky brought us a great smile and pleasant attitude. She did a wonderful job setting up our membership benefits program — and many of you have enjoyed the fruits of this labor in the form of discounts at stores or theme parks put together for county employees in Arkansas. Becky also worked closely with many of our jail staffs to put together a program for utilization of Guardian RFID equipment in our jails. We have no doubt saved lives and avoided lawsuits because of the implementation of this great Risk Management benefit tool provided free to all member counties, made better by Becky’s hard work. Fran has roamed through many of your courthouses encouraging you to join Nationwide Retirement Solutions programs. And she has always done so with a caring demeanor. She cares that you are taken care of in retirement, and it shows. It is exciting to see such a wonderful ambassador for this program now enjoying her own retirement and living the dream she has preached to all of us will one day come. For 14 years Fran has been working with counties of Arkansas, and I’d have to say almost every one of our county officials has developed a relationship >>> with Fran during that time. She has helped so many people begin the 7
