AAC F A M I L Y F R I E N D S » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » » »
abandoned for the current system of paying all county officials salaries. It became imperative that county and district officials have a single source they could go to for information on this new and complicated set of laws. Te logical provider of this single source of information was, of course, the AAC. Starting with Act 742, which was 102 pages of legislation con- cerning county government, and continuing on to this day, the AAC has striven to provide county and district officials with a single source of qual- ity information. Like state and federal government — county government has grown more complex. AAC has worked diligently to keep up with the changing times of county government. Now the association not only lobbies effectively for all county and district officials, but it also gets the word out on all new legislation by holding “new legislation seminars.” Te AAC office serves as a hub of information on all aspects of county government, from the oldest most obscure legislation to the newest most technical legislation to come out of the General Assembly and from the federal level in Washington. Even though AAC is seen as a lobbying organization, AAC does much more for the county and district officials of Arkansas. Tey hold various semi- nars and annual conferences; com- pile and print training manuals, directories and educational booklets for the counties; publish a quarterly magazine called County Lines; and provide day-to-day consultation for their constituency. Te association, with the financial help of the other member associations, also grants academic and financial need-based scholarships to the children and grandchildren of county and dis- trict officials and employees. Te AAC also provides benefit
association has had only seven presidents of the board and six executive directors in its 46-year-history.
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programs for Arkansas counties. In 1985, AAC added a Workers’ Compensation Trust for counties, and they currently provide work- ers’ compensation coverage for 74 counties and several other county entities. A Risk Management Fund was established in 1986. Te Risk Management Fund provides counties with general liability, automobile fleet protection and a property insurance program. Te AAC Risk Management Fund currently covers 47 counties or county entities and a few hundred rural fire departments. Te AAC Workers’ Compensation Trust and the Risk Management Fund are com- pletely self-funded and self-administered and in solid financial condition. County participation in these programs helps the AAC and all Arkansas counties. Your participation positions AAC to better provide the services counties need. Te fees received by AAC from the in-house administration of the benefit programs and the dues paid by member counties make it possible for AAC to provide you with a 24-member staff to serve the needs of the county and district officials and employees of Arkansas counties. AAC has four attorneys on staff and two part-time law clerks plus the contracted legal defense of Rainwater, Holt and Sexton for the Risk Management Fund. It is the desire of AAC management and the board of directors to continue to grow services and staff as the need grows and funds are avail- able. Tey realize that the mission of AAC is to work for the improve-
COUNTY LINES, SPRING 2014
ment of Arkansas county government, and they are committed to provid- ing a single source of cooperative support and information for all counties and county and district officials. Membership in the AAC started out slow when the association was first established in the late 1960s. But AAC has had 100 percent membership (all 75 counties) every year since 1988. Arkansas also has had 100 percent county membership in the National Association of Counties since 2007, when the AAC started paying the NACo dues for all Arkansas counties. Tis move has greatly improved Arkansas strength in federal legislative matters. Tere has been quite a change in the size and scope of AAC facili- ties and services in less than 50 years. Te transformation has taken a mere 46 years. Te AAC originally rented a small office space across the street from the Capitol with three, and then four, employees. In the late 70s, AAC bought property on Victory Street just one block from the Capitol. In 1979, the association completed and moved into its own headquarters — a 3,600-square-foot, multi-level building that served the needs of the county and district officials for many years. Te total build- ing and furnishing costs for this original county-owned facility was $220,000. Te initial investment was paid off in 1987. In 1990, the AAC board of
ne reason for strength and stability of this organization is continuity of leadership. Te
directors, under the leadership of then Executive Director Jim Baker, began to purchase adjoining property as it could. It also started a building fund that it added to annually. In 1996, the board con- ducted groundbreaking ceremonies for new construction and remodel- ing of the old facility. An additional 10,000 square feet of space was added, bringing the AAC facility to 13,600 square feet of office and meeting space. Cost for the new addition and remodeling of the old building was $1,579,000. It was
completed in March 1997. With board approval, Executive Directors Brenda Pruitt and Eddie
Jones continued to save money for future expansion of the facility. In 2013, Executive Director Chris Villines and the board of directors de- cided the time was right and the need existed to expand the facility. Now another 5,200 square feet of office space has been added — a two-level space with 16 offices and two conference rooms on the east end of the complex. And the original 3,600-square-foot area has been renovated — again! Te Risk Management and Workers’ Comp employees have moved into the new wing of the complex. And the Sheriff’s Association, the only affiliate association with its own staff in addition to AAC staff, is renting six offices in the complex. Tis brand new addition to the AAC complex, including furnishings, a kitchen remodel and repaved parking lots cost about $1,750,000, well under the $2 million budget for the project. Tis 18,800-square-foot facility belongs to the counties of Arkansas,
and your staff is very proud of your headquarters and the opportunity to serve you. Of course, one of the greatest assets is the fact that the AAC of-
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