AAC
COVER STORY
County ‘superheroes’ attend 51st annual conference Nearly 900 attend conference, setting new attendance record Story by Christy L. Smith Photos by Holland Doran AAC Communications Staff
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he Association of Arkansas Counties (AAC) held its 51st annual conference Aug. 21-23, 2019, at the Hot Springs Convention Center in Hot Springs/Garland County. “Superheroes of County Government” was the theme for the event, which drew a record attendance of nearly 900. That beats last year’s attendance by about 150 people. Randolph County Circuit Clerk and AAC Board President Debbie Wise presided over the event. Garland County Judge Darryl Mahoney welcomed attendees, then AAC Executive Director Chris Villines led the traditional roll call just as he did last year. Attendees watched video of all 85 courthouses in the state and let their presence be known as their courthouse appeared on the screen. The keynote speaker for Wednesday’s opening session was NACo 1st Vice President and Boone County, Ky., Judge Gary Moore. This year’s conference featured a new component — jail track training for jail administrators and employees. The sessions, led by AAC Risk Management staff, ran concurrently with other conference sessions. Members of the House and Senate City, County, and Local Affairs committees met Wednesday afternoon to discuss spring flooding and the status of levees across the state. Gov. Asa Hutchinson joined the group on Thursday morning, commending counties for their successful legislative session. Afterward the Joint Committee on Public Retirement and Social Security Programs met to discuss the Arkansas Public Employee Retirement System (APERS). The committee will hold additional town hall meetings across the state through Nov. 6. 32
The featured speaker for lunch on Thursday was Sam Quinones, author of “Dreamland: America’s Opiate Epidemic, How We Got Here and Where We are Today.” Following his presentation, AAC honored state Sen. Jason Rapert and state Rep. Michelle Gray for their work on the 911 reform bill that passed during the regular legislative session. The AAC also presented the 2019 Wes
Fowler Advocacy Award to Madison County Judge Frank Weaver. Break out sessions included topics such as medical marijuana, active shooter response/self defense, and county roads and bridges. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Senior Editor Rex Nelson closed the conference Friday morning with a sometimes comical look at Arkansas’ history.
Top: Nevada County was well represented by (front row) Justice of the Peace for 40 years Curtis Lee Johnson and new Justice of the Peace Pat Grimes, as well as (back row, from left to right) County Assessor Pam Box, County Clerk Julie Stockton Oliver, and County Treasurer Susie Key. Bottom: Lawrence County turned out big time for the AAC’s 51st Annual Conference. COUNTY LINES, SUMMER 2019
