NACo News Nation’s counties in the news... A judge says law enforcement can shut


down outdoor medical marijuana gardens in FRESNO COUNTY, California. Te outdoor ban was put into effect nearly two months ago by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors after a series of shootings in- volving thieves trying to steal marijuana growing in plain sight, but it has not been enforced because of legal concerns. Te ban was proposed by Fresno County


Supervisor Henry Perea in September, and the judge agreed that Fresno County had the right to regulate marijuana plants and to force the gardens to go indoors. “I think the judge sent a pretty strong signal – whatever you have you better get out of the ground and harvested,” Perea told CBS 47. Te judge gave patients and growers until Nov. 30 to get their plants out of the ground.


LEE COUNTY, Florida commissioners lifted their ban on concealed weapons in county parks.


A lawsuit against the county pointed out the county’s inconsistency with state law, which prohibits guns at professional sporting events, the Naples Daily News reported. “I find it interesting that the state legis-


lature said firearms should be prohibited at professional events and school events,” Com- missioner Ray Judah said, but not at youth sporting events, such as Little League baseball played at public parks.


MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Florida Ani-


mal Services found homes for 809 dogs and cats in October, more pets saved in a month than ever before in the history of the depart- ment. In addition to the 809 adoptions, another 410 pets went home with 62 rescue partner organizations and 143 pets were reunited with their rightful owners. “Seeing more than 36,000 pets abandoned at our shelter every year is heartbreaking, so we have to celebrate any good news,” said Sara Pizano, Miami-Dade Animal Service, director.


GARRETT COUNTY, Maryland voters


have fulfilled the wish of a county commis- sioner candidate who died 12 days before


COUNTY LINES, WINTER 2011


the election. When Dennis Glotfelty died, his family said he preferred voters nominate a write-in candidate, rather than vote for him and allow local Republican Party officials to nominate a successor after the election. Republican Bob Gatto won the write-in campaign.


WAYNE COUNTY, Michigan officials


voted to issue $300 million in bonds for a new jail to consolidate its far-flung and ag- ing lockups. Proponents say the plan would save $26 million a year by reducing inefficiencies of operating three jails. As part of the plan, Sheriff Benny Napoleon agreed to shed that amount from his budget by trimming 170 of the department’s 900 jobs through attri- tion. Other savings would come from reduc- ing overtime, cutting transit costs by adding video arraignments and consolidating in areas such as medical and mental health services, the Detroit News reported.


In New Mexico – A few words of advice to city slickers who move to the country: “Gravel roads generate dust,” according to SANTA FE COUNTY’s version of the Code of the West.


County commissioners are considering a


resolution that reads, in part, “…we offer this information to help people who have chosen to build and/or live in the rural areas” of the county, Te Santa Fe New Mexican reported. Commissioner Mike Anaya proposed the code, which has also been called “How to Avoid Surprises and Be a Good Neighbor When You’re Buying, Building and Develop- ing in Santa Fe County.” At least 16 counties – in New Mexico,


Arizona, Wyoming, Washington, Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Montana – have adopted versions of the code.


HENDERSON COUNTY, North Caro- lina has a new logo, thanks to the 3,196 citi- zens who voted to pick the winning image. Te county announced a design competition in April, in conjunction with National Coun- ty Government Month. Fifteen designs were submitted and the top three were chosen by a panel of county


employees. Te winning logo will be used on Henderson County Government documents and publications.


MULTHOMAH COUNTY, Oregon hopes to save up to $600,000 a year by switching employees’ computer desktop applications from Microsoft to Google, the Oregonian reported. Approximately 3,500 county employees are making the transition, excluding the sheriff’s and district attorney’s office staffs, to Google’s Apps for Govern- ment. Five hundred employees tested the applica- tions during a pilot earlier this year. Te other 3,000 made the switch last month.


DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pennsylvania of- ficials say they’ll take out a $34.7 million loan to cover the city of Harrisburg’s debt on an incinerator if the city can’t make the payment on time, Te Patriot-News report- ed. Harrisburg, the state capital, faces a Dec. 15 deadline to make the payment. As a co- guarantor of the debt, Dauphin County is li- able if the city doesn’t pay.


“Tis is not the course that we intended or


wanted to take,” County Commission Chair- man Jeff Haste said. “It’s a course we have to take.” Members of the three-man commis- sion said they’ll only borrow the money if it becomes apparent that the city and another co-guarantor, the Harrisburg Authority, can’t meet their obligation.


SOMERSET COUNTY, Maine residents


voted to increase the number of county commissioners from three to five, and es- tablish five new county districts. With results tallied from all the major


towns, the question of adopting a charter for Somerset County passed by a wide margin. Voters in Skowhegan, Pittsfield, Madison, Anson and Fairfield all said “yes” to the char- ter, which will change the way the county is governed. County Administrator Larry Post said the


effective date of the charter will be July 1, 2011.With new districts and the election of two new county commissioners, elections for all five seats will be held in November 2011.


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