AAC
COVER STORY
Top left: Conway County Judge Jimmy Hart; the late Jonathan Greer, AAC general legal counsel; and retired Saline County Judge and current Arkansas State Rep. Lanny Fite, attend a meeting. Above center: Former AAC Executive Director Brenda Pruitt sits at the head table during AAC’s 2005 annual conference. Above right: The late Wes Fowler, for- mer AAC covernmental affairs director, Madison County judge and Madison County Clerk, speaks at an association meeting. Bottom left: Former Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe speaks at an AAC annual conference.
Membership in the Association of Arkansas Counties started
out slow when the association was first established. But AAC has had 100 percent membership (all 75 counties) every year since 1988. Arkansas has also had 100 percent county mem- bership in NACo since 2007, when the Association of Arkan- sas Counties 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 metamorphosis of AAC facilities and
services. Te transformation has taken a mere 50 years. AAC originally rented a small office across the street from the State Capitol with three employees. In the late 70’s AAC bought a small piece of 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 offi- cials for many years. Te total building and furnishing cost for the original county-owned facility was $220,000. In 1987, the initial investment was paid off. In 1990, the AAC Board of Directors, under the leadership of
then-Executive Director Jim Baker, began to purchase adjoining property — lot by lot. Tey also started a capital fund for future expansion. In 1996 the Board conducted groundbreaking cere- monies for new construction and remodeling of the old facility. An additional 10,000 square feet of space was added, bringing the Association of Arkansas Counties 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 and was com- pleted in March 1997. Executive Directors Brenda Pruitt and then Eddie Jones con-
COUNTY LINES, SUMMER 2018
tinued to set aside money for future expansion of the facility — knowing the time and need would come as AAC continued to broaden its scope of benefits, services, and support for Arkansas’ 75 counties. In 2013 Executive Director Chris Villines and the board decided the time was right, the need existed, and the money was available to expand the facility. Another 5,200 square feet of office space was added — a two-level, 16-office, two-con- ference room space on the east end of the complex. And the original 3,600 square foot area was renovated — again! Te Risk Management and Workers’ Comp divisions moved into the newest wing of the complex. And the Sheriff’s Association rents office space in the east wing. Tis addition to the AAC complex, including furnishings, a remodel of the kitchen in the 1997 addition, and repaving the parking lots cost about $1,750,000 — all paid for with moneys saved specifically for expansion. No debt! And this 18,800-square-foot facility be- longs to the counties of Arkansas. One of the greatest assets of AAC is the fact that our office complex is only a block from the State Capitol where most of the lobbying efforts are centered. Our close proximity to the Capitol is the envy of county associations across America. Over a 50-year period the Association of Arkansas Counties
has grown from a small rented office with three employees to a county owned 18,800-square-foot complex with 31 employees serving county government in multiple ways. Te Association of Arkansas Counties is an organization of solidarity, the umbrella organization for nine affiliate associa- tions — County Judges, County Clerks, Assessors, Collectors,
See “HISTORY” on Page 38 >>> 37
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