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AAC F A M I L Y  F R I E N D S » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » (b) (1) A county government, acting through the quorum court,


may provide (emphasis mine), through ordinance for the establish- ment of any service or performance of any function not expressly prohibited by the Arkansas Constitution or by law.


(2) These legislative services and functions include, but are not limited to, the following services and facilities:


(A) Agricultural services, including:


(i) Extension services, including agricultural, home econom- ic, and community development;


(ii) Fairs and livestock shows and sales services; (iii) Livestock inspection and protection services; (iv) Market and marketing services; (v) Rodent, predator, and vertebrate control services; and (vi) Weed and insect control services;


(B) Community and rural development services, including: (i) Economic development services; (ii) Housing services; (iii) Open spaces;


(iv) Planning, zoning, and subdivision control services; (v) Urban and rural development, rehabilitation, and redevel-


opment services; and (vi) Watercourse, drainage, irrigation, and flood control


services;


(C) Community services, including: (i) Animal control services; (ii) Cemetery, burial, and memorial services; (iii) Consumer education and protection services; (iv) Exhibition and show services;


(v) Libraries, museums, civic center auditoriums, and his- torical, cultural, or natural site services;


(vi) Park and recreation services; and (vii) Public camping services; (D) Emergency services, including: (i) Ambulance services; (ii) Civil defense services; (iii) Fire prevention and protection services; and (iv) Juvenile attention services; (E) Human services, including: (i) Air and water pollution control services; (ii) Child care, youth, and senior citizen services; (iii) Public health and hospital services; (iv) Public nursing and extended care services; and (v) Social and rehabilitative services; (F) Solid waste services, including: (i) Recycling services; and


(ii) Solid waste collection and disposal services; (G) Transportation services, including:


(i) Roads, bridges, airports, and aviation services; (ii) Ferries, wharves, docks, and other marine services;


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(iii) Parking services; and (iv) Public transportation services;


(H) Water, sewer, and other utility services, including: (i) Sanitary and storm sewers and sewage treatment ser-


vices; and


(ii) Water supply and distribution services; (I) Other services related to county affairs.


Tough this particular law is relatively clear, over the years statutory


requirements have added some items as mandates to county govern- ment. For instance, solid waste laws, which include recycling grants have come with strings of governance attached. However, this list re- mains largely accurate – and is a good blueprint you can use to discern allocations of resources in your county through a mandatory lens.


Te delineation between “shalls” and “mays” in county government is important. So often we are inaccurately presumed to be required to provide certain things, and occasionally we sacrifice that which we must do at the foot of that which we would like to do. As we move forward with a new class of elected officials, both locally and at a state legislative level, it is critical to understand our mandate – those ser- vices that without county government would simply not be provided.


Furthermore, it is compelling to see just how many of the optional


services we now provide through the counties of Arkansas. Compare the second list of non-compulsory items against your county to see just how many things you have taken on through the years that you didn’t have to. I, like many of you, was raised to go beyond the level of “just getting by.” It is admirable that our counties have injected help in the form of money and governance to improve the society around them when the times were good. Likewise, it is very understandable and prudent that we must shrink back from the same in bad times.


In this era of budget cuts from Washington, D.C. that trickle


down to you on a local level, it is vitally important that we keep focused on our mission – to provide our mandated services … for we are legally bound to such. And if your county is unfortunate enough to have to make cuts, it is important to know where you can.


Next spring will bring us the 89th General Assembly. Tis is a time when many tough decisions will be made on a state level, some of which could have a profound effect on you and your county. It is fundamentally important that you build relationships with your incoming state legislators. It is crucial they know the mission of county government and incumbent on you and us to help educate those around you of our general mandates.


In county government we will all go through highs and lows, times of expansion and growth … or of contraction and layoffs. But in all cases the most important thing we can have is a healthy understanding of our mission, and a perspective of the basic neces- sities we are required to provide.


Chris Villines Chris Villines


AAC Executive Director COUNTY LINES, FALL 2012


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