AAC
serve as president. Polk County Judge Brandon Ellison is vice president, and Clark County Clerk Rhonda Cole is secretary/ treasurer. With the retirement of former Clark County Treasurer Judy Beth Hutcherson and the impending retirement of Colum- bia County Clerk Sherry Bell, we welcome two new members — Craighead County Treasurer Terry McNatt, who will serve as chair of the Legislative Committee, and Polk County Clerk Terri Harrison. Serving on the AAC Board has afforded me the opportunity
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to represent the interests of Arkansas counties at many National Association of Counties (NACo) conferences. I am humbled by the trust county officials have placed in me. Te most recent NACo conference I attended — the 2018 Legislative Conference — left me feeling energized and hopeful. Arkansas counties face a multitude of issues, but we aren’t alone. Counties across the country also struggle with jail overcrowding, inadequate road funding, budgeting during a time of cutbacks, and a devastating drug crisis, among other things. I was not the lone county official from Arkansas to attend the
conference. Judge Ellison, Washington County Judge Joseph Wood, Craighead County Clerk Kade Holliday, and Jefferson County Justice of the Peace Ted Harden also attended. AAC Ex- ecutive Director Chris Villines and AAC Governmental Affairs Director Josh Curtis accompanied us. Tese conferences allow us to network and fellowship with county officials from around the country. I believe it is vital for county officials to come together, discuss their mutual chal- lenges, and then help one another develop solutions. NACo conferences also are educational. Tis year’s Legislative
Conference featured more than 136 workshops on issues critical to counties. One workshop that stood out featured a panel discussion about the status of opioid litigation around the country. Many counties or state associations are still exploring litigation against opioid drug manufacturers. Meanwhile, we in Arkansas have taken great strides on this issue. Seventy-two Arkansas counties have joined with municipalities representing about 90 percent
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COUNTY LINES, WINTER 2018
t has been my honor to serve on the Association of Ar- kansas Counties’ (AAC) Board of Directors since 2012. I served as chairman of the Board’s Legislative Committee for 10 years, and as AAC Board vice president for six years. Te Board has gone through several changes this year. I now
PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE Humbled yet inspired and hopeful
of the state’s population to file suit against opioid drug manufactur- ers for their deceptive marketing practices, which led to an epidemic that has swept the country. Another issue of importance to
Arkansas is the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. Many times in the past, Arkansas coun- ties have waited with bated breath to find out whether Congress would fund PILT, and this year is no exception. In 2017, 68 (or 91 percent of) Arkansas counties received a total of just over $7 million to help offset losses in property taxes due to non-taxable federal lands within their boundaries. Losing this funding would put many of our counties in dire financial straits. While in Washington, Judge Ellison and Josh attended a rally where county officials from all over the country voiced the need for continued funding of the PILT program. We also heard from some inspiring speakers during the general sessions — U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Tim Scott, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Brock Long, and Retired Gen. Stan McChrystal. Tey spoke about topics including the Trump Administration’s infrastructure plan, disaster response and recovery strategies, bipartisanship, and strategic leadership in a changing world. Finally, I am grateful to the members of Arkansas’ Congres- sional delegation for taking the time to sit down with us and sincerely consider the issues affecting counties. I walked away from those meetings inspired and hopeful for what is to come. I believe that if local, state and federal govern- ment officials continue to work together in tandem, then our communities, Arkansas, and our nation will be the better for it.
DEBBIE WISE AAC Board President;
Randolph County Circuit Clerk Debbie Wise Debbie Wise Randolph County Circuit Clerk / AAC Board President Did an aspect of county government “make news” recently in your county? Did
any of your county officials or staff get an award, appointment or pat on the back? Are you holding a ribbon cutting ceremony or grand opening? Please let us know about it. You may email any news items or photos to
csmith@arcounties.org.
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