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2019 AAC Conference Recap
Nearly 900 attend conference, setting new attendance record
Story by Christy L. Smith
Photos by Holland Doran AAC Communications Staff
The 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.
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.
AAC Executive Director Chris Villines speaks to conference attendees. National Association of Counties (NACo) 1st Vice-President and Boone County, Ky., Judge Gary Moore chats with AAC Board Secretary/Treasurer and Clark County Clerk Rhonda Cole (left) and AAC Board President and Randolph County Clerk Debbie Wise (right).
Above left: AAC Board President and Randolph County Circuit Clerk Debbie Wise welcomes nearly 900 people to conference. Top right: Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks during the luncheon on Aug. 22.
Above left: AAC Board Vice-President and Polk County Judge Brandon Ellison speaks. Above center: NACo 1st Vice-President and Boone County, Ky., Judge Gary Moore speaks during the opening session on Aug. 21. Above right: AAC Board member, Treasurers’ Association President, AAC Legislative Committee Chair and Craighead County Treasurer Terry McNatt presents the legislative committee report.
Left: Chris Villines welcomes members of the Senate and House City, County, and Local Affairs committees to the AAC conference. Above left: Miss Arkansas 2019 Darynne Dahlem sings the National Anthem. Above right: Garland County Judge Darryl Mahoney welcomes attendees to the county.
Above: Senate and House City, County, and Local Affairs Committees Chairs state Sen. Gary Stubblefield (left) and state Rep. Lanny Fite lead the joint meeting. Right: AAC Legal Counsel Lindsey Bailey, Baxter County Sheriff and AAC Board member John Montgomery, Sebastian County Judge David Hudson, and AAC Consultant Eddie Jones address the joint committee about jail reimbursement rates.
Above left: Ouachita County Circuit Clerk Gladys Nettles strikes a superhero pose alongside state Rep. David Fielding. Above right: AAC Consultant Eddie Jones leads attendees in a prayer before AAC’s annual conference fish fry. Right: Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) Director A.J. Gary testifies before the Senate and House City, County, and Local Affairs committees.
Left: Sam Quinones, author of “Dreamland: America’s Opiate Epidemic,” speaks during lunch Aug. 22. Above left: AAC Board member and Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery introduces Quinones. Above right: AAC Board member, Arkansas Association of Quorum Courts President and Boone County Justice of the Peace David Thompson (left) and AAC Board member and Jackson County Justice of the Peace Tommy Young stop to pose for a photo.
Above left: Arkansas Drug Director Kirk Lane; Trevor Villines, substance abuse collegiate program coordinator in the drug director’s office; author Sam Quinones; AAC Board member and Pulaski County Coroner Gerone Hobbs; AAC RMF Legal Counsel Colin Jorgensen; and AAC Board member, Arkansas Coroners Association President and Saline County Coroner Kevin Cleghorn take a photo. Above right: Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks during the opening general session on Thursday, Aug. 22.
Garland County Undersheriff Jason Lawrence leads a session entitled “Active Shooter Response Plan/ Self Defense.”
Above left: AAC Risk Management Fund (RMF) Litigation Counsel JaNan Thomas, AAC RMF Legal Counsel Brandy McAllister, AAC Loss Control Specialist Ed Piker, AAC RMF Paralegal Samantha Wren, AAC RMF Claims Manager Debbie Lakey, AAC RMF Litigation Counsel Melissa Hollowell, AAC RMF Director Debbie Norman, and AAC RMF Administrative Assistant Kim Mitchell take a photo in front of the RMF exhibit booth. Above right: Phillips County Circuit Clerk Lynn Stillwell, Phillips County Assessor Jerome Turner, Phillips County Coroner Earnest Larry and Phillips County Clerk Linda White-Winfield take a photo.
Far left: AAC RMF Litigation Counsel Colin Jorgensen speaks to jail administrators and employees. Right: Jail administrators and employees attend a Jail Track training session. The Jail Track training was a new addition to conference this year.
Above left: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Senior Editor Rex Nelson gives conference attendees an interesting look at the history of Arkansas. Above center: AAC Board member, Arkansas County Tax Collectors Association President and Crittenden County Collector Ellen Foote leads an association meeting. Above right: The Diamond Empire Band performs during the annual conference dinner and dance. The theme was “Superhero Soiree!”
Left: AAC Executive Director Chris Villines (left) speaks with Executive Director of Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System (APERS) Duncan Baird, Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration Chief Fiscal Officer Larry Walther; and Sebastian County Judge David Hudson. Above: AAC Board member and Pulaski County Treasurer/Collector Debra Buckner (center) talks with state Rep. Tippi McCullough (left) and state Sen. Joyce Elliott.
Right: AAC Board member and Benton County Circuit Clerk Brenda DeShields talks with APERS Director Duncan Baird. Far right: Chairs of the Public Retirement & Social Security Programs Committee, Sen. Bill Sample and Rep. Les Warren, speak during a joint committee meeting.
Far left: Craighead County Circuit Clerk and Arkansas Circuit Clerks Association Legislative Committee Representative Kyle Sylvester (right) talks with state Sen. Lance Eads. Left: AAC Board member and Conway County Judge Jimmy Hart (right) chats with Arkansas Good Roads Foundation Executive Director Joe Quinn.
Right: Interstate 30 band plays during AAC’s annual fish fry Aug. 21. Far right: Rainwater, Holt, & Sexton Attorney Mike Rainwater speaks to quorum court members during a conference session.
