President's Message - January/February 2002

Training Provides Unique Opportunity for Officials

There are many reasons for us to be proud of our Association. But just the other day I was reminded of one of the seldom-recognized ways that the ACCA contributes toward the improvement of county government in our state.

Although I have long since completed both Level I and Level II of the county commissioners training program, I attended a course that was offered in late January. Once again I was reminded of the important part this training plays in the performance of our members throughout the state.

Our training program began more than a decade ago as a set of voluntary courses coordinated by Auburn University and offered as the Alabama County Commissioners College. At that time it was one of only a handful of such courses in the country and it began because our Association leadership demanded that we offer such instruction.

Because of its success, and the vision of some of our Association leaders, an act was passed in the early 1990s making the training program mandatory for first-time county commissioners. The act also changed the name of the program and established a board of directors to oversee the courses' content.

Today, the Alabama Local Government Training Institute is the first real exposure new county commissioners have to our Association and to county government in general. Just one month after taking office they attend an orientation that provides a thumbnail sketch of the challenges they will face during their first four years in office.

This class is followed with four others, including electives, during the next two years. Commissioners who are interested then have the opportunity to complete what is known as Level II of the program, which includes another five courses and additional hours from attending other conferences and conventions.

And just this year we have added what is known as a "graduate" level for old-timers like me. These courses are designed to focus the attention of the veteran commissioners on timely issues such as solid waste management and community leadership.

When the program was made mandatory, it was one of only two such programs for county commissioners in the nation. And its success can be measured in a lot of ways, not the least of which is that it has been copied in other states and even by other elected officials groups here in Alabama.

But more than outside recognition, we can all be proud of the impact this program makes on our colleagues throughout the state. In Alabama we require more training to receive a drivers license than we do to assume elected public office. People qualify, run for and then are elected to public office without really knowing what they will face. So this training program is essential to the success of county government.

When the program was made mandatory, then-ACCA President Larry Bennich of Morgan County predicted that in years to come county officials would look at this program and marvel at its contribution to the performance of county commissioners. He also said that folks would look back and wonder how we in county government got by before this program was created. And his vision was correct.

Certainly today the image of county government in our state is much different than even 10 years ago. There are many, many reasons for that change. But the primary one is the performance of county elected officials. The rising costs of providing government services and the public's growing resistance to tax increases have combined to make us in county government more efficient than ever. This efficiency has not necessarily come by choice, but by necessity.

It is then even more remarkable that as county commissions struggle with budget shortfalls and growing demands, the public is crying out for increased authority for county governments. Again, there are many reasons for the increased public support. But the contribution of this educational program has played a part in this public turn-around.

As president of your organization, I sit on the Board of Directors that operates this educational program. I am joined on that board by Calhoun County Commissioner Robert Downing, Houston County Commission Chairman Mark Culver, Covington County Commission Chairman Greg White, ACCA Executive Director Buddy Sharpless and State Rep. Bill Dukes and State Sen. Phil Poole. Much of the credit for this program goes to these leaders, the board members who have come before them and the professionals at Auburn University who coordinate the classes.

When the program began, we hoped to impart some needed information to county officials and to generate some excitement about the educational process. Today, this program is an expected part of a county commissioner's responsibilities -- a mandated requirement that we imposed on ourselves.

In November, a new group of first-time county commissioners will take office here in Alabama. And then about a month later they will attend that first orientation program and embark on their educational journey. We will welcome them, but at the same time we will let them know that much more is expected of them today then when some of us old-timers got started.