The ACCG Policy Committees will begin meeting this month to set the 2009 Policy Agenda. It is very important that county officials and county staff participate in the committee process! Please click the "learn more" button to review the policy committee meeting schedule.

Local Government Budgets Take a Hit from Transportation Fuel Costs

As is happening with the airlines, agriculture, and consumers, local governments are being hit hard by the increasing costs of transportation fuel. Click the "learn more" button to see what local governments are doing to mitigate the increasing fuel costs.

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www.newgeorgiaencyclopedia.com

The New Georgia Encyclopedia is an authoritative source on the people, places, events and institutions of Georgia. The Web site contains nearly 2,000 articles and more than 5,000 images and audio and video clips on the history, culture and life of the state. Click the "learn more" button to go directly to the site.

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New Law Makes Key Changes in Indigent Defense Program

Governor Perdue has signed House Bill 1245 into law. It amends current law governing the operation of the state-wide system for providing representation to indigent defendants. The bill included many changes of importance to county governing authorities and the county role in the system.

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Application for Georgia Water Supply Competitive Grant Program Now Available!

The Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) is pleased to announce a new grant funding opportunity for local governments and sewer and water authorities interested in developing reservoir and water supply projects. In March 2008, the Georgia General Assembly approved and Governor Sonny Perdue signed the amended state budget for Fiscal Year 2008 (HB 989). The amended FY2008 budget bill authorizes GEFA to provide $40 million in grant funding to local governments and water and sewer authorities to develop reservoir and water supply projects.

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Toolkit Helps Local Governments Manage Growth

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs Office of Planning and Quality Growth has created a Best Practices Toolkit for Quality Growth. The toolkit was designed to provide advice to local governments on tools that may be used to put quality growth principles into practice at the local level. It is easy to use and allows users to obtain information via "Search by Index of Tools, Search by Issues Affecting Community, or Search by Keyword." In addition, the site also provides detailed "Tool Descriptions" in the effort to inform and educate the user. For more information please call DCA at (404) 679-5279 or visit www.georgiaplanning.com.

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A Workshop for Writing and Implementing Solid Waste Management Plans

On July 8, DCA's Office of Environmental Management is conducting a workshop for writing and implementing local solid waste management plans. With all cities and counties required by law to submit these plans to DCA every 10 years, this workshop will offer attendees information on minimum planning standards, procedures for submitting plans, planning elements, and writing tools and instruments. The workshop will occur at ARC in Atlanta and is free; however, spaces are limited so advanced registration is strongly recommended.

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A two-day training program in planning concepts and procedures conducted by prominent planning and legal professionals. The Community Planning Institute training is provided by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the Georgia Planning Association.

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NAGARA & CoSA Annual Meeting

The National Association of Government Archivists and Records Administrators (NAGARA) and the Council of State Archivists (CoSA) will hold a joint annual meeting in Atlanta July 23-26, 2008. Representatives from state, local and federal records programs are encouraged to attend.

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Governor's Office of Highway Safety Conference

The Governor's Office of Highway Safety will be holding a statewide conference at the Westin Savannah Golf and Spa Resort Aug. 11-13, 2008. The conference will be framed around the Governor's Strategic Highway Safety Plan for the state of Georgia, incorporating topics of Education, Engineering, Emergency Medical Services and Enforcement. Register now.

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GovDeals.com: Earning Money for Georgia's County Governments

Founded in 1999, GovDeals provides state-of-the-art online auction services to governmental entities across the United States. With more than 40 member counties in Georgia, GovDeals.com offers a powerful tool to governments, no matter their size, to achieve the best return to taxpayers on their government's surplus assets and property. Prime examples of the earning potential with GovDeals are these transactions posted June 2008. Visit www.GovDeals.com.

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The Digital Television Transition

After Feb. 17, 2009, television viewers lacking a digital TV set, or not subscribing to a cable TV or satellite service, will need a converter box to receive digital broadcasts on an analog TV set. An estimated 19.6 million households will be affected by the transition. Counties can prepare for the transition by educating residents on what the Digital TV Transition is, providing steps that should be taken to avoid losing reception, and by advertising available resources.

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Associate Member Corner

Andersen, Tate & Carr

Michael Sullivan
1505 Lakes Parkway, Suite 100
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
770.822.0900
msullivan@atclawfirm.com
www.atclawfirm.com

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Camp Dresser & McKee (CDM)

Dan Roundfield
3715 Northside Parkway
Building 300, Suite 400
Atlanta, GA 30327
404.720.1400
roundfielddt@cdm.com
www.cdm.com

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Georgia Electric Membership Corporation

Dennis Chastain
75 Fifth Street, NW
Suite 710
Atlanta, GA 30308
404.521.7611
dennis.chastain@georgiaemc.com
www.georgiaemc.com

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Public Financial Management

Peter Kessenich
Bank of America Plaza
600 Peachtree Street, NE
Suite 3770
Atlanta, GA 30308
404.876.1919
kessenich@pfm.com
www.pfm.com

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Association County
Commissioners of Georgia

Officers serving through April 2009

President
VIRGINIA GRAY
Clayton County

First Vice President
JAN TANKERSLEY
Bulloch County

Second Vice President
LAMAR PARIS
Union County

Third Vice President
G. MELVIN DAVIS
Oconee County

Executive Director
JERRY R. GRIFFIN

Board of Managers
1st District JERRY SHEARIN, Paulding County
2nd District MIKE BERG, Dawson County
3rd District BURRELL ELLIS, DeKalb County
4th District EUGENE HARDWICK, Lamar County
5th District KEVIN LITTLE, Walton County
6th District C. BROOKS BAILEY, Pulaski County
7th District JOHN R. GRAHAM, Warren County
8th District CLINTON PERRY, Taylor County
9th District D. M. MULLIS, Laurens County
10th District CHARLES LINGLE, Dougherty County
11th District EUGENE DYAL, Bacon County
12th District JOHN McIVER, Liberty County

Consolidated Government Representative
HEIDI DAVISON, Athens-Clarke County

At-Large
DAVID GAULT, Jones County
JAMES KHOURY, Peach County
SAM OLENS, Cobb County
HELEN STONE, Chatham County
AARON VARNER, Newton County

Active Past Presidents
GLENDA BATTLE, Decatur County
CLARENCE BROWN, Bartow County
BILLY CROKER, Polk County
JAMES V. HAM, Monroe County
BENJAMIN HAYWARD, Mitchell County
TOM MCMICHAEL, Houston County
O. D. NETTER, Ben Hill County

Ex-Officio
NACo Board Members/Officers:
RICHARD ENGLISH, Troup County
JAMES HAM, Monroe County

Section Presidents
Attorneys’ Section:
MICHAEL LONG, Houston County

Managers’/Administrators’ Section:
KEVIN POE, Floyd County

Clerks’ Section:
BRENDA STALVEY, Echols County

Service Program Chairs
ACCG Insurance Program Representatives (IRMA)
JOHN STRICKLAND, Clinch County

Group Self Insurance Workers’ Compensation Fund (GSIWCF)
WALTER L. SANDERS, Greene County

Pension Representative
H. JAY WALKER, Houston County