President's Message - Legislative Wrapup Issue 2000

New Group of Commissioners Ready for Training

With the November elections just around the corner, another new crop of first-time county commissioners is about to take advantage of a program that is literally one of a kind.

Alabama county commissioners are some of the only elected officials in the country who are required to participate in an educational program during their first two years in office. And even though some outside of county government might misunderstand this requirement, us "old-timers" point to this program with a great deal of pride.

I am very proud to be a graduate of this program -- known as the Alabama Local Government Training Institute -- having completed BOTH the 50 hours of required training and the additional 70 hours of training necessary to be a "graduate" of this outstanding program. The skills developed during the hours of training on issues such as personnel management, budget preparation, administrative skills, communication, governmental relations and road and bridge administration have been invaluable to me as chairman of the Winston County Commission.

As president of this Association, I am very proud that we asked the Alabama Legislature to make this educational program mandatory for first-time commissioners.

The commissioners who take office for the first time in November of 2000 will be the third group to be subject to the required educational program. It will begin with a 10-hour orientation program in early December. And then they will be required to attend four additional courses of 10 hours each during the next two years.

Each year the body that oversees the educational program -- the Board of Directors of the Alabama Local Government Training Institute -- provides a report to the Alabama Legislature and the members of the news media. This report outlines the names of those persons who have completed the program as required and also lists the names of those persons who have failed to meet the requirements.

In some counties, a commissioner's failure to attend these courses has been the subject of campaign discussion. That, also, is something that makes us "old-timers" proud.

Not so long ago, some people might have been surprised to know that any training was provided for county commissioners. Now, during the 2000 election, we will probably have some commissioners who will be asked to explain why they did not join their colleagues to gain the skills and knowledge that could make them better commissioners.

This required educational program grew out of a voluntary program operated initially by Auburn University in the late 1980s. Starting as the Alabama County Commissioners College, the program provided voluntary training as part of the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Committee on County Government. The program operated with positive reviews and comments for several years.

Then, in the 1994 legislative session, under the leadership of former presidents Robert Crowder and Larry Bennich, the Alabama Legislature was convinced to make this program mandatory. The act that made the program mandatory also set up a separate board of directors to oversee the content and delivery of the courses.

Over the last six years, the participation in the program has been outstanding. Few, if any, new commissioners have not enthusiastically participated in this program.

In fact, it has been so well received throughout the state that this year the Alabama School Boards Association pushed its own law requiring new school board members to take required training. And over on the city side, the Alabama League of Municipalities has begun a voluntary educational program for its members.

As your Association president, I sit on that board. The other members of the board are county commissioners appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house and the Association. Two members of the Legislature serve on the board as does the Association's executive director and a representative of higher education. Last year the board approved an examination of the program's content and course offerings. This process should be completed this summer and will be used to make changes and updates in the educational offerings prior to the new commissioners taking office in November.

When those new commissioners assume their roles in the courthouses around the state, we will have a revamped educational program waiting that will provide them with the skills and information that will allow them to be more effective leaders for their county.

And I know that to be the case because of my first hand participation.